(Sunlight fills a grand chamber and people begin to fill in, gathering for some sort of ceremony. On the walls, tapestries lined in gold with images of deer and a certain emblem. Alphinaud won't recognize them but these symbols clearly reveal where they are.
The people wear their best clothes-- only the finest silks and latest designs for the event at hand. The women where their best jewels and the men wear all of their outstanding medals. It's a formal affair and it's clear that every person in this chamber possesses some status in society. As they filter in, some of their conversations can be heard.
"I didn't know the Duke had a grandson." "Neither did I. Sir Godfrey didn't have any children so it must be Lady Tiana's...?" "Impossible. She disappeared. No one's heard from her in nearly two decades." "So where on earth did they find this boy?" "Perhaps from another branch of the family?" "Maybe he's actually a commoner--" "No way! The Riegans produce dukes and duchesses that lead the whole alliance! Any child born with a Crest would be accepted immediately but no one knew this boy even existed until last year."
There's a trumpet, heralding the beginning of a ceremony and from a pair of grand doors and Claude arrives, pacing himself perfectly as he walks down the carpet towards the altar at the front of the hall. He's only a year or two younger than Alphinaud remembers him. He can't be older than sixteen or seventeen. As he walks--
"Honestly, I would have preferred the Count over some strange boy..." "Does he even have a Crest? I haven't heard anything about him having one!"
He holds his head up high, eyes facing straight ahead as he approaches an elderly man who looks down at him, regarding him with warm but serious eyes that match his own.
He repeats the words he'd been told to. He announces himself. He introduces himself. He proclaims himself to be Claude von Riegan, the grandson of Duke Oswald von Riegan. The descendent of the Elite Hero, Riegan and when the old duke calls on him to prove himself...
The hall goes completely silent. This is the moment they've been waiting for, the moment that would confirm everything once and for all. Claude turns towards the rest of the hall and holds out his hand. A golden light appears from his palm and in the air a crescent moon appears. From the crowd, someone bold or foolish whispers,
[ Damn, bubble, so eager they don't even get to say hi first!
But well, it bursts, thus playing out a scenario of the past for Alphinaud to witness. Admittedly, he is curious about Claude, so perhaps he doesn't ignore it as much as he should. And then, it ends. There's a short pause before Alphinaud breaks the silence. ]
A... Ahem, well. That wasn't how you intended on starting your day, I imagine.
(Compared to some of his other memories? This isn't the worst by far and he sort of just shrugs at the fact that Alphinaud has seen it. He doesn't seem bothered at all,)
I've had worse days. (Like, much worse days.) Yeah, so that's that. Another day, another ceremony.
And blame you I could not. When it comes to nobility, most are usually well aware of their lineage. 'Tis a surprise to hear you were kept in the dark for so long.
[ He could probably make some assumptions why, but it'd be best not to. ]
(Another very good point!! And Claude frowns, trying to make exact sense of why he was kept in the dark. What he recalls is... just enough.)
It's... complicated. (That's how he's going to explain it.) My mother is from Fodlan but my father is from... another place. And people in Fodlan don't think too highly of outsiders.
I don't think they ever intended for me to go to Fodlan in the first place but after my uncle died, my grandfather needed a new heir. My mother didn't want to go so I went instead.
What's a little more time to come around? I've made some allies back home. I'd even call some of them good friends but others? Not so much. You know how it is. Politics are messy and nobles weave a pretty tangled web of alliances.
... We're running out of time back home, though. The sooner everyone can get over their pride and prejudices, the better it'll be for all of us.
[ Alphinaud may not really be a noble, but he has involved himself with lots and lots of politics involving them and those in position of power. And hoo-freakin'-boy. ]
Much as I agree with you, it will be no small task—an impossible one, I am nigh inclined to say. It would be best to make the allies you are able and to focus on those.
Oh, trust me, I am. My friends from home... are precious to me.
(He's not embarrassed to admit this. He values all of them.)
