09-03-2019, 02:18 AM
Lancaster Manor, Eiria
During the afternoon break, Eliza went to check on Trista Demore. "Miss Demore? Could you come take a walk with me?" Demore looked distracted. “Oh, Mrs. Lancaster. I really should be continuing working on the negotiations...” She waved her hand. "They can wait. The first meetings are just mostly stating what each nation wants anyway, and there are recordings". She put down her things. “Alright, I suppose a walk would be nice.”
The women walked down the path that winds behind Lancaster Manor.
“It’s a lovely home you have here, Mrs. Lancaster.”
"Thank you. And please, Call me Eliza. It was built in the 1700s. It's a bit big for my taste, but it's home".
“Well Eliza, it’s lovely regardless. Reminds me of some of the manors we have back in Zamastan. Wealthy oil and manufacturing tycoons built them up in the early 1800s, so they aren’t as old - pardon me - antique.”
Eliza chuckled. "It is a bit old, I must admit. But it's been updated several times to keep with the era. We also use some of the guest wings as hotel rentals, since we don't need all of those rooms. But enough with history. How are you feeling?"
“Very well, thank you. I feel like negotiations will be going smoothly, and it’s definitely nice to be out of the country for a little.”
Eliza frowned. "I mean, not pertaining to the negotiations. You can be honest".
“Mrs. Lancaster... sorry, Eliza... I’m stressed. I’m tired. I’m just wanting to get this over with so I can see my boys.”
"I will do all that I can to get you back. For now, you can try to relax. You can head in, if you'd like. I was just heading to Lake Maria".
Trista looked curious. “Lake Maria? I’ve heard about it on travel brochures."
She smiled. "One of the most beautiful places here. We are lucky to have a part of it on our property. It's just up here, if you'd like to join me".
“You know, I think I will.”
The women approached on the stone pier jutting out over a beautiful cerulean lake.
"This is Lake Maria".
“Breathtaking. How old is this pier?”
"Well, the original one was built in the 1850s. That one gave out, so they built a stone one in the 1960s, and We restructured it a couple years ago".
“Interesting. You know, President Castovia almost nominated me for Secretary of Infrastructure? Architecture is one of my passions, but his advisors and my economics major convinced him to name me Secretary of Trade instead.”
She nodded."Huh. Very intelligent. If you like Architecture, you should come back here sometime and visit places like Geminus's Old Town, or Ņuceda. The buildings are stunning".
“I will keep that in mind. Hopefully I catch enough of a break back home to make time -“ Trista starts sobbing softly. She wipes her face with her hand. “I’m sorry”.
"Don't be sorry, Madame. You don't have to apologise for your feelings. Here". She hands her a silk hankerchief and Trista dabs her eyes with it.
She paused for a moment. “My home collapsed in the quake, Eliza. My husband didn’t make it, I know you’ve heard all of this already, but...”
Eliza grimaced. "I'm so sorry, Madame. Do you wish to go home? I can make arrangements."
“No, no, no, I will be alright. It’s a lot... but it’s alright. Besides. When’s the next time I’m gonna get another view like this one?".
She shook her head. "Saying it's a lot is an understatement. And the view will be here for centuries". She sighed. "You know, Alice knows what you are going through. She lost her fiance during the war".
“Alice?”
"My daughter. She hasn't talked about it for years, but she comes down here and thinks for awhile when she thinks we don't know. She still wears the ring."
“Give her my condolences. Was it the Bjeorg conflict?”
"No. Eiria's civil war. The twins were in the rebel Garde Navale together, where they met Thomas. She dated him for awhile, and he proposed in this very spot. They were evacuating a naval Base, he was getting on the transport, when he was shot. She had to watch him die".
“My god, that’s horrendous. They got engaged on this pier?”
"Yeah. She was emotionally numb for awhile after his death. She barely talks about him now, but she still thinks about him".
Trista sighed. “well, I guess we all have our ghosts.”
"We all have our ghosts, but will they haunt us, or guide us?".
The Next Day.....
William Lancaster stood in the Main Hall of the manor as the delegates left the breakfast table. "I hope you all enjoyed breakfast? Now, please follow me into the main conference room, and we shall begin discussion".
After the Delegates joined the Eirian Delegation in the conference room, Alice Lancaster spoke up. "Alright, now, which delegation would like to state their case first? The stage is set. Just state your motives and we can get somewhere".
