[Mekatra]

"Perhaps a walk in the garden?" Elizaveta suggested to the two of them. "Return before morning court, dears."

Leandrea held her arm out to him. "You don't have to speak so formally, m'lord. Such stiffness doesn't suit you." She was relieved at the chance to get out of the watchful eyes of the other ladies in the room. "Have you ever gotten a chance to walk the gardens? They're beautiful this time of year."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He nodded at the Queen's suggestion. He took her arm and he let her lead him to the gardens. "I have not, I'm sorry." he said. He felt relieved that he didn't have to keep up the charade of such an odd way of talking. "I'm glad I don't have to talk that way anymore. It's hard to remember how to talk that way when you're not used to it." he smiled. "But please, show me the garden, I'd love to see it." he said as they walked.

At the gardens, he looked at all the flowers and the fragrant aromas from them all seemed to circle around them. It wasn't overpowering at all, instead, it filled him with energy. "It is very nice here," he said giving it a once-over. "Very bright and sunny." He then looked over and he suggested they both sit on some benches that were nearby. "So, I admit I'm new to being around...erm...women such as yourself. I have no idea what I'm doing," he admitted to Leandrea.

[Mekatra]

Leandrea stayed quiet for most of their walk, seemingly content to just observe and delight in their surroundings. Her blue gown swished slightly with each movement. "There isn't much you have to do to entertain me. Most noble women we raised to be seen more than heard. We're trained in the art of conversation, but most knights and lords aren't really as interested in that as they could be." She found a little bench to sit on near several rosebushes. She patted the space next to her. "This is lovely, truely. One of my favorite places. You can see all the fountains from here."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He sat next to her and then looked around. "Well I wasn't really raised by anyone, but I learned fast, to be seen and not heard. I'm not sure how much you have heard about me from the gossip around the castle," he said slowly. "But I wasn't raised a royal. The streets raised me I guess you can say. A very harsh 'parent' indeed." he said a bit more bitter then he intended.

He heaved a sigh "I apologize, I didn't mean to sound so brash there." he said. "Things have gotten better since the discovery of being related to Her Majesty, I just wish that was found out years ago," he said softly. "But please, enough about me, tell me about yourself."

[Mekatra]

Unlike the queen she didn't look horrified, or even surprised by his upbringing. "It's sadly all too common a story, isn't it? Children in the slums grow up...or don't make it that far, every day without someone to look after them. It's awful. I wish there was more being done for them, but most nobles believe that the poor are lazy. Some of them are, it's true, but not the children for sure. It isn't their fault they're not cared for." She looked down at the ground and sighed. "I have spoken several times to my father about donating more money to the church for the orphanage, but he says it's better spent on our defenses."

[Crystalkitsune85]

"I never got to stay in the orphanage. With my erm...nightly predicament, I guess I weirded out the other kids, so I was told to go elsewhere. They practically treated me like the stray cat my ears and tail emulate. I guess they refused to admit I was human like them. But I didn't ask to be cursed with Cat parts at sundown!" he said angrily. Again he had to calm down since he was with Leandrea. "Again, sorry," he muttered. "I don't know how many out there are like me. Probably none. I don't even know who cursed me, but it would be nice to not have a tail grow out of my back end every time the sun went down..." He turned to her for a moment. "If I ever get my own money, for the work I do, I'm going to be sure that it goes to the care of children that are either orphans or ones that are working at a young age to support their families. Like a place to learn as well as being cared for."

[Mekatra]

Leandrea cocked her head to the side at his mention of "if" he ever got money. "You will probably be granted a title and land, you know. The queen will want to keep you close, but you'll have to have an estate as well." She caught herself glancing behind him, despite the fact that it was daytime, to see if he had his tail. "Do you have other cat-like behaviours, or is it just the ears and tail?" She questioned curiously. "You don't have to tell me, if you're embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about it."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He shook his head at the notion. "I honestly didn't expect much besides like wages for doing work, not all that. I wouldn't know what to do with a title, and an estate." he scratched his head absently. "I'm just a poor cat boy from the slums, not a Lord of any kind of land." he heaved a sigh and then saw she was looking behind him where his tail would be. "I tend to be more stealthy when at night. I am much more flexible and I have really good balance," he explained. "When the sun comes up, I feel almost like a totally different person."

