Seated upon a cushioned chair, his arms folded across his chest, Marc stared at the night scene through his open window like a man entranced, his sapphire eyes glazed with thought. His appearance slightly disheveled, the king appeared as though he had been in the middle of undressing himself when he had become thoroughly interested in something just beyond the billowing curtains and had seated himself down in order to study it better. His doublet had been abandoned some while earlier, leaving his torso covered in nothing more than a thin undershirt that was open at the neck, revealing his tanned chest beneath. One boot had been removed and was lying some feet away from where Marc was perched at the edge of his seat. His breeches, however - thankfully - were still fully on, leaving the King of the Sapphire Realm decent enough to receive guests on that evening. Well, at least one guest. One guest in particular. A special guest. Special enough alone for the sheer fact that he was an ambassador.

Felipe Alejandro.

The charismatic Emerald nobleman had quickly become a favorite of the king's, not only because he was an ambassador but because he was... charismatic. Marc was a very jovial young man and he enjoyed surrounding himself with others of a like disposition. Or at least those with quick wits and honeyed tongues that could give the impression they were of a like disposition.

So it was that Marc awaited the appearance of his summoned favorite. Having sent out a messenger only a half hour previous, the young king wasn't necessarily impatient for his guest's arrival. In fact, it looked almost as if he had forgotten the invitation, considering that Marc was clearly deep within his own thoughts. And half dressed.

The day had been a beautiful day, the sun shining, the day having barely began, and Felipe was out of the castle. He was ever so excited for the prospect, because of the simple fact that he was out of the castle. Fresh air made Felipe happy, and so did riding. So he had went riding, by himself, everywhere. He wasn't sure where he went, but he knew that it was because...he needed to get out. Needed to make his way. Needed to know that he was still alive, and could still do everything he used to be able to do. It was when he had arrived back in his chamber's that he had received the message from the king. Felipe had considered it, his eyebrow arched, before he had walked in, and changed out of his riding clothes. He changed into the simplest of outfits he owned. It was a deep emerald green, with light green embroidery, and set off his skin tone well.

He put on the ring that his king had given him and slipped a silver chain around his neck. He tried to brush down his unruly hair, but gave up as soon as he tried. He said a goodbye to his manservant, and adjusted the cuffs of his outfit. To meet the king, one had to be ready for it. But Felipe felt more laid back, more mellow than normal. It must have been the delightful day he had before he had been summoned. He breathed in the recycled air. Oh yum. His feet made little noise on the ground as he walked to the king's chambers. He knocked, and the door swung open, as a manservant escorted him to where the king sat.

Felipe stood, before sweeping a low bow, his finger's brushing the floor. An impish smile was placed on his face as he straightened up. He stood before the king, in all his Emerald Ambassador glory. He began with the traditional greeting.

"Ambassador Felipe Alejandro relays King Raoul and Princess Isabella's well wishes, from the Emerald Court."

For his kingdom. For his family. For his future unborn children. For his sister’s future unborn children. It had to be done. The Sapphire Kingdom needed a secure throne. The Sapphire Court needed an heir.

His eyes, those intensely blue eyes, were glazed but not unseeing as Marc stared so intently at something just beyond his window. The ocean. It rocked and swayed there, in the distance, though he could not discern it clearly through the inky black of nightfall. He knew it was there, however. And he knew that across those waters, through perils unknown, laid the Emerald Realm. And his future bride. Isabella, Infanta de Emeralda . . . and future Queen of the Sapphire Realm. The thought made his stomach churn and his throat tighten, but oddly enough it left his heart feeling cold and calm. As his sat there for the last time as a proclaimed bachelor, the young man reclined in upon himself and revisited those memories so dear to him. The feel of Esabell pressing herself against him in a tender embrace. The scent of her in his nose. His lips upon her sweet smelling skin. The delighted light in her eyes, sparkling there just for him.

Their love for one another.

But it was not to be. They were not meant to be man and wife and to lie together and make a child between them. Esabell… Marc thought with a sigh, feeling his heart break anew. The gossips would have a carnival with this. Esabell, the woman who was almost queen. Not a mistress and not a wife, but stuck somewhere in between. In the middle. The thought of taking Esabell to his bed, even when wedded to the Emerald princess was one that had not fully occurred to Marc. If they were to have such an arrangement and she was to have his bastard, a son, she would have everything to play for. Her husband even more so. But they would also have everything to lose. Ah, Esabell married? Marc closed his eyes tightly at the thought of her with another man. In his arms, in his bed. Would she love him? Or marry him dutifully and bear him sons as any good little wife should do? Would she take pleasure from his company? Would she remember my love?

As Felipe entered his privy chamber and introduced himself, Marc still did not stir. However, after a few moments of silence, the ambassador’s words slowly wormed their way into the king’s brain, past the ice and cold steel that was the wall he had built up around himself. Around his heart. “Yes,” the young man murmured, his voice sounding far away. “I have news for your master which he will find very pleasing.” Turning his head slightly, Marc fixed the other with a smile, a courtier’s smile. A fake smile. A smile only a king could make when his heart was breaking. “I wish to take the Princess Isabella’s hand in marriage. You may deliver the good news to your king. I’m sure he will have a great reward in store for you for this diplomatic triumph.”

Felipe stopped in the middle of making small talk, his mouth open, like a fish out of water. His head immediately started to spin and he took a seat, without allowing the king to invite him. If he haden't sat down, he would've undoubtable fainted, and that would be such an inconvenience. He masseged his temples, barely looking at the king. A marriage? But the king, he had...Esabell? All those other women? Felipe was stunned to say in the least. There had been no hints to this, and there had been nothing to fortell this grand scheme of things.

At long last, Felipe upturned his eyes towards the king who sat there, looking empty, with a fixed smile on his face. Felipe knew it was fixed, from the way it did not touch his eyes. Felipe knew the stress that came with a king, knew what it must be like to have the entire weight of a kingdom on his shoulder. But there was something else in his feelings. Something besides stunned disbelief and understanding.

Respect.

Respect for the king, and the clear sacrifice he was making. Respect for the fact that the king could be this strong. Respect that Marc was putting his kingdom before him. Respect for Marc. He stood up, finally standing from his seat, and turned to Marc. Isabella and Marc. King and Queen of the Sapphire Court.

"Your highness. This news thrills me." replied Felipe. "I am..thrilled. I shall...deliver the news immediately."

He executed a low bow, his eyes surprisingly blank. He wondered, if this decision would keep Marc happy. If it didn't, Emerald Court could fall out of favor. He took a deep breath and exhaled, and had a fake smile on his face.

"I'll leave within the hour." he bowed again, gefore heading towards the door. "I hope that you are happy with your decision. You have made an entire kingdom happy."

What he didn't mention was that Marc himself, could not feel happy.