Sorry for the long wait! A little more lore in this chapter :)
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The incident with Steve haunted Sutton the next few days. He didn't look at her in disdain when she saw him again later that day, but there was a new determined glint in his eye and she assumed he'd shifted to focusing on the growing threat that Loki posed.
But Sutton wasn't able to let go of it quite so easily.
She shouldn't care. She really shouldn't. It wasn't her fault if she couldn't hear some phantom music, and even if it upset Steve, what did it really matter? He had an upcoming coronation and potential war to worry about, and she'd hopefully, at least, become a fond memory for him after she moved out of the castle.
Or, maybe, if she snagged a job at that bakery he'd mentioned, he'd tag along with Bucky once-in-a-while and she could see him then.
Why did she care so much if he stayed in touch?
He'd already done more than enough for her: brought her into his fairytale world, given her a place to stay, even bought her new clothes. In fact, her entire wardrobe was filled with dresses and other clothes by the end of the week, as promised.
Sutton had never seen so much fabric stuffed into a piece of furniture in her life. Sparkles and shimmering colors practically spilled from between the doors. Dark blues, lavenders and blushing pinks, cool grays, and almost everything in between dominated the space. And if she thought the colors were varied, the styles were more so. They ranged from ball gowns, extravagant collars, wide bell sleeves and dipping backs to more modest cuts, even a few, long slit tunic pieces that were paired with a fashion of leggings.
After the incident with Steve in his war room, the sight of the new clothes only made Sutton feel worse. The clothes were out of her league; she didn't deserve them.
Cori, the lead maid who'd led her to breakfast that first day, smoothed a dress over a hanger and wedged it into the wardrobe; somehow she managed to get the thing closed.
"They'll manage much more nicely once you get your- a new room, my lady. One with a proper closet."
Sutton pointed to the door past the wardrobe.
"This room has a closet. It's just full of other clothes and shoes."
"A proper closet," Cori stressed. "Not one for guests."
"Well I don't see me being able to afford a place with a bigger closet than the one I have now. And anyway," she said with a wave of her hand, "I don't think most of these are really practical for working."
"Of course, my lady."
The non-answer was enough to make Sutton think the woman didn't agree with something she said. She let her gaze drop and rubbed the fabric of the dress she wore between her fingers. It felt like silk. Real silk. And it shifted colors in the light with an iridescent sheen.
"Miss Cori," Sutton said, not looking up from the fabric, "can I ask you about something?"
"Of course, my lady."
Sutton dropped the fabric and looked up as she smoothed out her dress with a thin, closed lipped smile.
"Ah, do you know anything about… about music?"
"Music, my lady?"
"Steve- ah, Prince Steve mentioned music once, and there wasn't any. And people here, in this… kingdom, I mean, sing together perfectly when there's no music playing."
Cori turned fully towards her, giving her a sort of sympathetic, evaluating look.
"Did your village not have Music?"
"Not like this."
Cori hummed and nodded to herself.
"Well," she said, voice gentle, "I cannot speak for the Prince, but I can tell you of the
Music as a whole, if you like."
Sutton's shoulders dropped as she let out a sigh.
"Oh, I would; please."
Cori led her to the sitting furniture in the other section of the room, and encouraged Sutton to get comfortable while she fixed them some tea. Steam still curled from the spout of the teapot despite having been brought in at least forty minutes ago.
"I suppose it's a bit odd to consider, my lady, given how natural Music is to us, you see. But if I had to define it, I would say it's something like an overflow."
She dropped one cube of sugar in Sutton's teacup after noting how many fingers Sutton held up, stirred twice, tapped the spoon on the rim, and passed the cup and saucer over. Sutton took a sip and savored the burst of sweetness and mix of spices.
"You see when a moment, or a feeling, means something to you it builds up inside you. Do you know what I mean, my lady?"
Sutton thought back on the grief which threatened to implode her with the loss of all her family. The hollow emptiness that was overpowered by something else when Sprinkles snuggled on her lap the first night she brought her home. The pressure that built up in her chest when Steve looked at her in despair in the war room.
"Yes," she said. "I know what you mean."
Cori nodded.
"When the overflow is too much, it comes out in Music. It's the truth of what you're feeling."
"But everyone sang the same song when… Prince Steve and Sir Bucky came back."
"Yes," Cori agreed easily. "We were united in our relief. As well we should be, they'd both been missing for quite some time and we were afraid they hadn't made it. A right tragedy it would have been."
