What the Lesleys could not know, and had no reason to frankly suspect, in their welcoming of the Cardinal and his son was that the Cardinal Pitti was in secret hoping for a potential personal alliance with the Archduke, aside from his predicted fruitless task. As the Lesley heiress, the young Countess of Poiters, Parmalis, was to inherit a handsome wealth, and it was the Cardinal Pitti's aspiration to align her with his eldest son, Prince Aris, the Pitti heir. If the two were to be wed, then the Pitti family could rise with the assistance of the Lesley bank. Of course the Cardinal understood that this would be unpopular with the other Cardinals as it would unduly shake the status quo into the Pitti's favor; and certainly there was also the problem that it was not part of the Emperor's design as Prince Aris was aligned to wed his youngest half-sister, Maria Petronilla, the Lady of Fidelity.
But the Cardinal knew the arrangement between his son and Maria Petronilla was one derived from pity and he understood too well that it was done so as it was essentially a useless match both politically and economically but one that was socially convenient for the Emperor as he had to pair his sister with a royal match. On paper, it was an honor, to have a Maria, a title that was above all princesses, one that meant princess of princesses, as a bride for any family. A Maria normally increased one's influence in the Heaven's Court despite the lack of promise of a dowry for it was essentially a daughter of Heaven who would be joining in matrimony. But Maria Petronilla was the previous emperor's daughter and her mother, who had been the fourth Marietta, the last empress, had long been swallowed into the halls of the Sisterhood as a nun. But even if the former empress had been around, her powers as the Marietta were limited as she was a descendant of the House Appiani, who were even in worse degradation than the Pitti's.
So the Cardinal understood that it was useless to have her, however pretty and kind the princess was said to be, and he wished to elevate his house under the guise of this fool's mission to Aquitian. But to hide his intentions to the rest of the royal houses in the Capitol, the Cardinal decided to bring about his most insignificant and youngest child under the guise of proposing the young child's scholarly pursuits. The Cardinal also measured that it was likely a good idea to show the Lesley's that not all in his house were quite as grim looking as himself, as his sons were rather fair of face due to their mother, Dona Davina, who was a handsome woman with pleasing features. And of all his sons, his youngest, Aracelis resembled his fair mother the most, especially as he had yet to grow into the stern brow of his father and his brothers.
Prince Aracelis had no idea, no inclination as to his father's sudden awareness to his existence. The young prince knew that he was the spare of the spare, an utterly useless son for a house that was struggling to maintain it's prominence as theirs. Being far younger, Prince Aracelis was far more comfortable residing in his mother's kind embrace, but it was often impossible to do so with his father, the Cardinal's dominating presence. The Cardinal still expected his excellence in studies and sport, though both came slowly for Aracelis. And though Dona Davina made attempts to shield her son, she too was more often suppressed by his father's cold glare.
It was not that the third prince was stupid or slow in capacity. Prince Aracelis knew from his birth that he was to receive nothing and would become nothing after all, the little that existed, was divided by his elder brothers and they were carefully to remind him often of his fate. So Prince Aracelis knew not why he had to do certain things and learn endless pages for he believed that it was all for naught.
Because of his position in life, he was completely surprised when his father commanded that he accompany his trip to Aquitian. Aracelis was often not even certain that his father knew his name but to be gifted this chance for adventure and travel, it was an overwhelming sensation to the young prince, especially when the young boy perceived that his elder brothers were jealous at the prospect.
"Why does he get to go?" Aneislis, the Cardinal's second son, whined when he saw his younger brother being dressed in the traveling cloak.
"It does hardly seem fair," Aris, the Cardinal's eldest and heir, chimed in as well, albeit with a bored yawn; he was less jealous, but rather offended that Aracelis was to receive something that he wasn't offered.
"Father asked that I accompany him, I do not know the reason why," Aracelis spoke monotonously, working desperately to temper his excitement.
"He hardly would appreciate it anyways. He's too young," Aneislis continued to pout, "I would do anything to gaze upon the young Marquis's wife. They say she is a Cintanian Infanta and rumored to be an extraordinary beauty. I have never seen a Cintanian...everyone says their women are absolutely the most stunning."
"Of course," Aris rolled his eyes, before drawling on, "That would be your interest...not the Aquitian wealth, their famed palace, the 'Jewel of the Sea', not their seascape," Aris laughed before squinting his cold blue gaze into slits, "The Lesleys, they have a daughter, about your age I believe Aracelis. She is said to be the heiress to a rather large fortune...they favor her and think it will grant her some sort independence. Ridiculous really, imagine the notion, women having independence."
