The Court of Their Royal Highnesses Queen Marie and King Nicholas.

Umm if you guys are going to do "it" I think I'll just leave

*sighs, no mater what he does thier repetation is going in the toilet*


Anne stay, please. You are most welcome. *says genuinely*

you will excuse me whilst I leave for a moment ,however, to re-atire myself in a clean garment.

*bows and leaves the room clearly not happy*

Well alright then. Marie I must say you look chipper tonight. Did you get you hair done or something? You have a certain je ne sais quoi. Sir Nicholas now that I know him better is a delightful men. For his sake I will endeavor to be more courteous to you. Though I know I will be sore in the morning.

I believe.... if my mother had been even slightly more stable, if my father lived, if she had born fewer children...she may have ruled, not solely reigned.

Juana was certainly devoted to your father who was reputedly the handsomest man in Europe. They must have been a lovely couple as she was a strkingly beautiful woman. I heard she cut off one of her ladies hair to punish her for dallying with your father! I admire her spirit I must say!

Anne, so glad you decided to remain *Nicholas smiles as he re-enters to room*

Emperor tis wonderful to see you again *bows to Charles*

Yes I am trying to take the high road and not say anything of an injurious nature to Marie. She is spirited and so am I maybe that is why we have our quarrels Whi knows? But as I am old enough to be her Grandmother I will try to conduct myself with more decorum. I am sympathetic to your plight. I think the emperor was going to tell me more about his lovely madre Juana of Castile. Ledts not call her la loca tis a spiteful nickname like Midnight Crow or Concubine.

She did indeed enforce strict discipline on her ladies. On her good days, she was wonderful. They were few, though.

*inclines head towards Sir Nicholas"
It is most pleasant to see you again.

Yes well I had heard that she was quite intelligent as well. She visited our happy little island once when her sister was not queen. I had even heard that Henry VII considered marrying her after Philip the Handsome died.

He did. She had eyes for no other, as I had eyes for none but the Empress. My mother and her sisters were most well educated, as you well know.

Yes Isabella of Spain gave them formidable educations. No matter what else I say about her being fat old or hairy I always say that the dowager princess of wales was sharp as a tack. Many is the time that I would rip Henry a new one for losing yet another argument to her. She could argue circles aroung Henry. He'd get all red-faced and then he'd cry. Mon dieu! Tell me more about your Empress.

*smiles at Anne* That wuld please me much

*looks to Marie with a gaze that clearly says that she shud follow suit and treat Anne with the same respect*


Your Mother doth sound to be a most intresting and intelligent woman.

Ah, Isabel. We married when I was 26, and she passed when I was 39.
She was my cousin and my love. When we two were together, no one else existed for either of us. As a consort and a wife, she was all one could wish for. Beautiful, intelligent, capable of being regent in Spain while I was away.

She gave me six children, but only three survived to adulthood. The last birth killed her and the child. I was away and it broke my heart not to be there for her.

I ask you kindly not speak of my aunt in such a way.

Yes please do I have wuld hear of her as well, it is clear you loved her very much

*hmmm this polite stuff isn't so bad, I don't always have to be a raging shrew. I may catch more flies with honey than vinegar.*

Emperor it is clear you loved her very much, and she you. You were a very lucky man to find such love.


Anne you do make me smile. Honey indeed *laughs*

Well I'm sorry dearie, of course at one time I was one of your Aunt's ladies. She kept a very disciplined court not unlike Queen Claude of France. As her lady I learned many prayers and embroidery stitches. And all those babies she lost it was really heartbreaking. We wound up enemies but in the beginning she was like a mother to me. When Henry first propositioned me I was aghast and I said "No! It is wrong!"

Charles I must say I always thought your betrothal to Mary was quite follish. You are 17 years older than her! I was there when you visited in 1522. I though look what a handsome full grown man, he cannot possibly wed this toddler! You were right to break the engagement and marry Isabel. Was Isabel very beautiful?

I am handsome now, am I?
I was and am an Emperor. Emperors do not marry for love, we marry for politics. I was lucky to fall in love with my wife, for I did not expect to.
Here is her portrait.

She was very beautiful, you were lucky indeed. Most mariages of state to not turn out so

Well what a fine looking Empress! Of course Emperors do not marry for love, the first time. However life is short and quite uncertain. Aren't we all entitled to a little happiness after we have done our duty to the empire?

Indeed, and so I shall soon retire to Yuste, to live in simplicity and prayer.

I wish you well in that endeavor Emperor, truly

Yuste for a life of simplicty and prayer? Not all alone I hope. That would be quite sad!

Charles I hope you won't find me fresh but suddenly you look good enough to eat!