Joseph
**Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria** 

He pressed his lips together then clicked his tongue once. "We'll do introductions later, I'm sure she's finishing up her tasks before dinner." He mused, and looked to Milena. 

"And I know you're probably itching for a chance to stretch your legs, so we can walk the property for a bit before."
Karen
**Milena Capell**
**Zahadra, Astoria**

She nodded her head. "Okay. That sounds good Mikhail. I am rather stiff from the carriage ride, so walking will do me some good. By all means, lead the way" She smiled to him then looked about the grounds once again.
Joseph
**Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria**

Her confirmation was enough for them to veer off from the path straight to the palace. Instead, he took her on a tour of the grounds, showing her the courtyard and the stables, introducing her to those he recognized enough to know their names as they passed. He showed her inside from the front entrance, requesting an announcement _not_ be made in regards to their arrival yet. The palace was three stories, the first was public space - where court affairs and the citizenry mixed. It was full of big open parlors, a grand dining hall, and of course the library Anyanka had built and filled as a homecoming present for the Prince. Too bad the first time he'd been within it he'd been a corpse fished out of the waters and laid along the long oak table. 

The second floor was for the court itself, those who stayed in Zahrada seasonally or full time were granted chambers and full access to the studies and parlors on the second floor. It had a lovely set of windows towards the back of the home that overlooked part of the gardens, but the view was better on the third floor. He didn't wander up there through, considering it was only for family and he doubted that a) they would be able to be upstairs without his mother being disturbed or b) that she would have any interest in his chambers. He didn't sleep much anymore, so his bedroom was piled with books and notebooks full of thoughts. 

When finally he finished the tour, he could tell she was practically itching to see the gardens he had promised her, and he gave her a smile. "We should save those for after dinner- so you'll have nothing to pull you away from it, and so you can see the nocturnal flowers as they start to bloom." He explained softly, leaning in a bit to tell her this. A throat cleared behind him and he straightened, turning quickly to see a guard awaiting them. 

"Dinner is being served, your highness." He warned, and Mika nodded. 

"Time to meet the Queen, Mil."
Karen
**Milena Capell**
**Zahadra, Astoria**

She walked with Mikhail throughout the palace, an ever presence of awe fixed upon her. She warmly greeted everyone he introduced to her along the way. From the library to the court hall, everything seemed larger than life. The palace was everything she expected it to be and more. She *Had* In fact been waiting with excited fervor for him to lead her around to the gardens she got a glimpse of from the second story window, and was only a little disappointed they'd have to wait. That feeling did not last long however, as he told her it was time for her to meet the most powerful woman in Astoria. 

"I guess it is." She said, giving him a nervous smile.
Miguel
Robyn Victor
Zahrada, Astoria

Robyn sighed softly as he looked at the empty seats surrounding him, idly drumming his thumbs along the edge of the large table as he waited for anybody to show up. Aunt Anya was off doing something with his father, Nero was at The Blazing Bull, and Mikhail had gone to Ostrava for a time.

Boredom had never struck faster to the young man, and he had taken to exploring the Estate more, stopping just before he got to the dungeons. He didn't have a reason to go there, so he'd rather not risk it.

The door to the dining hall opened, and Robyn's gaze shot to the door. A small smile broke out on his face, and he waved at Mikhail.

"Hey, Mika." The room's slight echo seemed to diminish as he walked towards the table with his guest. "And who is this you're with?" Robyn asked, nodding politely to the redhead.
Joseph
**Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria**

They headed to the dining hall, and he gave a brief pause before the doors that were wide open, inviting those who were at the court in for dinner. As far as he could tell though, most of them were gone at the moment. With the council in a weeks time, everyone had returned home; without a royal to impress or tend to, there wasn't really a reason to not be home with their families. 

He looked to Milena, giving her a small smile. "I promise it will be fine, she's not scary." He assured her, his tone soft in case for _some_ reason his mother could hear him. He lead the way, turning the corner fully expecting to see his mother at the end of the table, but instead he was met with Robyn. 

He blinked, and recovered, offering a smooth. "Good evening, Robyn." At the question of who was at his side, Mikhail gave a half turn, his hand gesturing to Milena. "This is Lady Milena Capell of Ostrava, she's come to see the capital. Milena, this is Robyn Victor, my cousin." A beat and he looked back to Robyn "Where's mother?"
Karen
**Milena Capell**
**Zahadra Astoria**

She smiled at his reassurance, and swallowed as the door to the dining hall opened. She expected it to be full of the court, the Duchess, and many other high ranking officials. Instead she was met by a single person, not much older than she, who Mika introduced as his cousin. 

She sighed slightly out of relief and gave him a smile. "It a pleasure to meet you, Robyn" It felt odd to be in such a large dining hall that held just the three of them, but she supposed that the Zahadran court must have been busy.
Miguel
Robyn Victor
Zahrada, Astoria

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Milena." Robyn bowed his head as he spoke, before glancing back at his cousin. "Her and my father are discussing something."

"Gods know how long that will take them though, so it'd probably be best to just take a seat." Robyn gestured to the table, and shrugged a bit. He didn't mention how happy he was to see other people, but his small smile never faltered.
Joseph
**Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria**

Mikhail gave a soft 'ah' of understanding. If his mother and the spymaster were up to something, it probably wasn't good. He glanced at the empty seats where the court usually would be, and then pulled once out for Milena. 

"What luck to calm your nerves, Milena, it seems there won't be a full court to attend to tonight." He mused, carefully pushing her seat in when she took a seat before taking his own beside her. 

"It's strange she would dismiss the entirety of the court, I knew there were some heading home now, but I thought there would be a few lingering around before they were fully dismissed for the council." Mikhail mused, taking the seat across from Robyn. 

"If this really is the case, we might move to the private dining hall, it would be nicer to sit around a smaller table if it only ends up being less than ten of us." He couldn't count on both hands the skeleton crew he would imagine being left behind to run Zahrada while they were gone, but he knew only a dozen or so were comfortable enough to join them for private dining.