Her potato-peeling slowed down and stopped; it didn't seem like he was going away. At least he was being nice, and well, it wasn't like he was unattractive. Even if he [i]was[/i] inbred. Even so, she was getting nervous. Speaking informally to someone so highly ranked could have its risks. Like attachment. Not that she could get attached to this complete dork. 

She stood silently through his awkwardness and felt a quiet sense of victory, a sort of "take that!", but showed none of it, instead adjusting her hair net and waiting for the prince to finish. "Ah, but of course," she said, feeling facetious again. "T'would be truly terrible if I were to be too ill to give my skills to the glorious kingdom. Another [i]mere servant[/i] could take my small place, of course..." 

Her eyes gave a small defiant glitter. If the servants were gone the castle would fall into disrepair, and of course, it was because those at the top were too lazy to take care of anything on their own.