One by one, the main players in the events of last night arrived, their under-eyes swollen red and mouths parched and dried. Curdie arrived with Ophelia and Irenie even noticed him pull out a chair for her and slide it back in. A few men entered and although she could recall them, they were undoubtedly some of the suitors her father had invited. Lastly, the king himself arrived. Her father looked the worst of them, with his mangy beard and an old robe. He smacked his lips pensively with a dull, tired look in his eyes, barely acknowledging anyone else at the table.

A servant was already pouring him a glass of water when he sat down and the king hacked it back like the champagne from last night.

"Now that everyone is seated, I would like bring attention to the events of last night. Firstly-"

"That's very true, cousin," Jeffery interrupted and leaned back into his chair. "There was quite a bit of a ruckus about the goblins and their... wealth."

Irenie's eyes opened wide and her nails bit into the wooden surface of the dining table. Jeffery leaned further back pointing to Curdie and Ophelia who had sat next to one another. "Those diamonds around Duchess Estrild's neck are hardly a small matter. We own those mines and everything inside them, the goblins are simply squatters that have been hoarding our jewels for themselves."

Before Irenie could even get a word in edgewise, Curdie quickly spoke up. "I hate to take the goblin's side in the matter but miner's code dictates who ever digs it, gets it."

Jeffery stared at Curdie, flabbergasted and looked at him as if the young man had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Since when have we let the peasantry sit at the table?"

Again, Irenie was beaten to the punch by Ophelia who glared daggers at Jeffery from across the top of her water glass and spoke in a clear, cool voice. "Since when did we let asses like yourself butt their noses into other people's business?"

The room was absolutely silent as Curdie looked more surprised that Ophelia had come to his defense.

"Alright-" Irenie said before anyone else could be offended and placed her hands on the table. "I think that's enough of that at the breakfast table."

A fuming Jeffery didn't quite receive the message, however, and he placed one had firmly on the table, daring anyone else to speak. "Well, unless the princess finds a suitable husband by midsummer, this castle becomes mine, and my first mission will be to get rid of all of those pesky creatures in my mountain."

"It's not your land and it's not your castle and what I do in my own home is none of your business yet, Jeffery." Irenie had stood up rather suddenly and glared down at the pompous prince, her shoulders rolled up in anger. "And if you want to be welcome here this evening, you will pay my friends and my guests greater respect."

King Tor, who had been a silent observer the entire time, removed his glass from his bearded lips and spoke aloud. "I think we have quite the agenda for today Irenie, and our goblin guests haven't even risen yet, might you go fetch them daughter?" He asked and then gestured with a hand to the great hall which was still missing it's door. "And ask them to help the royal blacksmith fix the entrance?"

Irenie went bright red, embarrassed that she had let Jeffery rule her emotions and quickly turned on her heel, exiting the hall without one more word being spoken.

They shouldn't have even been talking about land rights without the goblin ambassador there. Which meant she should go get Prince Froglip.

Irenie sighed inwardly as she tried to remember which guest room she had dropped him off in. The princess could only hope that Froglip would be prepared for the business Irenie had planned for that day.

She paused at one door and knocked on it several times before a groggy croak came from the other side.

"What ith it?" The angry voice growled just as Irenie slipped into the room and found the goblin prince lying face first against the cold stone floor. He didn't even so much as move when Irenie came.

After this morning's drama, she was actually glad to see the goblin prince was less energetic than usual. It also helped that he looked sort of... helpless lying flat on the ground, like the little garden snakes she used to pick up as a child.

"I'm here to check on you," Irenie said lightly and stood above the prince as he turned his head to the side, one horribly bloodshot eye staring up at her in annoyance.

"What th'ort of poi'thin did you for'the upon me?"

Irenie knelt down beside the Prince's body which hadn't moved an inch and placed her fingers on the sides of his temple to get rid of the migraine he was likely suffering from.

"Technically alcohol is poison," Irenie said softly as her magic worked, "but it won't kill you."

Froglip turned his face back into the hard stone and groaned in pain. "I wi'th I were dead," he muffled, but Irenie had already worked her magic. He was probably just being dramatic now.

"Oh dear, you poor creature," Irenie said in a softer voice, although she was still laughing a little. "I know it's a little early, but there's some business I've been meaning to bring up about the door..."