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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

"For general use yes, some of our more, exotic meals, can get a little heated though, especially since some of our chefs have taken inspiration from other nations." She clarified.

Clair swallowed what she had and took another drink.
"Yes, thank you Wendy, and umm Aurora, or umm, uhh, Lady... heh, I will try and build a tolerance, perhaps from repeated exposure? I am not sure how, to be honest, I mostly eat oats at home since they are cheap and easy to eat." She admitted, her face getting more red as they continued.
 
Wendy waved her off. "We're both peers. I won't tattle to Duchess Calla on you for not saying Lady Wendy. An' the doc's the doc for pity's sakes, once she's familiar wi'cha, I don't think you need to say Doc Aurora unless you're calling her to an emergency."

Aurora giggled. "What she said, only less like an adolescent."

Lady Wendy preceded to show exactly why some considered her childish, as she stuck her tongue out at the Valtorian Duchess, before returning to her meal, table manners back on and in full force.

Aurora shook her head, chuckling, as she returned to her meal.

Soon it was time for the Themiscyran anti-salad. Besides chunks of vegetables on a pasta base with the olive oil vinaigrette, olives also decorated it. Clair would want to watch Wendy, Aurora and Millicent on how to eat it, as this would be Clair's first experience with spaghetti as a course.

Aurora seemed to take the knife, and surgically cut the strands to bite size. Millicent sliced with the knife all willy-nilly, yet somehow without putting a single elbow on the table, or hand in her anti-salad. Wendy twirled the strands around her fork, before eating the bite. None of them were wrong!
 
Clair nodded.
"Thanks, I'll try and remember better, I think I was just distracted by my mouth being so hot." She said before taking another bite and taking some deeper breaths.
"Oh jeez, I must be really bad at this, you all look fine and here I am," She said as she used a napkin to clean some tears that were coming from her eyes.

Clair could not help but giggle a little at the childish encounter but kept it mostly under control with a smile toward Aurora, happy that they were all just having fun.

Clair indeed would pause before seeing how the others ate, doing her best to mimic what they did, including which utensils they used and what they ate and how. She was quite relieved at eating it as it helped cool her mouth down from the last meal, she could still feel it.

After seeing the various methods she decided to try and mimic Wendy's liking the idea of twirling the strands around the fork, wondering if she could use the spoon as a control to gain a cleaner wrap, but did not dare to do so in case that would make it somehow less appropriate.
 
Clair would notice the ladies all seemed to use some form of the three variations. The king seemed to prefer Aurora's surgical precision, while Olivia hacked like Millicent. Princess Ruby, and The Crimson Avenger twirled like Wendy and now herself. Neither princess used the spoon to help, so it might have been advisable that Clair hadn't tried it.

As the anti-salad disappeared off the plates, the dessert course was being wheeled out. The servants would walk around to each diner, asking if they would like coffee or tea with their apple pie.

Aurora, without realizing she was about to start the most famous saying in history, snarked, "Each slice is equivalent to a whole apple? Are you trying to scare me off?"

Gregor chuckled, and then flat out laughed as his own daughter would actually coin the adage. Crimson Avenger looked directly at Aurora and quipped, "Well, why not? An apple a day keeps the doctor at bay!"
 
Clair felt comfortable with her choice regarding the spaghetti and was glad she never acted on her idea to use the spoon, it perhaps had another use later and she might have ruined that. Though when she had an opportunity would ask Wendy about it, and explained that she would stick the end of the fork into the spoon as she twirled it to keep the spaghetti closer to the base of the fork.

As they came around she also giggled at the apple comments made by the ladies, not sure what they were talking about but had just assumed perhaps Aurora didn't care much for apples or something.

When asked she would say tea, thinking it might be more appropriate for some reason.
 
If Clair had listened as the answers were given, she'd learn Olivia was the only of her friends to get coffee. Both Calla's, both Cordonians, and even Wendy had said tea. Duchess Beaumont, ever the wine pusher (since she owned a vineyard) complained that wine also went with Cordonian apple pie.

Aurora just sort of picked at her piece of pie when it came, until it cooled down a little more than everyone else's. When she finally did take a bite, she looked absolutely surprised. "This isn't bitter on first bite at all! It's actually pretty good! Stellar even!"

Princess Ruby giggled. "Of course not, Aurora! How long have you lived in Cordonia, now? I mean Queen Kenna knew you before I was born, and I'm an adult now, myself! Only Cordonian Ruby apples ripe right off the tree start out sour!"
 
Clair was kicking herself for having not ordered the Coffee, it was much more her than the tea, but it was too late now. Plus Olivia had gotten the Coffee, which means it would have been fine for her to order.
"Hey, umm, how is the coffee?" She asked looking over toward Olivia.

As she tried the apple pie she simply smiled, it was not exactly her thing, but she didn't want to be rude, it wasn't bad, but not exactly great either. But she knew it wasn't a quality thing, it was just her own tastes. She would see if Olivia finished her pie quickly and offer her the rest of her own, if not she would see if any of the other girls seem to particularly like the pie. However, first, she would ask Ruby, as she seemed to enjoy it a lot.
 
