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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

Cinnamon looked surprised at Clair. Truth be told, Cinnamon even thought that what they had been doing for the last few weeks, including the wine making, were things a girl just had to learn if she expected to be a decent wife. After a few blinks, she said calmly, "You deserve to be happy, too, Clair. You can only spread yourself out so much without having a companion to help recharge your reserves. Helping others is a great thing, don't get me wrong, but not at the cost of your own happiness. Even I did fun things as a baker, who had the same long hours as you, like going to parties and just going out on walks with someone else to get to know them."

She turned to Ethel next, "I can respect that, but it doesn't mean you have to forgo a gift of something you want during it. This is the best time to find that something or someone, when everyone is more cordial with others. I know I guess I have no room to talk, being a Christmas Baby. That union to create me happened 40 weeks before... Especially to hear my mother talk."

Finally, she looked at Ruby. "You've been awful quiet, Princess. Isn't there anything you want?"

Ruby got up to check the oven for her pies. "Ethel. Can you get the other towel? I think these pies can be pulled." She pulled a hot pie out and set it at the display area to cool. She sighed and looked at Cinnamon. "You're new to being a princess, so I'll let that slide. Unless you already are interested in somebody? You'll soon learn you'll have to beg the King to marry who you want. You don't get to choose for love, otherwise. I know who I want, but I have to beg mother for permission to have her. It's not up to me." She glanced at Clair. "I really wish it could be mine."
 
Clair looked down.
"I don't know, I kinda recharge myself by like, tinkering and stuff, being around others even family and stuff always feels a little draining if I am being honest. Not that I don't enjoy everyone's company! I do, it's just, I like being able to just sit and let my mind wonder as I tinker with things" She tried to explain.
"Is that, weird?"

Ethel shrugged.
"I see your opinion as well, I just see no reason you can't just treat each day as that, with less commitment and more, general sense to it."

Clair looked back not sure what to say.
"Umm, well, that sounds difficult. I am sorry the princess title has soo much, umm additional weight with the title"
 
Cinnamon looked puzzled at first, at both Clair's and Ethel's responses, but decided to let it go, hoping her good will to drop it, would rub off on both to open up and be more sociable.

She realized Clair's was just shyness, but Ethel's seemed more traditional, if not familial.

Ruby just smiled sadly at Clair and gave a subtle nod, and since she and Ethel were now done in the kitchens, another pair could replace them.

It would be another hour before Cinnamon tested the fruitcake, noticing it was done, and pulled it out. "Clair? Have you ever marinated a cake before? Or seen your mother do it? Or did your family always get everything as far as baked goods from my family?" Cinnamon wanted to see how much Clair knew already, before the tea dunk, which had to be just right in both time and timing, or the cake would get to soggy, fall apart, and they'd have to do everything all over again.
 
Clair returned a smile to Ruby but also remained rather quiet afterward.

Clair looked to Cinnamon as she asked her question and was quick to respond.
"Oh, we definitely just got everything from you; we didn't have the knowledge or the equipment for baking."
 
Cinnamon nodded. "Sounds like you and about 80-90 percent of the population. I mean, even the royal family, the King and Calla, who has the equipment; we're using it, came to us for pastries. I don't think we ever sold THEM one loaf of bread, or even a cake, for that matter."

She shook her head. "Never mind that. Pour the tea into the mixing bowl. To the rim, then step back and watch carefully. Since you're keeping notes for posterity, I'll count out loud so you realize how short of a marinating soak it is."

After letting the fruitcake cool, Cinnamon took it, and plunged it into the tea. "One...two...three." She pulled it out and left it with the others to be graded by the King.

"Now we wait for King Gregor to tell us who won." She gave a conspiratorial wink Clair's direction. "As if we didn't know already." She smirked, "It's hard to top a professional baker with over a decade of experience."

Clair should know from clues throughout the season, and that Cinnamon's admission that her 18th birthday isn't until NEXT Christmas, that the new princess is only 16 going on 17.¹ Now would be the best time to ask Cinnamon when she DID start baking!


1-I had to squeeze in Sound of Music duet between Liesl and Rolf "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" somewhere, since we had so many. (Three, Cinnamon, Millicent, and Ruby)
 
Clair nodded along as she replied, indeed taking notes.
"Thanks, that makes it much easier." She smiled.

Clair nodded
"You Said you started baking before walking right? so were you like a baby still?" She asked.
 
Cinnamon had to giggle in spite of herself. "MOTHER said I began baking before I could walk, Father could tell you I was helping in the bakery just before I turned five. With Christmas, and therefore my birthday being about a week away, and I'll be turning 17, I've been baking for 12 years. The first three, I was basically an apprentice baker. I was under my parents', or uncles' supervision. I was almost 12 when I took over the finances while continue to make my much loved pastries, so about five years having both finances and inventory, continuing getting up about four or four-thirty in the morning, to make pastries and donuts."

Everyone would be told to hang around their baking partners until after King Gregor and visiting Queen of Cordonia had a chance to simple everyone's desserts.

