"Your Grace, they are children."
"They are underdeveloped assets, Petra. Nobody in this kingdom is investing in them. They have no patrons, no mentors, no one teaching them how to stand, how to speak, how to enter a room." She looked at a girl of about twelve who was standing slightly apart from the group, watching the dragons with reserved interest rather than participating in the pile. "That one. Standing alone. Observing. Good instincts. She is reading the room before committing to it. Court material."
She walked towards the girl and stopped in front of her.
"Stand up straighter."
The girl, startled, straightened her spine.
"Better. The outfit is doing you no favors, but we will address that. What is your name?"
"Maren, Your Majesty."
"Maren, you have better situational awareness than half the nobles in my court."
Maren stared up at her with wide eyes.
It was both.
