The meal was quite good; full of surprisingly familiar foods. Perhaps it was because I had been raised in a cultural melting pot, but I found the dishes they served to be pretty normal. The main course consisted of roast poultry with greens and was accompanied by a side of crusty bread and a delicate squash-tasting soup. I had worried it would be an awkward and uncomfortable experience of forced conversation between bits of alien textures and flavours. Fortunately, the duke seemed the type of person to separate eating and talking, something I quite liked.

My table manners must have been passable as no one paused to stare oddly at me during the meal. The scope of a novel with the purpose of depicting set archetypes left me now sorely lacking on such fine, yet basic details. This was slowly becoming one of my chief concerns, and it seemed an etiquette teacher really would be a necessity, as well as a history teacher for cultural and political enlightenment. Decidedly, in a noble's position, ignorance just served to stoke one's anxiety, not offer bliss.

The Duke and I finished eating at the same time which I suspected was because he slowed to match my pace. Just another item to add to the list of manners I would need to learn.

Once the servants had finished clearing the table the duke motioned for Avery to join us. I didn't feel comfortable with the idea he was just someone to be beckoned, even if he was essentially a servant to Duke Kruscia. It felt odd to have such a striking line drawn, that he couldn't even dine with the duke, when I felt I knew him so well.

He seated himself to my left without a word, offering his full attention.

“I know that this is all new to you, but I would like your transition here to go smoothly and at a pace you find comfortable.”

I honestly thought he was speaking to Avery until mid-sentence, and my ears felt hot as I refocused my attention back to the duke.

“There will be much for you to learn, and many obligations you will need to fulfill in the future. Let it be known that there is no need to expedite this process and take upon yourself undue stress. I would like to grant control over your schedule to you alone.” He smiled and gestured at Avery.

“Relay your wishes to Sir Rosen for any outings. Matters of lessons, design changes, and purchases should be conveyed to your lady's maid, Fallon. I chose both for you with much care.

"Of course, you may come to me with any questions or concerns, but I can personally guarantee those two will be able to address the majority of your needs.”

“Yes Father.” I replied, hoping I had only been a little awkward sounding. He really was pulling out all the stops, but it was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I was now a child to be pampered. No matter how courteous he was being, there really was no way to hasten the development of the bond we should have. On top of that, he wasn't some stranger now. I sounded like a servant, being so short with him. I had already decided I didn't want us to stay so distant, yet here I was perpetuating it myself.

“Um. I really like Fallon a lot. She's very patient and kind. And breakfast was good too.” I tried to think of something else to say. Isn't there some old saying that being a little selfish is a good thing when it comes to children?

“If possible, could I have fruit in the lunch meal?” I said quickly, hoping it would be a small, but endearing request.

“Ah, of course. You're from the southern states so it's a much more common staple of your diet. I hadn't considered that. Why don't you meet with our head chef, Halin?”

I was suddenly struck with the lavish truth that I had just requested an imported rare product that was unavailable regionally. It must be a colder environment here where fruit was more scarce. I had made a much larger request than intended, but it was too late now. My words were laid in front of me like a squeezed tube of toothpaste. Once out, there was no way to take them back. Nothing to do now but find a use for them, like how excess toothpaste could be saved and used to stop the itching of mosquito bites.

“Would it be too much to ask if I wanted to visit the kitchen and meet Halin and his staff? I would also like to learn about the dishes that are common for this region and others. It wouldn't be um, improper of me would it?” I had some ideas about what I could do with my extravagant request for fruit, but I would need to know more about the foods here in general before I could come up with anything solid to implement.

The duke gave me an imploring look and sighed softly.

“There's no action you could take, save cleaning that would be seen as improper. As there are no other heirs to the Dukedom of Kruscia, the standard shall be set by you. Worry not over the expectations you might perceive. I simply desire for you to find your way one step at a time and grow into your role respectfully and creatively. Do not trouble yourself over such matters.” He stood up from the table and patted me on the head.

“Andra will see to it the kitchen staff is prepared for your visit. I have my own matters to attend to now, but we shall sup' together at feasting hour.”

Avery and I stood after he did and I noted the maid I had spoken with earlier curtsy and leave the room through a smaller set of doors in the back corner of the room. So her name was Andra.

At his parting words a male servant opened the large entry doors and I curtsied as well, just in time. He nodded to me and swept out of the room purposefully.

“My lady,” Avery said, drawing my attention back to the current situation.

“It's best if we give the kitchens an hour to prepare for your visit. Is there any place you wish to see in the meantime?”

An hour. They must need to clean up after our meal, and then I supposed, mentally prepare to welcome whichever possible versions of me that they could think up. I really hoped I would be significantly lower maintenance than any idea of 'me' for which they prepared.

As for the meantime, I could ask Avery for a recommendation, but thinking about it, there must be a library in a residence of such splendor. That would definitely be a sight to see. My love of written works stirred a decent helping of curiosity and now I couldn't help but wonder at the sorts of books people wrote in this world. What were their ideas on science and medicine? What sort of fiction did one read in a fantasy realm? Come to think of it, was there even a religion for the people here?

“I would like to see the library Av-Sir Rosen.” I said, fumbling and catching myself as I flubbed his name. We weren't close enough for me to call him by his first name, but I had stumbled in my enthusiasm. We were really still strangers. Novel or not, he didn't know me. I blushed, hoping he would overlook my blunder.

“With all due respect My Lady, I am by far your closest aid for the time being. You have every right to call me by my first name.”

Much to my chagrin, he was very astute. Honestly, it only made me all the more embarrassed, and his earnestness cemented my mishap. I couldn't help but sigh, defeated.

“Sir Rosen, what may be my right may not be right. I don't wish to be the type of person who simply does things because I can. I respect you as my knight, and in the future I hope to narrow the gap between us with time, but until then, I would not intentionally take upon myself the gift of first names so bestowed after establishing true closeness. I want to live with graciousness.” As I spoke the words, I knew them to be true. They sounded a little too noble for someone like myself, but they were sincere. Perhaps I had been influenced from the original Karina after all. She had been good-hearted and proper to a fault.

“Ah.” he said, seemingly at a loss for words. Did I sound too adult-like? A thousand concerns cropped up at his silent pause. His eyes observed me solemnly and after a short spell that felt like a small eternity he chuckled as he gave me a small bow.

“My Lady, as I learn more of your character, I find you to be more and more uniquely respectable. Serving under you is sure to be a colourful endeavor. I greatly look forward to it.” He offered me his arm and flashed me a brilliant smile.

“To the library then?”