Bio of Princes Francis and Edmonde

I know, I know. It took  me forever. But - now I have remembered, and character interviews are back (finally)! And, since in the votes from the last interview, nobody could decide whether to have Prince Francis or Prince Edmonde from The Clarion Call (previously Alagna), I will do what I always do with them and put them together. After all, they're almost twins, as is frequently remarked by a few of the other characters.
Ask them questions in the comments, and soon, I shall put up an interview. So, that being said, without further ado, the rather short and uneventful bios of Francis and Edmonde.

***

Name: Prince Francis of Tresinta                           Name: Prince Edmond of Tresinta

Age: 19                                                                   Age: 17 (in the very beginning of the story, that is)

Nationality: Tresintan                                            Nationality: Tresintan

Height: 6'3                                                              Height: 6'2 1/2  

Hair Color: Honey-ish blonde.                              Hair Color: Honey-ish brown.

Eye Color: Deep blue.                                            Eye Color: Emerald green.

Title(s): Prince.                                                       Title(s): Prince.

 Family: Just their older brother, Blakely, their widowed mother, and the various distant noble cousins that the royal family has, including Philip Arraden, a young advisor to the throne.

Bio: Prince Francis was born in the capital of Tresinta, to Queen Gianni and King Percival II, when Blakely was almost three. A few months before Francis' second birthday, Edmond was born, and, perhaps due to their small age gap, and perhaps due to their similar characters, they were immediately like two peas in a pod. Quite inseparable, oftentimes, because of this, they would 'gang up' against Blakely for various pranks or such nonsense.

Besides, Blakely had his little friend, Alagna, so he didn't need those two (not that they didn't come and pester him anyways, of course). All three were good friends, but the 'almost twins,' as Francis and Edmond came to be called, were more. They always liked Alagna well enough, but could perceive quite easily Blakely's little boyish affections for her, and teased him about it frequently. They have no doubt that the two will end up together even at the beginning of the story, and have always made it clear. And they would certainly like to have Alagna as a sister, which they have also made clear.

Being princes, their childhood was charmed and rather uneventful, and so was, up to the beginning of the story, their youth. There is little to tell as to their separate characters, because they are very similar in most respects. They always enjoyed mischief, and in particular good-naturedly peeving Blakely. They have always been extremely fond and protective of their mother, Queen Gianna, and perhaps rather ever-so-slightly Mama's boys. Neither of them have any particular lady, though both are fairly popular among the court despite their attempts to keep out of good opinion.

Up to the beginning of the story, they are quite comfortable and have very little to worry about in life aside from not getting disowned for dumping wine over their older brother's head.

Doesn't really look like them, but it matched the one up there, so I had to use it, of course. :)

What did you think? What are your thoughts on the twosome? Do you have any questions for them? Post questions in the comments, and I'll have these two answer in an interview soon! Also, I shall be on hiatus during July due to Camp NaNo. See you in August!



Interview of Prince Blakely

I know I've been really bad about posting lately, but I hope to remedy that in the near future, and I hope you can forgive me. :) In the meantime, I shall post this so that the blog at least has something up until I can gather up more posts. I'm interviewing Blakely today, the crown prince and best friend of the heroine from my Action/Adventure book, Alagna. His bio can be found here (the questions were taken from the comments there), and the previous interview, of Alagna herself, can be found here. I hope you enjoy! :)

***

Belle. *enters interview room, where Blakely is reading* Hey, Blakely, do you mind if I ask you some questions?

Blakely. *glances up from his book and then puts it down* Feel free, my lady.

Belle. Alright, the first questions - hey, you've never been interviewed before, why aren't you asking why or what's going on?

Blakely. *smiles a little absent-mindedly* I did rather wonder...

Belle. *rolls eyes* Typical. You could be being led to your death and you would just wonder. Anyways, though, the reasons for it are so I can get to know you better and so my audience can do likewise. And what's happening is just me asking you stuff to accomplish that.

Blakely. *nods thoughtfully* Of course.

Belle. Good. Now, these beginning questions are from Catherine, the first one being what is your favorite hobby?

Blakely. *rests chin on hand* Reading, maybe. Hunting and riding are also pleasant activities.

Belle. Yeah... Any more elaboration?

Blakely. *smiles* Not really - I suppose walking about the grounds is another favorite pastime, but I really can't think of many things in the realm of favorites specifically.

Belle. Alright, what are your life goals?

Blakely. *becomes quiet for a little while, then finally speaks very carefully* Defending the kingdom, helping my mother... finding my path in life. I think that makes it.

Belle. And said path in life wouldn't happen to include any special... girl, would it?

Blakely. *smiles a bit* That's for God to decide, my lady.

Belle. *frowns in frustration at not being able to catch him* Yes, I suppose it is. The next questions are from Megan - you remember her, right? She's interviewed a few of you guys.

Blakely. *nods* Yes, I do.

Belle. Well, her first question is what might make you lose your temper to the point of punching someone?

Blakely. *laughs a bit* I can't say that I've ever had the experience, that I can remember. Well, at least to the point of punching someone... But, then... *jaw stiffens slightly, but he remains silent*

Belle. *shakes head* But then...?

Blakely. I know I oft have to dispel the thought of punching someone... *smiles a tad embarrassedly* Although I think Francis and Edmonde don't even try to dispel the thought.

Belle. Roanwall?

Blakely. *sighs, slightly ashamedly* Indeed.

Belle. Well, that's okay - I want to punch him too most of the time. Now, if you had to choose a cause to die for, what would it be?

Blakely. *furrows brow and frowns slightly* Not an unlikely choice to make, I'm afraid. With things the way they've been slowly becoming, I fear that things may escalate to such a degree. I... *pauses a moment* I already know of an attempt on my own life being planned... Alagna knows, but... I don't want to worry her by telling her how serious it is.

Belle. You know, though, she'd probably be mad once she found out you'd kept it from her.

Blakely. *frowns* Do you think so? I do not want to anger her either... But she gets, well, perhaps a bit - *hesitates cautiously*

Belle. *laughs* flustered? Like a chicken with its head cut off?

Blakely. *raises brow slightly at this latter expression*

Belle. *laughs more* Just an expression, Blakely. Anyways, though, you still haven't answered the question.

Blakely. *nods thoughtfully* Well... The kingdom would be worth it - even one life would be worth it, I think... but I suppose that's not a very specific answer.

Belle. *rolls eyes* It's fine, Blakely. I'm gonna be here all day with the time you take to answer stuff. Now - the next question. Has Alagna ever made you angry? Embarrassed? Disgusted?

Blakely. *raises brow slightly* Usually I'm the one who makes her angry. I don't remember any particular time when I have even been so much as irritated by her... Same case for disgust. As for embarrassment... *half-smiles* Well, let's just say, our characters being quite contrasted, I have been at least internally embarrassed by her a good few times... though not ashamed of her so much as befuddled by her.

Belle. I can easily believe that. Now, do you have a really amusing story about your brothers to tell?

Blakely. *groans smilingly and puts head in hands* Take your pick, my lady - there are many a score to choose from. The fools... *shakes head amusedly*

Belle. *nods sarcastically* Yep. Totally fools... and you're totally not, right? Never associate with them, huh?

