Sue leaned against her slightly. The small girl only came up to about Celeste's shoulder, despite the fact that Celeste herself was short. "I-I'm alright, miss Celeste." She replied softly. "I'm not…pregnant, if'n that's what you be worried of." She took a deep breath, biting her lip slightly.
"I hadn't even thought o' that, but tha's good t' know too. You're too young for children." Celeste said, sounding definitely sure of that. And she had every right to be, considering her medical knowledge. "Improper or not, I wantcha t' come t' me anytime, alrigh'? T' talk, for help, anythin'."
Sue hesitated, then nodded slightly. "Alright miss." She said softly, still biting her lip. "An' if…if'n you have any questions about the palace or people, you can ask me. I know a lot more'n most people think a servant would." She gave a small, hesitant smile.
"Thank you. I might jus' have t' take ya up on that, later." Celeste promised, pulling back just enough to look at Sue. "Now, uh, y'seem t' know more about all of this than I do. What exactly does your job pertain?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. Her earlier anger seemed to have faded somewhat, thought it hadn't quite left her eyes, seeming distant enough at least.
Sue nodded. "Alright." She looked at Celeste. "Well…i keeps your room and clothes clean, and the fire lit, along with anythin' else you might requires of me. I helps with anything that you need help with, including dressin' you and makeup and hair, if'n you wants or needs me too."
"So if I, say, needed help lookin' for a certain herb or plant, in the city or wherever I can get it…would ya be allowed to accompany me t' help?" Celeste asked, tilting her head just a bit further. The mention of possibly going somewhere had caught Pluto's attention, and his tail wagged once, then started for sure wagging.
Sue hesitated for a moment. "Well…yes, I could." She said. "Why?" She questioned. She brushed a wisp of dark hair back behind her ear, looking at Celeste curiously. "But I have to warn you, I don't knows what all different herbs an' plants looks like." She said.
"I'm low on a few things, and I don't know anything about this city." Celeste said, her face lighting up as she gave Sue a light squeeze, and then released the girl. "You don't really have to know what they look like, just where to get them. A specific shop that sells that kind of thing or something. Besides, I could teach you, if you really wanted."
Sue nodded. "Okay." She gave a small, shy smile. "That would be nice. If'n you could teach me, i mean." She said, fidgeting with her skirt slightly. "My ma says anythin' a girl knows is good, 'specially here in the palace." She shrugged slightly, and smoothed out the bedsheets.
"Knowledge of herbs is always important." Celeste said, making her way to the dresser to hunt for clothes. She continued to speak as she dug around, her peculiar hair forming a curtain around her face as she leaned forward. "Whether you're looking into the medical field, wanting to learn about poisons and antidotes, plenty of good and bad reasons there, or just generally curious. It could come in handy."
Sue nodded. "Okay." She walked over. "Shirts are here, underthings are here, pants and skirts are here." She said. She opened the closet. "Coats, dresses, and other items that needs hangin' are in here." She said, turning back to Celeste. "And if'n you needs anything else, let me know and I can finds it for you. The King gives each of his guests a budget for new clothing while they be here, should they need it."
Celeste blinked, looking up from the shirt in her hands. She hadn't packed all that many clothes, so each drawer was mostly empty. "A budget? I-no, I don't need to spend the King's money on clothing. But! I didn't pack a whole lot of clothing, so we might end up making an extra stop, if you're alright with that."
"Miss Celeste, the budget is mostly for any balls or such what happen to be hosted during your stay." Sue replied softly. Then she nodded. "Of course that's fine. I'm here to do whatever you be needin' me to do." She smoothed out her skirt, and looked at Celeste.
"Ball, event, whatever, I'll spend my own money." Celeste said, shaking her head as she looked back down, this time looking through another drawer. "You can tell me if you don't want to do something, you know. Or if you do want to do something. I know it's your job, but I really would rather you weren't unhappy."
Sue hesitated, then nodded again. "Alright, Miss Celeste." She replied with a soft smile. "Now, we can leave whenever you be ready. We just shouldn't be out at night, like. These streets ain't friendly after dark." Soren was doing his best to clean up the streets and tighten the rules that his father had allowed to become lax, but…with so much infighting among the nobility, it was difficult for the young king to get anything done.
