Go with Aurora

You have a feeling Mary being dismissed like that isn't exactly unusual. Following after Aurora you do your best to not admiring how her regally shaped her ass was. Sitting down that dress was slim but classing. Walking behind it was a different matter entirely.

Thankfully she turned into a room pretty quickly and took a seat. Lady Demise got to work boiling some water for tea and you sat opposite Aurora. "What did you think of the ambassador?" Aurora asked, crossing her legs and leaning back.

"She, it, they're?" You had no idea what the term was for a living rock. "Not here to open a trade deal. You mentioned a potential attack so they must be seeking either a military alliance, or trying to gauge the kingdom's military strength." You felt bit on the stop here. Aurora was watching you with keen interest and even with Lady Demise's back turned you knew she was studying you.

"Likely both. What might she do?" The usage of she honestly didn't mean much. Women were the dominate gender defaulting to female is expected, and Felicaite looked like a woman.

"Try to suggest a mutual alliance," Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"We've not interacted with them for long enough not many people alive have even met a dwarf. Would they open alliance discussion so quickly?"

He chewed his lip. "Probably not." He thought about what he would do if he wanted to gauge military strength. "If they are opening trade they might insist on a military escort for all caravans. The number of soldiers assigned to each caravan would suggest total strength and or skill."

"How?"

"Putting lots of soldiers would mean you don't think they are very strong and need numbers to make up for it. Too few and you're over confident or very powerful. Why are you asking me this?" The question had been burning for a while and as the kettle boiled over so did it.

"Mary is a fighter and military leader. In strategy she's exceptional but she's never grasped the why. If I told her to assign soldiers to a caravan she'd assign exactly the number required based on the reports of bandit and animal attacks along the route."

"Which would ignore the political end of things. You know I haven't accepted the proposal yet. I'm in love with Ana, no matter what I'm not abandoning her." Lady Demised placed a tray with cups and various additives between the two of you. She waved at the collection and you nodded at the honey while Aurora rejected everything.

"And she will need help with this as well." Aurora waved your concerns away as she pick up her cup and blew on it. "You're involvement with my family is assured." You picked up your own cup and blew away some steam then took a sip. "So long as only one of my daughters, ends up baring your daughters, I see no reason to act like that isn't the case." You coughed into your tea as Aurora said that. "Mary needs a husband that can temper her blunt **** approach. If that is not you then in the least you can get her used to taking the advice of man." Her confidence in her daughter's lacking seemed more mean that anything. The dismissal in the throne room made a bit more sense however, she'd undoubtedly already tried to teach Mary the finer political needs of her position but had not been successful and moved onto another daughter.

The life of a royal, both as mother and daughter, must be rough. "What now then? Wait for Felicaite to come to you with details, see if she requests a guard for the caravan and move from there."

Aurora gave you a disappointed look and you really felt for Mary. "You should never let someone visiting take the lead within your own palace. I will have a servant with parchment, ink and quill offer to assist in writing out all of the details of the proposed trade agreement, while subtly providing her with some information on our strength." Aurora looked at you expectantly but you had nothing. "I will have her taken on a tour of the palace grounds and city itself."

"That has just had the army arrive and has thrown a parade so everyone is still happy about the military." You'd been dully away of it while walking Gabrielle to the library, there were lots of flags, and women still wearing the royal colour's as a uniform out and about.

"Projection of strength and unity." Aurora said with a faint smile. "Do you know who will be giving Felicaite the tour?"

You had a feeling and were really curious about dwarfs but kinda had someone else you really needed to focus on right now. "I,"

"Would like to spend more time with your visitor at the Royal Library?" Lady Demise asked giving you a sweet smile. Should have seen that coming.

"I was referring to Delilah." Aurora said smoothly, as if Lady Demise hadn't made that point.

"Oh, that's, I could ask them." You said happy to not be **** to decide between Queen and Goddess.

"Excellent. I will make sure Isabelle is on her best behaviour." Aurora stood up, leaving her cup of tea on the table. You opened your mouth to interject when she walked to the door, swaying her hips exaggeratedly. "Unless you'd prefer to discuss something else?" You eyes shot guiltily up to see her staring at you with a raise eyebrow.

You'd seen two of her daughters butt naked butts, something she was acutely aware of made deliberately lewd comments about. And yet being caught looking at her butt was more embarrassing than that. "I'll talk to them." You said leaving your cup on the table and walking out.

"Thank you dear." Aurora said warmly, as you walked out you felt her check you out. That made the embarrassment worse and you hurried out. Delilah would be at the academy, so you'll go there then back to the library, hopefully Clare had been able to sooth Gabrielle's sorrow and you could talk to her a little more.

On the way out of the palace you saw Mary in the courtyard with a sword going through forms. Her aura was calm but you weren't sure if that was because she was already over her mother's dismissal, she might be a little used to it by now, or if she was just keeping herself in check.

Maybe you should check on her now, though knowing her that is going to end in sex which is going to take time which ... well Aurora hadn't set a time limit of talking to Delilah but sooner was going to be better, you had no doubt on that.