The family sat quietly and enjoyed their meal. Kyera felt oddly at ease now, the Emperor seemed to understand her warning and wasn't challenging it as of yet. The Empress Eve and Empress Dowager seemed to be calm and collected themselves. Kyera couldn't help but bask in the warmth of being nested between Clovis and Raina' spirits. It felt like home.
Once the meal was complete, Raina went off to play with a servant girl in the garden nearby. Not sensing danger, Kyera waited patiently. She knew this had gone too well. When were these ladies going to remove the fur gloves?
"Kyera, you seem to be more mannered and cultured than we expected. I must be honest, the forest royals have always been so secretive. Tell us a bit about your position?" The Empress dowager asked curiously. Kyera smiled taking the question as much more than face value. It would be a tricky one to answer.
"We, as a people we are quiet. It isn't that we are secretive, we just don't have time to be otherwise. So few knights carry our mantel that we have to maintain schedule to take care of things. My second in command.. my brother in life maintains things while I am here." Kyera explained without giving up too much. Eve was suddenly curious.
"So few of you? The knights were always such a strong force. I didn't know your numbers had decreased." she added and Kyera looked away. She was right, they had always been a strong force. That was up until over half their kind was slaughtered.
"The forest Knights suffered heavy casualties during the war. The Extermination of the shifters took many good men and women from us." Kyera replied keeping her tone as even as she could. The image of the Ash Garden still burned into her mind. These women had no idea the suffering of the forest folk nor how deep the layer of ash was in the garden after those murders. So many shifters filled the pyers and their ash added to the garden.
"I see. I take it you disapproved of the war?" The Empress asked carefully and Kyera nodded.
"It wasn't a war. It was a extermination, my lady. A war requires two sides to attack each other. The shifters never attacked the humans, it was the humans who insisted to fight." Kyera replied firmly, she refused to mince words. No matter who she pretended to be, or who spoke of that monstrosity, she wouldn't back down.
"I see. I have never thought of it this way." Empress Evelyn admitted, honestly surprised she would be so blunt. No one dared criticize the war before, not so openingly in court or just in the palace.
"History is written by the victors. Ashes are known for their silence." Kyera replied taking a sip of her wine. She didn't want to continue this conversation. It was already hard to keep her tone even.
"Kyera, it seems you have agreed to become Clovis' wife? Does the question of Raina's mother bother you?" The Empress Dowager asked, honestly being rather blunt. Kyera smiled.
"Raina is a blessing, her birth mother gave Clovis a beautiful gift and it is a pity she didn't get to enjoy her. That being said, no it does not bother me. Having lost her mother so young, I understand Raina. I lost both my parents at a early age. Just because she isn't from my womb, doesn't mean she isn't mind." Kyera replied, her tone loving and motherly. Both older women shared a look but seemed to approve.
"I see. Are you aware you may not be Empress?" The Empress Dowager continued. Kyera smiles brightly.