9 "If I preferred one of your sisters, you wouldn't be here"

The room she was given was actually very nice and bigger than her room at home. The walls had smooth plaster covered by a medium teal blue wallpaper. There was also a barely visible pattern of subtly lighter stripes. The floor had shiny black and gray tiles in a straight grid pattern. There were a few tapestries on the walls, some rugs on the tiled floor, a fireplace, a dressing table, a tall standing mirror, a wardrobe, a washing stand, a window, a few armchairs, a dining area, and a white ottoman at the foot of an elegant canopy bed.

Muriel washed her face and hands. Then she changed into a mostly featureless gown of a dark olive color and put her cloak right back on. A few maids came and served her a meal. It was vegetable pottage with bits of roasted chicken mixed in and a hunk of white bread. It was a perfectly filling meal, but Muriel didn't enjoy it.

After the meal, Muriel was told to follow a maid down to a sitting room, where the princess was waiting for her, sitting on a wide couch that barely had enough room for her gown. A tea set was on a coffee table.

"Sit, Muriel," Princess Arya said as she let her hand glide over the coffee table.

"Yes, Your Highness, thank you." Muriel sat down on a couch perpendicular from the princess.

"You may have some tea. I already have a cup." There was indeed a full cup waiting for the princess' fingers. There was also an empty cup for Muriel. The whole tea set had white and rich magenta colors with gold on the edges.

"Yes, Madam." She carefully gripped the elaborately curved handle of the teapot. The spout had a high arch. She poured a small amount of tea into the cup. The hot liquid was an intense red color. It smelled earthy.

"I suggest that you stir a cube of chocolate in your cup," said the princess, "otherwise you might think you're tasting an ashtray."

That seemed to be a reasonable thing to say, if a bit funny. Muriel actually had to stop herself from laughing. Her eyes squinted and her lips shook. She took a little spoon and dipped it into a bowl of small chocolate blocks. She put a block into her tea and lightly stirred, making little clanking noises.

"You're much quieter than your sisters."

Muriel disagreed. She could be very, very chatty when she felt less restrained. She had been known to have complete conversations with nobody when she was in a certain mood.

"Or ... are you trying to be polite?" The princess sounded as if she was interrogating her.

The chocolate was melted, darkening the tea. Muriel put the spoon aside. "Would Her Highness prefer to have a loud and uncouth companion?"

"Are you accusing your sisters of being loud and uncouth?"

Muriel took a slow, prudent sip of her tea. Hot earth and chocolate. Not a bad taste. Her throat was heated up very quickly. "I certainly would call them loud, to be honest."

Princess Arya flicked her hand in the air. "If I preferred one of your sisters, you wouldn't be here."

Muriel nodded and took another sip of tea.