Genevieve took in a deliberate breath. It was hard not to raise an eyebrow at the tantrum this man was having. A subtle tantrum, but a tantrum nonetheless. Not only had he<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>answered her question, but in the response he gave he reprimanded her.<span style="font-style: italic">Like a child</span>. Her first instinct had been to lash out, but that would have been imprudent. She needed to get her point across calmly. Genevieve would stay her anger, long enough for the King to lose his.<br/><br/>Oh, but she<span style="font-style: italic">had</span>struck a nerve. Perhaps she<span style="font-style: italic">should</span>have felt reprimanded, maybe a little guilty for pushing this man's buttons so soon after meeting...but she did not. Sure, he was very intimidating, but Genevieve would not be bullied. He wanted to flex his authority? Genevieve wondered if he had heard of her reputation beforehand? Surely it had preceded her arrival. Her reputation of publicly rejecting the submission her suitors forced upon her. Well...what people didn't know was that before it ever came to such extremes, Genevieve had demanded equality<span style="font-style: italic">in private</span>. Some had lasted longer than others in the hopes that she would bend: they wanted nothing more than a pretty,<span style="font-style: italic">silent</span>queen to show off and to enjoy carnally, but they all eventually grew tired of her insistence. Genevieve was not so naive to think society could change overnight, but if she ever wanted it too, it had to begin somewhere.<br/><br/>"Perhaps.." Genevieve began cautiously, wondering how to best word her feelings. "Perhaps you missunderstand me." Delaying the viewing? This was certainly a good start towards her way home.<br/><br/>"I understand what is expected of me<span style="font-style: italic">in public</span>." Genevieve had placed emphasis in her words by leaning forward a fraction of an inch, hoping to get her point across. "But I am not a cow to be bred and left out to pasture when not needed for calving." Genevieve purposefully addressed the only real duty Motto had given her with a hint of distaste. "In private you will be my husband<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>my king and in this regard I demand equality."<br/><br/>There. It had been said aloud. The tension in the air was palpable and more than one servant paled considerably. Genevieve had not been oblivious to their reactions in the few minutes that had passed. Although it had seemed like hours. She was almost certain that had she decided to begin eating her soup, she would find it had turned cold. Genevieve didn't have much of an appetite anyway. Besides, she was fairly certain the king would dismiss her from the dining area to her rooms. The servants could enjoy what she did not eat and if they did not, Genevieve would inquire about it for breakfast.<br/><br/>A sly thought came to Genevieve's mind. Perhaps she shouldn't give him the authority to dismiss her. That would certainly be the icing on the cake, would it not? "I think you are right, however." Had it really only been a few moments since she had spoken? "I could use some rest." Genevieve stood after feigning a yawn. "May I be dismissed, Your Majesty?" Had asking taken away his authority? If he sent her away it would seem her idea and not his own, but if he denied her? He would definitely be throwing a tantrum then.<br/><br/>Was her deliberate attempt to anger the man wrong? To some degree, Genevieve thought not. These were the very real things that needed to be worked out if they ever hoped to make a marriage work. Of course, one could argue she should have gone about it more delicately. To which Genevieve would respond with why? Because she was a woman? The weaker sex? No. The only way Genevieve would be taken seriously was to start strong and stand her ground.