Blakely. *breaks a larger smile* I think, my lady, you have me riddled. However, as to your former question, I have plenty of stories of them. One in particular comes to mind, actually. Once, at Francis' - or Edmonde's, I don't remember - birthday celebration, after the feast, the two of them planned an untimely prank upon me. The servants had not yet finished removing the food from the table, so a partial cauldron of stew sat there, waiting to be taken back for the servants. They planned to wait until I came in the banquet room and pour it on me - so Edmonde waited inside with the cauldron for Francis' outside signal. However... apparently, they did not plan particularly well, because when Francis gave the signal that I was coming, Edmonde thought it meant I was to be the next person entering the banquet room. However, Francis came before me to see the prank firsthand, and so got the stew bequeathed upon him instead. I then entered, and they laughed because it had gone horrendously wrong. *laughs a little* I... couldn't help laughing with them, I admit, for it wasn't hard to guess what had happened. *shakes head* Those two were always - and are always - favoring me as their subject for pranks. *smiles slightly* However, thankfully, their jokes no longer consist of cascading soup on people.

Belle. *laughs* I wouldn't be so sure of that...

Blakely. *raises brow with a slight smile* I shall take that as a warning to be cautious around banquet room doorways, my lady.

Belle. *nods* Yes, I think that's a good call. Anyways, though, the next question is in order. What do you admire most about your mother?

Blakely. *smiles gently* She is a mother - what more is there? She is my mother - what more is there to me? I think what I admire most about her is what she has been for us... *becomes slightly more serious* I would never be anywhere near what I am without her guidance... or her love. She is the dearest person upon this earth to me - I have never known a better ruler or parent.

Belle. She's definitely something. But I think it goes both ways - she wouldn't be what she is without you either.

Blakely. *bows head* I wouldn't know - but I am grateful for her.

Belle. Good! - you're luckier than most of my characters. Most of them don't have their mothers still or are adults and so have to fend for themselves far away from their mothers. Why, if Feo still had his mother like you do, then maybe he would have never become a ne'er-do-well vagabond.

Blakely. *looks slightly concerned* This is a sad thing - why did you not let him have his mother if he needed her so?

Belle. *waves hands dismissively* Eh, it'll make him grow. Now, next question - are you ever afraid of the amount of responsibility you have? What about the responsibility you will have eventually?

Blakely. *nods* I am - but no being ever lived without responsibility, and none ever shall, so it is inevitable. *sighs* But, yes, it is one of the things on my mind most often...

Belle. What are some things you're afraid of?

Blakely. *smiles a little* Well - my responsibility - what is happening in the kingdom... *goes a bit quieter* I am afraid, though, of losing someone. I have a subtle feeling within me somehow that someone - someone close to me, like Alagna or my mother - won't be here when this is all over...

Belle. *shifts uncomfortably* Um, yeah... Uh, anyways, though, passing over that, last question from Lucy... and, I think, the last question. What are some things that make you happy?

Blakely. *smiles* Being with Alagna.

Belle. *laughs* You really have absolutely no wish to even try to hide it - you are really stuck on her!

Blakely. *smiles a little sheepishly* Perhaps... but if I were, why would I hide it?

Belle. *shakes head smilingly* Well, that's the end of the questions. Thanks for cooperating, Blakely!

Blakely. *bows* 'Twas my honor, my lady. *leaves*

End Interview

What did you think of Blakely? Did you enjoy the interview? Do you have any characters he would get along with?

The next interview will be - depending on votes - either

Prince Francis and/or Prince Edmonde, Blakely's younger brothers (votes will decide whether they will be separate or together)

Lady Felicia Ellmonte, Alagna's cousin and friend

Alexander Arleine, Alagna's tenacious cousin and Felicia's younger brother

Vote in the comments and I'll post a bio for the winner soon! :D





Bio of Prince Blakely

Finally! Something other than story snippets! ;)
When Alagna (from her as of yet self-titled book, here) was interviewed a week or two back, getting the interview chain up and running again (ugh, what a horrendous mixing of metaphors), the candidates for the next interview were these:

Prince Blakely, Alagna's best friend;

Lady Felicia Elmonte, Alagna's cousin;

Prince Francis and/or Prince Edmonde, Alagna's other friends, and Blakely's younger brothers.

And, as a two-to-one vote cast, it seems that Blakely has won out. :) So I'm posting his bio here. Ask any questions for him in the comments, and I will ask them of him in a little while when I post the interview. :) I hope you like him!

***

Name: Prince Blakely of.... don't ask the country's name, I don't know yet. :P

Age: 22.

Nationality: He's the prince of the country I have been calling 'Homeland' when I reference this story, but the country has no actual name difortunamente... :P However. Due to certain details, you may have reason to believe (as I do) that the country is Tresinta, which is the main country in my other Action/Adventure novel, Alomina, as well, though many years after Mina and Percy.

Height: 6'4

Hair Color: Blonde, blonde, blonde, blonde - think honey-blonde.

Eye Color: Deep blue.

Title(s): Prince; Crown Prince (and there's another one by the end of the story, but I won't give that one away...). ;)

Family: His father is deceased, but his widowed mother, Queen Gianna, is still living. He has two younger brothers - Francis, who is not quite three years younger than him, and Edmonde, who is four years younger than him. Other than that he only really has very distant cousins and such among the nobles, the closest one being Philip Arraden, a prodigy advisor to the throne.

Bio: Prince Blakely was born in Castle Ethelire in Homeland's capital, to Queen Gianna and King Percival II. The firstborn, he was named Crown Prince, and heir to the throne, and he has always done his best to live up to that title. When he was young, it was the time what many nobles called 'The Arleine Line,' due to the Arleine family being particularly powerful and close with the royal family at that time; Lord Gerard Arleine was royal advisor, Lady Helen Arleine was the queen's best friend, and Lord Freyand Arleine was in charge of the king's elite garrison of knights. It was no surprise, then, that Gerard Arleine's granddaughter (by his son, Theodore, who was Freyand's younger brother) was a common playmate of Blakely's by time he was six years of age. It didn't take long for them to become best friends, particularly considering Blakely was always of a quieter nature, and did not make friends by the dozen, as Alagna even from that young age did. So his early attachment to Alagna led to her being really his only very, very close friend in his life, really, though he did have friendship with his brothers.

The 'almost twins,' as Francis and Edmonde were called, often said Blakely was a worrywart - a sentiment which Alagna too voiced - and perhaps this was so for a time. Blakely was always the kind to take his duties more seriously - he never really complained or hyperventilated, but Alagna and his brothers could always tell when he was worried. Being of a quiet nature, Blakely was never one to voice concerns, but always preferred to listen, which was good for Alagna, as she was always the more talkative, social one.

Blakely already had taken on much responsibility by his fourteenth birthday, due to the disappearance and death of his father at the hand of bandits when Blakely was nine. But this suited Blakely - he always worked well with responsibility because it was fulfilling to his thoughtful nature.

For quite a few years before and up to the story, Blakely had rather a fancy for Alagna, but being quiet and respectful of their friendship as well as its small nature, Blakely kept it to himself for a while... if rather badly. Alagna knows full well of this fancy, and Blakely knows she knows, but it doesn't really stand between them at all. Blakely just treats her better than other ladies, and she just accepts his gifts with a smile and teases him sometimes. Their friendship really hasn't suffered any damage throughout the years, which is not the case for most boy-girl friendships, so it's really rather astonishing.

Up to the beginning of the story, Blakely is a great advisor and aid to his mother - who is a widowed queen in prosperous but quickly hardening times. There is absolutely no trouble in the illustrious kingdom up to the beginning of the story, but when trouble does come, Blakely is his mother's greatest crutch.

All of the princes are immensely fond of their mother, the 'almost twins' particularly so (call them "Mama's Boys" all you want - they probably wouldn't deny it!). They all sort-of dote upon her, and are rather protective. You see, Duke Roanwall, a noble in the court who attempts to advise the queen, fancies the queen himself and often makes attempts at courting her... but the princes all despise him. And so, if they're around, they stick to their mother like glue to paper, and basically do anything short of telling him to scram. And they show no particular respect to Roanwall, I can tell you, except perhaps Blakely, who is perhaps a tad less inclined to be outwardly rude than Francis and Edmonde are. But even Blakely is only as civil as is required humanly - Roanwall is rather a fop, and Queen Gianni really doesn't care for him in any such way, so the princes have all the more reason to want to pummel the guy whenever he comes around (though, thankfully none of them do - if even one of them did, Roanwall might not be recovering anytime soon).

