[CRP] Of Harts and Pears

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Cordelia
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Cordelia »

Cordelia had been reading in the courtyard when she saw two men struggling with a crate. Her book lowered with her attention shifting to the transport. It had the Kienian sun on it, which intrigued her. It was not until the crate slipped from fingers that it tilted to display what was inside: pears! Pears had arrived!

That made her nervous. Not because she was afraid of pears, for that would be ridiculous (they were just fruit, after all), but that meant they could taste wedding cakes. A small event in all the wedding planning that made it feel more real.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon passed by with delicious baking fragrance penetrating the walls of Hart Helm. Citrus and sugar and... pears. The baker had been eager to begin and by mid afternoon, Cordelia and Rhozin were asked to come to the dining hall.

Alice sat at the table, giddy with excitement. The older Lady Everhart a sweet tooth and it was obvious she was staying for the cake tasting. Just as well, Cordelia figured, because they may need a third opinion... Or at least need help eating all the cake.

Cordelia smiled at Rhozin when their eyes met, feeling a bit of a flutter in her stomach. She had enjoyed time with him; each day, a layer of reservation faded away. She was really beginning to like him - there seemed to be plenty of hope for their marriage yet.

She sat down across from her mother, a place set for Rhozin beside her. Moments after they were settled, fresh wine was poured for them and then out came the cakes. While all little, some had icings and others did not. Fruits and powder decorated most of them. All of them smelled amazing. There were seven choices, which boggled her mind. How were they supposed to choose between so many? She figured they would make a choice that represented them well: perhaps lemon for her, pear for him. Yet now with the cakes before them, she realized that did not make things easier. Three alone were pear based!

Cordelia picked up a fork and looked at Rhozin uncertainly. “Which shall we try first?”
Viscountess Cordelia Zabel (Winterbourne) Everhart-Gellygen of the Highlands, the Horned Wolf
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Big Sister to Elisabeth “Elisa” | Cousin to High King Zuan, Thea, & more
Married to Rhozin Gellygen of Kiene | Mother of Winter Pearle and Keir
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Rhozin
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Rhozin »

Rhozin had checked and confirmed that the pears from Kiene were indeed exactly what he had requested, and then he had left the baker to it. Rhozin possessed a practical skill or two, but baking wasn't one of them.

While Cordelia enjoyed some time outside, he had returned to his room to continue working on the miniature Veli as soon as the uncomfortable throbbing in his fingers had subsided.
The poor dog was relieved when at last, Rhozin was pleased with the result. Veli didn't stay to admire it but rather trotted out to find some entertainment elsewhere. The young nobleman had been no fun today.
Rhozin put the miniature dog with the others inside the jewelry box he made before arriving at Hart Helm. Soon, he would present the gift to Cordelia and hopefully she'd like it.

Soon after, he was requested to come to the dining hall to taste a selection of cakes prepared by the baker. Sitting down next to Cordelia, it pleased him to see her excitement, for her felt excited himself. The aroma of the familiar fruit from his homeland joined that of cake, cream and sugary sweetness. It made him feel hungry, as well as more at home.
He smiled at Cordelia, who regarded him with a twinkle in her eyes. She was pretty, Rhozin came to realise more and more with each passing day. For what her hair might be lacking in brightness, her eyes more than made up for it.

"What about this one?" He pointed at a cake decorated with thin slices of pear covered in fine sugar. It made him think of winter at home, when lone pears on the trees could be covered in frost.
Rhozin waited for Cordelia to try it first. Not even out of politeness, no, he wanted to see her reaction. Never before had he witnessed someone trying a pear for the first time. And what kind of pear! The very best variety to be had right now. For there were pears best eaten fresh, others more suitable for cooking and preserving, and of course the varieties that made for the best perry. And in future the orchards bearing these pears would all be his and Cordelia's. He could picture it already, sitting outside together to enjoy a fine sunset over a glass of the best perry…

"Ehm, C-cordelia?" Rhozin now stammered, his voice filled with concern as he looked at his fiancée. "Do your cheeks normally turn this red and blotchy when you eat cake?"
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Cordelia
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Cordelia »

The one he motioned to seemed to be a perfect one to start with. Was it silly to feel anxious? What if she did not like pears? Pears were extremely important to the Gellygan family. She decided if she did not like it, she would pretend.

With the perfect slice on her plate, she offered a smile to Rhozin, who was very obviously waiting for her reaction. She broke off a piece of sponge with her fork and topped it boldly with a thin pear slice. Lifting it the her lips, she inhaled the aroma softly and enjoyed the smell. The pears were much more fragrant when cut and cooked with sugar. And then the much awaited bite - she put the cake into her mouth and began to chew.

