Valerian sighed softly as he turned away from his musing, before nodding slightly."We should. between ophelia and the slave, you should be able to get the house set up, at least enough to feel comfortable."He said as he got into the chariot and headed for the mansion. Eager to get back to ophelia, wanting to see how her day had been
~*~
"Good.Because neither did I."Alexander smirked looking amused as he pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing, just in time to because just then valerian and alec walked in, just missing the flirting. "Lord Valerian, Alec."He smiled pleased to see them. "Good day alexander."Valerian said looking slightly startled to see him before frowning a little, looking at ophelia."Would you like to go help your brother see to his house for the evening?"
Ophelia blushed, pulling away from Alexander on the chair and moving toward Valerian. It took a minute to shake of Alexander's words... She leaned up and kissed Valerian's cheek. "I would love that, my lord," she said, then gave him a curious look. "Why don't you come? You can get away from the palace and I can cook for you." She looked a little excited at the idea. Even if it would be a new, fancier house than Alec's old one, it would mean Valerian would have to take a step into her life. That sounded nice, considering the past few days had been all about her adjusting to his life. Not to mention, she was sure that he was not used to such a casual offer. Most of the women that slept with the Emperor wanted to be involved with him for the social and financial aspects. "We can be home before dark, of course." Her smiled was innocent and playful.
Alec glanced down at Phedre, his expression softer than before he had left earlier that day. "Come," he said, "We need to settle in our new home." Reaching down, he latched leash on to the collar of her uniform and gently tugged her to her feet. "You and my sister will help set the place up while I, Alexander, and His Majesty have a relaxing drink or two. Stay on your best behavior, or I will make this morning look like a gentle petting." His eyes locked with her's waiting for her to nod with understanding. "Clear?"
Valerian smiled a little as she kissed his cheek looking startled at her question. For a moment not knowing how to respond. He wasn't used to people inviting him on private moments, and he had thought that ophelia woul want some time alone with her brother. But it pleased him, to be invited."I think I would like that."He said tilting his head a little, leaning down to kiss her cheek before smirking, his eyebrows raising a little."Hm of course we will.I have plans for you."He teased waggling his eeybrows a little as he started leading her towards the door.
Phedre looked up at him, though he looked calm, there was fear in her eyes, despite his look, and his general calmer demeanor. Standing slowly she nodded."Ys my lord. I would be honored to set up your house."She muttered looking around her, shivering a little as her eyes touched ophelia and alexander before looking up at alec. Wanting to say something about them, but she knew better then to do it right now. "Clear, my lord. I will not let you down."She muttered as she followed the men out of the garden
Ophelia smiled, looking pleased that he idea of him coming to Alec's house. "Very well," she said, walking with him through the house and back out to the chariot. While they took one, Alec and Phedre took another one... When they approached the Captain housing, Alec was floored. It was a beautiful mansion - about 1/4 the size of the palace, but still incredibly large - with marble flooring, gold decorations, and statues of Roman gods all around. Out in the back yard was a marble swimming pool, something he had only ever seen at the palace when he was a young boy.
Once inside, Alec grinned. "Thank you," he said, sounding genuine as ever, "My lord, it's beautiful." He grinned and watched as servants moved around them, helping unpack things. After grabbing Alec and Valerian a drink and getting them settled in Alec's new office, Ophelia took Phedre upstairs with her. She went about making sure the bedrooms and everything were set up in a satisfactory order, then moved to the kitchen. She turned to Phedre and smiled. "You don't need to act like a slave around me. There's no point," she said, shaking her head. "Right now, I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the fact that the emperor actually agreed to come here... I thought it would be a shot it the dark, now I actually have to put a meal together." Deciding on cooking a roasted turkey, Ophelia nodded to the ice chest. "Grab a turkey and pluck it, will you? I'll get together some potatoes and carrots. That should be something he'd like... I hope." With that, she blushed.
In the new office, Alec sat with the emperor in an armchair, drink in hand. "Thank you for joining us for dinner," he said, nodded to him respectively. He took a sip of his drink and sighed. "Can I confide in you about something... highly personal?" He rubbed a hand over his face. "It has to do with the slave, I'm afraid - something I did this morning."