I think that's really all that's been going on in Blakely's life up to the points of the story - his mother's droll suitor, his socialite best friend, and a grand kingdom that Blakely takes care of, filled with - so far - nothing but prosperity. That is, until the story starts...

***

What did you think? Do you like Blakely? What do you think of his current state? Any questions for him? Again, ask him anything you like in the comments, and he'll answer the questions in an interview soon. :)



Interview of Alagna Arleine

Alagna's bio can be found here. The introduction to her story can be found here. The questions were given at this post here. I hope you enjoy it! :)

***

Me. *enters interview room and turns to Alagna* Alagna, can I ask you some questions today?






Alagna. *raises brow in question* Ask me questions?

Me. *nods* For an interview.

Alagna. *frowns slightly* Yes. But please keep it quick, there are things I would like to do.

Me. *dryly* Like sneaking around ballrooms, spying on people, and other general nosiness and

busybody-ing...?

Alagna. *blushes slightly, but ignores it* No. Like finding that man in the mask.




Me. Yes, so exactly what I said.






Alagna. No, this is -






Me. How's about we get on with the questions, Alagna? These first ones are from Mary Katherine.
Firstly, what is your favorite dessert?






Alagna. I don't know. Something rich and chocolate. Something elegant or difficult.






Me. So... maybe red velvet cake...?

Alagna. *nods slightly in approval* Yes.






Me. Now, if you lived in current times, what movie or musical would you enjoy? Hmm. Actually, I may have to answer this one, as you have no idea what I'm even talking about.






Alagna. What are you talking about..?






Me. Never you mind. They're a form of music or entertainment we enjoy nowadays... sort-of. But I think you would probably enjoy ones with more rich, classical entrenchment. Probably would enjoy The Phantom of the Opera as far as musicals go... at least until you heard the plot. As for movies, you'd probably like Gone With The Wind... again, excepting the plot. Basically just things that are particularly rich in culture. I think your favorite movies, though, would probably be mystery movies, oddly enough. You like figuring things out and being nosy so much, you'd probably love them. You'd probably like Miss Marple.






Alagna. *lightly* I still have no notion of what those are.






Me. *shakes head* Ask Amy and Alejandro sometime, they're always bringing movies with them in here. Anyways, though, what's your favorite color?






Alagna. To wear or at all?






Me. Um, both, I guess.






Alagna. To wear, gold. At all, claret red. *frowns slightly* I would wear it as much as gold, but... *glances disapprovingly at her hair*






Me. Well, I'm not changing it, if that's what you're implying. Come on, you're my only even relatively red-headed heroine. Definitely not changing it.






Alagna. *smooths skirts nonchalantly* I wasn't asking it. But you may go on with the questions.

Me. Alright, do you have any hobbies?






Alagna. *inclines head* I do.  I play the harpsichord, lyre, harp, organ, and I sing.






Me. So mostly music.






Alagna. Yes. Mostly music, but I also read a bit.






Me. Alright, these are from Blue. What's your earliest childhood memory?






Alagna. *cocks head* I think when I went to the palace as a little girl, for a party my parents were going to. I was, I don't know, perhaps four years of age? But I spoke with Blakely and his brothers there, and I remember it distinctly because Francis was following their mother around, wanting to hold baby Edmond. *smiles* I don't think those two have ever tolerated being parted. *laughs* Even my earliest memories are of balls and grandeur, it seems! I'm afraid I know very little of any other world.






Me. Well... you will... *clears throat* Anyways, what is your most prized possession?






Alagna. Easily spoken. A book of songs and old ballads that Blakely gifted to me for my last birthday. It is old, but I love the old songs. They are so - I don't know - they just have a beauty, and a mystery to them like nothing else I know... *laughs a little* But they're old enough that I can scarcely read the music to sing them!








Me. Do you have any unusual talents?

Alagna. *raises eyebrow and cocks head* Unusual, I'm not sure. I play, and sing, but as do most ladies of the court. I read, but as do most of the intelligent ladies of the court. Well, I like keeping house, which is something most ladies of any court would scoff at. *straightens* But I scoff at them for not acting like women. I would like to think I'm good at housekeeping, but my servants always seem to somehow do it far better than I whenever they do it.






Me. *rolls eyes* I can think of one. How about nosing into other people's business? You're an expert at that...






Alagna. *blushes again ever-so-slightly* Well, I try not to be - but, well, *indignantly* the masked man was important! In the library, he had -






Me. Yes, I know what he had.  *sighs exasperatedly* You are a terrible busybody. But, if you weren't, then a lot of people would probably be dead, so whatever. *shakes head* Now, what is your deepest fear?






Alagna. *looks away* I... I don't think I have one.






Me. *nods sarcastically* Of course not. If you don't answer on your own, you know I can make you, so you might as well.






Alagna. *bites lip* Well, I really don't know... I have a sinking feeling inside of me sometimes, and... I don't know what it means, I really don't... I don't know what I'm afraid of.

Me. *plainly* I do. Love perhaps...?






Alagna. *sweeps hands out* Of course not - I have suitors, and I have never shied from any of them. And I see men in court all the time, and I never shy from deflecting them from me if I don't want their attentions. I'm not afraid of men. Or love. *nods decisively, as though to assure herself*






Me. *shakes head* Alagna, Alagna... Now, what is your deepest desire?






Alagna. I don't really know that either... *puts hands up frustratedly, biting lip* I suppose I'm not much help answering these - but maybe people should ask simpler questions! And mind their own business, for Heaven's sake.






Me. You are such a hypocrite, Alagna! And I think I know what this one is too... in fact, I think it's the same answer.






Alagna. *straightens* It is not. I have never desired any affections, though get them I may. I never even think about it.






Me. Ugh, Alagna! You don't have to think about something to be afraid of it, or to want it. In fact, your not thinking about it, I think makes it all the more unexpected and unfamiliar.






Alagna. *waves hand flippantly* Next question, perhaps?






Me. Would you sacrifice that desire to prevent that fear?






Alagna. *gasps frustratedly* According to you, they're one and the same! Which makes it a logical impossibility, doesn't it? Next question, please.

Me. Fine, fine. Here's the last of Blue's questions. Would you be the type to throw a cream pie in someone's face?




Alagna. *expression lightens to a coy smile* This question I can answer easily - certainly! I must say it's an odd idea to throw a pie in someone's face, but it sounds like something Francis and Edmond though up... which makes it rather delightful to think of! *laughs* I can just imagine doing it, too...




Me. *laughs* Yeah - strangely enough, so can I. Alright, now these questions are from Catherine Hawthorn. Who or what is your greatest enemy?




Alagna. *frowns slightly* I don't really have any enemies. I don't think there's really anyone I know that comes to mind that I can't at least mostly tolerate, and can't at least mostly tolerate me. But the masked man... if he is truly as dangerous as he bodes to be, then I and the whole country may have an enemy in him.




Me. What is your greatest talent?




Alagna. Playing or singing. Not sure which. Perhaps playing my harpsichord.




Me. What is your favorite flower?




Alagna. A white camellia. It's the most elegant flower I can think of, and I like wearing it in my gowns and hair at balls.




Me. Alright, what's your favorite gown or other piece of clothing?

Alagna. *frowns disapprovingly* That is a rather indelicate question.