Princess Sapphire seemed about as calm as Cinnamon, sure of both hers and Diana's skills as well as her family's traditional baklava.

It turned out that Amanda and Olivia were not only one of the first ones in the kitchens, but the last ones to finish almost eight hours later, long after the doctor and her partner, Scot Clara Princeton, made their pumpkin cake, Millicent and the Crimson Avenger made a fruit salad that looked almost like it was whipped and mixed with a type of meringue, and Ariel and Cassandra presented a Spanish custard dessert we now would know as flan.

Clair had time to catch up with both Ruby and Doctor Aurora, and maybe a few others (except Amanda Butcher and Olivia) during the all day waiting.
 
Clair smiled.
"Heh, that sounds like me and tinkering. Of course, when I was younger, I didn't really make anything, more like, taking things apart and putting them back together. Though I also didn't really have anyone to teach me either, neither of my parents are too interested in that stuff." She admitted.

If Cinnamon had left her, Clair would simply go and look into her notebook, unless of course one of the other approached her, she wouldn't seek anyone out.
 
Since one couldn't go too far from one's partner, Cinnamon contently sat near Clair as she looked in her notebook during the long waiting time, only moving for lunch, which was sandwiches and tea brought out to the ladies by kitchen servants, even if she could choose which sandwich she wanted.

Kenna heard Ruby ask for Clair's hand, in almost everyone's hearing (parents, court attendees, knights) and was met with a stipulation she wasn't expecting. She thought she would be bringing Clair to Stormholt, but actually, if Ruby was so sure, and had no doubt in her mind, Kenna wanted her to experience living with less money, and no allowance from the queen, as a Countess. Did Clair or her parents hear Kenna's stipulation and Princess Ruby's agreement? Did Diana or Ethel?

Cinnamon did, and looked at Ruby with a shocked expression and audible gasp that Clair was sure to have heard. Ruby didn't have to give up her title, just her extremely rich lifestyle, and her castle for the palace the Handlers' now owned!

Dinner was called immediately after.
 
Clair seeing that Cinnamon was staying would occasionally look up from her notes and ask her about certain recipes, jotting them down as Cinnamon replied.

Ethel would approach Ruby after hearing her agree to the deal.
"You took that deal on pretty quickly, with nary an afterthought. If you would like experience living in a less privileged life perhaps, to make the step down you are about to do seem more like a step up you could join in on some wilderness survival training, get some experience while your at it."

Meanwhile Clair may have been one of the few to miss the conversation even though she was beside Cinnamon. Only looking up from her notes once she heard Cinnamon's reaction.
"Huh? What's going on? You okay?"
 
Cinnamon gave Clair several recipes for breads, pies and cakes... Including cake donuts, knowing Clair was going to Cordonia after the new year. She shook her head when it came to her preserves topped danishes. "Sorry, Clair, I'll give you instructions on how to make the pastries, but how we make the preserves that goes on top, and inside the rolls, that's a Baker family secret. You have a good mind, you can make your own recipe for the fruit to top or go inside."

Cinnamon looked over at Clair. "You didn't hear? You were just given to Ruby... Or rather, she was given to you, since she has to move in with you guys."

Ruby smiled at Ethel. "I'd do anything for Clair, Ethel, short of giving up my title. If all I have to do is live by their means in Cordonia? So be it. It's for love. As far as survival training? Clair and I have some natural tests and experiments to conduct... I think we'll be spending a LOT of time outside and not with certain amenities... But thanks. Survival training sounds more like something Diana, Olivia or Sapphire would be interested in, anyway." She still didn't get it, at least not all the way, what means she'll have to live on, for the first few months, until the Handlers were settled in their new country.
 
Clair nodded.
"I understand. My parents told me I should do the same with some of my inventions."

Clair paused as Cinnamon dropped the information on her about Ruby.
"What? given to me? I don't understand, she be like, living in the same house?"

Ethel nodded.
"Oh, they are. I figured you may want to join, but if not, that's fine too, just don't go getting stranded anywhere. Oh, and make sure the inventor girl doesn't get us all killed with some crazy invention, got it?"
 
Cinnamon thought about it. "Most your stuff has been in a certain category: Adventuring, Medical, Science, Military. Many pretty much you have made things for, know you invented them, but I would suggest if you make... Like more of those boom sticks, or smoke pellets, for example, you put down that you want in writing what it's to be used for. Didn't Kenna say that she used something similar to your boom sticks, and nobody knew what the hell they were playing with, and a knight lost a hand?" No, that was just piles of that volatile powder to rocket catapult boulders, and some idiot used to much and blew up the whole catapult.

"Didn't Gregor restrict it to mining? Make sure the invention will be used properly in writing before mass production." She was referring to what Allan A Dale had termed dynamite. A name already established by word of mouth throughout Dunwyn and surrounding areas. One of the very inventions Ethel may be most concerned about, knowing how volatile that black powder really was, since there had been accidents with the fireworks upon invention. Ethel would also be familiar with the accident by a fellow mercenary (not a knight) during the siege to retake Stormholt from Olivia's uncle. Cinnamon looked at Clair. "Sermon over." Apparently Cinnamon was cut from the same cloth as Mrs. Handler, a mother, and Amethyst and Grovershire, knights, were since she ended her safety spiel with those two familiar words. If Clair checked notes before she even joined the court season, Cinnamon's sister and the sister's new husband had just got a house together and Cinnamon had been at the store, getting things for a housewarming gift from her family to theirs.

