"That good huh?" Kyera asked seeing the pleasure and surprise in the Third Princess' eyes. She nodded and Kyera couldn't' help but laugh in amusement. "I'm glad. We have plenty, feel free to have another."
"Thank you, this is fantastic. Is this a ethnic dish?" The Third Princess asked curiously, there was actual interest in her eyes now. Though, Lalia didn't seem to trust her, she dare not argue with Kyera's decision to let her sit with them and share a meal.
"Yes and no. It is a dish mostly made in the forest by travelers and rangers, but it is also made in the Frost lands of Lalia's home." Kyera explained as she started folding another package. Lalia nodded in agreement as she continued.
"Can you show me?" The Third Princess asked, there was a bright light in her eyes, a interest Kyera had not expected to see. She nodded and waved Melania closer as she began to fold another, but much simpler package. "That doesn't look the same…"
"This is a beginner's fold. Mine is one I formed while working in the forest, but if you look at Lalia's it was designed in the frost lands." Kyera pointed out as she showed her the differences between each packet. Lalia continued folding and making her own in quiet harmony. The three girls actually formed a bit of a happy rhythm. Kyera explained the spices as Melania began to grow bold and experiment.
Kyera glanced up and saw Feya watching them, quietly her face dark with annoyance. She raised her and hand waved for Feya to join them. There was no reason to leave her out, even though she might want to. Even if she was bad to the core, there was no reason to abandon her to her own devices here. It was hard enough being so far from the home and servants they knew, without be excluded too.
"Feya, join us." Kyera called, cupping her hand beside her mouth to direct the sound. The other woman pretended not to hear her, turning to talk to her guard. Kyera sighed, having half expected as much, but also knowing it wasn't for a lack of offering.
"Don't take it too personally, Princess Kyera. She has a way of alienating herself because of her goals in life. Feya has always been difficult and the things she has done less than savory. She can't see the value in things unless there is power to be gained." Melania explained as Cora served the last of the meal to them. Lazren and Cora took a few of the pies and sat near Kyera's back, like two wolves ready to do their master's bidding.
"I don't know why you even tried. She was so nasty to you the other night." Lalia added, honestly still angry about their blatant disregard for her home.
"Oh? Did she cause trouble for you?" Melania asked turning to look at Kyera expectantly. Kyera took a deep breath and sighed rubbing her tummy gently.
"She and the Queen Kira tried to run me out of the palace so Clovis couldn't compete." Kyera explained, seeing no reason to use flowery words when honest ones would do the job twice as well. Melania's eyes darkened.
"Even my husband knows this crown belongs to the family with the most ability. We can not be truly Emperor or EMpress if we only won by default. Why would anyone want to achieve their goals that way?" Melania asked shaking her head in disapproval as she bit into one of her own meat packages. It was somehow sweeter, knowing she had made this one herself.
"Those who only seek power do not care how they achieve it, Melania. There are trees coated in a pyre ash that exists only because people did not care what they destroyed in order to achieve greatness. Never forget that no matter what the gain, there is a cost. Sometimes it is simply wich cost you choose to pay, and refuse to accept that decides what kind of ruler one is." Kyera replied, her mind once again resting with the images of her people and the pyre. Melania looked at her, then reached over and hugged Kyera. It was stiff and unusual but there was a understanding there. A bond of sisterhood was beginning perhaps in the most unexpected places.