Me. Come on, Alagna. In your times it might be, but not in mine, and not in your interviewers'. Please answer.




Alagna. *nods slightly* Then my gold gown, the one -




Me. *nods* Yep. I know the one. The one you're wearing when the story begins - big, billowing skirt, sparkling spectacle, low enough neckline for you to have your bit of jewelry and your hair trailing down your neck. Your preferred genre of ball gown, yes?




Alagna. *smiles reminiscently* Yes, most surely.




Me. Alright, these questions are from Hope. How would you describe yourself?


Alagna. *cocks head coquettishly* 'Spoiled', perhaps - 'elegant'? I think, actually, 'charmed' would be the word. A spoiled girl who loves elegance and has a charmed life that she's rather attached to.


Me. *nods* That sounds about right. Now, what do you like to do that most people would think was odd?


Alagna. Well, like I said before, keeping house. I pleasure in doing it, unlike most nobles. And most women of court would think me odd - if they didn't already for my leaving home before being married.


Me. Which you did exactly for that purpose.


Alagna. *sweeps hands lightly* I didn't do it because I wanted to prove a point - I did it because it sounded nice. I cannot really keep house for my parents - what an odd notion - and I cannot really have my own estates while living in someone else's.


Me. *shakes head* Alagna... Anyways, if you could be any animal, which would it be?

Alagna. *cocks head* A fox, I think. I like them, and they are rather intriguing creatures.


Me. *rolls eyes* Intriguing creatures that just happen to be like you in animal form? Red-colored fur, slender and sleek, nosy, and always sticking themselves in business that doesn't belong to them. Really, Alagna?


Alagna. I never really thought about it that way, I just always liked them!


Me. *shakes head again* Whatever. What is your deepest, darkest secret?


Alagna. *smooths skirts rather irritatedly* I think these people are getting a bit too prying.


Me. Just answer the question, Alagna, eesh.


Alagna. I don't know. Perhaps... perhaps that I really actually do care what other people think, and do care for simplicity, and really wouldn't mind a simpler life. But I doubt that anyone else shall ever know it.


Me. I don't think that's it, but fine. Close enough. The next questions are from Megan - you remember her, right? She was the one that interviewed Edmond a while back... I think...


Alagna. Yes, I think I remember that time.

Patrizio Buanne of the very, very blue eyes. :)

Me. Yeah. Well, anyways, her first question is what do you find more handsome, brown eyes or blue eyes?


Alagna. *frowns* This is another attempt to try and - ! *throws up hands irritatedly* Ugh. Brown, if she must have an answer!


Me. *raises brow sternly* Alagna...


Alagna. *gasps frustratedly* Fine! Blue, then.


Me. *nods, satisfied* I know. Now, are you practical, or a dreamer?


Alagna. Probably a bit of both. Perhaps slightly more on the practical side - I'm perfectly content where I am, so no need for dreams. However, that could also be because every dream of mine that comes to mind I already have.


Me. So you think... Alright, last question. Would you rather live a long and unremarkable life, or a short one filled with glory?


Alagna. *cocks head thoughtfully* I think the former suits me. I am rather unremarkable in my present state, and would be content to live forever in it, so that logically points out the answer for me. Is that all?


Me. *nods* Thanks for your, uh, attempt at cooperation.


Alagna. *flicks hand up dismissively* I wasn't even attempting. Farewell.


Me. *shakes head* Farewell, Alagna.


End Interview.
What did you think? Did you like Alagna? Is she difficult or what...? Ugh... some characters... Anyways, though, the candidates for the next interview are these:

Prince Blakely, Alagna's best friend

Lady Felicia Elmonte, Alagna's cousin

 Prince Francis and/or (depending on common vote of joint or separate interviewing for them) Prince Edmonde, Alagna's close friend(s), and Blakely's younger brother(s).

Vote in the comments, and I'll post a bio for whoever gets the most votes in a little while. :)

Bio of Alagna Arleine

Hi! Sorry it took so long for this bio to get put up (honestly, I had forgotten about character interviews completely in the excitement of posting The Pain of a Memory). Today, it's Alagna, from her self-titled book. The last interview and bio are here and here (of Princess Celeise from Alomina).
Name: Alagna Arleine (she is nominally Lady Alagna Arleine, but has no true title as her parents are both still living).
Age: 19 (and it's only due to her independent spirit and pure stubbornness that she's not married yet at this age).
Nationality: Um... good question. :P I haven't actually decided which country in my world to make the main country in Alagna. All I know is that she's from the main country, which (as I did in introducing the story) I shall call Homeland, and I'll call the other one (the Italian-based country) Nova Italia. Anyways, though, she's from Homeland.

Height: 5'7.
Hair color: Dark reddish-chestnut, but more to the red side.
Eye color: Mixed. A blue-ish, silver-ish, violet-ish color (and I totally chose it as a novelty because I had a friend with the same color eyes).
Title(s): Lady (only for being noble - she is not an actual Lady by official title).
Family: Her parents (living, just in a different part of the country); her aunt, Andra Arleine, and her uncle (who I'm not sure is even living yet, because he never is mentioned or makes an appearance); her cousins, Alexander and Felicia; Felicia's husband, Alistair. She actually is one of my characters with more of a family (though she has no siblings). 

Bio:
Alagna Arleine was born in a long-noble family, long very close advisors and friends to the royal family. She was perhaps a bit spoiled as a child, but she didn't like it and so (thankfully) was never a brat or anything. In growing up, due to her family's close relations with the royal family, her best friend from the age of eight or nine was the oldest prince, Blakely (and he still is). She was always very social, though, and had strong connections already at the age of eleven. Her other friends growing up, though, were her cousins, bashful Alexander, and bubbly Felicia, who - though they knew her before Blakely did - never were quite as close to her for some reason, though close they were.

Alagna always liked grandeur and beauty, and had a fancy for anything really beautiful. As a child, music was her greatest love, and by time she met Blakely she was already any court lady's equal in playing. However, even though she was a perfect court lady in such things as manners, opinion, parentage, skills, and social life, she had a very independent streak in her, and left her parents - though yet unmarried still - at the age of seventeen to acquire her own estates (which she did), which  - believe me - is a very unorthodox thing to do in medieval times, whether in the high or low social circle. She didn't really have much a reason, either, rather than not liking to be spoiled and wanting to live independently. :P But such was the character of Alagna.

She was always somewhat nosy, though, especially being so social - never quite a gossiper, perhaps, but often toing the line. her popularity in high society only increased the popularity of her family in the royal court, and it has long been hoped (not subtly at all) and voiced (definitely not subtly) that she should marry one of the princes - primarily Blakely, who is the eldest and first in line for the throne. But, despite the people's (and the court's) wishes, Alagna has no designs on being queen (nor any desire to marry her best friend) - again, another illustration of her rather hard-headed independence. Neither has she any thought of suitors or courtship presently (though the suitors feel differently, to say the least). Alagna's life has been the high social life for most of it, and she really can't imagine anything else. And, up to the beginning of the story, she doesn't have to...

I think that about brings Alagna's glamorous life up to date. She has had a charmed life up to now, hasn't she? Everything velvet and gold and grand, you know (in fact, if you were to see my Alagna Pinterest board, you would indeed see an aesthetic of only exactly those things).

Anyways, that it for now. What did you think of her? I'll interview her soon, so put any and all the questions you can think of for Alagna in the comments, and I will use them in her interview. Thanks! :D 

Interview Of Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta

Bongiorno! Today I'm here with Princess Celeise I of Tresinta, from Alomina. And without further ado, here is her interview. :)

***

Belle. Hello, Celeise - er - Your Highness! Would you please answer some questions for me today?

Celeise. Like the question you just asked?