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Princess Ruby glanced over to Clair with a puzzled expression. "Only okay?" She asked. "Tell me, then, what is your favourite fruit pie? I grew up on Cordonia Rubies. Hand it over then, I'll try to have a cobbler or pie of another Cordonian fruit, the next meal where something of ours will be featured. I wonder if we can't talk privily later, though."

The princess only sounded disappointed, not mad, however, and having the queen of Cordonia's daughter in her corner could only benefit Clair in the long run.

"After your meeting with the princess, Clair, come knock on my door." Aurora commented, looking at her.
 
Clair blushed handing the pie over.
"Oh umm, honestly I had not had any, I don't have much of a taste for sweets I am afraid, you don't need to worry about little old me I am happy to share." she rubbed the back of her head

"Though umm, thank you so much, it really was good just one bite is all I can handle really" she admitted.
"But umm, y-yeah I wouldn't mind talking later if you want" she nodded.

Clair turned to Aurora and nodded.
"of course, I'll come to see you after"
 
As dessert wrapped up, Grovershire again tapped her fork against her glass, for attention. "Please note that tracking begins precisely at seven tomorrow morning. That's right about sun up. I'd like all participants in the foyer, dressed in your more everyday clothes. No dresses, gowns, pantsuits, what have you. The more peasant look the better, because you will get dirty, ladies. You all are excused to socialize."

Ruby would be right around the table to Clair. "Since you always have your journal and quill with you, shall we meet in your room or mine? I'm not partial to either."

If Clair asked, she'd find out the Cordonians were right across the hall from one another. After seeing Ruby, Aurora would be right across the hall.
 
Clair would ask Ruby if she knew where Aurora's room was, since she was planning to go there next, then when hearing it was across the hall found the answer easy.
"Oh, in that case, I suppose your room would be best, that way, you are already where you need to be, and I just need to go across the hall after" She smiled.

"Are we going to go there now? or is that for after the socializing thing? I know we would technically be socializing there I just don't really understand how this all works still." She admitted.
 
The princess nodded, before giggling. "We're free to socialize means we are excused. Some may wish to meet in the drawing room for tea or coffee and continue conversations from the dinner table. I did say I wanted us to speak privily."

She nodded and motioned to the stairs leading from the foyer to everyone's room. "Walk this way." She encouraged, and proceeded to walk, that although was normal for her, may be taken as provocative, since her hips swayed a lot more freer than other girls. Realizing what she said as she started up the stairs, she commented, "I hope you're not actually trying to walk the way I do. You might throw out your hip. Mine really swing, naturally."

She also hoped she didn't accidentally turn Clair on, although she might not have had to worry about that.
 
Clair nodded, thinking she understood now, and followed her as instructed, her eyes naturally being drawn toward her hips as she walked with a sway.
"OF course" She commented as she was told to continue to follow.

"Hmm? Walk like you? No, I would not try to walk like another person, though I admit it is a bit mesmerizing, kind of like those hypnotists with their watches." She commented not thinking much of it, as she still had issues with social conversation.
 
Ruby blushed and bit her lower lip as she heard that her walk was mesmerizing. She cleared her throat, uneasily, yet smiled as she opened the door to her borrowed room for the few days. "You and a whole bunch of other girls have said that my walk is mesmerizing... I guess that's sort of a compliment."

Another uneasily clearing of her throat as she allowed Clair in and pointed to the desk, "Please put your, uhmm, erm, books and inkwell there, I guess, then grab the chair from the desk and turn it facing the other chair." She then sat in the chair next to the bed, but turned towards the desk. "Tell me a little something about the kind of wares you sell, and what you like doing. I guess building counts..." Better start with getting to know about Clair, before going into other things she needed to say. She was sitting fully erect with her back straight, hands folded and resting in her lap, and her ankles crossed, just like a proper princess.
 
Clair returned the smile with a blush.
"Yes I would think it's a compliment, much better than something like revolting heh" She giggled.

Clair nodded and did as asked, setting up her notebook and ink with her quill.
"Well technically I mostly deal with the making and my family with the selling, but I suppose recently I have been doing my own discovering. I mostly figure out what someone needs a tool to do, then figure out how to make it, and make it. Sometimes people will have their own idea for a tool and I'll make it and offer suggestions on how to improve it if I think of any" She explained.
 
Ruby tilted her head to one side. "So... When you were introduced as an inventor, that was no embellishment." She straightened her neck, still meeting eye contact with Clair. "Have you ever travelled before? Maybe out of country? Or is this your first trip outside of Dunwyn?" She would let Clair answer, before asking, getting closer to what she wanted to say, "Would you like to? Perhaps even see my country?"
 
"Oh no, I am indeed an inventor, there are infinite things that have yet to be made, and I just think I am helping to discover a small portion of them." She smiled.
"As for leaving the country, no, actually this trip was the first time I had even left the bounds of the city, and although it is a bit scary I know that traveling can only broaden my mind and thus help me discover new things to help invent."

