Go check on Finley

{if Meal = true} Lunch was a simple affair. Perhaps if the royal family was dining together, the meal might've been a lot more luxurious, but as it stands, the dining room remains vacant. Katherine had carried a simple tray of food to Alice's chambers for the two of them to eat. The princess had gotten dressed again, this time in a far more comfortable white dress, though it traded that comfort for fashionablility. She personally didn't think much of it aside from the freedom it offered, but she knew from experience that Finley loved seeing it on her. After munching on some bread and downing the bowl of soup, Alice and Katherine debated the next step to take. There was plenty of time this afternoon, and the princess should be able to get a lot done, depending on how much time she spends with each task.{endif}

{if Meal = True} They decided that talking to Finley first made sense, as he is the third member of their little conspiracy, and it helped to get his input on certain things.{else} She decided that talking to Finley next made sense, as he is the third member of her little conspiracy, and it helped to get his input on certain things. After all, he knew what the knights and other nobility thought of her, and through him, she can hopefully influence them to like her a bit more. Unlike the other factions, the knights were constantly around the palace, so she couldn't avoid interacting with them, so maintaining good relations was important. Plus, they represented the final line of defense, should the walls ever be breached, and having them around to either protect her or to not protect someone else could be crucial.{endif}

Plus, if she had to pick a weak link between Finley and Katherine, Alice would pick the always pick the former. He was useful, that was without a doubt, but he was naïve. While he was smitten with her, she couldn't be certain that his feels won't change down the line, so it was important to hammer in his loyalty to avoid problems later. Perhaps, if he wants her so much, she might indulge him... just a little. It all depends on how things play out.

While the royal family and their servants had the west side of the palace, the east side was reserved for the knights who lived within. In total, there was probably around thirty of them, all of noble blood. Each share their rooms with three others, but Alice knew that Finley would be alone at this time, because his two roommates were currently on patrol around the palace walls. That gave her about two hours alone with her knight, which should be more than enough.

Stepping within the east hall, she glanced at the lounge, seeing a few of the knights go about their day. They were polite and cordial with her, though never overly familiar. It wasn't a bad relationship to have, but the knights seemed to generally favor Jamis more. That would need to change, and talking to Finley was the first step. An understanding must be reached.

Finley's room was the farthest down the hear, near the very edge. That was intentionally, as she had been the one to assign him there. Within that back corner, Alice can ensure that their treasonous plots can be discussed without fear of being overheard. Knocking on the door, she entered once he called out that he was alone. Her knight was sitting in his bed, a book held in his hand, but he quickly got up and get her a salute, not that she cared about such acts. Dressed in casual clothing, he didn't look too bad, though it was funny how intimidated he appeared. Standing a full head above her even despite her heels, he would've looked every bit the knight he was with his brown hair and strong facial features, though the nervousness in his eyes killed the effect."Sit," she instructed, pulling up a chair of her own. "We need to talk."

Sitting back down, he casted a worried glance at her. "Um... Is something the matter, my lady? He asked as he fidgeted with his fingers awkwardly, unable to make eye contact with her.

"Yes, though it doesn't pertain to you directly," Alice replied. She had told him before to refer to her by name in private, like Katherine, but he never seemed to be able to do it. By now, she's stopped pushing the matter. "What's my current standing among the knights? What do they think of me?"

Finley's fidgeting got worse, a tell-tale sign that he's hesitant about his next words, and wants to avoid saying them if he can. Probably because he thinks it'll offend her somehow, as if the opinions of her inferiors would affect her at all. "Spit it out, I want the truth," Alice added.

"Well, most of these guys just care about the wealth and prestige of their own houses and family, and want to maintain the current status quo," Finley said finally, after a long pause to organize his thoughts. What he said made sense though. As nobility, their power and influence hinges on there being no major social upheavals. Conflict goes against that, and that makes them lean towards the default choice of Jamis, to maintain stability in the kingdom.

"Right, and there's not much I can do that can convince them otherwise," Alice murmured softly. It was a conundrum, but in the worst case scenario, she could always do a full on purge of the noble class when she takes over. She's read about it plenty in her history books, and it doesn't seem like a bad choice here. Wiping the slate clean, so to speak. "Anything else?"

"No... I think that's everything covered," Finley replied, though Alice can see through the lie with ease. Still, he was looking more nervous than she's ever seen him, and perhaps pushing too hard might achieve the opposite of her goal?