Sarah-Rachel was walking slowly down a corridor, wearing a relatively plain, conservative yellow dress. As she stopped near a window, she began to gaze out toward the garden, looking at the gardeners outside the palace working on an area near the window as they worked.

Frederick was tired. Everything, which could be done in Obelia, he had already accomplished. The life of a Serdian prince was one of great stability: there was never much flux between time, causing in prince of the ruling dynasty to retreat to the arts and other ideals. Frederick hated this; he hated this life of constant boredom, with little to raise his spirits. There was Marius, of course…but the Dauphin easily tired of his company, for he was little better than a tool for the Prince’s pleasure. Any love which he had felt early in their relationship had faded away. Clearly, all Frederick shared with Marius was a passionate affair, devoid of any true emotion. It suited the Prince fine.

Yet there was also Sarah-Rachel. She was beautiful, and talented, of course. Yet Frederick felt no urge towards her, as he did from Marius. She was interesting enough, and was meek enough that she would be able to serve as a consort with little problem. It wasn’t surprising that Frederick had decided almost upon meeting Sarah, that she would become his wife, and the Dauphine of Serdio. It was that trait of realism inherited from his mother that Frederick so relished. It would not be a loving relationship that Frederick’s parents shared, but it wouldn’t be cold as most aristocratic marriages were. This suited the Dauphin fine; he would find love in another place, one more suiting to his tastes.

“My lady.” The Dauphin replied, taking keen notice of the Viscountess lounging in the corridor. “You seem bored. Shall we take a walk? I am bored too, and I’m sure our company will lighten both of our spirits.”

Sarah-Rachel was startled by the Dauphin, but quickly covered this. She said, "Of course, Frederick. Shall we walk in the city, then?"

She rose her dress slightly to indicate toward the doorway, and she put her hand in the Dauphin's arm as they walked through the hallway toward the entrance to the great palace.

The Lady Tatyanna now stared out of a more hidden part of the corridor, looking at the Dauphin and the Viscomtesse arm in arm toward the door, and she muttered to herself,

"I must move my plan much faster than I had foreseen..."

Augusta was beautiful. It wasn’t as large as Esto Gaza, in terms of population, but it had just as many buildings and things to do. Frederick was in a whirl as he left the palace complex with Sarah-Rachel. It didn’t take long to procure a carriage to take them around the city, directly from the Royal Stables.

It was a beautiful carriage, of deep oak. The crest of the Sudland was bourn into it, with two majestic steeds prepared to pull it. Frederick allowed the Viscountess to enter first, before alighting himself into the carriage. With no wait, the carriage set out on a romp around the public park of the city, the Prince and his companion veiled from the view of the common masses of the city. Combined with the lush colors of fall, Augusta seemed a perfect compliment to a day with Sarah-Rachel.

“So,” The Dauphin began slightly. “I’ve been wanting to speak to you about something all afternoon. I suppose I could’ve asked on the train—but I preferred to ask you privately. When we were alone.”

She was startled by the Dauphin's bluntness, but cleverly hid it using a smile and quickly looking out the window of the carriage out at the city for a moment. She then answered, "I see."

She looked for a few seconds, and then turned back to the Dauphin, saying, "So, what is it?"

The Dauphin did not flush, like any common man towards an attractive female. In all honesty, the Dauphin would not be inspired passionately towards Sarah-Rachel, nor would any other woman inspire him. Yet marriage would always be a requirement for a prince of any highborn house, for one could never have enough sons that might one day inherit the throne. The Dauphin, despite his differences, was not exempt from the duties of royalty. He would marry (even if he hated it) and he would have the sons that his parents so desired to ensure their line continued to rule, even if only in Serdio.

“Well…I admit that we don’t know each other very well, but I don’t think it should deter my advances. The point is…marriage is expected from us both. We do not hail from the same caste, but we do have the same obligations: to make good marriages for our families, so that their prestige and fortunes are increased. You can make no better marriage than to the Dauphin of Serdio; While I could seek a bride from all across Sade, nothing will placate the populace and indeed, my family, better than marrying a Serdian. My sisters, who will one day rule in the Sudland and Galastar, will probably marry native princes. You, out of all of the Serdian females, are probably the best. You are independently wealthy, and the sole female peer…you represent a source of power and legitimacy that no foreign princess can give.”

Frederick was not sure how much clearer to put it.

“I would…like to begin the formal process of courting you, in hopes that the process will end in eventual marriage.”

Sarah-Rachel was not entirely taken by surprise, but she certainly did play the part as such. She pulled herself back, putting her hand over her chest, saying, "I would be quite flattered, Frederick, to be considered a real possibility as the consort. And I'm sure we could provide a stable environment; at least, as stable as yours and mine were." she said, cracking a wide smile.

The Dauphin smiled, nodding slightly. His mother would be overjoyed to hear that he had found a woman to make his bride. It would ensure some happiness for the royal family during their Sudish vacation, and would please the establishment as well. Given the chaotic situation that often surrounded hereditary succession, the more children Frederick had, the stronger his claim would be to his rightful inheritance, that of Serdio.

“Shall we…seal it with a kiss, then?”

Awaiting no reply, the Prince pressed his lips slightly against those of the Viscountess. Frederick had perhaps hoped for some spark of romance to rise in his soul, but it did not. After a moment, Frederick pulled away from a kiss that seemed surprisingly childish compared to those passionate nights he spent with Marius. Despite the problems that seemed to be readily apparent between the Dauphin and the Viscountess, he paid no mind. It would not be a perfect match…but it would be suitable enough as one his parents could be proud of.

His face red, the Dauphin fiddled his thumbs slightly.

“So…shall we go out into the city?”

She returned the kiss, though she felt as much as the Dauphin that there was no real spark. No matter. She had never been one to believe in that romance such, anyway. However, she thought for a second that she felt him almost uncomfortable...could the rumors be true? But, no matter, she thought. Marriage is for political expediency, not love.

She looked at the Prince, smiled again, replying, "Certainly, let us go forth."

Following that awkward tumble which could barely be called a kiss, the Sudish carriage rode off into the city of Augusta, Frederick holding high hopes to impress Sarah-Rachel through his material actions, given that romantically he would never be able to succeed. Because of this, Frederick set the plans in motion to host a large fête throughout Augusta, in hopes that might suitably impress his to-be bride.

The first stop was one of the most famous cafés in the entire city, where Frederick poured out thousands of Livres on food, from broiled and roasted meats from pigs, chickens, lions, and dragons, sauces made from exotic fruits and vegetables, custards, crèmes, and cakes freshly warm, Merian and Serdian wines, and a wide variety of other items. Sarah-Rachel was toasted and praised to a high degree, and Frederick left beaming.

Following what could be termed a feast at the café, Frederick took the Viscountess through a tour of the various parks and gardens the city had to offer, their carriage strolling leisurely as each plant and flower was examined. Unlike the café, it was not a rowdy or difficult trip, but rather one of great quiet and reverie. This took several hours, and when the moon began to rear it’s ugly head, Frederick decided it was time to return to the palace.

And thus they did, ending a wonderful evening.