Sutton nodded even if she didn't fully understand; she had to accept the magic of the world. But just because she believed magic existed didn't mean it was easy to accept every little aspect of it. Especially since this part of the magic seemed to pass over her.
"When you all sing your songs, can you- can you actually hear music?"
"Of course, my lady."
Sutton looked away and fiddled with her dress again.
"Oh."
Cori leaned forward and placed a hand over Sutton's.
"Forgive me for speaking freely, my lady, but you're a young thing and from what you've said I see you come from a land unlike ours. Just give yourself a bit of time. Uncertainty can truly be a blinding thing."
Sutton's lips twisted in a rueful smirk.
"Don't you mean deafening?"
Cori let out a bark of a laugh.
"So I do!"
[][][]
Even if he didn't stop inviting her to his inner circle's breakfast every morning, Steve still looked at Sutton in a way that made her slightly nervous. Like he was looking for something. Thinking, cogs turning, every time she caught him staring. Eyes burned into her back every time someone in the castle started singing in a certain way. But she still couldn't hear anything besides their voice.
"We have a full schedule today, I'm afraid, your majesty."
Coulson didn't normally show up at breakfast, but he was there with his stack of papers and scrolls the same day Sutton's wardrobe arrived. Steve frowned slightly, almost unnoticeable, and Sutton assumed Coulson did the equivalent of telling him "hurry up and eat".
"Where is a free block?" Steve asked.
Coulson cleared his throat as he glanced down at the page in front of him.
"I'm afraid we're booked. There's the meeting with your council this morning, followed by
an inspection of the troops, then the preparations for your upcoming coronation. I already sent out invitations through His Grace the First Wizard of Andolasia since this is short notice, but I'm sure we'll have some ruffled feathers to soothe soon since not all will be able to make it in time."
Steve took the schedule in stride, though Sutton could see from the corner of her eye that there were more bullet points Coulson hadn't even listed off.
"Is there nothing I can be absent from? Even an hour."
Coulson's lips thinned as he stared at his schedule. Sutton chewed a bite of pear as she watched him weigh the pros and cons of each item. The poor man.
"I suppose," he hedged, "that the seamstresses could use your known measurements for your Coronation clothes. Though, if anything has changed-"
"Nothing has, Coulson; thank you."
"I wish I could give you more, your majesty, but about forty minutes-"
"That will do. I appreciate it, Coulson."
"I will inform the seamstresses."
He bowed and hurried from the room. Sutton snapped her hand in front of Sprinkles' face before she could successfully snap up a chocolate croissant; Sprinkles' ears flicked back as she cut her eyes.
"Hmmph."
Steve's fingers gently rested on the back of Sutton's hand to get her attention and she suppressed a shudder as she shifted to look at him.
"Would you mind joining me this afternoon," he asked. "I don't have much time, but I'd like to show you some spaces in the castle you haven't yet been privy to."
Sutton blinked.
"Oh, um, sure. I don't have anything planned."
Steve's smile was like sunshine and it made her feel weird.
"Wonderful. I'll find you after lunch, then?"
"I'll be here."
Bucky looked up from his plate and gave Steve a sort of knowing look. It was probably frowned upon that Steve was ignoring duties to try and show her around. They both must have heard about her getting lost a couple days ago, when Coulson had to hunt her down and lead her back into familiar territory.
How embarrassing.
Sutton was tempted to run into town to try and do some scouting and to hunt for that bakery before meeting up with Steve, but she was nervous that her timing would be off and he clearly couldn't afford for her to be late. She'd have to wait until after his tour to venture out on her own errands.
Sprinkles stuck to her side and they once again meandered around outside in the gardens. The flowers had little decorative plaques next to them to identify what they were and who, if anyone, had gifted it to the royal family.
Wisps: a blue and purple flower which had petals that curved upwards into the shape of a clover blossom and four leaves that sprouted from the stalk in a way that resembled fairy wings. It apparently glowed softly at night, hence the name.
True Loves Kiss: a flower that reminded Sutton of a cross between an orchid and a lily. The two large petals of the flower were a vibrant pink that resembled lips.
Forest Glass: some fungi that grouped together like a pile of broken glass shards and reflected the lights like prisms.
There was even a more dangerous looking plant called Gryphon's Claw which looked like a thorny tumbleweed encasing a bright orange flower. The plaque said it was a rare find and difficult to harvest, but was renowned for the delicious tea the petals made.
