psl ( time travel, arranged marriage, conspiracy, oh my!)

[scendscale]

The last thing he remembered from his previous life was the feeling of cold metal cutting deep into his neck.

Alm unconsciously reached out and touched the spot gingerly for the umpteenth time while the carriage continued to push forward. Outside the modest carriage, snow fluttered down from the dark sky, coloring the surrounding pine forest icy blue.

Even down to the weather, these past several days had unfolded as they did before. The sudden engagement, the rushed departure from his home, and the subsequent trip to these snowy lands. They were exactly the same as his first.

After waking up covered in cold sweat two weeks ago, Alm tried to make sense of everything, to the vivid memories of this very province, the duke and his cold stare, and the assailants coming for his life. Instinctively, he wanted to look away and run from it all, but try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to. The promise he made to his late father weighed heavily in his mind every time the temptation rose.

In the end, Alm decided to test his fate.

Perhaps it was the grace of gods. Perhaps it was the devil's whim. Whatever the case may be, he had traveled back in time. Maybe - Maybe he can change the future and discover the truth behind his death.

And the first thing on his to-do list was befriend the duke. Garnering his cooperation would undoubtedly make Alm's investigation easier. But knowing the man's hard exterior and even harder interior, Alm wasn't confident if he could sway the man to his side. They were spouse in name only, after all.

"Master Alm." The coachman called for him with a firm knock on the front window. "We're almost here."

Before he could come up with a proper strategy, the carriage lulled to a stop. Outside, he could hear a small gathering of people whispering among themselves.

"Right then."

Already aware of what was to come, Alm fixed the collar of his wool coat before opening door and stepping down from the carriage.

Comments

[hypotensive]

When Felix Aquilo could barely be called an adult, he'd been sent to war. And then he came back to find his mother dead, the ducal estate driven into the ground by his father, and his only sister set to marry one of his father's friends who was twice her age.

Some blamed him for taking justice into his own hands. Some understood. More importantly, the majority learned that Felix's father had been corrupted beyond help, and perhaps, he'd actually done them all a favor by doing the dirty work for them.

Still, patricide is patricide, and some kind of punishment should be doled out. Felix was kept on effective house arrest for two years or so, which had been fine by him, with all the work restoring the dutchy required. But now that his sister was elsewhere and safe and things were looking to be back to rights on his lands, he apparently owed the kingdom one more favor, and that was to marry.

He had no room to say no, or choose the candidate. Which was exactly why he had to stand outside in the encroaching snowstorm, amongst a good percentage of the house staff, to wait.

Truthfully, he did suspect the person the royals and other nobles picked might be a plant. Someone willing to root out corruption in his home would likely not hesitate to do so for the kingdom as a whole, and a spy placed in Felix's household to make sure there weren't any plans for a coup or other nonsense. He had no such plans, but it seemed like any time he tried to defend himself these days it backfired. One reaped what they sowed, and all of that.

And what he reaped, apparently, is stepping out of the carriage. Felix gives a proper bow, something that was obviously perfunctory politeness, because neither his expression nor his tone holds any sort of warmth.

"Welcome. I hope the journey wasn't too arduous."

[scendscale]

For a moment, he stares at the man in front of him with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he had last seen Duke Aquilo fighting in midst of his burning home, assailants ambushing him with a particularly dastardly ploy. Alm didn't witness what happened to him in the end as he fell before the duke, but it didn't take a genius to put two and two together. He wouldn't call it a relief per se, but there is a tinge of comfort knowing that he's alive and well in this timeline.

On the other hand, the duke's welcome is unwelcoming as he remembered, and surrounded by his house staff and the intimidating Aquilo household, Alm can't help but feel small in comparison, with only a large suitcase and a sword on his side to call his own.

He lets out a small sigh.

Still, he couldn't shy away from the situation like before.

"It was a smooth journey thanks to the coachman you had sent to retrieve me. Thank you for your consideration, Duke."

Alm manages to keep his voice calm as he bows in return and faces the man with polite cordiality.

"Shall we head in first? I think the snowfall will get heavier soon."

[ ooc: Hey just a heads up! I will be a bit busy since school starts next week but I will try to tag in as much as I can. ]

[hypotensive]

Felix raised an eyebrow, very slightly. The trip up to the ducal estate was never all that pleasant. And this time of the year, it was typically slow-going. That expression Al gave him was also unexpected. Felix expected his new spouse to be uncertain for sure, perhaps afraid, and maybe even a little defiant, but Alm was none of those. It wasn't something Felix could put his finger on exactly, except that there was something knowing in the other's gaze. Like this wasn't the first time they met.

Odd for sure, but Felix also had no interest in delving into whatever went on in the other's head.

"Yes, it certainly will. Come inside. Your room is already made up."

Felix turned and headed towards the entrance of the estate, apparently finished all due politeness, but at least one of the servants offered to take Alm's suitcase for him.

[ooc: No worries at all!]

[scendscale]

Alm only has time to acknowledge the servants with a quick nod before the duke starts walking away, his business apparently finished. If memory serves right, they won't see each other until the day of their wedding ceremony. Exactly six days from now. Six whole days he isn't willing to waste doing nothing.

He follows after him, trying to keep pace with Felix's long strides.

"Duke, before we part... !" He catches up to him in the entrance hall. His voice is ragged from not so subtly chasing after Felix but otherwise earnest in his request. "Could you grant me some of your time tomorrow morning? About this whole affair- there are some things I would like to ask you."

[hypotensive]

Felix's shoulders rose and fell subtly with a sigh. He didn't have the slightest idea of what the other could possibly want to talk about. He thought the whole thing was incredibly straightforward. And if Alm is expecting anything besides a relationship in law only, then he'd be sorely mistaken.

...so perhaps Felix should see what this was about, just in case he needed to nip anything in the bud.

"We don't need to put off what can be done today." Because the sooner all of this was finished, the better. "Unless you're about to pass out from your trip, say what you will over dinner. We can have it in one of the parlors."

A gesture from Felix sends one of the servants scurrying away, likely to inform the kitchen staff of the change in plans.