Belle. Eh... yes... *smiles sheepishly* Alright, so these questions are all from my audience, a bunch of people I tell about you and Montefore and all the other people in this story.

Celeise. *raises eyebrow* Who's Montefore?

Belle. Oops... uh, you won't find out for a while. Don't mind him. In fact, forget that because you don't even meet him until chapter thirty or so. Anyways... uh, what was I doing...?

Celeise. You had certain queries you wished me to answer.

Belle. *nods* Yes, that's right. So, the first ones are from Hope, who is one of my lovely Inkling readers of your story. What is your favorite thing about being a princess?

Celeise. *smiles a little* Being able to learn. To read and to memorize whatever beautiful thing strikes me or whatever I have trouble wrapping my mind around - that is the thing I love best about being a princess. The ability to learn and the means to do so is really all I need to happily occupy myself.

Belle. What is your least favorite thing about being a princess?

Celeise. *frowns slightly* Politics. I get wind of this and that ever and always, every single day. Lord Something did this - Peasant Someone did that - and it's all so ridiculous. What a lot of half-witted pigeons the kingdom is composed of. My father tires of it often as well, and I try to ease his mind of it when I can.

Belle. Speaking of King Edarian, what do you admire most about your father?

Celeise. *gazes off distantly for a moment* I don't know... there are so many things... I only hope that one day I can be as great a leader - and as great a friend - as he is. Maybe what I admire most is that I never even needed - much less desired - a friend as a child because he was everything to me. I never thought I would need anybody else, and I never have even now. He's so good, and he loves me so. There's nobody like him in the world. If... *blushes slightly* If my future husband has even half of what my father has - if he is even like my father in the least; as good, as loving, or as gentle - then I shall be content forever with him.

Belle. *snickers*

Celeise. *snaps back into reality and glances quizzically at Belle* What is it? Do you think this wish comical?

Belle. *shakes head, holding back a laugh* Nope, I just... nothing. *clears throat* Anyways, Do you spend time with your younger siblings? What do you typically do together?

Celeise. *smiles almost gently* Oh, yes, I do very often. Generally I'm found in the evenings lulling Alfonso to sleep myself instead of letting the nurses do it. I know it's perhaps a bit silly, but it gives me a sense that I really am doing something for him.

Not quite the right ages for Celeise's siblings, but they look enough like them.

Belle. *nods* I know how it is. If you find yourself with free time, what is the first thing you want to do?

Celeise. *cocks head thoughtfully* Go and read poetry. Or maybe even memorize some verse. I love doing it. Right now I'm working on memorizing The Ballad of Ellian.

Belle. *snickers and then raises eyebrow quizzically* Wait, you really are?

Celeise. *looks puzzled* Why is that poem of particular import?

Belle. *shakes head and shrugs* Oh, nothing. Nevermind. Anyways, next question! How do you personally feel about the betrothal?

Celeise. *gazes off distantly* I don't know... I suppose I really don't mind it, and I even helped arrange it to some extent. Maybe I was afraid for so long that I would never have someone that I rushed into saying yes... But, it doesn't matter now. And the matter really doesn't disturb me in the least. Although... *smiles a bit sadly* Sometimes I am a bit silly, and I daydream to myself about what he's like. I don't care if he's good-looking or anything like most other girls, but I want him to be a good man - just like my father, if he can be.

Belle. *nods* I can understand that. You know, I feel the exact same way. Just wish there was someone out there that was good enough.

Celeise. *smiles* Well, I suppose I'd better stop daydreaming, though, if I'm ever to get anywhere. It is absolutely ridiculous - but it's not bad to be ridiculous every so often - just so long as I can keep to myself usually.

Belle. *laughs* Well, I'm ridiculous all the time, so I can't really sympathize with that statement. If your life had been different and you weren't a princess, what would you want to be instead?

Celeise. *expression turns unreadable* I - I don't know... If I weren't a princess...? I'm not sure...

Belle. Not at all?

Celeise. *furrows brow* Well, maybe a knight's daughter. Then I could still have the opportunity of learning much and having good company without being exactly like a princess. In my kingdom, to be a knight's daughter is like the bridge between being a commoner and a noblewoman. You're still a lady, and you are in the same society as though you were a titled woman, but no scandal would arrive were you to marry someone below your rank, and no one would fret if you lived in the village instead of the city or such things.

Belle. *writing it down* Hmm... I see... very interesting! *looks back up at Celeise* Okay, what would happen if, say, you fell in love with a stranger before your betrothal was fulfilled?

Celeise. *raises brow rather cynically* I don't believe that will happen.

Belle. *swallows hard to keep from laughing* But what if it does?

Celeise. A heart is a thing that may not be controlled, Miss Belle. If it is already cold, it will remain cold. I shall never fall in love except when I am ready to. I already - in my heart - feel that I could never fall in love, therefore I will not.

Belle. That's rather flawed logic...

Celeise. *inclines head slightly* Perhaps so. But, I won't let any such thing happen. *takes breath* Any man that even tries to win my favor shall be met only with civility and no more.

Belle. But what if you fall in love with him?

Celeise. I shall take care to do no such thing. But... if it were to happen, I should merely leave it, and pretend it never happened. I don't believe that I could fall in love frankly. My own mind is far too set to ever be changed.

Belle. *shrugs* Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.

Celeise. What?

Belle. *laughs* It means 'perhaps'. Anyways, the next set of questions are from Miss Lucy Agnes. Firstly, how do you feel about animals?

Celeise. *inclines head slightly* I like them well enough. I have a fawn which roams around the palace grounds that is tame, and I sometimes go out to it. It's a sweet enough creature. I never really was a person for many animals, but I don't mind them.

Belle. Do you enjoy reading?

Celeise. *raises brow* My Lady Belle, I don't believe you have listened very well. But I shall repeat myself nonetheless. No pastime gives me greater pleasure or fulfillment than reading, especially that of poetry and verse reading.

Belle. What's your education like?

Celeise. *looks out thoughtfully* Well, until I was about four years old, my mother and father taught me by themselves, and then I had a tutor until I was sixteen, and for the past two years my father and my own interest have been the initiators of my learning.

Belle. I see. Next question: what kind of dreams do you usually tend to have? Good, bad, scary, realistic, weird, instantly fading?

Celeise. Usually fairly unmemorable, and generally concerning whatever I was thinking about when I fell asleep, I suppose. Often they fade come daybreak, but I sometimes remember them.

Belle. How would you describe your personality?

Celeise. Cold, haughty, imperious, and words of the like would be my own description. I am not known for particular sentiment or tenderness in the court.

Belle. *under breath* Yes, quite the contrary...

Celeise. What is that?

Belle. Oh, nothing. *clears throat* Alright, last question. Who did you play with growing up, and how is your relationship with him/her/them now?

Celeise. Well, when I was littler, my father and mother, and then when I was a bit older, my siblings. I would say my relationship hasn't changed much with any of those parties, except that I don't hide behind tapestries for my father to act like a bear and find me anymore.

Belle. *laughs* That's a funny mental image. *nods to Celeise* Well, that's all, Celeise. Thank you very much for cooperating!... it's more than Montefore does...

Celeise. Montefore again?

Belle. *winces* Um, like I said, Celeise, just forget anything about Montefore. You're not even supposed to know he exists yet. *waves* Bye!

Celeise. Wait, who -?

Belle. *leaves*

End Interview.

What did you think of Celeise? Did you enjoy her interview? Perhaps you are so bored that you have fallen asleep and are not even reading this question...?