She stopped by the Devil's Bells again and crouched down to get a better look at their delicate shape. Sprinkles paused to give them a sniff and snorted as if to get the pollen from her nose.
"They don't smell like flowers." Sprinkles complained.
Sutton tilted her head.
"No? What do they smell like then?"
"Fire clouds. Like from the sticks you burned at the boring house."
"Fire clouds- do you mean smoke?"
"Like bad smoke." Sprinkles said confidently, raising her head.
Well that had Sutton curious. With a quick glance around that no one was near enough to see her, she leaned forward and gave one of the little bell flowers a sniff.
"Oh," she said in surprise. "It almost smells faintly like sulfur, doesn't it?"
"If you have a human nose," Sprinkles in what may have been sympathy. "But a very good nose like mine can smell more."
Sutton's face flattened with lack of amusement.
"I'm sure. What about your hearing, though?"
Gently, Sutton pressed down on the stalk and let it spring back up, the flowers shook lightly, but not enough to damage the plant.
"Well? Hear any ringing?"
This time Sprinkles straightened and huffed in offense.
"Of course not. Flowers don't make noises."
"Of course not," Sutton parroted. "At least I'm not the only one that can't hear that too."
Footsteps came from down a cobblestone pathway, and Sutton quickly stood and took a step back from the flowers. Tony rounded the corner and emerged from a hedge and didn't look surprised to see her on her own.
"Tony, uh, I mean- Sir- Your grace-"
"Please, don't bother. It's more embarrassing to see you stumble over titles."
Sutton narrowed her eyes at the dig.
"Fine, then don't try to call me 'my lady'. It's weird when I don't have money or land."
Tony's smirk split open into a grin and Sutton chalked it up to, once again, people in positions of power here not being used to having people address them so plainly.
"Deal," he said. "So, what are you doing out here, Sutton? You one of those people passionate about flowers?"
"Uh, well, magic flowers are pretty cool," Sutton said. She brushed a curl behind her ear and shrugged. "And I figure I'm at least out of the way here."
He gave her a particular look and held his hands behind his back as he casually strolled up next to her and eyed the Devil's Bells.
"My girl can't smell the bad smoke like I can," Sprinkles informed him. "She's glad they don't make noise-"
"Sprinkles," Sutton cut her off. "There's no need to repeat conversations, okay? We're just biding time until lunch."
Tony hummed.
"Right; because you're meeting up with his majesty for a private tour of the castle."
Sutton squinted.
"Don't say it weirdly like that. Steve is being nice. I showed him around where I lived, and he's excited about returning the favor."
"Of course," Tony agreed with a grin. "You would know. After all, you've known him for- how long has it been now?"
"Anyway," Sutton rolled her eyes, "why are you out here?"
"To check on you, obviously. You're not going to become a garden strolling recluse, are you? There are more things to do around here than look at flowers."
Sutton raised a brow.
"Are you going to show me, then? Give me a brochure on all the hot places to go and things to do in Andolasia?"
"Close enough," Tony said. "I, unfortunately, got saddled with the task of getting you up to speed on customs and the like. I guess everyone thought I didn't have enough to do around here."
That gave Sutton pause. Tony was a wizard, it seemed unusual that they would ask him to educate her on how life worked here. And why did they feel the need to teach her that anyway? She certainly hadn't given Steve and Bucky any real lessons on how to pass as normal people on earth.
"My girl is very smart," Sprinkles boasted in her stead. "She knows all sorts of things. Like how to get to the good park or the tastiest snacks to share, and even how to find her way home every time."
Tony tipped his head.
"Truly; inspirational."
"Thank you, Sprinkles."
Tony dismissed the flowers and turned to fully face her; his medallion with blue crystals glinted against his robes in the sun. Today he was decked out in more somber, black robes and there was embroidery in black thread so it was hard to make out any pattern.
"Obviously there's no time to dive into anything before your special little tour," Tony said, "but I'd appreciate it if you met up with me after so we can get started on all this. Get it out of the way faster, you understand. There's quite a bit to cover with the coronation coming up, even if we're not having as many visiting ambassadors; stories would get around if we messed up at the event of the year."
"I get to go? Really?" Sutton questioned. "I thought it was just for nobility and dignitaries."
Tony blinked slowly at her and his gaze dropped down to Sprinkles who snapped her jaw at him.
"My girl is very smart."
Sutton frowned.
"Yes, you get an invite," Tony droned. "A guest of honor, due to your… heroic exploits, I'm sure. Regardless, you should know the basics before you attend. Can I count on you to find your way to me later? Or must I send Coulson after you?"