I know people back home think I don't take my position seriously but I do. I'm their leader, but I don't think about our relationship as leader and subjects. We're friends. I rely on them as much as they rely on me.
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The people wear their best clothes-- only the finest silks and latest designs for the event at hand. The women where their best jewels and the men wear all of their outstanding medals. It's a formal affair and it's clear that every person in this chamber possesses some status in society. As they filter in, some of their conversations can be heard.
"I didn't know the Duke had a grandson."
"Neither did I. Sir Godfrey didn't have any children so it must be Lady Tiana's...?"
"Impossible. She disappeared. No one's heard from her in nearly two decades."
"So where on earth did they find this boy?"
"Perhaps from another branch of the family?"
"Maybe he's actually a commoner--"
"No way! The Riegans produce dukes and duchesses that lead the whole alliance! Any child born with a Crest would be accepted immediately but no one knew this boy even existed until last year."
There's a trumpet, heralding the beginning of a ceremony and from a pair of grand doors and Claude arrives, pacing himself perfectly as he walks down the carpet towards the altar at the front of the hall. He's only a year or two younger than Alphinaud remembers him. He can't be older than sixteen or seventeen. As he walks--
"Honestly, I would have preferred the Count over some strange boy..."
"Does he even have a Crest? I haven't heard anything about him having one!"
He holds his head up high, eyes facing straight ahead as he approaches an elderly man who looks down at him, regarding him with warm but serious eyes that match his own.
He repeats the words he'd been told to. He announces himself. He introduces himself. He proclaims himself to be Claude von Riegan, the grandson of Duke Oswald von Riegan. The descendent of the Elite Hero, Riegan and when the old duke calls on him to prove himself...
The hall goes completely silent. This is the moment they've been waiting for, the moment that would confirm everything once and for all. Claude turns towards the rest of the hall and holds out his hand. A golden light appears from his palm and in the air a crescent moon appears. From the crowd, someone bold or foolish whispers,
"He really is a Riegan.")
i piiiick... tuesday
But well, it bursts, thus playing out a scenario of the past for Alphinaud to witness. Admittedly, he is curious about Claude, so perhaps he doesn't ignore it as much as he should. And then, it ends. There's a short pause before Alphinaud breaks the silence. ]
A... Ahem, well. That wasn't how you intended on starting your day, I imagine.
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I've had worse days. (Like, much worse days.) Yeah, so that's that. Another day, another ceremony.
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(He's just a simple heir, a free teen,)
But I've seem my share. That was my first one in Fodlan, though. You could say... I wasn't too involved with most things until recently.
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Didn't always grow up with the noble lifestyle, did you?
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Nah, I wasn't always one. When I found out my grandfather was a duke, I thought everyone was playing a joke on me for a week.
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[ He could probably make some assumptions why, but it'd be best not to. ]
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It's... complicated. (That's how he's going to explain it.) My mother is from Fodlan but my father is from... another place. And people in Fodlan don't think too highly of outsiders.
I don't think they ever intended for me to go to Fodlan in the first place but after my uncle died, my grandfather needed a new heir. My mother didn't want to go so I went instead.
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[ He means that in the most good-natured way. ]
I am familiar with how it goes. No small wonder those folk were skeptical, but surely they would have come to understand.
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(He shrugs,)
What's a little more time to come around? I've made some allies back home. I'd even call some of them good friends but others? Not so much. You know how it is. Politics are messy and nobles weave a pretty tangled web of alliances.
... We're running out of time back home, though. The sooner everyone can get over their pride and prejudices, the better it'll be for all of us.
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[ Alphinaud may not really be a noble, but he has involved himself with lots and lots of politics involving them and those in position of power. And hoo-freakin'-boy. ]
Much as I agree with you, it will be no small task—an impossible one, I am nigh inclined to say. It would be best to make the allies you are able and to focus on those.
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(He's not embarrassed to admit this. He values all of them.)
I know people back home think I don't take my position seriously but I do. I'm their leader, but I don't think about our relationship as leader and subjects. We're friends. I rely on them as much as they rely on me.
Do you have people like that?