I am now setting forth for vote amongst commenters the next candidates for a character interview on this blog:

Alagna Arleine, the heroine of my book, Alagna, and an independent (and rather nosy) socialite noblewoman of the royal court who seems determined not to mind her own business, even unto accidentally hearing word of a conspiracy in the court.
Jim Stevens, a rather grouchy and brooding member of  The Top-Hat Gang in the 1950's who is very rarely cooperative with anyone (...especially not me).
Captain Owain Lontrey, a knight of the realm of Elliar (from The Second Brother) who wishes to be left alone but all the same reluctantly does the right thing - even when it involves chasing over hill and dale his troublesome half-brother, Feotheire.
Sir "Echo" Torriven from The Pain of a Memory, a dutiful but sometimes child-like lesser knight who enjoys nothing more than the simplest, most commonplace delights of life, but has memories that are not so joyful or simple.
Ultimately, whichever story's character is chosen is the story I'll be steering character interviews into for a little while. The links in the characters' short descriptions are links to their stories' introductions and - in Echo's case - Beautiful People posts on them, in case you want more info before deciding. Put your vote in the comments and soon enough I will post a bio of whoever is chosen! :)



Bio Of Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta

Hello! Today I am here to continue (finally) the long-abandoned feature that maybe one or two audience members may remember - character interviews. As we stood with the last interview, the vote for this next one fell to Celeise from Alomina. So here is her bio. Put any questions for her in the comments, and I will ask her them in the next character interview post. :)

Name: Crown Princess Celeise Anatria De-Vistrina Ellette I of Tresinta (what a mouthful!). Age: 18. Nationality: Tresintan. Height: Roughly five seven. Hair Color: Goldeny blond. Eye Color: Bright blue. Title(s): Princess; Crown Princess. Family: Her father, King Edarian; her mother, Queen Constantia; four younger siblings.

Bio:
Princess Celeise was born crown heir to Tresinta, being the firstborn to King Edarian. She has been mentored by her father all her life, and is deeply devoted to him and what he's taught her. She has been prepared even more than most royalty, though, because not only will she be queen one day, but has been betrothed to the younger prince of Vellethia, Lothaire, for two years at the beginning of the story. Two years before the story, the older prince of Vellethia, Lucellus, was finally crowned king, and immediately upon gaining the throne expressed a desire to Edarian to have an alliance with Tresinta. Thus, because Lucellus's younger brother, Lothaire, was unmarried and Celeise was similarly so, the alliance was decided to be a marital one.

Celeise has nothing against her training or this arrangement - she has always been so devoted to her father that she never even thought a second time about the decision except to desire that she carried it out as well as her father wished. And Edarian - lest any dumb readers eager to hate mentoring parent characters come along - has never ordered Celeise to do anything. Anything she does on his advice is completely by her own choice - Edarian even asked her when he first made the betrothal arrangement. Really, King Edarian is the only real friend Celeise has ever had - she's never desired any other. She had gained however, before the beginning of the story, a reputation in the court for being cold and haughty, because this was her way of' shooing away' gentlemen who sought her already-taken hand. This is one behavior of hers that her father does not approve of, but he has never said anything very large on the matter to Celeise. So she has gone along treating any man who tries to get close to her this way. Perhaps it is because of this reputation that no one has ever really sought out her friendship to any great degree. So at the beginning of the story, Celeise is just fine being left alone to do her duties, until a ball one night...

Anyways, that about covers Celeise. Her bio isn't incredibly interesting, but her life before the story is really very easily summed up, so that's why this is so short. She's had a very calm, peaceful life (well.. that it, until I came along to take over her life upon paper. Mwahahahaha!). ;) Anyways, though, just leave any and all questions you can think of for her in the comments, and she'll answer every one of them when I post her interview.
What do you think of her? I know she may seem boring, but there's more to her than meets the eye, though she herself doesn't know it. Also, I have a surprise after her interview! :D This time, instead of characters strictly from Alomina in the voting polls for the next interview subject, I am going to put three different characters up for vote in a completely different story, just to shake things up (plus, I don't know about you guys, but I'm terribly bored of the characters in this story taking the spotlight!). :P Anways, though, for now, just ask plenty of questions! I look forward to seeing all the lovely questions you guys always dream up. :) Also, sometimes this month, my regular blogging will return, including the comeback of Catholicism Explained, more regular character interviews, possibly book/movie/show reviews, Beautiful People, and Meet The Books!.

Interview Of Count Charles Montefore

Yes, I know it took a while. Sowwy! But sometimes it takes a while for genius. Haha, sorry. That was not a good excuse (or a true one). :P Anyways, I'm interviewing Count Charles Montefore, from my main book, Alomina, with questions from some lovely audience members here at Worlds Of Ink And Paper. The previous interview can be found here. His bio is here. His story (up to Chapter Fifteen) can be found here.

Belle. Greetings, Count.
Montefore. *nods* Greetings.
Belle. Mind if I ask a few questions?
Montefore. I shall answer them if that is what you mean, Lady Belle.
Belle. *smiles* Good. First up are some questions from Hope. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Montefore. *any slight trace of smile fades, but he doesn't frown*  I have very few happy memories to boast of, I'm afraid. But so you do not suppose that I am in a depression or something of the like, I shall attempt to conjure one up. *thinks for a moment* The memory of my mother, I suppose. I remember her only very vaguely, but the face is enough.
Belle. *interestedly* What did she look like?
Montefore. *gazes off distantly* She looked... *breaks off from thought into expressionlessness again* She looked as any mother who is going to one day die and abandon her child does, Lady Belle. Please continue with the interview.
Belle. *crosses arms disappointedly* Fine. One day you'll tell me some more about you, though.
Montefore. The next question?
Belle. Yes, alright, alright. Do you prefer the day or the night?
Montefore. I don't know. For the thing itself, I prefer the day, I suppose. I dislike the night. Too much can occur during darkness.
Belle. Yeah... You better than most should know that. *clears throat* Anyways, oh dear...
Montefore. What is amiss, Lady Belle?
Belle. Uh... A question that I don't think you'll like to answer.
Montefore. While I cannot assure you I will like to answer it, I give you my word that I will at least try to answer it.
Belle. *shrugs* Fine. But I'll hold you to that. What's your type in terms of women? Innocent? Sweet? Charming? Good dancer?
Montefore. *keeps face expressionless* You were correct in assuming that this query would gain my disfavor, my Lady Belle. However, I have given my word I shall answer, and so I shall. I have little preference in terms of women, My Lady. I do not think I shall ever be turned by any such being, because I have little cares to spare for such things. Nor do I think any such being would be willing to spare anything for me. I may seem to them cold, forbidding, or secretive. All of these things I am as well, in some measure, so I do not think any woman would abide it, and I wouldn't urge nor pray her to, I assure you. So there it stands as a desolate situation.
Belle. *snorts with laughter* You make yourself sound like Mr. Darcy.
Montefore. *raises brow* Who?
Belle. Haha, nothing. A reference to something of a different day than yours, Count. *tries to restrain giggles* Besides, I may or may not know something you don't know about yourself and your future, Count...
Montefore. *ignores remark*

Belle. *clears throat to cover up last laugh* Alright, do you like to fence? Ride?
Montefore. No, I don't like to fence, and I don't unusually enjoy riding either. But I do not mind either one.
Belle. Do you wear lots of hats?
Montefore. *gazes up briefly at brim of large traveler's hat he's wearing* Yes.
Belle. Haha, do you realize you look like Will Turner with that hat on? By the way, that's me asking, not an audience member.
Montefore. Who?
Belle. Haha, another reference.
Montefore. I am not so sure anymore that my existence is entirely original, My Lady Belle, for you continue to compare to things of your own day.
Belle. *laughs* It's okay. I actually wrote you before I even knew about Will Turner or Mr. Darcy. And you just happen to look like Will... It's, uh... coincidence. Yeah, coincidence. *smiles guiltily* Okay, so maybe he just happened to fit your description and I thought he was handsome, so... *smiles again* But anyways, what's the name of your current horse? *bursts out laughing at question*
Montefore. What so amuses you, Lady Belle?
Belle. Um... *giggles* It's just that, because your horse was the only one in the book that didn't have an official name, my sister made up a rather ridiculous unofficial name for it that wouldn't be mentioned in the story.
Montefore. Well, then you can ask your sister my horse's name, because I didn't name him.
Belle. What? Oh, come on, he must have some name.
Montefore. He does have a name, but I didn't name him. I don't call my stallion anything. The only title he was ever called was given him by a stable boy.
Belle. What was it?
Montefore. Dertay. Apparently it meant 'courage' or something of the like in the boy's language.