"I had errands," Sutton mused as she worried her lower lip, "but I guess they can wait." She sighed. "I'll be there."
"I'm honored to have been deemed more important."
"You should be," Sutton sassed back. "Usually if I found out a guy was a first level wizard I wouldn't give him the time of day."
She grinned widely at him and Tony scoffed in insult.
"It's not first level, it's first in position. See, these kinds of things can get you on the executioner's block with the wrong people."
Sutton actually laughed.
"Whatever."
Tony waved a hand in her direction as he turned to walk away.
"You're lucky I'm not in charge."
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Sutton ate a light meal in a hurry at lunch and her stomach rolled mildly as she waited for Steve to show up. She was still waiting a few minutes after she was finished, so she fixed up another plate of finger foods just in case Steve hadn't had anything to eat yet and tried to skip over it to keep as much tour time as he could.
He came through a side door practically beating back Coulson who shouted a reminder that he only had forty minutes of available time before his next meeting. Sutton smothered a smile at the sight as Steve turned to her and gave her a grin in greeting.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Don't you want to eat first?"
Sutton gestured towards the table, still full of food, and Steve shook his head.
"I'm afraid we don't have time to wait on me. Unfortunately Coulson is strict with his schedules."
"Oh, well then, here." She passed over the plate and Steve accepted it with a look of surprise. "I thought you might not have enough time to eat if you're wasting time on giving me a tour, and the rest of your day is busy, so-"
This time, at least, he didn't look devastated or upset. He looked down at the plate like she'd given him a gift and lifted his eyes back to her with an expression Sutton couldn't name.
"Thank you, Sutton. That was incredibly thoughtful of you."
Sutton's face warmed and she shrugged with a shake of her head.
"Well, it's your food in the first place."
"Let's go," Sprinkles butt in. She danced on her front legs and circled around Steve.
"King Steve has to show us all the places and maybe share some snacks."
Steve offered his arm, the one holding the plate funnily enough, and Sutton delicately looped her arm through it as he led them through a side door she hadn't used before. He ate one of the finger foods before beginning to narrate the tour.
"This side of the castle is for the private royal rooms," he said. "The royal family's sleeping quarters are back here, as well as some communal spaces, similar to your living room, as well as a library, terrace garden, and private dining room, though it's not appropriate to overuse."
Like other halls in the castle, this one was vibrant, filled with rugs and plants and tapestries. The tapestries, though, seemed to shift from generalized looking tales to more specific stories. A few looked to have recurring characters who looked similar to Steve.
It didn't quite make sense for her to be back in the royal suites, but Steve seemed very set on showing her his personal living space like he'd gotten to see hers. He really didn't have to.
She at least didn't have to memorize her way around for this part of the tour, since she'd never have reason to be in the royal rooms on her own.
"It's beautiful. Some of these tapestries are so detailed it feels like they're moving."
Steve cut his eyes at her and a small smile tipped the corners of his lips.
"Some of them might be. My mother was fond of enchanted embroidery. A few of these she did herself."
"Wait, seriously?" Sutton tugged to a stop and squinted to really study one on the wall next to her. It was a scene set in the woods, vibrant green threads glimmered and colorful beads strung through them hung like ripened fruit; a young blond boy stood, his back to the viewer, holding a sword as he stared down a yellow-green dragon. Its scales looked like they were made from bits of felt. Sutton blinked and the dragon's glare shifted to a snarl then back.
"That was my first dragon slaying," Steve said. Sutton tore her eyes from the tapestry to listen. "It was killing livestock on the outskirts of the farmland, and we chased it until we backed it into the forest."
"They let you kill a dragon that young?"
"I was a teenager," Steve defended.
It didn't look quite like a teenager in the tapestry, but Sutton wasn't about to insult his mother's needlework. Next to her, Sprinkles snorted.
"The dragon was being bad," she decided. "When I tried to catch food my girl said no, no, no."
Steve raised a brow.
"You had livestock nearby?"
"She tried to catch a mouse at the dog park once." Sutton gave Sprinkles a scolding look. "I didn't want her to try and bring it home."
Sprinkles puffed up her chest.
"I am very fast." She bragged. "Probably the fastest dog."
"Well," Steve said diplomatically, "maybe later you can race the hounds."
Sutton gave the tapestry one last look before they moved on. The dragon reminded her of the rolling grasslands of the plains. Yellow and curved and somehow airy.
