A Missive from the Pontiff

[Draeris 3124]

A MISSIVE FROM THE PONTIFF

 

 

 

 

The Palatine courier nervously ventured through the Pruvian estate, flanked by the fatigued Viscountess Margaret & the gregarious Alexander Laurence. As the Mahony door opened: a large room was revealed to the courier, its grotesque Bordeaux carpet leading to the windows in the back. Before them stood Laurence August Pruvia-Albarosa, facing a row of many topless albeit bowtie-wearing servants: holding up various wines for the Monsignor to taste.

 

His wigged head would rotate towards the entering guests as his hand levitated above the glass: “Just a moment, whoever you are.” The Courier nodded silently, motioning his hands dismissively towards Alexander who offered to take his coat. The Monsignor would take the glass from the young Sutican male before him, circling it in anticipation. “And which one is this, Xaohui?” he raised his chin, the servant responding almost immediately “A de Savoie from 1564 your Eminence, gifted by Ferdinand de Bar.”

 

“Hmph.” Laurence stopped the glass, bringing it towards his lips. After chugging it empty he would return the glass to Xaohui, who promptly bowed and returned to the kitchen. “Margaret dear, get Victoria to ask for more bottles from this Ferdinand figure.” The Viscountess chuckled at him “I’m not your servant fossil, go fetch some yourself.”

 

He scoffed, placing his hand nimbly on his chest. He then turned to the Courier, who had placed his attention onto the frescoes of White Rose soldiers on the ceiling. The young lad considered it pretentious, as the outlandish nature of this place became more evident to him. “You.” Laurence snapped his finger, quickly walking towards him despite his cardinal robes “What brings you here?”

 

The Courier cleared his throat as he summoned an elegant envelope, bowing his head as he offered it to the Monsignor. “Your Eminence, I have come here to inform you that His Holiness has decided to reinstate you as Cardinal Albarosa, effective immediately. He summons Your Eminence to his private residence in anticipation. Please join me in my travel there.”

 

The Monsignor smirked subtly, weakly holding his fingers with a tilted head. He turned to Alexander, who was eyeing the servants that were still standing further in the back. “Can you get Xaohui to prepare my carriage and two traveling companions, those Carnatian maids if you will?” Alexander would sigh deeply as he turned to Laurence, crossing his arms “You’re not even reinstated for a minute, and you’re already back at it with your commanding.” Laurence remained unphased by the comment “And don’t forget to hand them my bag of powder, I haven’t slept well last night.”

 

As the carriage of His Eminence tailed the Courier’s steed towards the Palatinate, two Carnatian maids and Xaohui would be crammed together inside it: desperately trying to balance their wine glasses as the bumpy Haeseni roads slammed them up and down. Some powder fell off the crystal pocket mirror, right onto Laurence’s scarlet robes. “God f-.” he would cough in restraint “Tissue. TISSUE!”

 

Truly it was the beginning of something beautiful. Or rather, the continuation of it. While the four traveling companions attempted to avoid breaking their necks over these roads, Pruvian servants ran all across Owynsburg to dust off portraits, clean robes & prepare trinkets for the reinstated Cardinal Albarosa.  An era of yore had returned in the true spirit of the Albarosan motto: In Semper Flore.

 

Laurence August Pruvia-Albarosa

Pontifical Chamberlain to His Holiness James II

Cardinal Albarosa

[Axelu 4333]

The young Dowager sent her praises to the Cardinal, dictating the contents of her letter to an ailing maidservant toiling over a parchment. 

[argonian 14254]

Ailred scratched his head in bemusement as the carriages rolled into the Palatinate, hurrying off before he’d be seen and have to greet this strange entourage.

[Caranthir_ 2533]

Cardinal Sutica vows to solve the epidemic of substance abuse in the now impoverished Kaedrin as his once-again colleague lumbered in bewilderment through the gates of the Palatinate.

 

Then again, maybe it could wait just a little while longer. He mused to himself for a little, stuffing a pritt stick into his right nostril in an act of devotion to his God.

[ReveredOwl 5639]

Boniface rolls in his grave.

[Nathan_Barnett36 1564]

“Only a matter of time until he’ll start going on his anti-haense tirade” says Hektor Stafyr