[Mekatra]

"You can be trained to be lord of an estate. So long as you have a good house steward and strong willed wife you wouldn't have to do much anyway." She waved off his concern with a little giggle. "Most men know next to nothing about running a household to be honest. They're always off fighting each other over stupid squabbles or here at court anyway. My father hasn't even been home over half the year. An estate is important to a titled noble because it gives them land to have serfs. They will pay taxes to you for use of your land, and in that way you are sustained financially."

She cocked her head to the side curiously again as he explained the differences. "It reminds me of that old faerie story where the girl turns into a beast at night and tries to hide it from her husband... it has a really sad ending though where he accidentally kills her in the hunt..."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He mused over what she said and then chuckled "I guess I need to find me a wife, so she can take care of most things." he laughed nervously. "I never imagined I'd ever have a wife either. My life has taken a complete turn around, and I"ll be honest, my head hasn't reeled so much in these last couple of weeks, then it has ever in my lifetime. So much to learn and process, and sometimes I need to pinch myself to make sure I'm not in some dream I fathomed up just make myself feel better." he laughed again.

[Mekatra]

Leandrea laughed at his hesitance to find a wife. "It's not like you have to marry for love. That's not really how it works for nobles. You'll probably want to make a politically sound marriage where you will create strong allies and possibly even have the chance at more land. Marrying for love is... not a luxury afforded to our class." She looked down, her eyes shadowed for a moment. "It's lucky though, when you are betrothed to someone that you at least can have conversation with and will hopefully produce strong heirs."

She suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable and cleared her throat. "Do me a favor and don't go repeating any of this that I've said, okay? Don't tell anyone how cynical I am."

[Crystalkitsune85]

"I mean I guess it'd be nice to marry for love, but yeah...I can see how marrying between two countries can strengthen the lands with the betrothal. I figure that'd be the only way I would get married. Nobody'd would do so for love." he said and then shook his head. "Don't worry, who would I tell? I don't get around much socially." he said with a weak smile. "Is there anything else I should know about you? I should think I should get to know the lady that I'm to escort to the Queen's birthday party."

[Mekatra]

She shrugged a bit nervously and shook her head. "I can't think of anything else you need to know. Is there anything you want to know?" She seemed relieved by his reminder that he didn't really have a lot of contacts within the court. "Nobles marry for allies within the kingdom too, by the way... there are political gains at every level."

A bell sounded in the distance and she stood. "We should be getting back, it's nearly time for morning court. Her majesty will be expecting me back. I'm sure we'll have time to talk another time."

[Crystalkitsune85]

When he heard the bells he felt a bit sad, that their time was already over. "Oh," he said and then stood and helped her to her feet. He took her arm again and returned her back to the solarium. He returned her to the care of the Queen and the rest of the ladies and he excused himself with a bow and ready to depart the room. He turned to leave and seek out Joane.

[Mekatra]

Before the left the garden Leandrea pressed a small braided silk rope with a little pendant of a bird on it at the end. "A token for luck with your training. Wear it for luck." She winked at him as she took her place back with the queen.

Joane was quiet on their way back to their shared space. When they finally were back in the privacy of her room she cleared she grinned. "So, she's pleasant eh?"

[Crystalkitsune85]

He took the item that Leandrea gave him with a slight blush. He thanked her for the gift and the luck. When he was walking back with Joane he looked up "She's nice." he agreed. "Very pretty." he said, his cheeks still pink. "Hard to believe that she hasn't a husband yet." he mused aloud.