As she asked if she wanted to go to her country she nodded.
"Oh sure, is that one of the stops for the courting?" She asked.
 
Ruby shook her head. "I wish. Cordonia is lovely any time of the year. It's just this region for now. Maybe Scotland since it's just north of you. To go to Cordonia, you have to cross the sea (She's referring to the English Channel, which I don't think is called that yet)." She thought about it. "Actually, to even get to the sea, you have to go south to Londonium. That's where you would catch a ship. After the season, that's how I will be getting home."

She got serious and looked down at her folded hands. "You may think my questions odd, Lady Clair, but... I know I shouldn't be sure, yet, with so much of the season to go... But... You're different than the others. Even Olivia who I consider a close friend..." She barely looked up, "I-I uhh, well, I think you're the one I want to take home to Mother. Queen Kenna. You didn't even realize I was the Cordonian princess when you first met me, and I... Well, your realism was such a breath of fresh air..." She sighed. "I know it's kinda early, but... If we were painting now, I'd paint you."

Was the Cordonian princess crushing on Clair???
 
Clair nodded along with Ruby as she talked about Cordonia and how Clair might get there.
"Oh, hmm, a ship huh? well, I suppose that would be how we get there, so would I go with you on your return? I guess I would need to check with Avenger and my parents about that if it's not part of the whole courting ritual thing" She rubbed her chin.

Clair stayed quiet as Ruby got serious, not sure what was going to happen, and the entire time she spoke Clair had not caught on, even as she said she wanted to bring her to her mother, she thought that may have been a regular friend thing. However, even she clued in as she stated she would draw her, she had learned what that meant and the realization made her blush. "Oh... I.. you umm.. oh I... oh wow" Clair got flustered at that, her mind returning to Ruby's sway and how she brought her to her room. Though her thoughts did not let her get too deep before her vison blacked out and she fainted falling forward toward Ruby.
 
As Clair fell forward in faint, Ruby gasped, jumped up and screamed for Aurora (after shrieking in a combination of fear and surprise) while catching Clair.

Not knowing where else to put her, the princess picked Clair up and laid her on her bed, as Aurora flew in and saw the sight.

"What the hell, Ruby?!" Aurora gasped. As she listened to the Cordonian princess's explanation, she sighed. "Give me a heart attack!" She checked Clair over, and shook her head. "Only thing I have, like any other physician, is smelling salts. Might as well see if the poor inventor can come up with something less potent. We're BOTH going to be talking about this, Ruby, mainly because of the shock you gave her when she's already been through so much!"

Aurora made sure to gently let the smelling salts waft towards Clair, instead of applying the vial under the nose as usual.

"Woof, that stuff's strong..." Ruby complained.

Aurora could only nod.
 
As she cracked the salts, even with them some distance from her nose it did indeed wake Clair.
"Hmm? what?" She placed a hand on her head as she sat up and looked around.
"Oh umm, Aurora, hey, umm Sorry Ruby, err uhh.. wait names uhh..." She looked around for her book, as it was still on the desk. Clair was still a little groggy from when she fainted but quickly recouped.
 
Ruby grabbed the book, but not the inkwell and quill. "Names? Maybe you need this?" She asked handing it over.

Aurora facepalmed with a grimace. If this was only a crush it was a doozy of one. "Ruby!" She sat next to Clair. "So, the Cordonian princess told me what happened. You feel like talking about how you feel? I mean, it seems like a crush to me... But I'm no expert on psychology. That's a different practice in the medical field altogether. Only Hippocrates¹ was an expert in both fields, and he's only in our medical tomes, now."

¹-Hippocrates (460bce-375bce) is known as the father of medicine.
 
She took the book.
"Right umm, Doctor Aurora and Princess Ruby, umm A umm crush? I think I must have misunderstood. I umm, Princess Ruby, you don't really have a crush on me, do you? I mean, I am not really anything special, there are so many pretty, smart, and amazing girls here. I don't understand why of anyone you would have something like that for me..."
 
Ruby blushed, yet frowned at Aurora. "I don't think it's merely a crush. I've had them before, they can go away as quickly as they come. This... This is different. It feels more real, more intense than I've felt for anyone before. I... I don't even know why, I just know. It's almost magical."

Aurora eyes bugged out of her head. "That definitely doesn't sound like a crush. That's a different phenomenon altogether." She just couldn't bring herself to say it. She'd heard of it, but never seen the manifestation of it. Love at first sight. There'd be pretty much nothing that could stop this puppy love coach from barrelling through, now.

Aurora took a deep breath. "Be careful how you answer her; the last thing you want to do is break her heart." She whispered to Clair.
 
"Oh.. yeah I umm.. uh" her voice squeaked and her face reddened again then she paused as she looked between the two, even she understood the implication she was saying.

Once again this pressure was too much for Clair and promptly lost consciousness, luckily she was still on the bed so simply fell back to where she was laying previously.
 
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