La Politique des Rois

[Vogel]

The appearance of the throne room was rather abrupt and nearly caught Friedrich unawares; such was the consistent level of grandeur in the palace that it never indicated where such a place might be.

He gave a curt nod to Prince Joseph before looking back towards the hall before him. It was the classic image of a monarch's throne room: the lengthier and higher the ceiling, the more imposing. Friedrich began his stride down the carpet, glancing to either side to see whether or not the King had an entourage on hand. As it were, there were only a few people, most of them trying to make themselves scarce.

His gait was measured; the long, imperious stride of a military officer of Prussian stock. It was the kind of situation in which one feels as if his every move was being scrutinized, and the act of simply keeping a pace was difficult enough. Eyes locked onto the reclining man down the way, Friedrich covered the distance in as short a time as appropriate.

When he'd arrived some fifteen feet from the base of the throne his feet stopped, but his mind raced.

What now?

To kiss a ring, usually one bearing a royal seal, was one kind of custom befitting a sovereign. But was it prudent here? Gallia could easily have developed different etiquette in the eight hundred years it was separated from the rest of humanity. To think: perhaps so much as touching the King could be seen as anathema.

But what else was there to do? There was always the age-old practice of the full, two-kneed bow of complete submission. That gesture would be unmistakable, but to perform it as a Prince, as someone with some kind of claim to power and sovereignty of their own, would be pathetic, nay, unbearable.

So, lacking alternatives and a proper brief, Friedrich Wilhelm did the only thing his noble instincts could come up with.

He bowed deeply at the waist while keeping his eyes cast down; a classic gesture, with an imperious refusal to rest on a knee, while keeping his eyes respectfully fixed to the floor.

Bending back up to a full standing posture, Friedrich smiled at the resplendent man before him.

"Your Majesty," he said in a firm voice.