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This is a work of fiction set in [[{{{1}}}]], by {{{2}}}

after DIV was class="noprint"

Diablotin 2#Setting

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• Justine is eagerly awaiting your report the morning after the ball.

She brings breakfast to your room so you can talk. [Justine] So? Did you enjoy yourself? :) [Ilphere] Oh... good morning, Maman...!

• Ilphere looks a little glum, or apprehensive...

[Justine] Is something the matter? [Ilphere] I did have a good time ... but then... [Ilphere] IOh I don't know what to do...! [Ilphere] Things were going very well with Menard, and then...! [Ilphere] And then I was dancing with the Emperor and he said...

• Justine sits down on the edge of your bed, listening intently.

[Ilphere] He said he didn't think I should marry his brother anymore...! [Justine] Oh, dearest, no!

• Ilphere 's voice climbs in pitch..!
• Justine looks very upset.

[Ilphere] He wants to fob me off on the Compte de Desperee! [Justine] Oh... oh.

• Justine considers this for a moment.

[Ilphere] Some old man...! [Justine] Your father's age. :/ [Ilphere] He probably has grown children already, at least as old as I am...!

• Justine nods.

[Justine] He has two, I think. Younger than you, but not much. [Justine] It... it would not be such a terrible match, if it must happen :/ [Ilphere] Oh Maman...! How can you say that..?! [Justine] Oh, I know, sweetheart. [Ilphere] It is... It is insulting...!

• Ilphere lets some of her anger at Marl come out, even if she can't

tell her mother all of what he said...! [Ilphere] He was... quite rude!! [Justine] To you? :o [Justine] What did he say? Perhaps you only misunderstood. [Ilphere] I don't recall exactly... Something about how he had thought it over and I was not suited to his brother, how the Count was better suited to match someone from our family...!

• Justine frowns.

[Justine] Well, that is absurd! [Ilphere] And... and I was beginning to quite like Menard... :( [Justine] The Escaleras are a very good family, of course, nothing to sneeze at. Kaladon will be Duke of Mearim when his parents pass on. But - as you said, he has two children already, and so any children you might have, they would hardly be likely to inherit his titles. [Ilphere] So what would even be the point..?! [Ilphere] It doesn't help our family at all...! [Justine] Well, the security, the money... :/ [Ilphere] I might as well marry some rich *merchant*...!

• Justine looks horrified.
• Ilphere covers her face in her hands, wishing she could tell her

mother the rest of it without being disowned. [Justine] Oh no, dear, it's not as bad as all that! :o [Justine] But... he *is* much older. I believe he is in the Order of the Spoke as well - not the sort of husband a young girl dreams of :/ [Ilphere] No indeed....!

• Ilphere concurs morosely.

[Justine] You say you believed you were getting on well with Prince Menard?

• Ilphere nods.

[Ilphere] He seemed to like me, I thought.... [Justine] Well, then surely this is not *his* decision.

• Justine says confidently.

[Justine] And if he had become betrothed to someone else, surely we should have heard about it. [Ilphere] I don't know how much influence Marl has over his brother...

• Ilphere says hesitantly.
• Justine considers,.

[Justine] If you could meet with Menard - just to gauge his feelings about this, and see if, by any chance, he is unhappy about it... [Justine] Well. [Justine] There are many factors to be weighed here, my sweet. [Ilphere] You think it is worth a try...? [Justine] I am not certain. A marriage to the Emperor's brother does us little good if the Emperor himself opposes it. He could ruin us, all of us, if he so chose. [Justine] But...

• Ilphere nods glumly, looking down at her hands.

[Justine] If Menard has some influence over his brother, and could speak to him about this, perhaps sway him... it might be worth trying, at least. [Justine] We must be cautious about this, though. [Ilphere] I don't want to marry the comte de Desperee... [Ilphere] Cautious...? [Justine] If word gets out that we were going against the Emperor's express wishes in such a matter, it could cause a great deal of trouble. [Justine] It may be that you have to meet the Count, at the very least, to preserve the impression that we are amenable to the match. [Ilphere] . o O ( I wonder if I could put *him* off... ) [Ilphere] I.. I suppose... [Ilphere] But not until Marl proposes it officially... right...?

• Justine pats your hand.

[Justine] If the Count comes calling on your father, we shall have to receive him, of course.

• Ilphere nods again...

[Ilphere] But I would really like to talk to Menard... [Justine] We will solve this problem, Ilphere. No daughter of mine is going to be forced into a loveless marriage!

• Ilphere puts on a brave face...

[Ilphere] Thank you...! [Justine] But... promise me this. If you keep an open mind about the Count - perhaps he is not so bad as he sounds. If you think you could be content with him, then... perhaps it would be simplest. [Ilphere] I... I will try... :( [Ilphere] . o O ( not very hard...! ) [Justine] As for Menard - it might be that the best thing would be for you to send him a note yourself. He will know you are serious about things then. [Ilphere] Very well... I will...! [Ilphere] How much do you think I should say...?

• Justine considers that.

[Justine] You have to let him know that you are unhappy, though not terribly obviously of course. [Justine] Perhaps you could say something like "Certain unwelcome developments give me cause to wish to speak with you at your earliest convenience." [Ilphere] Yes, that's very good...!

• Ilphere agrees eagerly...!
• Justine smiles.

[Justine] I hope he will read between then lines, then. [Justine] And if he calls here, your father and I will make ourselves scarce. [Ilphere] Thank you…!

• Justine gives you a kiss on the forehead and leaves you to ready

yourself for the day, then. </wordwrap>