"It is a shame you had to kill it," she noted. "It's pretty."
"It was a shame." Sutton was a bit surprised by his easy agreement. "I'd rather not have. But that's the cost of leading; being responsible for all your people. Sometimes you have to make choices for their greater good instead of your own."
They moved away from the tapestry to move on to another room; a thought occurred to Sutton as they walked.
"Wait? Didn't you say you and Bucky hunted dragons for fun?"
"I didn't say we were always hunting to kill them."
[]
Given their limited time, Sutton only got brief glances of a lush garden terrace and warm library. The last room they had time to visit was a plush parlor room, his version of a living room, which was decked out in deep blue fabrics and patterned wallpapers; a tea set sat on a cart in the corner.
On the far wall a large portrait took up most of the space. In it a man stood behind a chair where a woman sat, his hand rested on her shoulder, both appeared calm and warm. To the right side of the woman a young boy stood. He was more delicate looking, thin and almost frail. But his blue eyes were sharp and piercing in the way the artist painted them.
Sutton did a double take as she glanced from the painting to Steve.
"Is that you? You and your parents?"
Steve nodded.
"I was twelve at the time."
"You look so different. Puberty must have really hit you."
Steve laughed lightly.
"Not quite. I'm afraid I was born a sickly child. The nursemaids weren't sure if I'd make it through the first year, in fact. But luckily for me, my parent's made an alliance with a Fae before I was born and she bestowed a gift upon me. Strength and health, if I should strive for it."
"A fae?" Sutton balked. Her eyes widened as she turned to look at him. "Wait, wait. Bestowed a gift. Are you telling me you have… a fairy godmother?"
"I don't know if Fae share those practices." Steve said, not at all in awe of the fact he had a fairy guardian. "But she decided she liked our kingdom and my family, and it would be foolish to disregard a Fae's favor."
"She gave you a gift though! I mean, she healed you."
"It wasn't quite so simple a thing." Steve shifted as if getting more comfortable; Sutton readied herself for a story.
"I wouldn't doubt that Fae have enough magic to have fully healed me; however, they live so much longer and I think they've seen the effects of just granting humans boons. Especially a family such as mine. What she gave me was a chance. I still had to train, to eat well, and all the rest, as I grew. But the difference is my efforts were actually fruitful; for which I will always be grateful."
"That- that's an interesting take on a fairy gift," Sutton said. "And I do suppose it would keep someone from growing…expectant."
Steve nodded and Sutton looked back at the painting. At the young boy with a determined shine in his eyes despite the dark circles.
"What did she look like?"
"I don't know if anyone ever saw her true form. Fae have glamor magic even more powerful than that of goblins. Even if you know they're using it, it won't shatter the illusion."
"Oh. Well. What was her name then?" Sutton paused and considered what she knew of faerie lore in her world. "Or what did you all call her?"
Steve smiled softly at her correction.
"She told my parents to call her Anointed."
"Anointed? That's… more like a title than a name."
"And probably one that's deserved. For her to attach herself to my family, she likely shares a status equal to ours, or greater, with her own kind."
They ran out of time and Steve didn't get a chance to show her around the actually populated parts of the castle, but she wasn't about to complain. How many people could say they'd gotten to see the royal suites?
Coulson anxiously shifted on his feet when he caught them emerging into the main hall and he rushed forward, his scheduling papers still cradled in his arms.
"You're majesty!"
"I know, Coulson." Steve turned and held both of Sutton's hands in his own. "Thank you for agreeing to accompany me today. I had a lovely time with you."
"Me too! Thanks for giving me a behind the scenes tour; you have a beautiful home."
"I'm glad you like it."
"Your majesty, you know I hate to interrupt-"
Steve sighed and took a step back, releasing her hands, and Sutton awkwardly patted at her sides as she mimicked the movement back.
"Til dinner then," Steve said.
Sutton laughed lightly.
"As long as Tony doesn't give me detention for not being able to curtesy or something."
Coulson urged Steve along and Sutton watched them walk down a hall and around a corner. It might have helped if Steve started with the main castle tour, because she had no idea where they might be headed.
"Well," Sutton said with a glance down at Sprinkles, "I guess we ought to find Tony then, huh. What did you think of the tour?"
"I can live there," Sprinkles replied decisively. "I just hope there are big beds back there too, because I don't sleep on floors anymore."
"Mhmm."
"Also, Magic Tony did not say Sprinkles had to go to training."
