Dismantling the system

[~Amber~]

It was early in the morning and Evie was nervously preparing for the day, being a lady in waiting to assist a noble women was one thing but a princess was a whole new ballgame. She fixed her skirts and made sure her hair was okay in the dusty mirror before another knocked on the doors "let's go"
Evie nodded and quickly yet quietly followed the maid up the steps towards the princess' room to help her get ready for the day.


Alexander was in the palace early that morning with his father for some meeting that were to take place, he wasn't too thrilled about getting up so early in the morning but didn't complain. He just tiredly watched all the slaves rush by quickly getting things prepared for the day.

[***Stormchaser***]

Nicholas stood outside of the princess' suits, giving the head maid and the newcomer a nod, having been informed that Astrid would have a new lady in waiting.
When they were closer he knocked on the door to inform the princess before opening it for them.

Astrid was preparing to meet a new suitor, or at least another noble family bringing their eligible son to try and push for a match. Ever since her birthday party there have been weekly visits like this, she was growing tired of them. Sure she was more or less allowed to choose among the suitors but she would rather just be left alone to choose her future husband herself, but her parents really wanted her married by the time she was eligible to take the throne.

[~Amber~]

Evie didn't do much to make eye contact with him as they passed by, eye contact was something that had more or less been beaten out of her and it was pretty obvious from her mannerisms.
The head made, Helena, lead her in and curtsied which evie followed "goodmorning princess, this is Evie your new lady in waiting"
"Good morning" evie managed to actually get out,it was easy to tell how nervous she was.

Alexander sat with his father alone in one of the meeting rooms and was getting annoyed with the lack of answers on why he had to be here "why am I here? Your obviously not putting me in charge of the household anytime soon so what's going on?"
"Your hear to meet the princess so I'd advise you be a little more charming and a little less....yourself"
Alexander just stared and him blankly "and why am I doing that?"
"She needs a king and you need a wife, what better of a choice then a princess?"

[***Stormchaser***]

Nick nodded with a simple smile in greeting before closing the door.

"Oh, hello, it is nice to meet you. That will be all Helena," Astrid gave them a warm smile and curtsy in return and waited for Helena to leave before continuing to talk to Evie.
"My name is Astrid and you can just address me as Astrid, among others princess is fine to use to avoid issues," she continued.
She was almost ready, just needed help with her hair.

[~Amber~]

Her extremely nice personality really confused evie but she nodded nervously gripping the little charm tied to a peice of string she had wrapped around her wrist as it was the only thing that helped keep her calm
"o-okay prin- Astrid, uhm Helena said you would need help with your hair?"

[***Stormchaser***]

"Yes that is all I have left to do to get ready for this meeting. If you have any ideas you're welcome to do what you would like but I was just thinking braiding back the longer pieces that hang in the front so that they will be out of the way. I don't need anything extravagant," she answered with a sigh, not caring what anymore nobles thought of her, all they wanted was the throne anyways.

The king and queen soon joined in the banquet room to meet the arrivals for the dinner.
"Welcome, the princess will be joining us shortly, but feel free to enjoy some refreshments while we wait," the king said in a welcoming tone.

[~Amber~]

"Maybe a fun braid? Like the fishtail type would be fun?" She asked as she got to work on her hair for her but was worried about that sigh "...you seem upset, do you feel alright? Do you need me to get something for you?"

Both of them stood and gave a bow to the two, "thank you your majesty's, Alexander is very excited to meet the princess. Right son?"
Alex just flashed a small smile "of course" but he really wasn't, he didn't want to marry some princess just because his father said so.

[***Stormchaser***]

"That sounds like a good idea," she nodded and sat so that they could get it done and she could get this meeting over with.
"No, I'm okay, I am just growing tired of meeting suitors," Astrid explained.

They returned in kind, "we are happy to have you here."

[~Amber~]

She worked on the braid letting it sit on her right shoulder and letting a few hairs frame her face. "Oh, do you have many suitors?" She asked as she was a bit of a hopeless romantic and just wished she could get married and have a life outside of her status as a slave but suddenly remembered who she was speaking to and quickly looked down "...sorry that's not my place to ask"

[***Stormchaser***]

"Oh, no it's okay, I don't mind talking like this, and yes. They are either set up by my parents or nobles just bringing their sons around or nobles coming around to try and court me," she sighed.
"Not the romantic kind of suitors just one that want to be king."

[~Amber~]

"Oh, I see" she replied with a sign. She didn't expect that even royalty as a girl your just some prize to be bought in some way. She set the brush down "we are all set. Do you like it?"

[***Stormchaser***]

"I do, thank you," she stood.
"So what will happen now is you and Nicholas will be accompanying me to the dining hall and he will show you to the the staff dining room next to it so that you two can have dinner and then he will accompany you back to this wing to show you your room," she explained while leaving the room with her and Nick joined them in walking until they reached the dining room.
She gave a curtsey when arriving with a standard greeting before joining her parents and the two visitors.

Once there Nick gave a bow to the nobles and royals present as well out of courtesy before directing Evie to the next room after she was ready.

[~Amber~]

Evie gave her little Curtsy and quickly followed after nick not enjoying the feeling she was getting. Alexander though noticed his father grow tense at once he saw the princess and the girl that was with her. Even if it was only for just a mere second before the usual smile he plastered on for the royals was right back on his face.
He shrugged it off before looking at Astrid, he had to admit she was very pretty but the thought of marrying some princess who he really didn't know and assumes was like every other high society girl bored the shit out of him

[***Stormchaser***]

To be honest, Astrid was pleasantly surprised at how quiet this noble son was, usually they would talk her ear off about themselves, trying to sell themselves to her basically.
Astrid herself stayed quiet, only giving simple and polite answers when addressed but otherwise let her parents and this nobleman talk about the prospects.

Once in the servants dining room Nick relaxed a bit, there were other staff also in mixed classes grabbing plates to get food from the line at the wall that had the kitchens on the other side.
"I know we haven't been formally introduced but my name is Nicholas but you can just call me Nick. I think you'll like working here for the princess. What's your name?" He asked Evie.

[~Amber~]

Alexander looked over at her as there parents spoke, his father talking all about Alexander "I'm assuming this is an almost daily thing?" He quietly asked Astrid "if it is I'm sorry, this has to...well suck i suppose it the correct term for it"

"Oh uhm my names Evie it's nice to meet you" she said finally looking up at him "the princess is not what I was expecting, she is very nice....thats not something im used to"