Private Twilight

[Cedric Grayson]

It was an unfortunate thing to be born into a life of prestige. It had its many merits in the loud moments, but so often did it bring pain in the quiet ones. He lingered there a moment, considering her request, the hope in her face pulling at his heartstrings. Ever had the Graysons been a proud line, and ever had they been the senior house in matters of marriage. They'd never been of the make to form equal unions with other families to keep the lordship of Ession firmly supplanted in their hands.

What she asked was unprecedented, though it would likely only be of any real concern in the circles of high nobility. Most would think nothing of such a name, and Cedric found himself agreeing with them. This was to be a new age, the first child of the Grayson dynasty born and raised to lead a restored Kaiserreich. With this coming of the new age, so too would a new name.

"We will honor them," he muttered, a soft smile coloring his features as he ruminated over the implications. His bastard carried the Grayson name and the Grayson name alone. Another separation, but perhaps a distinction that needed to be made. What Lothaire would bring to the Kaiserreich was of the past, and so too was his name.

"Our children will share our familial names. I doubt the clergy will make much of a fuss, and I don't much care if they do." He spoke honestly, a bit of fire finding its way into his voice. "We'll have our happiness, and the Kaiserreich will have its future secured. Together we can bring an end to this bickering and ceaseless factionalism. A united throne for the masses to gather around."

The Kaiser paused a moment, his voice lowering mischievously as he drew closer to her, "You'll be staying here today I hope?"

Emiery Athelon

 

[Emiery Grayson]

When he gave his response to her request, at first she was relieved, glad for it, but it quickly became apparent that either he had misunderstood, or perhaps… she hadn’t used quite the right words to convey her meaning, but she withheld any correction while he continued to speak. After all, he grasped the spirit of her desires in this, perfectly.

Then he dipped closer, his voice reacquiring some of the mischief that had made itself known scant minutes prior, when he asked whether she would be here for the remainder of the day. The manner of his asking sent her thoughts reeling for the faintest of seconds, until she cleared her throat sharply, “I… have no need to be back on Ession until the day of its crowning,” she started, her cheeks faintly rougeing, the warmth of such a flushing quickly driving her to shake her head free of its cause, “but... I need to clarify my wishes.”

Her head dipped momentarily, and she breathed a note or two of a light laugh.

“I have no interest in the awkwardness of a double-barrelled surname,” she said firmly, her eyes raising again while she gave his arms a squeeze, “What I meant to say is that there are given names specific to my family, my House, and its descendants that hold a great deal of meaning.”

Not only to her, and the descendants of her brother, but to the whole of the Pelagian House, and in some cases, other Houses within the Expanse. The history and peoples of the entire Expanse had their origins in Pelagon.

“If you like, Cedric, I can tell you about them,” she offered, her lips curling as if to finally match his own mischief, “seeing as we have all day.”

Cedric Grayson