It was different, to say the least. There were nothing else that really tasted like pears. The play of sugar and sweet powder complimented the pear beautifully. The cake itself was moist and balanced. Yet, the texture of the pear on top left a weird feel on her tongue. She chewed thoughtfully before arriving to a conclusion: the cake as a whole was amazing, but the pear alone was just alright. It lacked the tartness that she loved. It was still pleasant enough to eat though, so she went ahead and took another bite to reassure Rhozin that she liked it. The pressure of it all was causing a bead of sweat to form on her forehead.

She stopped chewing when his expression changed. Her eyebrow rose as she swallowed and sat her fork down, raising her fingertips to her cheeks. The heat coming off her cheeks made it apparent it was not just the cake testing that was making her feel hot. The strange feeling on her tongue may not be pear juice residue after all, as she came to realize that her tongue was tingling in an unpleasant way.

“Uh, I don’t know.” She croaked out. Her mouth felt patched, her throat felt tight. She gulped down some wine and stifled a cough. Did he eat it already? Grey eyes darted to the plate, where a whole slice sat. Had she been poisoned? A panic began to rise in her chest, but she reached forward and pushed the cake away from Rhozin. Alice was already standing and calling for the doctor, but Cordelia was not paying attention to her mother. Instead, she was staring at Rhozin, feeling her cheeks growing puffier. “I do not feel well.”

Her meek words were forced out before things went black and the lady fell forward, unconscious.
Viscountess Cordelia Zabel (Winterbourne) Everhart-Gellygen of the Highlands, the Horned Wolf
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Big Sister to Elisabeth “Elisa” | Cousin to High King Zuan, Thea, & more
Married to Rhozin Gellygen of Kiene | Mother of Winter Pearle and Keir
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Rhozin
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Rhozin »

Rhozin sat outside Cordelia's bedroom, head in his hands. Lady Alice and the doctor were with her. Mark the steward was with him, rubbing one of his shoulders as to comfort him. "It'll be alright, milord, you'll see. I'm sure the doctor can help."
Rhozin pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't understand what happened." His voice sounded uneven. "Did she come down with something? Did the baker poison the cake?"

At that moment, the doctor emerged from the room. "Your fiancée will be fine, milord. It appears she is allergic to pears. Some rest will..."
"What?!"
The doctor coughed politely before resuming speaking. "Lady Cordelia had an allergic reaction, most likely to the pear on the cake. She will be fine after some rest. The hives on her face should disappear in a week or two. And, obviously, she should avoid the consumption of pears in future. I bid you good day, milord."

As the doctor left, lady Alice came out. "Go see her now. She asked for you,"she said with a reassuring smile.
Sure she asked about him, to throw him and his pears right out, Rhozin thought. But he nodded and rose to enter her room.
This was so not how he had imagined his first time in her bedroom to be.

"Cordelia, I'm so sorry," he said. "I've never seen anyone react to pears like that. I didn't even know that could happen."
After a moment of hesitation, he sat down on the chair next to the bed. "We'll choose a new wedding cake. Anything you like. No pears."
And hopefully nobody in the Gellygen family would consider it a bad omen that the future owner of several pear orchards and perry breweries married a woman who could not handle pears.
Cordelia hadn't thrown him out yet, so Rhozin risked reaching for her hand. "The doctor said your face will clear up well before the wedding. How are you feeling?"
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Rhozin
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Rhozin »

((please remove, thank you admin))
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Cordelia
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Cordelia »

When she opened her eyes, it took her a moment to adjust to the new setting. Groggily, grey eyes swept over the room, realizing she was now in her bedroom. Looming above her were the town doctor and her mother. The light from the nearby window created a halo around their bodies, furthering her disorientation. She cleared her throat, which felt dry and sore. A hand offered her a glass of water while she sat up.

“What happened?”

“You fainted, my lady.” Fainted? She had never fainted in her life, but she begins to recall the last thing she saw. Rhozin’s face, panicked, as she fell forward. She fainted. Her cheeks turned red. What would he think? She was not some prissy fainting lady and the idea of being seen that way upset her. It felt very against the strong and independent persona she carried. “It also appears you are allergic to pears. I have a cr—“

“Pears?! I can’t be allergic to pears!”

In response, a handheld mirror was shoved into her hand. She held it up to find a blush was not the only colour on her face. Small hives littered her face, neck, and shoulders.

“I have a cream that will help with the hives. They should go away within the next two weeks. Certainly before the wedding, at least.”

