19

As a gathering of some of Hondelet's luminaries was assembling in the courtyard, Queen Hero murmurs to you how His Majesty tends to pass garden events to her because he dislikes being outside for long stretches.

This detail sticks in your mind enough that, during your comedic prattle, you happen digress about His Majesty's inclinations towards vampirism. "He doesn't seem keen on sunlight," you note, "and I assume he doesn't linger by mirrors, or else he'd know to straighten his collar more often…."

As soon as you speak it, you recognize its scampishness. [+Knavery]

However, 'tis keenly rendered enough that it goes appreciated by the Queen. [+Hero]

What surprises you is that, as the weeks go by, on trips to the city you hear snippets of conversation mocking the King's meteorological predilections, such as one vendor to another grousing, "Another foggy day, I'm sure His Majesty will love this." You wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, your jibes on a rather visible stage may have taken root in other circles, to the detriment of the King's standing. [+Discontent]

Lord; you're not used to people listening to you.

I'faith, as time spins along and your work for Her Majesty continues apace, the chatter you hear is that it's becoming ever harder to remember what Queen Hero's audiences were like in the days before your arrival. Becoming a fixture at Her Majesty's side is no mean feat, and the moments are legion when you are filled with gratitude for such an opportunity; and an ever-present terror that some great transgression or failure on your part might send it slipping away.

Onward