Chapter 10:

Cid had started to become accustomed to the stares and whispers at work after the first week or so. That had been the most difficult part. It would have been easier if someone had come to ask him for clarification, to ask him about Fran. Instead they whispered behind his back and fell silent when he entered a room.

Doctor Sabastian, head of the Draklor Laboratory, had asked him quite pointedly if everything was all right with him. He had responded that he did not wish to hear about it unless it was affecting his work. Sabastian conceded that it wasn't and left it be.

Fran spent days with his mother or with the viera in the city. He supposed he hadn't ever considered how poorly integrated into Archades she had been when he was a boy, but it showed now. His mother told him that an attempt to take Fran out for an afternoon tea with friends of his mother had left Fran tight-lipped and cold for almost two days.

They spent evenings together and Cid made sure to take her out somewhere for dinner or a show at least once a week. The photographers were still not bored with them and he and Fran always did their best to appear smiling and happy whenever out in public.

After almost a month the expected royal summons came: visiting dignitaries from Landis, and several from Rozzaria, Houses Margrace, Limberry and his mother's house, Galaen. Cid was commanded to attend but unlike the usual invitations this one stipulated he should bring a guest. It was confusing to think His Majesty was encouraging him to bring Fran, but he did not argue. He mother took to the task of getting Fran something suitable for a young lady attached to a duke with her usual fervor and Cid accepted that he would not be able to think for several minutes after seeing her.

He caught up with her in the foyer waiting for him to find something suitable to wear. Her gown for the evening was deep green with elaborate silver embroidery. Her outfits always seemed tailored to show off toned arms and legs, but that might have been a personal bias.

"If your mother has her way, I fear I will become as much as a clothes horse as you, Doctor Cid," she said, smiling as he walked up behind her. He stood taking her in. The heels she usually wore were much flatter than she usually wore so she was only a few inches taller than him tonight. He'd obvious been staring too long because she interrupted him. "What are you thinking now?"

"That I am the luckiest man in the whole of the Empire, my dear." She quirked an eyebrow at that but did not protest. "I fear His Majesty will think we are avoiding his summons if we do not leave soon." They made there way to the aircar. Fran sat a bit nervously. "Dinner, dancing, and music, we've run through it all before. I seem to recall you sat in on many of my own poor attempts to learn dance steps so many years ago."

It was slightly selfish, but bringing Fran had made it certain he would not be paired with another dinner and dance partner. He greatly preferred her to the various ladies who he knew were certainly after his money and title, as opposed to Fran, who seemed only interested in himself as Cidolfus...not his titles as a Bunansa.

It was for the best, since his actions the last few months seemed to have tarnished the Bunansa name more than a little.

He had been in the middle of a conversation on different air mixture ratios for maximizing combustion efficiency with the delegate from Limberry when he was called away to speak with the Emperor. He felt guilty leaving Fran with the man but knew he couldn't afford to refuse the invitation.

"Go ahead then, Cidolfus, I may not have a doctorate but I do know a few things about engines." Salid Limberry seemed to find that amusing and he continued to converse with Fran, all the while ignoring the fact that she was viera. He squeezed her hand by way of apology and departed.

Emperor Gramis was only a few years older than Cid but already seemed to declining slightly in health. He seemed thinner than Cid had recalled.

"Your Majesty, you look well this evening."

"I see you brought your – friend this evening," Cid didn't even flinch at the pause.

"Fran, Your Majesty, we have been friends for many years." He managed not to smile when the Emperor shuffled uncomfortably at the information. It had been said innocently enough, but Cid knew that the Emperor had taken more innuendo from it than had been intended.

"Well she's certainly –," Gramis seemed to be searching from something nice to say. Cid turned around to make sure she was still doing well with Limberry. They still were talking very animatedly and a General from Landis, fon Ronsenburg if he was not mistaken, had joined the conversation. "tall."

Cid turned back to the Emperor and smiled broadly, "She is at that, isn't she." The Judge beside His Majesty, Zargabaath, coughed to cover embarrassment.

"The reports from Nabradia came in a few hours ago," Cid was surprised that his Majesty was speaking of that here, but nodded for him to continue, "I've asked Doctor Sabastian who would be best suited for a trip to Nabudis to investigate the congregation of mist around the city - we need to know what they are planning. Negotiations with Landis over trade lines are stalled and we can't afford to be caught unprepared while that is unresolved. You'll leave as soon as you are able."

Cid knelt and prepared to leave. "As Your Majesty commands." Cid walked away trying to appear calm. Internally he was seething. Gramis had all but admitted he intended war with Landis, with 'stalled trade negotiations' to be the pretext, and he didn't want Nabradia to be trouble at the same time. Either that or he was asking Cid to provide pretext for war in Nabradia when the Empire had finished devouring Landis.

He hoped he had his emotions under control by the time he returned to Fran's side but could tell from the way she curled a hand around his wrist that she still could feel his anger. He smiled gently to defuse her concern.

"General Alec fon Ronsenburg, Lady Mia fon Ronsenburg. I humbly introduce Duke Cidolfus Demen Bunansa," Cid was slightly startled by the light yet formal introduction from Fran; his mother had obviously been working hard to get her up to party-going standards. She bobbed an appropriate curtsy. Cid gave a bow and took the General's hand.

"General."

"Your Grace."

"My Lady," he took her offered hand and kissed it lightly.

"Your Grace."

Pleasantries finished, Cid searched for an escape while Fran continued a lively conversation on Landan grain irrigation. One arm lightly on her waist to giver her the signal to make her departure. He was pleased to notice that if the Ronsenburg's thought anything odd about Fran's presence they made no mention of it.

