Dismantling the system

[***Stormchaser***]

She cracked a small smile and nodded, "yes to both if I'm being honest. You look like you're as thrilled about this as I am."

"Understandable, most don't expect it but until she turned eighteen she also had to keep that to a certain minimal level as well. Now she's considered an adult and can be more of the princess she wants to be. She grew up friends with staff children and being raised by staff regardless of class and that's something that stuck with her," he explained.
"I imagine it will still take time for you to adjust to the new environment regardless."

[~Amber~]

"I don't particularly enjoy being praised like a prized show pony to marry someone I don't know. So I'd say I'm not thrilled at the reason for being here" he said sitting back in his chair "even though you are very pretty, but I do have a preference to know someone before this type of thing happens"


"That explains why she's so nice. Everything here is going to take adjustment I'm not used to this" she said motioning to the food and all the people working actually being happy

[***Stormchaser***]

She gave another nod and flashed their parents a smile when they looked over to them before resuming the surprisingly good conversation.
"I agree, I would rather know someone before I marry them, really know them. I'm tired of being shown off like some prize and everyone just caring about the throne."

Nick nodded, "you'll have the time and means to adjust."
As they made it to the food table there was a large spread with several varieties of vegetables, potatoes and two roasted meats between chicken and beef as well as a dessert table with chocolate or vanilla cake and a few varieties of pudding.
"Pick what you want, there is always plenty for everyone."

[~Amber~]

"I don't understand the want for a throne, isn't it a lot of work? They think running a district is hard the whole place is even harder I'm sure." He said just trying to keep a smile anytime his father looked over.


She looked at all the food in awe "you really can have anything you'd like?"

[***Stormchaser***]

Astrid nodded, "it is, but they don't get that, the see 'I can make the rules and do what I want."
"It's been a pretty good way to bring some of these jerks down a peg when I start talking about all the work and rules."

He nodded, "yes. Just don't eat too fast, you might make yourself sick."
It hasn't been the first time he had seen slaves be introduced into the palace go a bit overboard with eating new foods.

[~Amber~]

"Power comes with rules and responsibilities, isn't not a place for a power trip" he said with a little shrug "I'm sure they'll get over it and find some poor girl that will marry them"

She nodded quietly looking over everything "uhm...I don't know what half of this even tastes like. What do you like?"

[***Stormchaser***]

"I don't really care if they get over it or not," she gave an amused grin.
It had actually felt satisfying to run them off.

"Hm, I like chicken and the roasted potatoes and vegetables," he nodded towards a tray with pieces of roasted potatoes, carrots and small corn cobs.

[~Amber~]

"I didn't think you would" he said with a chuckle

"Okay, I'll try that" she said taking a little of it, so used to barely anything she knew she should be slow

[***Stormchaser***]

By now the dinner had been brought out to them so she took some time to eat.
"Well we're stuck here anyways, do you ever had time for any hobbies?" She asked.

He got some food for himself and grabbed a roll and some butter for each of them as well.

[~Amber~]

"I spend time doing archery, I've enjoyed that since I was a child. Either that or painting if I have extra free time" he answered sitting beside her

Evie quietly looked around nit sure where she could sit and settled on a place that didn't have others sitting there

[***Stormchaser***]

"Oh you paint?" She asked with interest, the archery was interesting enough but also more common to hear about but no one's really mentioned that they painted or anything like that. Astrid herself liked to draw.

Nick sat with her at the table she choose after grabbing them some drinks and sat down.

[~Amber~]

"My nanny used to paint and I got my interest in painting from her teaching me. I don't think I'm very good"

"There's a lot of people here, is this normal?"


( hard to type one handed lol other hands trapped under a baby)

[***Stormchaser***]

"Good or not, as long as you're enjoying it that is what matters," she replied.

"Probably a little bit less usually, there is a little extra staff this shift due to the extra guests coming and going right now, but the palace still has a large amount of staff from guards to grounds keepers, royal staff and then general staff for cleaning and maintenance."

[~Amber~]

"That is true, from your interest in the subject I assume you enjoy something art related?" He asked and his dad noted to himself the princess actually looked interested compared to other nobles

"Because of all of the suitors right? There's been lots of them recently"

[***Stormchaser***]

Her parents also noticed that they seemed to be well engaged in conversation and took it as a good sign.
"I draw and embroider," she explained.

He nodded, "she turned eighteen three months ago and not counting her birthday party there have been twenty suitors so far that I've counted, the staff have a betting pools at this point for each new one that walks in, usually for the ones that already have their titles verses the ones dragged here by their fathers. They're usually relating to making bets on how long it takes them to insult the princess with a backhanded compliment, how long it takes before they ask her a question about herself and how long it takes before the princess visibly loses her patients, there is also an alternate for those brought here by their parents of how many great things about their sons do they get to say within a certain amount of time."