She then nodded that Clair had guessed right, although she gave mixed signals. "More or less. Kenna said if she was sure about you, Ruby had to live with you. I'm thinking you'll have to share some big bedroom in your new place with the village princess. At least, that's what she'd be called in some realms here in England."

After nodding to Ethel that she'd gladly watch, Ruby showed up, smiling at both as she waited and watched to be escorted to dinner. Amethyst would be indisposed, so would Clair offer Cinnamon her other arm?
 
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Clair was surprised to hear Cinnamon mention the boom sticks.
"Oh, I thought I wasn't supposed to talk about those inventions. I mean, I have thought of some things that would improve on those formulas but didn't even take notes on it." She whispered back.

Ethel, hearing the topic, would speak up.
"Even if you get it in writing, it won't stop people from misusing it. The best way to prevent that is not to allow it to exist at all, they can't misuse what they don't have. If everyone smart enough to make those kinds of things were smart enough to see that they will cause more harm then do good then it can save everyone a lot of trouble" She said speaking sternly as Ruby approached.
"The town princess knows what I am talking about, right? Keep this one in line with her more dangerous macinations." She proclaimed.

Clair simply nodded, retreating into herself a little at the confrontational tone.
"Yes, I am going to be as careful as I can."

After a moment to process, Clair would offer her arm after reading the custom in her notes.
 
Ruby clamped on to Clair like her life depended on it causing Avenger to tut. "You know, Ruby, I am available as an escort. I do happen to have the privilege of guarding your body, much like Amethyst used to guard me, and now does so for Cinnamon."

Gregor arose and pulled out Cinnamon's princess chair on his right as Avenger sat herself in the seat two seats removed from Kenna on the left, "I can push Cinnamon to the table, Clair, thank you, just push Ruby to the table. Dash it all, Amethyst should have been back from Londonium by now. It's been since just after breakfast.

Ruby thanked Clair with a kiss to the cheek and Cinnamon smiled and gave a courtly nod to Clair for the escort to the dinner table. She then addressed Gregor. "Majesty, I have two good legs and bright senses, can this need to have me escorted to meals be skipped, please?"

Gregor pushed Cinnamon in. "No. You need to get used to that, Cinnamon, the princess being escorted has been a tradition across many countries since time immemorial. If Calla before you could deal with it for 17 years, the baker can going forward." After taking his seat he turned to Kenna. "What's this about Ruby having to move in with the Handlers? Shouldn't CLAIR be the one to move to Stormholt?" Since Ethel had not confronted the Queen of Cordonia on the surprise announcement, Gregor decided he must.

Kenna raised an eyebrow at the King, as she sipped her wine. "Gregor, Cordonia has stricter laws in effect for a same sex union between Royal and Noble when it comes to the Royal choosing his or her life partner. It is to be more public and the Royal must reside with the chosen partner until the time of ascension to the throne. Besides, once again, Ruby will learn the true value of money if she has less to live on. She will not only respect the Countess position, but those of the villagers around her, since she could not be in a traditional marriage."

Doctor Aurora Service raised an eyebrow as she sat next to Calla Avenger. "I'm pretty sure no villager in their right mind will look down on Ruby if they love her already."

Kenna raised an eyebrow. "Do you think the Rhys line has been the Royal Family since the building of Stormholt, doctor? Stormholt was already over a century old when the Rhys family took over, because the previous line ended due to the Prince taking a groom. They had no heir and left a void, since they neither could procreate, nor adopt. If this is the end of the Rhys line in Ruby for the same reason, best she learns now the true power of money needed for living expenses, and how hard the villagers work for what they earn."

The logic was infallible. No wonder Kenna was a just and stern queen. Olivia, sitting next to Ethel, asided for her ears only, "Bingo. NOW do you see why I would prefer to be under Kenna's rule, and Lythikos be a Great House of Cordonia, then under a king who half-arses everything? Lythikos won't last much longer as a country he keeps going as he is. We'll go broke. We've gone from tyrannical rule to having a moron on the throne."

As dinner was in full swing, and the entree just delivered, Amethyst came in looking haggard, came right up to Gregor and whispered something in his ear; the King paled. "How long? Speak, woman. This should be shared with the whole court."

Amethyst frowned and looked at the ladies and gentlemen at the table. "Less than a week. Probably by Christmas. At least that's what the Royal soothsayers are stating. Majesty, you know what two back to back Christmas blizzards entail according to prophecy¹."

Kenna frowned. "The freezing of Europe."

1-This is early during what is known as the little ice age. 1300-1850. The cooling off during this period doesn't involve glaciation, but our characters don't know that.
 
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