Valerian nodded smiling slightly."You are welcome."He said smiling as he followed the others inside.Being fr more pleasant then he usually was, but he had a reason for making sure both siblings were well pleased with him. Phedre smiled a little as she went upstairs, before frowning a little."
kay..."She muttered frowning a little not looking sure about the woman's words. It would be weird treating her like a normal person and not someone who owned her,even if it was her brother who owned her. "If he doesn't, I'm sure he'd be to polite to say so."Phedre said smiling a little as she set the turkey onto the table and started to pluck the turkey.
valrian smiled slightly."I enjoy eating with people. I spent to alot of my 20s eating by myself, it itsn't pleasant....and it pleased ophelia that I came."He said shrugging carelessly before frowning at the others words. Tilting his head slightly he nodded."What happened?'He asked looking vaguely concerned, not for phedre, but for whatever she had done to worry alec."If she's to much I can take her back."he said frowning.
Alec shook his head. "That's not what I meant," he said, "I... Well, she said something about my choice of bringing my sister to you, and I snapped. It wasn't a good time for me. I had this dream about... Well, it doesn't matter. She messed with me at the worst time, and I fucked her against the wall." He took a large gulp of his whiskey, showing that this was not a regular occurrence for Alec. "I mean, I was by no means gentle." Not wanting to make himself sound too soft, he quickly added, "Not that I should be, of course. It's just, well, I... released inside of her. Idiotic, I know, and I was just wondering... what you would do in such a situation. After all, the last thing I need his to impregnate a Greek." He frowned at that, looking to the emperor for some sort of advice or wisdom. He wondered if, with his many women he had probably slept with on the side, if he had been put in a situation similar to Alec's.
Ophelia blushed. "He really has no reason to be polite," she said, working on peeling the potatoes. "How has my brother been to you? He's always been against owning slaves. It was something my father felt strongly about... And he can also be grumpy." She smirked a bit at that, because it was true. Alec had a hard time showing any other emotion but seriousness half the time.
Valerian tilted his head, sipping his drink before smirking slightly."Well, she has a habit of being very annoying when no one wants her to be."He said before sighing softly thinking about it before shrugging."It is indeed the last thing you need, but if it happens there are steps to take."He rubbed a hand over his face as he sipped his drink.
"Being polite gets more things done then being cruel."Phedre said shrugging a little before flushing slightly as sh looked down, biting her lip as she worked on cleaning up the turkey,"He is fine.Nice. Kind."She said though her voice shook ever so slightly. Alec had managed to scare her badly, more then anything, and she wasn't about to talk badly about him to his sister.
Alec swallowed hard, nodding. "Well, it would be nice if we could keep this between the two of us," he said, "If anything were to come of this... I would need your help in whatever steps to take." He downed the rest of his drink and set it aside, hoping that dinner would be served soon. The last thing he needed was to get drunk on an empty stomach with the emperor at his house.
Ophelia smiled at her. "He's nice, but he's troubled," she said, "Don't let him fool you. The man has things going on that he won't even confide in me about. Things that have changed him through the years. Our father's death started it all, I'm afraid." She took the turkey and glazed it before surrounding it with potatoes and carrots. Once prepared, she put it in the oven and began to set the table. "And the emperor is a different breed," she said, shaking her head, "I've always heard he was rather... distant with his mistresses. Used them, then threw them away. He's almost acting as if he's courting me." She laughed a bit at the absurd statement that left her mouth. However, it was now clear to anyone that was listening that she had no idea what the emperor had planned for her.
"We shall then.There's no need to worry about it before we know for sure."He said sipping his drink slowly. Like alec having no intention of getting drunk. He just hoped that dinner went as well as everything else seemed to be going at the moment.
Phedre bit her lips thinking about that as she watched the woman work before helping her set the table."WEll...I will keep that in mind.Thank you for telling me."She said blushing ever so slightly, looking bemused because she knew that no matter how she looked at alec, there was no denying the fact that he could do whatever he wanted to her and no one would ever say anythnig about it. Looking startled at Ophelia's words she shook her head."Surely not. Lord Valerian doesn't court anyone or anything that doesn't serve his own ambition."She muttered before heading for the door."I'll go get the men."She said before walking out pausing in the doorway ,offering a small smile at valerian and alec."Dinner is ready, my lords."