FEBRUARY , 2024 .

❝ sorry i'm late, darling. thian decided he wanted to have a tantrum the moment i opened the door to leave and i had to spend the next ten minutes trying to sneak out. ❞ really, you would think the boy was attached to her hip ! but she knows he'll grow out of it some day, so she doesn't really mind it. ❝ but i'm here now, so how about we order some wine while you tell me what you want to tell me ? ❞ / @maitedobrasil

JUNE , 2024 .

❝ i can't believe that's all three of you married off. i feel like a proud mother, ❞ she utters as her head rests on her husband's shoulder, having wrapped her hand around his arm. does she think this will be the end of the shenanigans ? not exactly, but in truth she would be disappointed. ❝ they do look like a lovely couple, though. he did well. ❞ / @simondouba

❝ no, simó, don't do that. ❞ she takes her time to look at each of the men in turn, shaking her head. ❝ andrés, you're an idiot. an actual idiot. aren't you supposed to be a grown man ? ❞ gaze locks on sergi, arms folding over her chest. ❝ and you're supposed to be a king. this certainly isn't acting like it. ❞ attention drifts to her husband, though her expression doesn't falter. ❝ as for you, don't even think about taking their side. this is absolutely childish behaviour. completely ridiculous. are there even any thoughts in those heads of yours ? ❞ / @simondouba

"Happy? Feeling good about yourself, gif guy? Because this might enter the list of the dumbest shit you ever pull, " it was easier to excuse that behavior when they weren't attaching a fucking title to their name. " and you," pointing over to Sergi. "Couldn't you knock some sense over him or are the two of you useless when I'm not around. Worse than my kids, man and both of them are under the age of five."

@svrgic @vndrcs

❝ remember what we talked about on the flight here ? ❞ the question is asked in a gentle tone, but there's a sternness in her gaze that's hard to miss. ❝ if you're going to get involved in shenanigans, at least be discreet. or don't be stupid enough to do it at all out in the open, no matter what the other minutemen say. ❞ / @simondouba

❝ there was no way i was going to let simó come here by himself with those two idiots running rampant. i can already feel his braincells dwindling, and we haven't even unpacked properly. please tell me you have wine. ❞

❝ IF I KNEW all it would take for you two to come back was andrés getting into a fight, i would've made him punch someone months ago. ❞ / @aalayncs

﹟    𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐀    .

     - ‘ IT DO what i can to help. even though there’s not much to do when they get it from us. ’ it was one of the reasons she couldn’t blame eva from being the same way barbie was her entire life. ‘ but if thian puts on his big brother gloves the same way dani did, you’ll have immense help with this one. ’ she added, looking at the baby fiddling with her toy on barbie’s lap. ‘ i’m scared that won’t happen unless there’s a fatality. ’ and that was the last thing anyone would want. ‘ he lived with sergi after leaving lisbon and i don’t think he’s gone there for more than just visiting since getting with maia. ’

                        “    don’t.    if she’s anything like me, she’ll be an absolute nightmare.    that being said, i don’t have any siblings.    i really hope thian will be able to keep up with her.    ”    he’s not doing too bad now, while he’s still young and has the energy to match.    but what about when he hits his teens  ?    adolescence  ?    the thought of it is physically painful.    “    you’re so lucky to have dani.    he’s a dream of a son.    ”    after everything that has happened in his life, too  !    “    let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.    ”    lessons are often learned in the worst ways, after all.    “    house shopping is in order, then  !    do you need any help  ?    it would give me the excuse to redecorate if i like something.    ”

﹟    𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐀    .

     - ‘ I’LL WRITE a detailed list and have it ready whenever you need. ’ she surely had enough experience with eva to write a whole book. ‘ i’d still like to believe stroking one’s own ego shouldn’t be taken more seriously than their own safety but i’m constantly being proven wrong. ’ and she rarely admitted to it. something aalayna understood well. ‘ view this as the opportunity for you to redecorate the place to your liking. we just got a house in barcelona. i can’t believe andrés didn’t have any, it shocks me really. i have nothing against his family’s property but i wasn’t up for sharing a roof with his mother whenever we’re in catalonia. ’

                        “    you’re a lifesaver.    ”    she’d rather not go through multiple arguments with a toddler just starting to learn what an attitude is.    her own attitude would rival it flawlessly, she’s sure, but she doesn’t think that it counts as good mothering skills.    “    you know that they can’t help themselves.    but if they’re going to make a show of something, they should at least make sure they have the security measures in place to deal with these situations.    people never learn  ...    ”    she rolls her eyes.    “    he didn’t  ?    that surprises me.    i would have thought sergi made sure everyone in his posse had an adequate place to stay in.    ”

﹟    𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐄    .

there was a slight blush coloring her cheeks, at the queen’s nudge. “and soon enough, emi will be force running around here too.” a faint laughter slipped from her lips, brushing a hand through her hair.  “i’ll keep that in mind, thank you ––– been away from home is taking a tool on us. how are you managing to keep things going with you being away?”

                        “    too soon, in my opinion.    i can’t believe how fast she’s growing  ;  i’ve had far too many people telling me that she’ll be a handful.    ”    she knows it herself, too.    somehow, she believes they got lucky with how well-behaved thian is.    “    it’s been difficult, to say the least.    but simó has been so helpful, it eases some of the stress.    still, it’s nowhere near the same as dealing with things firsthand  ...    ”

﹟    𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐎    .

