>>5603780You aren’t terribly familiar with mammalian mating rituals, in all honesty. Davora the Herbalist was… A special case. For one thing, you technically OWNED her. For another, she was rather straightforward about her attraction, and you were in your true identity. You get the feeling that the Princess of Hawksong might be intrigued by ‘Long Wang’, if her frequent flusterment is any indication… But how to be sure?
No, you’ll need to keep her talking.
You take a seat at one of the many carved stone-and-wood benches in this private garden, and pat the seat next to you. Princess Ekaterine looks a little startled, then uncertain. She glances to the Green Knight—or who she BELIEVED to be the green Knight. Irinnile takes your cue, and shrugs with a nod.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” the False Knight pledges, with a wink. “So you two aren’t caught in any compromising positions.”
“I—” the Princess begins, puffing up defensively.
“Only joking,” Irinnile quickly interrupts.
Princess Ekaterine looks to you. You smile reassuringly, and pat the seat again. Eventually, with obvious unease but distinct interest, she sits down.
“I musst ssay,” you begin, “I did not know what to exxpect of a Northwesstern Princess, but you are not it.”
“Ah?” she vocalizes, clearly unsure how to reply.
You nods, and elaborate: “I did not know much about the f—the women of the royal family, but the men have a reputation that preccedesss them.”
“Oh,” she sighs, and seems slightly miffed—strange.
“What are they like?” you ask. “Really?”
“Well,” she begins, narrowing her eyes a little. “You tell me.”
“I’ve heard the King, Archoss, isss a sstrong, wise, but ssstern ruler,” you say (for this seems to be his general reputation). “That he isss close with your Godsss. And that Princce Alexoss is benevolent, kind, and fissscally prudent, keen on trade rather than sssecurity.”
“And that Prince Rufos is the strong right hand, keeping things in line?” she hazards a guess. “Maintaining strength and security?”
You tilt your head, then quickly correct it to a more traditionally-human shrug. “Maybe? Isss that not right?”
“You hear the same thing that each wants you to hear,” the Princess says. “Which means that our staff are doing their duty well, I suppose.”
No not, taking her meaning, and remind her: “Thiss iss why I assked you. Are they different, in person?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she claims. “They show me their public faces only, these days. I see none of the men I once knew, when mother was alive, and things were different. I remember a father who was not always trying to speak ‘divine wisdom’ from some bygone age, but who soul sing me sill songs. I remember brothers who fought as brothers do… Not as scheming viziers, trying t influence the city and the king.”
