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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

In the study, Kenna had George, Alexei, Harold and Catherine reintroduce themselves to Clair and mention what they were to do as guards for the new nobles. Alexei and Catherine both seemed affable people to speak with, with Alexei having a bit more of a Muscovite accent than Catherine's Rus' dialect. George seemed like he would be apt to help Clair, and had a Cordonian accent she was used to with Aurora, Ruby and now Kenna, yet he still seemed to be almost wary, moreso for her inventions.

Catherine has questions for Clair regarding what she seemed most interested in, whether science or medicine, citing, "You don't strike me as much interested in things to making these things that could harm others. I would be interested in seeing these other useful gadgets when we get back to Mother Cordonia. Even if you don't choose me as your guard."

Kenna concluded with, "And that's why there will only be two personal guards for the family, the other two will join your manor, or house guards." She looked at Mr. Handler, "unless the retired knight wishes to refer to the home as a palace?" She glanced quickly to Mrs Handler, since she would be in charge of running the estate. Mr. Handler seemed more at home with protection, and would be the head over the guards was her thinking. She also wasn't sure if her new Count and Countess even wanted to call their home anything except manor or estate.

Ruby looked quizzically between her mom and Clair, before whispering, "Was it just me or could you understand Alexei through that heavy accent? Both seem nice enough though, and interested in your work, and I have Calla as my guard... Or did you want to share Calla since I'll be living with you?" Calla gave Ruby a thinker's frown, before a shrug. She didn't seem to mind.

Did Clair want to add to the newest Cordonian Knight's duties, or accept Kenna's gracious offer of having her own?
 
Clair paused, listening to each one, a little reserved as she always was when meeting new people. She waited for all the options be be revealed before giving her assessment.

"Please, home works just fine for us, right?" Mr. Handler declared.
"Of course, we are quite minimalist" Mrs. Handler added.

Clair nodded with Ruby and whispered a response.
"It was a bit of trouble to understand."

"Okay, I don't think it's a good idea to have a single guard for two people, we are bound to be in different places at some points which makes that difficult. As for who I think might be best, I suppose Catherine would be the best fit for me" she admitted trying to remain professional while still clearly nervous.
 
Ruby nodded. "I just thought, y'know, since we'll probably be in the lab most the time... But I guess I can kinda see?"

Kenna nodded to Clair, "You continue to prove how astute you really are, or capable of being, Clair."

Avenger finally spoke up. "I didn't want to correct my Princess over something as trivial as guarding you both around the estate..." A look at Mrs. Handler, "I mean house," return look to Clair, "but if you had accepted Ruby's generous offer, I would have asked you to pick someone if you had to go out. I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt on an errand, because you were out there alone."
----------------------------

The next two days passed quickly, and nobody saw Cinnamon, even at meal times. Amethyst was the Royal Bodyguard to the Princess, so she was just as absent.

Olivia sidled up to Ethel, "You ready for one of the most boring nights of your life? If this was a Cordonian ball, I wouldn't need to ask. Something exciting ALWAYS happens at one of Kenna's balls. This is Dunwyn, though, and Christmas Eve."

"Good heavens, it's starting to snow. We're going to have a white Yule here, that HARDLY happens this far south!"

Princess Frosta
Screenshot_20250710-132942.png

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Looks like the Kingdom of Snows and in particular, Princess Frosta of Castle Chill¹, is here. They have to import everything, as they only have about two months of temperate weather... She's alright, if not a bit aloof, as cold as her Kingdom until she warms up to you. She's about three or four years younger than me. You're pretty well travelled; ever been THAT far North?"



1-Although from the 80s She-Ra, The Kingdom of Snows in our universe, would be above the Arctic Circle, which 1370s Europeans would not know about yet, and would be in their second full month of six in darkness. Since we've stretched some inventions, this could be a chance for Ethel to enlighten Gregor, Kenna and Olivia on the geography of the planet.
 
Mr and Mrs Handler nodded along with the conversation, happy to see how far their little girl had come in social situations.

"To be fair, Ruby you aren't wrong, I don't really get out much, and will probably be in the lab most of the time. But most of your studies are nature, I imagine that might take you outside the lab more often" she clarified.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethel chuckled.
"It will need to be really boring to make it to my top boring list"

Ethel nodded in response.
"Though I wouldn't recommend it alone and unprepared, surviving in those climates is a whole different skill set, and is more focused on group dynamics" she replied though was ready to explain more about the area of questioned.
 
Ruby nodded, accepting Clair's reasoning without a word. She had seen for herself for the last six weeks.
(Finishing that scene)

Two days later, as Christmas Eve afternoon closed in to the time of the ballroom opening, Ruby was putting on her velvet gown that had gotten Clair and her second place behind Cinnamon, who now wouldn't be coming, or so it would seem.

Avenger asked Clair if she looked alright, if her gown looked alright, and for help sheathing her trusty rapier into the golden silk sheath on her side. "Wow. When did the storm start? I hope everyone who is coming to the ball is already here." She motioned with her head to the snow falling outside.

