After the princess was prim and proper for breakfast, Keturah walked steadily beside her. The princess had requested that she shifted into her small fox form for this initial meeting. From her research the previous day, she had learned that the Nyderians valued strength and prowess above all else.
So she wanted to see how they would react to her only being escorted around by a tiny white fox instead of a 'real' body guard. In fact, when she walked into the dinning hall, Keturah walking next to her definitely look way more like a cute little pet than a protector.
Amelia could feel their eyes shift between her and the tiny white fox at her side, but she ignored them and kept her head high until she got to her seat. "Good morning." She greeted everyone as a servant pulled her chair out for her and help her be seated. Her greeting was echoed by greetings from all the others that came to breakfast, including her father.
Keturah, following her cue and laying on the floor at her feet, made sure that she was far enough under the table to be seen by the Nyderians, but also close enough to the princess to protect her if she needed to. Of course their clan's guards ignored her appearance. It wasn't completely unusual to see her walking around the castle as a small white fox or even her much larger fox form.
"Good morning, Princess Amelia." At hearing the words, Amelia and Keturah both turned their attention to a well dressed and adorned young man sitting at the other side of the table. He was well groomed and didn't at all look like what she had imagined in her head.
Instead, he had short light chestnut brown hair and golden eyes. His skin was an olive skin tone and, even though he was seated, it appeared as if he was of decent height for his age. "Good morning, Prince Sebastian." She then returned the greeting politely as the maids brought them their breakfast.
"I trust you and yours found your accommodations to be acceptable?" She questioned, already knowing that they had been put up in the best rooms they had available in the castle. She let her eyes slide across his staff, receiving quiet nods from those that were there.
Sebastian nodded his head when her eyes came back to his. "Yes, princess. I particularly enjoyed the view of the sunrise this morning." He responded, a soft smile on his lips. His heart skipped an unexpected beat when she offered her own soft smile in response to him.
Sebastian couldn't help but to notice how the King had pretty much ignored their interactions so far. He had heard rumors about his change in behavior after the Queen died, but to see a King this quiet with guests around was unusual to him. "King Austin." He then prompted him, waiting politely to be acknowledged with a look before continuing.
"I couldn't help but notice the lack of guards this morning thus far." Sebastian proceeded lightly, unsure how the King would respond. When he got a casually raised eyebrow and a small glint in the Princess's eyes, he carefully continued. "I hope this isn't on account of my behalf and not wanting us to feel threatened."
Princess Amelia smiled softly at the prince. She had hoped that he would notice and bring up their values. It would give her a chance to see how he would handle a lack of display of power differences.
King Austin waved his hand in dismissal of Prince Sebastian's concerns. "There are more than enough guards here to adequately protect us all." He responded, his tone showing a continued disinterest in his daughter and the breakfast.
Keturah picked her head up and looked at the King. It wasn't her place to tell the King that he should care more about his daughter. Even though she knew how much it hurt the princess to have him be this disinterested in her life.
"We have new recruits that are in the process of being broken in." King Austin then added, now glancing at Keturah laying peacefully under the table. This was the first time he looked up to acknowledge anything other than his breakfast. He knew that look on the fox's face and what she thought.
"That's not what you're asking about though... is it?" King Austin then turned his attention to the Nyderian prince. His eyes still held a disinterest in the conversation, but at least now he was looking at the prince.
"Yes, your majesty." Sebastian confirmed. He hoped that he had not offended the king by asking. His question was strictly out of concern of lack of protection. "I mean no offense. It's just our culture to make sure those important figures are adequately protected." He then explained.
Amelia quietly watched the exchange for a moment. She was mildly impressed that the prince was brave enough to openly question the King about the security in front of everyone. That earned some bonus points with her.
"Prince Sebastian, I have four personal body guards." Amelia softly answered once she finished with the bite of her breakfast that she had just taken. "One of them is off today. Another is likely sleeping to prepare for their shift with me tonight. The third is helping to break in the new recruits and the fourth is here." She then explained before taking another bite of her breakfast nonchalantly.
It was common knowledge in the Brightburn Clan that she had four bodyguards. Four very capable body guards. All four of which she had inherited from her mother after she had passed away. She left this part out, of course.
Before his prince had a chance to respond, Melyon bent down to his Sebastian's ear. "The fox at her feet is the same one I met this morning." He whispered softly to him before stepping back and resuming his position. He had recognized the scent, but wasn't sure until the princess had confirmed she had a body guard with her.
Sebastian nodded in acknowledgement to his guard. He found himself smirking at the princess and chuckled when he saw her lips turn up into a smirk. So she had did this on purpose! Clever girl.
Their breakfast was suddenly interrupted by a servant approaching the King. After a moment of quiet whispers to the king, the servant then left just was quickly as he arrived. "Amelia will take you to the training yard after breakfast." King Austin suddenly declared, not leaving this decision up to choice.
"Perhaps you two will find some... mutual entertainment... there." He added as he stood up from his seat. He waved at the others to stay seated instead of following tradition and rising when he rose. Without another word, King Austin left them to their own devices.
Amelia's eyes lit up a little bit at the idea. She liked to believe that she had the best guards in the kingdom, they had previously been her mother's after all. "Yes, that's a great idea!" She agreed, her enthusiasm showing a little bit more than she intended. She didn't let her father's dismissiveness affect her. She was used to it by now.
"Prince Sebastian, I'm not a fighter myself, but I'm sure I have a guard or two that wouldn't mind a good morning work out." She said with a smile at him. She could hear an agreeing yip coming from Keturah at her feet.
While he had been initially caught off guard by the sudden dismissal of the King, Sebastian suddenly felt more comfortable in the conversation now that it was one he was much more familiar with. "I would like that a lot, Princess." He responded with a smile, happy to see that his clan's values weren't completely strange from theirs.