His cue to leave, one Lady Elissa, arrived on the arm of a different man than she'd been with last month at the theater. A squeeze on Fran's waist and she turned to see Elissa as well and let out a light sigh and turned back to her companions to make her goodbyes.

"Marquis," to Linburry, "General and Lady," to the fon Ronsenburg's, "it has been a great pleasure but I'm afraid Duke Bunansa and I will need to –"

It was too late, Elissa had homed in on himself and Fran and had already made it most of the way over.

"Cidolfus," her tone was too sweet. "It's been too long."

"Oh don't be ridiculous, Elissa. Why, just last week you came to exchange pleasantries while Fran and I were at dinner, and less than a week before that my mother mentioned you and Fran managed a lovely conversation over in the Grand Arcade, and I couldn't even begin to forget that meeting for a second time at the Metropolitan," Cid was sure the attempt at faux kindness would be seen through by all parties involved, but it did not really concern him.

"A pleasure to see you again, Lady Elissa," Fran added.

"Don't you talk to me you jumped up viera whore," she spit out. She was halfway to slapping Fran across the face when Fran caught her hand and held it tight around the wrist. Even though Cid had been expecting something if they hadn't been able to make their departure as planned, but he was still surprised that Elissa seemed so intent on her anger with Fran.

"Your opinion is your own, Lady Jossafi, but I'm afraid I must disagree with your assessment," Fran responded, her voice cold and deadly. She nodded her head and let go of the girl's wrist. "If you will excuse us."

The foreign dignitaries seemed rooted in shock from the display. Cid couldn't exactly blame them. Rozzaria and Landis both offered better treatment of viera and other opportunities than they found in Archadia.

"Go back to your tree house you long-eared freak," Elissa hissed out. At that General Ronsenburg stepped forward and Cid realized exactly how big a political disaster it would be if this were to degenerate into a challenge over Fran's honor especially if instigated by a Landan.

Fran stepped in between Elissa and the General. "I can assure you I find it quite pleasant in Archades, particularly in early fall, so that is unnecessary. General fon Ronsenburg, again it was a pleasure to meet you and I trust you will not get into any difficulties on my account." Cid suppressed a shudder at the half-commanding half-suggesting tone Fran seemed to have discovered - it drove Cid just a little crazy - and after a few short bows to the honored guests and a cold nod to Elissa and her escort he led Fran out into the night air and away from the palace.

Fran leaned up against one of the walls while they waited for their driver to bring the car.

"That did not go well, I fear," she confessed softly next to him.

"I thought you were amazing." He supposed he might be a little biased, but felt it was worth saying.

"I have had no luck befriending your Archades humes. They are nice enough from other countries, but we are not in other countries." Cid wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, kissing her jaw.

"Perhaps that will change in time," it rang hollow but he needed to say it. "We'll be getting out of the city for a while though. I have a task, and I would have you come with me if you would like. It's more up the bows and swords alley than the dresses and dancing one. I figured you could use a break," Fran wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him enthusiastically. "I'll take that as a yes."

The car pulled up and they climbed in heading back to the estates.

"General and Lady fon Ronsenburg were honorable. Marquis Linburry was polite and well educated. I enjoyed their company." Cid sighed at that, of course she would find friends among foreigners. "I hope General Ronsenburg does not have any trouble for his coming to my aid. If there were fights every time my honor was maligned there would not be time to sleep." She cocked her head at him. "Something troubles you."

"Trade talks with Landis have stalled," Cid explained.

"General Ronsenburg mentioned as much. An argument on fees for utilizing their ports as I understood it." Cid winced at the weak pretext. The treaty writers had probably offered a pittance for the trouble.

"The Emperor will use this as a pretext for war."

"Landis is considered a close friend. His Majesty's mother was from Landis herself." Cid sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"The Emperor wants the ports for the Empire. That they are rightfully Landis' does not concern him, only what he sees as his due," Cid sighed and ran his hands through his hair frustrated by Gramis' continued efforts to bankrupt the country with useless wars. He set aside the political and moved to the personal. "I'm sorry about Elissa, she seems quite persistent in her harassment of you," Cid held her hand in his, rubbing a finger over the back of her hand.

"She had thought to be Duchess Bunansa," Fran said after a long pause. "She now hopes to drive us apart so she may try for the position again."

Cid realized that Fran had hit the point of the matter exactly and was stunned. He looked across the car to her and saw her sitting there. Intuitive, compassionate, understanding.

"What did I do to deserve you?" She only responded with an arched eyebrow. "Had you ever thought to fill the role of Duchess Bunansa then?"

That question made her far less self-assured and she looked down at her hands, examining nailed with feigned interest.

"Fran?" he went to sit beside her. "I did not mean to upset you. I only wanted you to know that I would want no other, if you would have me."

She leaned into him and he wrapped both arms around her, pulling her close.

"I need time to consider your proposal." Cid nodded, it was a better answer than he'd expected actually. "I would not let you set aside your politics for a passing fancy. To take a viera wife, house Bunansa would not recover." She was hesitant because of his rank and standing?

"Fran, I know the risk. I'm glad to take it for you."

They arrived home and he escorted her to her door. He kissed her softly and squeezed her hand good night. He'd not been in to her rooms since she first arrived and she had never been to his; he supposed it was a sort of antiquated propriety, but it was a comfort.

He turned to leave but she did not let go of his hand. He turned back, confused, and looked at her face: nervous, but determined. She opened the door to her room with her free hand and pulled him towards the threshold. He swallowed his own nervousness and followed her.