"Why can't it grant her that? Wealth usually allows such, no?" Aracelis puzzled as he looked up at his brother's arrogant figure, leaning elegantly on the pillars of the courtyard.
"Because Aracelis," Aris drawled contemptuously, "Her fortune traps her in the position of being a covetable bride. All will want a piece of the Aquitian heiress in hopes of controlling that wealth," Aris furrowed his brows as he continued, "They say that she's pretty as well. You can see if a girl is pretty by that age...perhaps you can charm her, Aracelis."
"Please brother," Aneislis giggled dismissively, "Even the girl will see how useless Aracelis is with just a glance."
Aris and Aneislis broke into cruel laughter as they walked away leaving their younger brother to lower his head despondently.
Now that Aracelis was here though in the palace that all called the 'Jewel of the Sea', he understood where the kernel of jealous had sprang from. Aquitian was a most splendorous place and it's lands were the most beautiful place he had ever witnessed in his short life thus far, and though he was young he knew that he was certain that no other place would compare.
The castle sat atop the glass-like sea, almost as if it were floating atop the calm water. It was a beautiful white and heavenly blue palace, open and airy with the numerous arcuate balconies that surrounded the exterior of the castle. Covered with evergreen foliage that spiraled like spires to the sky, the Lesley's home looked very much like a diadem, especially as the facades were engraved with the delicate decorative scrolls of the rococo.
Certainly the trek to this blissful peace of a palace was difficult, as Aquitian was so far removed from the Capitol. The territory was the furthest North and West of the Empire entirely and it had a convenient natural border between itself and the agrarian Cambery with the Vyvans Mountains, a long mountainous range notoriously difficult to cross. But the strenuous journey only served to heighten the surprise at the placid peace Aracelis now found.
"Do not gape Aracelis, it is unbecoming," the Cardinal Pitti sternly warned the young boy whose jaw had found itself apart from the top of his mouth in sheer awe of what he was witnessing, "Remember son, you are a Pitti prince. Maintain your conduct as such."
"Yes Father," Aracelis replied immediately as he willed himself to bring about an expression of stoicism but it was difficult for the enthralled thirteen year old boy.
"The Lesleys are proud people, but we are cousins of the Emperor. Your great-great aunt was the Marietta Rollende and your grandmother was Maria Jacobina, the Lady of Harmony, Emperor Alessandro XXII's third and favorite daughter. We are members of the Heavenly Court, we are the kins of God; so you will do well to maintain your conduct while we are with the Lesleys," the Cardinal spoke harshly before turning to face the sweet, timid face of a tear-withholding Aracelis, "Son, you must be friendly with the young Countess Lesley as she is about your age. It never hurts to make friends."
"You want me to be friends with the Countess, Father?" Aracelis repeated his father with perplexed surprise.
"I know that you are not truly dim son so do not make me repeat myself. Yes, you should befriend the young girl. Be kind, be flattering, girls and women like that sort of thing. They enjoy when you compliment their appearance and such. But yes, become friends while it is still possible in the innocence of your age, in childhood. And tell her the beauties of Turin."
"But our home in Turin cannot compare to the beauty and splendor of the Lesley's home," Aracelis gasped in confusion.
"Are you truly as slow as your brothers insist?" the Cardinal scowled in anger, "You will tell her that Turin is a splendid place, cosmopolitan and full of interests, urbane and such unlike this sheltered paradise. You will not speak ill of our home. As far as she is concerned, you will make sure that she loves Turin. That is your task. That is why I have brought you Aracelis. So that you may make a friend and be useful at least just once in your life."
Aracelis nodded quickly so that he could break his gaze from his father's livid ones.
The Archduke and the Archduchess Lesley were like their palace personified, glittering, beautiful and grand. As they kindly welcomed the Cardinal and Aracelis, the young prince looked at the warm smiles of the Archduke and Archduchess and felt a light elation. They were a handsome couple, youth still dancing on their happy lively faces and Aracelis wished for just a moment that he was a part of their happy family. But the Archduke broke his fantasy when he was interrupted with the arrival of his children and their company.
And it was here in the receiving hall in the 'Jewel of the Sea', decorated with billowing white curtains that resembled large sails, that Aracelis first heard the chiming laughter of a young girl and soon after spied the emerging silhouettes of the happily giggling foursome.