Sutton balked.
"Excuse me? Are you trying to bail?"
Sprinkles let out a yip of a laugh and suddenly tore away, this time Sutton knew she was headed for a door outside.
"I wanna race! I wanna race! I wanna race!"
Sutton called out for her to come back, but an unsuspecting maid opened the door for a demanding Sprinkles and she was gone. Five seconds later the sound of baying erupted outside. Sutton scowled.
"Traitor. Again."
For a brief moment, Sutton had the urge to play hooky herself and run her own errands. Surely whatever Tony was being forced to teach her couldn't amount to more than 'curtsy, be polite, don't eat more than finger food, and don't look the Dark Emperor in the eyes'. Or about.
Besides, Tony didn't seem keen to be a tutor anyway.
She edged closer to a tall glass window and peered outside. Ugh. She'd told Tony that she'd be there.
"Planning on going somewhere?"
Sutton spun around and found Bucky heading her way with a knowing smirk; she cleared her throat and gestured vaguely as she met him halfway.
"Ah, looking for Tony. Apparently I have class now?"
"You won't find him outside; I'd assume he's waiting in his office." Bucky canted his head and held out his arm. "I'll take you, if you don't know the way."
"I wasn't going to run off."
"Of course you weren't."
Sutton sighed and accepted his arm. Bucky led them the opposite direction of the doors and into the castle, and she was able to admit to herself that she probably would have gotten lost again if she attempted to find Tony on her own.
"What are you even doing here anyway," she asked. "I thought you'd be busy with army stuff given the Loki thing."
"Eloquently put," Bucky said dryly. "We had some training and inspections this morning; I get a few more extra minutes of free time than his majesty. Enough to make sure you don't get lost again."
"Are you implying you were assigned time to babysit me?"
Bucky gave her a side-eye with a smirk.
"Did you enjoy the tour with Steve then?"
"You're just going to ignore that question?" She paused but Bucky remained silent and Sutton gave in first. "It was good. It's too bad he didn't have time to show me the parts of the castle I'm actually allowed in, but I appreciate him returning the gesture of showing where he lives. There were some pretty tapestries."
Bucky blinked a little too slowly to be natural and minutely shook his head.
"Did you find it an agreeable space to live in?"
"It's literally built for royalty, Bucky, of course it's agreeable."
"I'm asking if you like it personally. Fates, woman."
People were asking her opinion far more than it actually mattered, given she wasn't anyone of social or political standing. Sutton wondered if Andolasia was just like this, or if the entire world was, given its fairy tale similarities. She reached over with her free hand and smacked his arm in a staccato rhythm.
"I-lived-in-a-crappy-apartment-in-a-world-without-magic. I like your teaspoons. Yes, the royal rooms were beautiful and amazing. But I don't see why it matters if I like them or not; it's not like I'll be living there. I told you, I'll be more than content with a little cottage somewhere."
Bucky let out something like a grunt.
"I'll be honest, I can hardly tell
If you're this obtuse or
Simply wear it well."
Sutton leaned back in surprise at his sudden singing. Bucky looked equally surprised, his fist against his lips as if trying to stifle the words that came out of his mouth.
"Excuse me." Said Sutton.
"And while the charm was great
I'm starting to commiser- mmph."
He shoved his hand so firmly against his mouth that the words were muffled and she couldn't understand what he was saying, though he scowled.
"Why," she intoned, "do I get the feeling you're dissing me to my face?"
But before she could demand an answer, Bucky reached over and rapped on a door, then opened it and shoved her inside.
"Hey!"
Tony looked up from his golden table and rolled his eyes as she stumbled into the room.
"Well, it's about time," he said. He tossed a small leather bound journal to her and she barely caught it. "Take notes, because I'm only doing princess training once."
Sutton's mind scrambled to jump from Bucky's weird singing and being shoved in the room to Tony's statement. Her heartbeat spiked momentarily.
"I- wait. What? Princess training?"
"Oh, don't get your petticoats twisted, you're hanging out with the prince and attending his coronation, aren't you? You need to know how to behave properly around other nobility; you wouldn't want to disgrace the crown, would you?"
"What? No!" She huffed. "You know what, I can tell you haven't done this before."
"Ah-ah! Rule number one: no insulting someone of higher social standing. You already rejected the princess title, so now you don't get to make comments."
She rolled her eyes, opened the journal, and dramatically mimed taking down a note.
"Note number two," she said, monotone. "Next time, run my errands instead."