Private In the Gardens of Axilla

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Your guest has arrived, Your Highness."

Seated primly at an ornate stone table in the palace gardens, Princess Corazona nodded to the attendant. A decorated tea pot, two cups with saucers, and a tray of delicate sweets were arraigned in front of her.

Despite coming from nobility, there existed some difficulties in adjusting to royal life. It was an ill-kept secret that her husband, Prince Horace, was a philanderer. The court on Axilla was full of prying eyes and gossip, equal parts curious about Cora's former position within the Jedi and critical of her rural roots.

She'd made the decision not to waver underneath their judgmental gazes. Ukatis was a rapidly modernizing world, but unremarkable on the galactic stage. Cementing a good relationship with the Galactic Alliance was a must, and so was building relationships with other plants and cultures of the galaxy if they were to take steps forward.

Hence today's meeting—Cora had organized tea with an envoy of Ensolica, Prince Alfard Assi. A neatly dressed attendant would lead him through the well-manicured gardens to the Princess, where she sat waiting.

Alfard Assi

 

[Alfard Assi]

Alfie was not used to the galactic scene just yet so when the invitation arrived from the princess of Ukatis it surprised the young prince a great deal. He knew next to nothing about the world except for it was markedly warmer than that of his home Ensolica. He took a moment to ponder the invitation before commanding his crew to set a course for the planet.

Alfard strode off the bridge of his ship, closing the door behind him as he made his way to his quarters. Alfie was not used to living in an enclosed ship for long periods of time as he had never left his home planet. However it wasn’t that he was claustrophobic as on Ensolica his people lived in cities carved from the ice that made up 90 percent of the planet. Inside the starship the life support systems that controlled the temperature were dialed back rather drastically to keep the temperature closer to that of his home world.

As his chamber door slid shut behind him Alfie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He took a look around his quarters and decided he should make himself ready for his visit. He quickly freshened up and went through the clothes he had brought and put on a lightweight tunic and pants before turning and pulling his coolth suit from its place in his closet where it always stood ready.

Putting on the coolth suit was like second nature to Alfie at this point over the last few weeks he had done it so many times as he jumped from system to system trying to see as much of the galaxy as he could in as short of an amount of time as he could, for it wouldn’t be long before he had to return home and take the throne. As he zipped the suit up and picked up the helmet that would complete the suit he heard the call from the bridge.

Alfie strode back to the bridge and took his seat strapping himself in as the ship came out of hyperspace. As the ship approached the planet Alfie stood and examined his suit, custom made for him. A beautiful chrome suit reflective so as to reflect the sun’s rays with subtle green details as it was the colors of his house. Placing the bubble like helmet upon his head he felt and heard the all too familiar click as it locked in. Standard coolth suits wouldn’t filter the air that one breathed but his was the best money could buy.

Alfard felt the ship touchdown and was immediately on his feet heading toward the ramp to exit the ship. There he found his household guard that he had brought with him “Two of you with me the rest remain here” He commanded his golden crown glinting beneath his bubble like helmet.

He made his way to the palace where he was greeted by a neatly dressed attendant “your highness our princess awaits you in her gardens if you will follow me please” She said before turning on a heel and leading him. He could tell that this wasn’t like many worlds that he had been to before as he looked around taking in the beauty of it all.

As the princess came into view with her table set for tea a smile danced across Alfie’s lips. As he approached he bowed and said “Your highness it is a pleasure. I am Prince Alfard Assi of Ensolica it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Spying movement above the tall hedge walls of the garden, Cora took care to straighten in her seat. She smiled warmly as the guest of honor approached her table, lead by her attendant and flanked by a pair of his personal guards. A note of curiosity sparked in her eyes upon seeing the suit that he wore—but she kept her expression calm and courtly.

"A pleasure to meet you, Prince Assi." Rising from her seat, Cora returned his bow. "I am Corazona von Cholmendeley, Princess of Ukatis. Please, sit."

One arm made a sweeping gesture to the table.

"Thank you for joining me today, Prince Assi. How was your journey from Ensolica?"

Of course, Cora did not know that the young Prince was jaunting around the galaxy.

As the attendant went to pour tea for them both, he gave Cora a knowing glance. While the Princess was aware that her guest came from a frigid world, she had failed to anticipate that her planet's own environment might not be hospitable to him.

"I do apologize," Looking a touch embarrassed, she gestured towards his helmet. "Is the temperature here uncomfortable for you? We could move indoors, where there is climate control."

Alfard Assi