"We'll get back before nightfall." Celeste promised, finishing gathering clothes. She started for the bathroom, flickering a glance to the main door and then back to Sue. "You're welcome to wait out in the hall, or in here with Pluto. I'll change in the bathroom." With that, she slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her as she changed quickly.
Sue nodded. "I'll wait here." She said softly. She rearranged some of the decorations on the mantel as she waited, smoothing out her dress again. It was a nervous habit more than anything. She bit her lip slightly.
Celeste got dressed quickly, throwing a long sleeved cloak on over a tighter shirt than she'd been wearing earlier. She hopped out of the bathroom on one foot, the other leg in the air as she tied off her boot. "Anything you need to do or grab before we head out?"
Sue shook her head. "No. If you're ready, we can head out." She said with a small smile. "Will the wolf be coming?" She asked, glancing at Pluto curiously, then back at Celeste.
"Pluto?" The answering boof was all Celeste needed, and she nodded, smiling. "Apparently. He likes exploring, so it was kind of a given. Shall we then?"
Sue gave a small smile. "Alright." She went to the door, and opened it. She waited for Celeste and Pluto to leave the room, and once they had gone, she followed them out, and took the lead. "Come on." She led the way through the hallways.
Celeste followed Sue as the girl led the way, her gaze on the walls and halls and doors they passed. Pluto followed at her side, ears perked up to show he was listening intently to everything around them. Celeste's mouth moved occasionally, forming words without speaking them, like she was muttering silently.
Sue kept walking, taking back ways and shortcuts, rather than head straight through the castle. At one point, they passed an open door into what looked like a library, where Soren, Captain Mikhail, and a few others were sitting, bent over papers and books, talking back and forth.
Sue slowed almost imperceptibly to peek inside, then kept walking at the same pace as before.
Celeste raised an eyebrow slightly, not missing Sue's peek into the room. She glanced into the open door as she passed, keeping quiet until they were well enough away to not be overheard by anyone in that room. "What do you think they're up to? Looked kind of important." It would have sounded like snooping, if she hadn't looked genuinely curious and almost playful.
"Probably planning things. The route for the Dragon Festival is highly controversial this year, 'cause of the Witch Bloods an' all. Or maybe they're plannin' something else. I don't know." Sue said with a shrug. "All I know is Captain Mikhail will be tryin' t' keep the king safe, and the king will be adamant in doin' the parade exactly as it's always been done, so's people can't call him a 'fraidy cat."
"I don't see how keeping people safe under the threat of harm is being scared." Celeste said, shaking her head as she pulled the hood of her cloak up, and then pulled it low over her face. "It's smart, is what it is." She looked off to the side, watching through the windows and making a face. "The King's got his work cut out for him, doesn't he? Has, too, since he took the throne."
Sue nodded. "I don't know if'n you knows how he got the throne, but…that's why most of the nobility don't like him. That an' his age. See, his father…his father was one of the kings what went insane, but see, nobody knew it until he died. And then King Soren was the last left of his line, and that was three years ago. Most everyone thought the throne should'a gone to the Duke, as the oldest member of the Aevin house. But by line of succession, Soren was king."
(bump?)
((Sorry! I was at my grandmothers after getting back from vacation, and I'm exhausted rn))
"It's good that the throne didn't go to the Duke, but…" Children deserve the chance to be children, and the King was already at a disadvantage. Celeste cast a look behind them, despite being unable to even see the door. "No one should be forced into any role." She understood that more than some realized, considering her own childhood had been more a nightmare than anything else.
(it's totally fine! I just like to "bump" after a day or so of inactivity. I don't mean to be rude or anything)
Sue nodded. "See, King Soren was the one arguing for his own right to the throne. No one forced it on him. He was 21, and wanted the throne, 'cause it was his right, an' thought it'd be better than if it went to the Duke. An' he was right. Wasn't nobody forced into any role, miss Celeste." She explained.