The room Ashton entered was simple; a few chairs, a table the length of a bar and a plate of boiled potatoes in front of each stool. For all the pay that bringing a kingdom down had brought, Verse was awfully cheap with the food. A man was in the room before he got there, eating his own food quietly. He guessed that this man was to be one of his companions, and his eye-level while seated down even matched Ashton's height. A tall man, or did that say more about Ashton's own height, he wondered quietly.<br/><br/>Despite the man's height, his face was effeminate, even as compared to Ashton. The open-shirted attire of his did ultimately mean that this man was definitely a male, but it stuck out to Ashton as if to slam an undeniable conclusion onto a series of confusing gender questions.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"Pete Girly, and this will not be the first realm I ruin."</span><br/><br/>Pete had moved in front of Ashton, hand extended for a handshake. The smile on Pete's face was condescending, as if he already knew about Ashton's experience. He had not ruined any realms, kingdoms or even duchies. He did once blackmail a count and trick a countess, but it was for a good cause.<br/><br/>Ashton stepped backward casually, though he gave a nervous smile to Pete. His neck had started to ache from looking at Pete's face from down below; the pain eased as he put some distance between him and Pete. "Sir Ashton Cromwell." Ashton shook Pete's hand gently, making sure his fingers didn't interlock with Pete's.<br/><br/>The young man took the chair beside where Pete sat, staring at the potatoes. He'd get his own food later, it seems. The more important thing was this new, temporary co-worker of his. "How do you ruin a Kingdom? Is it really that simple?" he asked, giving Pete a quizzical look.