The Core Worlds

Wing nodded. "I know you can. He can learn fast, when her chooses, and the...damage from his birth is almost completely healed." Wing said quietly. "His checkups reveal that much, at least." Definitely that much, at the least. Wing sighed and kissed her daughters head. "Hope will make a decent double, until he is ready for it."

She smiled to her daughter. "Shall we send for him now?" They had much to do and very very little time to do it in, after all, and Augustus would need to be made presentable. A sweet boy, if slow, they would likely try and keep the announcement brief, for his sake, and after the first dance, Hope could take her son's place, or another double if needed.

there would be times both she and Augustus were expected to be in attendance, after all.

"... I think I should send for him." She confessed quietly, knowing he preferred hearing her voice in almost any matter. Viktoria thought him, at the very least, certainly handsome enough for court life. The boy had genetics that anyone could be proud of, her mother especially, considering his Erutin blood. "C-can you wait here, while I see to it?" She asked her parents, hoping they wouldn't scare Augustus.

Josef nodded, providing a brief hug to his daughter before letting her go to see to whatever she needed done. In the princess' absence the Emperor scooted closer to Wing, taking her hand again and squeezing it tight, taking strength from the woman here, glad to have her in such a time as this.

"She'll need to be married." He spoke, figuring it to be the best course of action.

Wing nodded and held him close, giving him the strength he needed. "Then we'll plan a wedding. The boy's a noble. We can quietly bump House Khon up a little bit. They have a planet, though Hope will be...displeased letting that get out. She'll have to find a new hideyhole." Wing found that somewhat amusing.

She kissed him gently. "Viki will be happy, and if Augustus is man enough to have a child, despite what all believed, then he is man enough to wed your daughter. Our daughter." she said and smiled to him. "A wedding is going to be interesting." She admitted quietly.

She cuddled close to him. It wasn't overly long before Augustus came in, Viki with him, rather nervous. He was rarely in either of these two's presence. They kind of scared him. Still, he kept hi head up and held onto Viki's head.

"You wanted to see me, Emperor, Empress?"

Kampf sat there quiet with his wife as he pondered the matter, only reluctantly letting go at the sound of footfalls outside of the door, regaining a roughly imperial posture as he awaited the father of his grandchildren. Shortly enough they entered and Josef maintained a hand in Wing's, not wanting it to seem like this was some formal meeting. "We did, Augustus. Please, take a seat." Josef did his best to seem amiable.

Viktoria lead him by the hand to the accompanying loveseat, sitting beside him and stroking his hand all the while, wanting him to know that she was there for him, as always. The princess tried to maintain some degree of propriety, though it was already showing that she worried over the state of her consort.

"We were wanting to discuss your... marital state."

His marital state? He didn't quite understand but he nodded. "Of course." He said and looked to Viki in confusion, then back to the rulers of the empire. "Viki is pregnant. In the Hegemony and Empire, I know she isn't supposed to be, without being married, and...and I'm not a public consort because of..."

He trailed off, thinking of how best to put it. "Because of the side effects of complications at my birth." Bigger words and thoughts than he usually said, but he knew them, and knew how to use them. He squeezed her hand. "I...I suppose I can't hide longer?" Though he desperately wanted to stay with Viki and the puzzles.

He hesitated a moment. "I don't think I could handle the large crowds, but I can try."

Wing watched a moment. "We have a solution for that. A body double, likely your mother, for situations like that. But you seem to have figured it mostly out." She squeezed her husband's hand, watching the pair.

Josef nodded at that, squeezing Wing's hand in reply to her own pressure. "We want you to wed our daughter, Augustus." There, a simple and straightforward matter, or at least he felt so. "For the most part you would be with her, in her quarters, and rarely make public appearances. Dances, at the very most." Because it was simply not proper for a lady to dance with one who was not her husband.

At least not in his eyes.

Viktoria leaned against her Augustus at that, smiling, eyes shut tight from pleasure. Oh, it sounded so wonderful! Augustus, Prince-Consort. He'd have to take her name, of course, but that meant everything was even better. Augustus Kampf. It sounded very proper in her eyes. "... thank you, father." She managed, holding back the squees of happiness she knew would come if she let down her guard.

Augustus Kampf. That wasn't too bad, he supposed. The young man nodded at that, and hearing the joy in his lover's voice made him smile to her, pleased. It was clear it made her so very happy. "Then I will gladly wed her." He said simply. "When should we do it? Will it be very public?" He would manage it. He could fo this. The young man squeezed her hand, pleased.

"...does mother know?" That could be tricky.

Wing raised an eyebrow at the last question, then smiled gently. "Oh no. I'll tell her myself shortly. You two can celebrate." Where they couldn't hear Hope's reaction and all could pretend the woman was thrilled. No doubt thrilled about a grandchild, and about her son getting married, but less thrilled about what came with that.

Such as showing up in public, properly clad, and in her Leoni form, admitting to have a few planets that were private, and being made to industrialize her planets.

This was going to be fun.

Josef simply shook his head in accordance with Wing, moving the woman's hand into his lap as he did, glad that such a matter was solved so very simply. He had, of course, been worried, but all of that seemed to be a moot point by now, and something that he was very much relieved over. Augustus was a smart one, despite his natural hindrances. "You two have much to plan, I imagine. I can tailor the wedding to whatever standards you see fit. Let me know as soon as you have the details hammered out."

Viktoria simply smiled, pressing a kiss to Augustus' cheek, restraining herself from further. "Soon, darling, we can be married soon." Oh, it would simply be so wonderful! Wed to each other, with two beautiful children on the way. No doubt they would do her name proud.

"Soon." He agreed and held her hand, ducking his hand at the kiss. "We'll work out what we ca tonight, sir. I know we need to hurry." Until, then supposed, they were formally engaged. It should be interesting. The young man kissed his Viki's cheek, shyly, in return. Wign watched them and smiled at the sight.

"You two go an plan. Josef and I have a few thigns we need to see to." She assured them and hastened the two lovebirds off to see to their desires. She smiled to Josed and squeezed his hand. "Is it to your pleasure, my Emperor? How it was handled? I know he is't the... most optimum of choices."

Viktoria quickly tugged on her August, wanting him away from the scene and into somewhere private where they could speak on the matter in greater detail, and in greater comfort for her love.

The Emperor, however, simply smiled and waited until they were gone as he leaned into Wing, arms moving to wrap themselves about her as he relaxed. "It was, darling." He spoke quietly, glad that the matter was settled so easily. "He is not, but, to be frank-" The Belkan hesitated, choosing his words. "I would rather have her with no one. Especially not these noble families. It's better she has someone for herself, to make her happy, than to get some political marriage."

One that he doubted would have the same spark as his own.