Gaius watched her intently as she rolled up her sleeves. He figured the first person in here would grow pale and look at them rather helplessly. However, he couldn't help but feel a slight pull at the corner of his lips as he uncrossed his arms. A stance that was now habit more than anything. Rowen had a more revealing smile on his face as he stepped forward and guided the girl to the desk and tried to point out what needed to be done. Since she was more familiar with her world's laws than himself, she could sort out what needed to be looked at in more detail and what was more for show than anything else. Time was of the essence, and if Elympios didn't get some of these back then who knew what would happen. It was something he did not dare risk considering some of his own people were now over there, such as Jude Mathis.
"Well, my dear, I think we will be off to a good start. We will leave you to what needs to be done. Just make sure you sort them and we will go through the proper processes," Rowen said as he nodded to Gaius. Gaius didn't say anything but he could feel the older man's impatience and annoyance directed at him. "I do not think it is proper to leave a young miss like that with that horrible scene. Are you sure you want to test her this way?"
Gaius stopped, but didn't turn. "I need to know that I do not need to hold her hand for her to get a job done. That includes you holding her hand. She looks barely out of her teens, how old did you say she was again?" Rowen was surprised at his tone, but he almost sounded… too interested. At least for a man who was so driven that a woman was never to be seen around. Sad really to let a man like Gaius go to waste, it was strange to see him alone despite the fangirls around Rieze Maxia. But then that threatening demeanor was radiating at times.
"She is twenty three, sir," Rowen said a little amused as Gaius looked a bit shocked and yet relieved. "Esther Von Svent, born in Duval and raised in a home for girls when she was quite young with her younger sister Lily Amethyst Svent. From the last name, I would say that they are an ignored pair of scions from the wealthy Svent family. Their financials have been tight to say the least and Esther herself is now just trying to keep her sister in her boarding school. This job covers it, but not much more than that. Their parents died when she was young, but no proper details are given," Rowen said as he covered the basics. "Lovely young woman and a strong willed one just on paper. I think she will do splendid things. However, our people are still weary since the attack on the Fezebel Marsh. We will have to keep an eye on her and not only for her sake, but ours as well. This old man could barely stand it if the young miss were to get hurt and no one to watch her."
Gaius frowned at the evaluation. So, she was left without family just as he was. Some was by choice, others by force. It was the same with her. A part of his heart tugged out to have someone understand that although he loved his people and his sister was one of those people, he wanted to have someone there at times to tell him about good times when things were hard. However, he remained unwavering and looked back to Rowen curiously who was waiting for a response. "I do hope you are right, old man," he said simply as he continued on. He did have a meeting with the counselors of Rieze Maxia for the upcoming meeting with Elympian politicians.
Ten hours, twenty minutes and thirty seconds was how long it took her to organize every piece of paper. Oldest on top, in categories, and in order of most important. Her head was on the desk and she was grateful for the tea and warm stew that a handmaid had brought to her. However, from the looks of it, the handmaid didn't seem too grateful to be in the same room. It was a quick run out despite Esther thanking her and smiling. Sighing, she could replay that scene in her head all day and it would still hurt by the hundredth time. A monster is what these people considered her, but she had to think positive. Rowen seemed to welcome her. The king himself seemed rather imposing, but not unwelcoming.
But as her thoughts went to the king, her face flushed a slight red. He was beyond handsome. No doubt a king like that had some sort of harem or something like that. Those dark features and magenta eyes were mesmerizing to her. Surely, he thought her to be an oddity with her pale features and bright blue eyes. Not to mention being a small woman at her age in more ways than one. Sighing with defeat, she hit her head rather hard against the desk. Feeling the sting, it was welcomed as opposed to her lonely pity party. Or rather, she thought it was a lonely one…
"Are you finished?" she heard a deep, familiar voice from the door. Never even hearing it open, she jumped up rather surprised and bowed slightly as an automatic response.
"Uh, yes, King Gaius. I just finished up and was about to inform you," she said as she picked up movement from the corner of her eye. He was picking up her… dishes… Now that was strange. "I can take care of that, sir." Or rather she thought she could, as she was stepping over to him she lost her footing and collided right with a warm, human wall. He hadn't even budged when she tumbled into his side, and not even the dishes made a sound. But she could feel warmth from a man who looked so cold and distant. It was strange.