Wedding. Would there still be a wedding?

She, the future wife of the future Gellygen patriarch, was allergic to pears. To many, pears may just be a fruit, but to the Gellygen family, it was their livelihood. Their wineries and orchards were famous for the perfect pears. That was her future.

“Please leave me.” She pulled the blanket up to her chest, leaning into the pillows. A feeling of devastation washed over her. While the doctor packed up his kit, she fiddled with her betrothal ring. “If he wants to come in, he’s welcomed to.”

She wouldn’t blame him if he wanted nothing to do with her. While beyond her control, she felt like a disappointment. The feeling hung over her like an early morning fog when Alice and the doctor exited. It was just a moment longer before the door opened again. Sheepishly, her eyes rose from her hand to watch Rhozin cross the room.

He apologized. It caught her off guard. Why was he apologizing? It was hardly his fault. She looked away as he sat, trying to muster up words. When his hand touched hers, she did not pull away. Instead, she felt the prick of tears. Fainting and crying! Where was the Lady of Everhart and who was laying in her bed?

“I am so sorry, Rhozin.” Only a few tears fell, but her tone conveyed her distress plenty on its own. “You must be embarrassed to be marrying a girl who can’t eat pears. I understand if this complicates things.”
Viscountess Cordelia Zabel (Winterbourne) Everhart-Gellygen of the Highlands, the Horned Wolf
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Big Sister to Elisabeth “Elisa” | Cousin to High King Zuan, Thea, & more
Married to Rhozin Gellygen of Kiene | Mother of Winter Pearle and Keir
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Rhozin
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Rhozin »

He blinked. She thought she was to blame? He could have killed her with the fruit from his homeland, but she thought she was to blame?

"Embarrassed? Oh Cordelia, no. No, stop." He sighed and lightly squeezed her hands. "Listen, I don't know what you've heard about my family, but I can assure you, even though we do enjoy them, we don't exactly live on pears and perry. Neither are we well respected in Kiene for our ability to digest pears. Is it a pity you won't be able to enjoy a good fresh pear or a fine glass of perry? Of course, but it's hardly your fault, is it? Eating pears is not a requirement to be with me, and it's definitely no deal breaker. Come on."

It hurt him to see her like that, tearing up, insecure. It was even worse than polite and reserved. He thought of how she could be, bold and smiling like when they went riding together.

"No need to cry, Cordelia. The doctor said the hives will clear up well before the wedding. We'll choose a new cake, have the cook made a fake pear out of sugarwork or something. It'll be just fine, no, it'll be perfect. And there is a lot more pear trees have to offer, you'll see. Ever climbed one?" He offered a small smile, then got an idea and carefully pulled his hand away from hers. "Wait here, I'll be right back."

Rhozin left the room and returned a moment later, holding the small box he made that contained the miniature dogs. He handed it over to Cordelia. "For you."
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Cordelia
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Cordelia »

His surprise to her despair caught her off guard. He did not appear to be angry. Quite the opposite: he was reassuring. He offered comfort, which made her feel a bit silly. Was it so absurd for her to be upset? Maybe it was the stress of the impending wedding catching up to her. Her mind felt clouded, her body tired. She sunk further into the pillows, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

Close and alone, grey eyes wandered over his features. The faint freckles across his nose were noticeable at this proximity. The blue specks in his hazel eyes were mesmerizing. Her tears had dried away in lieu the distraction. Climbing pear trees... It painted a serene picture of a different life for them in Kiene. A life that she was concerned about, yet had not been a prominent thought. It would be some time before they would be before that bridge in their life. Meanwhile, their honeymoon was around the corner and the promise of climbing pear trees and avoiding perry offered a sense of personality to the upcoming vacation.

In her fragile state, she had to resist a pout as he withdrew with a sudden thought. She watched as he left the room and sighed quietly to herself. Her head was pounding. Her hand reached for the hand mirror on her bedside table and held it up. Gingerly, she touched the hives across her cheeks in disdain. What a look!

She dropped the mirror when the door opened again. Her gaze dropped down to the item in Rhozin’s hand, brow rising curiously. Gently, she accepted the box. She looked over the engraved artwork. It was breathtaking. The craftsmanship it must have taken to create such an intricate design was admirable. She slid the lid open and her smile grew to a grin. She chuckled, taking out each of the small figurines. Turning them to and fro, her awe continued.