During the afternoon break, Eliza went to check on Trista Demore. "Miss Demore? Could you come take a walk with me?" Demore looked distracted. “Oh, Mrs. Lancaster. I really should be continuing working on the negotiations...” She waved her hand. "They can wait. The first meetings are just mostly stating what each nation wants anyway, and there are recordings". She put down her things. “Alright, I suppose a walk would be nice.”
The women walked down the path that winds behind Lancaster Manor.
“It’s a lovely home you have here, Mrs. Lancaster.”
"Thank you. And please, Call me Eliza. It was built in the 1700s. It's a bit big for my taste, but it's home".
“Well Eliza, it’s lovely regardless. Reminds me of some of the manors we have back in Zamastan. Wealthy oil and manufacturing tycoons built them up in the early 1800s, so they aren’t as old - pardon me - antique.”
Eliza chuckled. "It is a bit old, I must admit. But it's been updated several times to keep with the era. We also use some of the guest wings as hotel rentals, since we don't need all of those rooms. But enough with history. How are you feeling?"
“Very well, thank you. I feel like negotiations will be going smoothly, and it’s definitely nice to be out of the country for a little.”
Eliza frowned. "I mean, not pertaining to the negotiations. You can be honest".
“Mrs. Lancaster... sorry, Eliza... I’m stressed. I’m tired. I’m just wanting to get this over with so I can see my boys.”
"I will do all that I can to get you back. For now, you can try to relax. You can head in, if you'd like. I was just heading to Lake Maria".
Trista looked curious. “Lake Maria? I’ve heard about it on travel brochures."
She smiled. "One of the most beautiful places here. We are lucky to have a part of it on our property. It's just up here, if you'd like to join me".
“You know, I think I will.”
The women approached on the stone pier jutting out over a beautiful cerulean lake.
"This is Lake Maria".
“Breathtaking. How old is this pier?”
"Well, the original one was built in the 1850s. That one gave out, so they built a stone one in the 1960s, and We restructured it a couple years ago".
“Interesting. You know, President Castovia almost nominated me for Secretary of Infrastructure? Architecture is one of my passions, but his advisors and my economics major convinced him to name me Secretary of Trade instead.”
She nodded."Huh. Very intelligent. If you like Architecture, you should come back here sometime and visit places like Geminus's Old Town, or Ņuceda. The buildings are stunning".
“I will keep that in mind. Hopefully I catch enough of a break back home to make time -“ Trista starts sobbing softly. She wipes her face with her hand. “I’m sorry”.
"Don't be sorry, Madame. You don't have to apologise for your feelings. Here". She hands her a silk hankerchief and Trista dabs her eyes with it.
She paused for a moment. “My home collapsed in the quake, Eliza. My husband didn’t make it, I know you’ve heard all of this already, but...”
Eliza grimaced. "I'm so sorry, Madame. Do you wish to go home? I can make arrangements."
“No, no, no, I will be alright. It’s a lot... but it’s alright. Besides. When’s the next time I’m gonna get another view like this one?".
She shook her head. "Saying it's a lot is an understatement. And the view will be here for centuries". She sighed. "You know, Alice knows what you are going through. She lost her fiance during the war".
“Alice?”
"My daughter. She hasn't talked about it for years, but she comes down here and thinks for awhile when she thinks we don't know. She still wears the ring."
“Give her my condolences. Was it the Bjeorg conflict?”
"No. Eiria's civil war. The twins were in the rebel Garde Navale together, where they met Thomas. She dated him for awhile, and he proposed in this very spot. They were evacuating a naval Base, he was getting on the transport, when he was shot. She had to watch him die".
“My god, that’s horrendous. They got engaged on this pier?”
"Yeah. She was emotionally numb for awhile after his death. She barely talks about him now, but she still thinks about him".
Trista sighed. “well, I guess we all have our ghosts.”
"We all have our ghosts, but will they haunt us, or guide us?".
The Next Day.....
William Lancaster stood in the Main Hall of the manor as the delegates left the breakfast table. "I hope you all enjoyed breakfast? Now, please follow me into the main conference room, and we shall begin discussion".
After the Delegates joined the Eirian Delegation in the conference room, Alice Lancaster spoke up. "Alright, now, which delegation would like to state their case first? The stage is set. Just state your motives and we can get somewhere".
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