Gaius looked down at her rather strangely as she didn't move for a moment. Probably just to regain her balance, but when she did move away he saw a red mark on her head. Perhaps from just resting on the desk, but the red mark on her forehead made him wonder if she should get some rest. It was almost dark, but today would have been tiring even for him. He had to remind himself that he was testing her, for a moment, and he waved off her apologies.
"It's not a bother, I was about to get a proper dinner myself. Would you care to join us? Rowen and I are rather late and I do believe you received this food hours ago."
Looking up to him, she was surprised at the invitation. "Thank you, sir. I would like to enjoy a Rieze Maxian dinner," she said with a bright smile as he led the way, still holding onto her dishes. "But I can take those now. I've been sitting for so long I must have just lost my footing."
"I'm glad to see you hadn't lost your mind with all that paperwork. I had so many other matters to attend to that it was pushed into that room after so long… and it will be nice to have someone keeping these things straight for me." His own way of saying thank you, he raised the dishes even more above her head when she tried swiping them away. "I can take these. I would hate for you to ruin my good dishes with the lack of balance."
There was a hint of a smile, but she didn't know just how 'not serious' he was. To laugh or to feel slightly insulted? Well, she just decided to laugh a bit. "That would be a shame, on my first day here too."
"Yes, it would."
Looking up at him, she noticed an air of amusement. For a moment, she wanted to speak to him like a peer instead of a King, but she didn't know how. That, and she felt she didn't have the right to yet. But he certainly didn't seem like a heartless man that attacked Elympios six months ago. He seemed more like simply a man who enjoyed his time here and was overwhelmed with everything and yet chose to move forward. Admirable, if nothing else.
When they arrived in the dining hall, a different handmaid took the dishes from Gaius and Rowen sat up and pulled out a chair for Esther. It was a chair on Gaius's left and Rowen looked like he would be sitting on the right. It seemed so lonely here… in the large hall with lanterns and the massive table with countless chairs. But then looking at Gaius and Rowen, she could see herself getting used to the small talk that was already ensuing.
"Care to take the young lady for a tour?" Rowen asked Gaius as the food was set before them. Mabo Curry with fresh vegetable sticks in glass jars. It was simple and looked delicious. Looking at Gaius's dish, Rowen caught her looking and smiled. "He detests anything spicy. Loves sweets, but hates spice. No wonder his love life is lacking."
Esther couldn't help but giggle as Gaius looked like he could very well murder the old man. "You are too perceptive in your observing ways, old man. My love life is none of your concern." Of course, she couldn't see the details behind it but Rowen had been trying to find a suitable woman for quite some time for the lonely King. Despite his outstanding looks, he was imposing and women didn't dare get too close. Esther was probably the only one somewhat close to his age who didn't cower under his gaze. Given, her nine year younger self was much younger, but still it was rather interesting to see her next to Gaius at the dinner table. Rowen had a rather interesting day dream of Gaius becoming a husband and father someday. The woman next to him somehow fit into those thoughts without him even being too aware of it.
"Nonsense, the young woman finds it entertaining," Rowen said as Gaius looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"It's not that so much as it's interesting to hear that you enjoy sweets," she said as Gaius was the one to look shocked for a moment. Rowen was as entertained as ever as he started in on his curry. "You just don't seem like the type to enjoy them."
"Then what sort of foods do you enjoy, Miss Svent?" Gaius asked almost challenging her to answer. But the smile that returned his question came easily for some reason. Even though he even noted it sounded rather harsh to himself.
"I enjoy spice, but I admit my sweets tolerance is quite low. I was a sickly child and sweets were considered unnecessary for my health. True, but I guess I never developed much of a taste for them," she said with a sigh before looking back to Gaius who seemed curious now. But it was hard to tell, that face was like an iron mask and the voice didn't help much either. He was hard to read. "But, I would feel less awkward if you could call me Esther."
"Esther, then," Rowen said before Gaius could say anything. "Now, we need to fit you with more appropriate wear for tomorrow after dinner is through. A tour of Kanbalar at least and perhaps Xian Du in the next few days. It's quite cold up here, and your outfit is splendid but it hardly protects against the harsh elements. Do you not agree, Gaius?"
Looking over to her, Gaius looked her over once more. A blush being very obvious on her face at this point from the attention they gave her. "Of course. You'll grow used to the elements as time goes on, but for now it would be unwise to make you sick from lack of proper dress," he said as he started digging into his own food.
"Thank you," she said to both as she took the hint to start eating as well. Time here would be interesting. If today wasn't a hint at that, the she didn't know what else it could mean.