Belle. That's kinda cool... Um, what's your favorite food, Count?
Montefore. I don't have a favorite food.
Belle. Oh, come on. What's something you enjoy eating?
Montefore. I enjoy venison, I suppose. At any rate, it's better than traveler's bread.
Belle. Non-favorite food?
Montefore. I don't turn down food for my own whims. But I can occasionally tire of traveler's bread.
Belle. Do you like to read?
Montefore. I suppose I do, when I have the time.
Belle. What's your current occupation at the moment? How are you supporting yourself?
Montefore. *frowns* My current occupation is a many-faced one. It could not be summed up in one word... unless the word was 'slave'. And as for my support, it is my dwindling family fortune.
Belle. Alright, these questions are from Spiderman the awesome. What's your favorite thing to occupy yourself hobby-wise?
Montefore. Perhaps thought. Or reading. I don't get a large portion of time for revels, Lady Belle, from my occupation and my attempts at restoring the hopeless bit of ruins that my castle is.
Belle. What are you best at?
Montefore. Traveling fast and remaining a stranger to other people.
Belle. That's a terrible thing to be best at.
Montefore. I don't have a choice. I cannot, at the risk of whosoever I become close to, become close to anyone. They would only be used for being associated with me.
Belle. Do you have any friends? Who?
Montefore. As I previously informed you, My Lady, I cannot have anyone close to me. I cannot marry, or have a family, or even have friends. They would only be used in the same way I am. Besides, I could not ask anyone to try and be with me in my hopeless endeavors of restoring a half-wrecked castle and running errands for slave-drivers.
Belle .Okay, okay... Eeesh... Are you anticipating any troubles at the moment?
Montefore. Yes. I will soon be traveling on another such errand, and I do not know the extent of its difficulty yet.

Belle. Do you prefer to be in Vellethia or Tresinta?
Montefore. Perhaps Tresinta. The extent of my activities in Vellethia are living alone in the ruins of Montefore Castle. In Tresinta I am still alone, but at least I don't have to look at the fallen legacy of my family's home.
Belle. Do you travel often?
Montefore. Fairly often. I travel when called, or when I am not at Montefore Castle. Is that all?
Belle. *nods* Yep. You can leave now if you want.
Montefore. Thank you. *stand up and bows, then leaving*
End Interview.
The next interview will be of
Maid Dricynnia de Blyrwen,
King Edarian II Of Tresinta,
or Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta.
Leave the vote of your choice in the comments! :)
Anyways, that wraps it up. What did you think? What do you think of Montefore? Would you read him? What did you think of the post on a whole? I am, difortunamente, sick at the moment (again!), and so, depending on how bad it is tomorrow, there may or may not be a Catholicism Explained tomorrow. The only reason I am posting this today is because I already had it typed up. I am sorry! I really do keep catching ill, though; I'm not making it up. :P It seems like I'm catching every single little tiny germ that floats around these days.

Bio Of Count Charles Montefore

So today, I am going to introduce Count Charles Montefore (or, as spell-check wants to call him after my bad typing, Coconut Charles Mount For). Ask him questions in the comments, and I will post an interview of him answering those questions later on. The previous interview can be found here.

Name: Count Charles Montefore. Age: Twenty-one (almost, that is - his birthday, though it is not mentioned, occurs during the span of the story). Nationality: He is a Vellethian. Height: About six foot one...? Hair Color: Very, very, very dark brown... almost black. Eye Color: Very light brown. Title(s): Count (hereditary title). Family: None living any more. His cousin, a certain Hugo Montefore, was the last one to die. Bio: Charles Montefore was born in the ancient, but failing line of Montefore, a line so old that it went back to the beginning of Vellethia as a kingdom. He was one of the only sons born in his generation (the only other being his uncle's son, Hugo), and so he was one of the last Montefores. Their estates as well as their line was failing, and at that time their fortune was only barely suitable for their title, and not the great thing it had once been. They were a proud line, though, and so they did not spend it much, wishing to keep their regime, and only used as was necessary to try and restore Montefore Castle. Montefore's parents were likewise some of the only Montefores in their generation. The Montefores had a long history - a long and half-abandoned history that only they ardently remembered. Montefore's parents died in a mobbing of the royal palace at Vellethia's capital when he was young, along with his uncle. This left him and Hugo as the last Montefores. When he was fourteen, he and Hugo decided to take up the hereditary task (spoilers!) that their parents had died before they could accomplish. They did not succeed in their attempt. It only resulted in the death of Hugo. Though Montefore escaped mostly unscathed, he learned a lesson that day. This attempt also led to Montefore's meeting of the youngest Vellethian prince, Lothaire, whom he would know for a very long time to come. After this for some years, Montefore merely put his energies in either traveling for unknown business or trying to restore the almost hopelessly forgotten Montefore Castle. At the beginning of the story, Montefore is away from Montefore Castle on more untold business, in the capital of Tresinta, to be exact. It is here that he is met by someone he altogether did not anticipate...

Anyways, that's Montefore. I do hope I didn't paint him too wrongly, because I let out a rather larger bit of information than I probably should have. But I was also very vague due to this. So, on a whole, it was a confusing bio, wasn't it? :P Very sorry if it was... And also sorry for how long it took for me to put this up. Ask any questions you have for Charles in the comments, and I shall put up an interview once sufficient query count is reached. :)
What do you think of him? Does he scare you? Or perhaps does he seem very likeable? What do you make of his stance in the story from what I've told? Have any particular questions for him? I can warn you now that you may need to ask a good few questions as he speaks very little and dislikes being forced to speak.

Interview Of Lady Alomina De Blyrwen

Hello! Today I am interviewing Lady Alomina, the heroine of my book, Alomina, with some lovely questions from you, my audience. Lady Mina's bio can be found here, the introduction to her story here, and the previous interview, of her brother Percy, right here. Her actual story (up to Chapter Fourteen) can also be found here. So, that being said, I'll continue with the interview.

My drawing of Mina... Unfortunately, when I downloaded it, it became very blurry.

