In devastated embarrassment at the fact that he'd said the wrong thing, Aire's shaking hand rose to his face and covered his eyes. A slow, seemingly controlled breath released itself through his lips. The servant hadn't turned to him, but the irritation in her tone was apparent. Aire had been considered the most charismatic Jutes around the castle, but when it came to this one woman, he was [i]royally[/i] screwing up. It frustrated him to no ends, and it almost made him want to forget the attempt he was making at being kind and forming [i]any[/i] kind of relationship, platonic or otherwise, with this servant.

"I didn't mean it like that," he snapped, trying to keep his cool.

Again, controlled breathing. Something his adviser told him to work on when he felt particularly [i]angry.[/i] Before he could continue further, his mother entered the kitchen loudly, making her presence known.

"Aire," said the Queen. "Shouldn't you be preparing for your dinner? I assume you do have a speech all sorted out. Alana was supposed to have helped you with that earlier this week. Poor dear's been under some stress since we had to dispose of her retarded child."

Aire cringed at his mother's words - the Queen never did have a filter for her mouth, even less since the passing of the King. She'd become overwhelmed by her own power, by the fact that not many people would stand up to her because everyone knew she was quick to hand out executions.

"And what are you doing in here?" she continued. "I've been looking for you everywhere, our guests have been watching me run around like a chicken without its head. I heard your voice in here. What are you talking to this slave for?" The Queen looked at the servant with disgust. "Hopefully putting her in her place. Look at her - look at that [i]hair.[/i] Dear," she said, addressing the servant. "You really do need to find out what a brush is, and use it quick. I don't want you looking like such a hideous mess around my guests. Especially on this night before my son's coronation. Have you no brains?"

Nose pointed deliberately into the air with disgust, the Queen gestured at Aire with a dainty, manicured finger. "Come on, son. The other cooks and servants are arriving and you don't need to be surrounded by their filth."