“of course, i made sure to tell them how life would be hell if there’s a flick of dust in the air upon your arrival.” there’s a slight drizzle of sarcasm woven through, raising a brow at his wife before planting a kiss at the side of her head. “yes, we don’t need a parade around us ––– will give us time to finish planning emi’s christen.”

                        “    you better hope that for their sake, they listened.    ”    she’s only partially teasing.    making a poor job of something is nothing more than tardiness, in her opinion.    this is what happens when she’s not around to oversee things  !    “    exactly, and that’ll be stressful enough as it is.    i don’t think we’ve even discussed the cake yet.    ”

﹟    𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐎    .

“obviously, no,” there’s an abrupt pause, though, as if there wasn’t even a necessity to ask. “i already made the call for them to get the house ready for us, they’ll have things ready for emi and t’s room will be of use for it. i’m just not letting my family know of this extending stay.”

                         “    make sure to tell them i don’t want to see a speck of dirt.    we want the place to be livable.    ”    not for the first time, she misses the home comforts of their palace in argentina.    “    that’s probably wise.    readjusting will be stressful as it is.    ”

                        “    i tried telling you, he’s smarter than he looks.    ”    she glances fondly over her son, who’s currently sorting through the new books he was bought recently.    “    you’re telling me.    it feels like only two seconds since i was pregnant with him  ;    you’ll know how fast time truly flies when you have your first child.    ”    she nudges the princess.    “    it’s no problem, you know you’re always welcome.    you can feel free to drop in any time.    ”

“your child just beat me on checkers,” her left dimple indents itself in her features, the words woven with tenderness as the princess’ attention is placed on the main reason for her visit. “can’t believe he is old enough for it –– but thank you for having me. almost feels like i’m seeing you less now than when we were back” / @aalayncs​

﹟    𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐎́    .

“damned would be the day i be caught taking hits for andres, but i mean, man has done something here” a humorous tone escaped along with a chuckle, but he’d not change the way life turned out for him. “that’s something i can’t predict and i told him to get a few things taken care first.”

                        “    he’s made sure to plant his eggs in the right baskets, that one.    ”    but she really hopes that andrés is sincere in this marriage.    she didn’t make him emilia’s godfather for nothing  !    “    that’s wise of you.    at least, being so close to home now, he can sort through things more efficiently.    ”    quite literally on the doorstep  !    “    speaking of which, do you really want to stay in spain for god knows how long, with the bourbon-anjous rubbing everything in our faces  ?    ”

﹟    𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐀    .

     - ‘ THEY CAN. they absolutely can. ’ eva and cael were exhibit a.��‘ it’s the best option. with the amount of times that events went astray the past few years, i’m surprised people are still throwing big parties. ’ she couldn’t imagine how much more stressful it would be having to plan something of that magnitude with the memories of brazil, italy and england still haunting her. ‘ does simó still have his house in barcelona ? you can always stay there. close enough yet worlds apart. ’

                         “    oh, i’m definitely going to have to ask you for tips.    ”    she can deal with temperamental children, but if emi is anything like aalayna when she was a child, then god help her  !    she can hear the hurricane-sized tantrums coming already.    “    and miss the chance of showing off  ?    you know as well as i do that the risk of becoming irrelevant is overshadowed by the fear of danger.    ”    she rolls her eyes.    when have big events ever gone to plan  ?    “    he does, but it would need a major deep-cleaning.    i wouldn’t be surprised if moths have eaten the curtains.    ”

﹟    𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀    .

“ FINALLY ! ” verona clapped her hands together and threw her head back. “ good god i was getting tired of having them play saints. no one is buying their act so why continue losing money ? i’m just excited for the future now ! we can finally move forward. that’s what matters. ”

                        “    they were only embarrassing themselves.    besides, the only cutting up their own noses to spite their own faces.    i don’t even know why they involved themselves.    ”    she scoffs, flicking her hair back.    “    the way you’re holding yourself is immaculate.    italy should be proud to have you.    ”

                        “    it’s flown by, hasn’t it  ?    soon she’ll be hitting two, and i heard that girls can be worse than boys  ;  thian was a doddle.    ”    she laughs, eyes upon her daughter for a moment.    “    i was hoping just to do something small.    friends and family.    ”    no need to make a big fuss when emilia won’t even remember it.    “    i wouldn’t miss it for the world  !    besides, it’s better than being surrounded by colonizers  ...  sorry, ex-colonizers all the time.    ”

lisbon - 29.07.

     - ‘ SOON ENOUGH it will be this little girl’s first birthday. ’ barbie stated, only slightly shaking her goddaughter in her arms to earn a laugh from emi. ‘ do you have anything planned i can help with ? also, thank you. for coming today, that is, dani’s happy you’re here. i thought you’d only arrive next week. ’ / @aalayncs​

                        “    or complete idiocy.    don’t you be taking hints.    ”    she playfully pats his chest, looking over at the happy couple with a smile on her face.    “    now there’s just sergi.    how long do you think he will drag it out before we get the invitations  ?    ”

“two marriages, two crown princess, and for years,” he nods a few times with a grin on his lips, but before he can put some thought behind the words they were already getting tumbling out. “and, he has children from both of those ––– genius.” @aalayncs​

                        “    you look absolutely beautiful  !    ”    swift kisses are pressed to matilde’s cheeks, before aalayna holds her at arms-length to examine her outfit.    “    are you preparing for your role as queen already  ?    ”    she’s teasing  !    only a little bit.        ﹟    @matildcs​.