Belle. Hello, Mina. Mind if I ask a few questions?
Alomina. No, I don't mind...
Belle. Alright, then let's get right to it! Here are some from Hope: what is your favorite book?
Alomina. *smiles brightly* There's a book of fairy-tales that Percy used to read to me all the time, and though I practically have it memorized now, it's still my favorite.
Belle. Alright, do you like to do any craft projects? Knitting, drawing, sculpting, or embroidering?
Alomina. Oh, I love to embroider! I love to sew, and I do it all the time. Very few hobbies bring me greater pleasure.
Belle. I know you love your brother, but what is one thing you can't stand about him? Maybe a bad habit of his?
Alomina. *looks shocked, and eyes go wide innocently* Oh, dear, no! There is nothing I can't abide in Percy... But he does have a few habits. I've learned to live with them, so they don't bother me, though. For instance, he runs his hands through his hair a lot when he's distressed. And he also has a habit of absent-mindedly reading aloud if he's reading in the same room as me. And he sometimes taps his foot on the ground if he's sitting down.*laughs* Actually he has quite a few habits, I suppose, it's just that none of them particularly irk me.
Belle. Really? Nothing? *grins* I have four brothers, and all of them irk me.
Alomina. *smiles* Well, there never was a brother quite like Percy.
Belle. *nods* Unfortunately true. Next question is, what is your favorite season and why?
Alomina. Oh, my favorite season is most decidedly the autumn! Percy is home so much more then, because of our country's holidays, and then he is much less worried all the time.
Belle. Do you have secrets you keep from Percy?
Alomina. *hesitantly* No... I don't keep any secrets from him, really. Sometimes I almost think  he must get exasperated with me, telling him every single news of the day, and yet, then I remember that it's Percy, and he is never cross with me or anything. I really don't know what I ever did to deserve even being born in the same country as him, much less being his sister.
Belle. Alright, what is your favorite sweet?
Alomina. Pastries, to be sure! Particularly berry ones... *laughs* Percy and I have always loved berries...

Belle. And is there some place you've always wanted to go, but never did?
Alomina. I can't think of any... I was always perfectly content being at home... It's Percy really that was always the social one. *smiles sheepishly* I probably wouldn't go out at all if Percy didn't so prompt me. Although... *smiles fades slightly* I have always wanted to visit our father's grave. He died in another country, and in the last part of a violent time there, so he was never brought back here. I have never been to Vellethia, where he is... Percy has. Percy has been there, but only once.
Belle. Yes... I actually... *stifles herself hurriedly* Uh, I wasn't going to say anything! No spoilers here! *tries to grin innocently, with very little success* Anyways, that wraps up the queries from Hope. Next, from Lucy, is this: what's one vice you can't stand in other people?
Alomina. Well, there's no vice I absolutely can't stand, but aggressiveness in people bothers me. I always wonder how anyone could fell so desolate as to behave that way, and it makes me very sorry for them.
Belle. What's one virtue you particularly admire?
Alomina. Well... I value hope greatly. I always try to give a bit of it, even if I can't have it. *looks down* I keep it in hard times, because I was never clever or able to find a real reason to not give up, I only just hoped.
Belle. Would you mind sharing one flaw of your own?
Alomina. *looks down shamefully* I'm afraid I have rather an all-too childlike disposition, and often it gets in the way of being clever or rational, or being brave. I have always been naïve, I suppose, for this nature.

Belle.  Let's say you were to become romantically involved with someone... What sort of qualities would he have to possess in order to win your heart?
Alomina. *looks up in surprise and blushes* I? I haven't any imagination for even such a situation... *blushes more*
Belle. *smiles* Yes, you have. Come on, what's one thing?
Alomina. *smiles softly* Well... I suppose he would have to be a lot like Percy... The first thing that might catch my interest in him would be innocence of person, or stability of character. *blushes even more deeply* And... and, well, if he could be content with simple things and people, like me, then I daresay nothing more could I want...
Belle. What has your education been like? What sort of subjects are your favorite, and which do you hate?
Alomina. Well, I was educated partially by mother and father... and partially by nursemaids. My favorite thing were always more home-like things, like mending and cooking, rather than history, which was Percy's favorite. I never liked reading as much, though I do now, because Percy was always willing to read to me, and at the time, I didn't see any advantage in reading myself. *blushes and smiles* I think differently now, though.

Belle. Do you like music?
Alomina. Yes, indeed I do... I particularly love dancing music, because to dance is one of Percy's, and one of my favorite things to do.
Belle. What's one thing you're afraid of?
Alomina. *smile fades* Of being alone. *voice grows very soft* If anything ever happened to Percy that took him away too long, or if anything ever happened to me that took me away... I... *straightens, and attempts to look more happy* Well, now you can see why I don't really envision myself in a courtship, Lady Belle...
Belle. *nods* Yes, I know... That's all the questions from Lucy, by the way. And she says hello.
Alomina. *smiles* And I greet her in return.
Belle. Lovely! Well - from Kayla Marie, by the way - what do you want most in the world?
Alomina. *smiles very softly* I suppose... *laughs gently* I'm not very ambitious... I suppose what I want, truly, is just for things to stay always as they are. All I want is for Percy to be happy, and Aunt to be happy, and then I would be happy. If anything in the world could I wish for, I would only wish that all of us only grow closer and better than we even are now. *blushes* I don't believe it's a very interesting wish, but it really is all I can think of...
Belle. No, it's a lovely wish! It's very contented... *under breath* Wish some of the other characters would take lessons from you... Like Mr. Grumpy-with-everything Stevens...
Alomina. *confusedly* What was that?
Belle. *brightly* Oh, nothing. Next question, if you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Alomina. *pauses a moment in pondering* I don't know... I suppose I would try to make everybody I the world as happy as Percy and I are! *blushes* Oh dear... I can't even answer two queries in order without mentioning Percy...
Belle. *laughs* It's alright. He is pretty cool.
Alomina. *smiles slightly*

Belle. Anyways, do you have any secrets?
Alomina. Well, I suppose not... I mean, I have secrets, but none of them from Percy, so they're not really fully secrets, are they?
Belle. Well, what's one thing that nobody but you and Percy know, then? It's still kind-of a secret...?
Alomina. Well... I suppose I've never told anybody but Percy the few dislikes that I have. I really try to keep cheerful, but he knows of a few things I do rather dislike...
Belle. *lifts brow in anticipation* Such as?
Alomina. *blushes* I don't like to be asked questions. I despise - or rather - *blushes again* that is a harsh word... I very much dislike anybody asking me things, because often I feel very helpless to give any solid advice or answer. *smiles* But I've gotten a bit better about it through the years, because Percy helps me, despite his also teasing me about it.
Belle. Last question, what do you fear most?
Alomina. I... *looks down slightly* I fear having to ever be on my own - and not just being alone - but, well, truly having to look out and know whatever I'm looking at, I must face alone... To look out and not see Percy's face somewhere... It would be... *bites lip* It would be the end of any minimal spirit or bravery I had...
Belle. *smiles sadly* Well, I would like to hope that you would still have some hope... But, *clears throat* anyways, that's all, I believe. Thank you so much for cooperating, Mina... *laughs* even if you don't like being asked questions.
Alomina. *blushes* I do hope I didn't offend with that answer - I didn't mean for interviewing. And I'm afraid I must have been rather uninteresting to interview, as my answers were all so very similar...
Belle. *smiles* Not at all. I loved doing it, and eagerly look forward to the next interview... whoever it may be for...

End Interview.



Celeise.

Kinda younger-looking Dricynnia.

Well, whoever it may be for depends on the votes for one of these three candidates:

Princess Celeise Anatria de-Vistrina Ellette, the Tresintan crown princess.

King Edarian Dertan de-Carta Ellette, the Tresintan king, and Celeise's father.

Madam Dricynnia de Blyrwen, the fairly young aunt of Percy and Mina.

Okay, okay, I'll still add a fourth one, just for variety:



Agh!!! The only person I can find who looks even relatively like Edarian is Kit's dad in Cinderella! And I feel like a copycat because Percy looks like Kit!!!! AGH!!!! And I can't find any pictures of him that don't also have Kit... *sobs in childish frustration*

Count Montefore.

Count Charles Montefore, the mysterious guest whom Mina runs into at a royal palace ball in Tresinta, with an air to him intriguing and very hidden.

Vote for the candidate of your own choice! :D

What did you think of the interview? Do you like Mina? Or was Percy's better? Who will you vote for? Is anybody else having a fit of gladness and frustration at the same time over Pinterest and its picture-finding ability?!