Times become more demanding in the following weeks. Impa has adopted the responsibilities of supplying her tribe with the apt amount of food and medicine, directly delivered to Kakariko by herself, as well as caring for the swollen-bellied Queen. The balancing of tasks exhausts her; yet still, she presses on.
Despite the arctic chill outside, the Royal Court continues to bask in the warmth of the Dining Room, nourished by hearty meals and fuelled with fine wines. Yet despite their stomach's satisfaction, nothing could thaw the frosty atmosphere between the guests.
The waiter tips the neck of a bottle into the chalice in Lady Libra's outstretched hand. Captain Cassida tugs the corners of her White Wolfos fur coat as the Commander turns the dog-eared pages of the Castle Town Times weekly newspaper.
"An interesting read I trust, Commander?" Caedis inquires politely.
"Hmm…" Victor grunts. "It would appear the first snow has fallen on Death Mountain's peak. The Gorons are fretting over avalanches and the like. Overdramatic fools…"
"You cannot blame them, Victor." Cassida counters him. "Their main food source lies deep within the caverns of Death Mountains. Should the entrance be shut off, they would doubtlessly risk starvation."
The Commander chortles mirthfully. "And wouldn't that be a shame…"
Impa's dessert spoon hovers in mid-air just before it reaches her mouth.
"Excuse me, Sir?" the Captain pipes. "Would you perhaps be implying that you would take joy in the death of the Goron population?"
All eyes turn to the Commander, eagerly awaiting answer. He closes the newspaper and leans forward onto the table. "I'm simply conveying the fact that the Gorons do very little to serve the Hyrulean community…what with their refusal to engage in the cultures of us Hylians down below…and their oversized oaf bodies which juxtapose their pea-sized brains…"
"I beg your pardon?" His Majesty exclaims.
"Darling!" his wife scalds him with a slap on the wrist. "Please, lower your tone!"
"No, no!" the King dismisses her. "I insist that Sir Victor elaborate on his bizarre and uneducated viewpoint!"
"Uneducated?!" Sir Victor slams the folded newspaper onto the table surface. Faito grips his spear, poised to intervene until Impa raises her hand to stop him. "How dare you insult me like that, young man! I'll have you know that I fought for Hyrule's freedom, and that includes yourself! Back in my day-"
"Yes, yes, Victor. It's always 'back in my day', 'back in the olden days'." the King impersonates him. "Well guess what? This is no longer my father's reign! I have frequently met with the Goron Leader in this very Castle and let me tell you: he is a fine fellow and a fierce advocate for the rights and freedoms of his tribe! And I damn well respect him! I shall thus not have any disrespect or slander towards him or the people he represents within my Castle walls!"
"What about disrespect to your elders?" Sir Victor spits. "I watched you grow from a misbehaving young rascal to an admirable ruler who is a credit to his father. And yet, you dishonour him with such appalling manners?"
"Oh, get over your false sense of superiority, Victor!"
"Darling!" the Queen cries with shame at her husband's remarks. "There's no need to be so rude!"
"You are hereby dismissed from this table!" he declares with a flick of his wrist. "That goes for all of you!"
The King rises from his seat and storms out of the Dining Room.
"Darling!" Her Majesty sobs. She clambers clumsily out of her seat and chases after her husband. Together with Faito and Impa, the three form a train down the empty halls of the Castle.
She eventually reaches the King's quarters, where she slams and locks the door. The room on the other side erupts into dispute as the couple rant relentlessly at each other. Faito raps on the door desperately.
"Your Majesty! Please open this door at once! It is my duty as His Majesty's bodyguard to ensure his safety and security in-"
"Oh, give it up, Faito!" Impa scowls. "Can't you see they need to be alone to sort this out?"
Faito arrests his efforts on Impa's command.
"Good. Now let's leave them be. I'll be sure to call you if we require armed law enforcement."
She rolls her eyes and proceeds to revisit her own quarters for a little peace away from the dramatics of the Royal Court. Faito watches her go but in spite of her orders, remains patiently guarding the bedroom door.