Meanwhile, Gregor was welcoming Dunwynians into the castle, as per usual on the Christmas Eve Snowflake Ball. Many of which didn't have the fancy gowns that the ladies made themselves about a week prior, but still had what would amount to their "Sunday best".

"Merry Christmas!" were many Dunwynians saying to their King.

Kenna stopped by, and talked quietly with Gregor, asking him to relent on Cinnamon's deserved punishment one day, so Dunwyn could visit with their new princess on Christmas.

Ethel and Olivia were near Princess Frosta and Gregor when Ethel explained the rigors of the far North. With a simple quirk of an eyebrow, and stoic expression, the Kingdom of Snows Princess gave her a subtle nod of acknowledgement of her region.

Olivia nodded to the far North Princess, which was pretty much the equivalent of a Lythikan handshake, and just as cold as the Lythikan Alps were currently in late December.

Tuxford glanced at Ethel. "Prithee, explain group dynamics for the Kingdom of Snows that would be different than what we would normally do for our entourage. Gregor invited the Kingdom of Snows to our Yule celebration to extend a trade of sorts, and open up the discussion of more diplomacy between our kingdoms."

Knowledge of the rigors the Kingdom of Snows go through during the five full months of darkness and one month of perpetual twilight with the sun peeking over the horizon, which is what Frosta was here to explain, unless Ethel knew enough about it, which the North Princess seemed intrigued in finding out by watching Ethel carefully.
 
Clair would help of course, responding in kind, wearing her own outfit from that evening.
"You look great, as ready for a dance as you would be for combat" she complimented as she helped her.
"And yeah, the weather is pretty bad, I hope nobody gets caught up in it trying to get here"

Ethel crossed her arms.
"Well I have not been there in some time, I am sure you would be better to ask the snow princess, she is to be far more knowledgeable then I. I do know that they don't have a clean twenty four hour day like us, they will have nights and days that last months" she explained.
 
Frosta glanced again at Ethel. "You seemed to be doing a decent job. Only we have the same 24 hour days like everyone else. Only difference is, right now, and until around April, we have only night. No sunrise or sunset." She explained to both Ethel and Tuxford. "As far as group protocol in the wilds of my kingdom... A good rule of thumb, is to have about 10-15 healthy people, dressed for the bitter temperatures, and at least two are skilled hunters and/or foragers. Also , come during the late spring and during the summer. It's a balmy 45-50 degrees then. Maybe one of you can tell me where I can find the Dunwyn Princess. Isn't that Calla? I'm a visiting dignitary, the princess should have greeted me by now."

Calla looked over, seeing the Princess of the Snow Kingdom, frowned, and asided to Clair. "She's behind current events. I abdicated. And a Cordonian Knight now."

Someone really needed to convince Gregor to relax his just punishment of the new princess one day for her to perform her duties as a dignitary of Dunwyn. Will a fellow Dunwynian ask where Cinnamon is?
 
Ethel nodded.
"Ah yes, it has been some time since I have been there, I simply remember that otherworldly feeling of a sun going across the horizon."

Clair nodded.
"Oh yes, umm, Cinnamon is the princess now" Clair clarified.
"Maybe we could ask the King to release his punishment on her long enough to speak with you?" She offered.
 
Frosta raised an eyebrow. "I see. And what happened to Calla?" She then glared at Calla dressed in the gown Clair and Ruby designed for her, but wearing her new country's colours of blue and slate grey (almost silver, and can be mistaken as such) She next glared at another female knight in the blue and gold of Dunwyn. "Embarrassing the female knights have to wear ball gowns just because they're girls. How the hell are you supposed to move around in those and protect the kingdom?!"

Calla blushed, hunkered down some, and looked ready to hide behind Clair, and drag Ruby behind Clair with her. Frosta would remind Clair a lot of Olivia before Olivia got to know her. She definitely seemed as cold as her Kingdom she ran.

She then walked purposely towards Gregor to get Cinnamon. After a lengthy discussion, Gregor signalled Sunrise to go retrieve Cinnamon and her bodyguard, Amethyst, telling him in hearing of all (including Ethel, Diana and Clair) "And DO remind the Royal Bodyguard to be dressed appropriately! This IS a ball, and the closing ball of the season on top of it! She MUST be in a gown with her sword sheathed on her person!"

Calla looked at Clair. "Now do you see why I felt so sorry for Amethyst, and tried to escape her during balls?"
 
Clair went red, not sure why everyone seemed to hide behind her? She was the last one who should be taking charge of a social situation.
"Oh, I umm, agree, I did my best to design a combat appropriate gown but it couldn't be as effective as actual combat armour of course." She admitted.

Clair nodded in response but simply kept a straight back as she watched.

Ethel chuckled at the scene, knowing that attitude was pretty common for the royalty in her area.

Diana kept to herself, being a dignitary of her own, though was ready to intervene if too much of a scene was caused.
 
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