“This is... Magnificent. Did you do all of this? How?” Big eyes lifted from the gift, settling on her future husband. She was not very artistic, aside from enjoying paints. She could only imagine the patience the items on her lap took.
Viscountess Cordelia Zabel (Winterbourne) Everhart-Gellygen of the Highlands, the Horned Wolf
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Big Sister to Elisabeth “Elisa” | Cousin to High King Zuan, Thea, & more
Married to Rhozin Gellygen of Kiene | Mother of Winter Pearle and Keir
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Rhozin
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Rhozin »

~June 2, 1651~

Rhozin sniffed the fresh sea air, a content smile on his face. He hadn't felt this happy in ages.
Yesterday was his wedding day, which went as well as could be expected. The weather was fine; the lemon and orange cake, decorated with fake pears made out of sugar, was enjoyed by most; several of his friends had been able to attend; and none of his family had embarrassed him in front of all the Fenian royalty.

Then the wedding night followed, which was interesting and like nothing he had ever experienced in his life! Pleasant too, after they had moved beyond the initial awkwardness.
And now, Rhozin and his new wife were aboard a ship on their way to Kiene for their honeymoon. First they'd spend a day or two at the Gellygen estate, and then they would travel through the viceroyalty, just the two of them. Well, the two of them and a bunch of servants, that was what Rhozin's parents had planned. Rhozin had something else in mind, but hadn't spilled his plans to Cordelia yet.

He looked over at his bride. She looked very different now than she did on their wedding day, but not any less radiant. He loved everything about her, from her long, dark hair to her now very pale skin that had a greenish hue about it. From the way she offered hi m a faint smile, to the way she leaned over the side and...!
"Darling!" he cried.

Cordelia stayed in their cabin for the rest of the day to let her stomach settle.
His poor wife! Rhozin was relieved they had a summer wedding, for during autumn and winter the sea to the south of Surien Lupin was even more rough.
Two days later the ship boarded in Safine and Rhozin carried the weakened Cordelia in his arms, to the safety of dry land.
"Don't worry, my dear," he said, gently kissing her cheek after he carefully placed her on her feet. "You'll feel better soon, I'm sure of it. Lots of people experience sickness on their first longer sea trip. And should you never want to set foot on a ship again, we'll travel back over land once our honeymoon is over."
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Cordelia
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Re: [CRP] Of Harts and Pears

Post by Cordelia »

Surprisingly, the wedding went wonderfully. The ceremony was beautiful, with the sun’s rays lighting up the courtyard. The party afterwards continued well into the night before the newlyweds retired to their now-shared bedroom. The wedding bliss continued in the privacy of each other’s company.

Despite staying up so late, Cordelia slept peacefully. She was not sure how she would feel about sharing a bed a person instead of her dogs, but she found herself gently wrapped in her new husband’s arms and that was enough to settle her mind.

When she woke with her head resting on his chest, she debated if she could move without waking him. The sun was rising, spilling beneath the heavy curtains. It was only when he began to stir did she also stir. They whispered good mornings and he pulled her closer. After a while, they got up, bathed, and got dress. And then, shortly after breakfast, they waved goodbye to her mother and boarded a ship to head to Rhozin’s homeland.

Cordelia had never been on a ship for longer than a few hours. As the day progressed, her stomach became more unsettled, until she saw her breakfast a second time. Rhozin assured that it would be better for her nausea to stay in the cabin. It helped some, but when the shore of Kiene was spotted, she eagerly abandoned the confines of the cabin for fresh air. She had never been to Kiene before. Honestly, before meeting Rhozin, she did not have the desire to see it. Now, with her grey eyes clinging to the shore, she was more eager than ever to see Kiene.

She accepted his assistance in debarking. When her boots hit the sand, she resisted the urge to get on her knees and kiss solid ground. Instead, her stomach gurgled and an acidic burp left her cheeks flushed with frustration. To his offer regarding their return trip, she simple gave a nod in acknowledgment. Perhaps she would change her mind at the month’s end, but for now, a longer carriage ride seemed the preferable method to home.

“It is so… Green.” There was something about the vibrancy of the distant leaves that caught her attention. Perhaps it was being at sea that changed her perspective, or perhaps Kiene’s environment was more saturated than her native Fenia. The Hartlands was made of a rather dense forest, but the trees she saw were different. Intrigued, she was eager to climb into the waiting carriage and watch the scenery they would pass. “I look forward to the memories we will make here.”
Viscountess Cordelia Zabel (Winterbourne) Everhart-Gellygen of the Highlands, the Horned Wolf
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Big Sister to Elisabeth “Elisa” | Cousin to High King Zuan, Thea, & more
Married to Rhozin Gellygen of Kiene | Mother of Winter Pearle and Keir
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