The court steward bowed his head respectfully to Tehr, moving back to inform the Queen and her guard about his words. There was a short talk between her and a young man standing before the throne with barely any hairs on his chin, but the young man was glaring at her with barely hidden contempt obviously enough. The looks of a spaniard were evident enough on a more careful look, the fine bit of tan and a way his dark hair was slicked back was apparent enough.<br/><br/>It was at this time that he found himself speaking with the Guard Captain and the Duke, with Lilian's face showing a bright smile at his greeting. "What a gentleman, its a delight to see you have returned safely. There's been worrying whispers about the roads being less than safe, the Queen's already made a push for more patrols to keep the kingdom's roads secure and its wealth in the pockets of its people rather than briggands." She had a look in her eyes that seemed to suggest she had more to say, but could not, at least right away. "Londinium has proven highly entertaining so far. I have been enjoying the sights, and the company is certainly delightful. Not everyone is pleased to see us but that is life, and most know to be polite about even their dislike." The duke's lips showed an amused smirk playing on his lips, as he bowed his head faintly. "I would be delighted to join you sometime, though I imagine you did not come here just to talk with me and the lovely Lady Captain." The said guard captain didn't seem intent to give the elven man her name, merely her station at her Queen's side, but he had watched the discussion between Tehr and Lilian with interest.<br/><br/>Regardless, as the man stepped back the Queen's steward called his name, and the Queen cast a warm smile his way. There was a bit of whispering among the court nobles as they watched him and the Queen, her eyes watching him in turn as she waited a moment for him to step forth.<br/><br/>"Welcome back from your Journey. I hope you bring many entertaining tales for us, though those shall have to wait. We have called upon you on a matter of the court." There was a serious expression on the Queen's face, as she spoke in the formal manner, her lips showing a faint smile on them, but they eyes watching him intently. There was silence in the room for now, the elven guests likewise watching him and the Queen, as she chose to continue talking after a moment's pause.<br/><br/>"It has come to our attention that in the past when your House held a larger role in the country there were territories given to your house's control, which were later handed over to another family as the status among the houses changed." Her tone remained serious, but there was a look on the Guard Captain's eyes that seemed to be curious as she watched him if he had a reaction to this revelation. It was part of older history, but small regions changed hands now and then, only the larger regions stayed in the same hands for a long time. There was a few areas that tended to remain in a small family's hands through marriage, then united for a time with a house only to be released once more if the connections were broken.<br/><br/>"The house which claimed control of those territories has since then been found negligent in their care for the said property. The territories are in bad shape, but they have been in the care of House Wynt before. It is our royal decision that we would wish these lands to flourish once more, and seeing as your House is rising in the court once more, we ask you to relay our word to the members of your House and inform me no later than in a month's time whether or not they accept this task."<br/><br/>The Guard Captain moved to pick up a large scroll from nearby, detailing some trade-roads that were known to have been left in poor repair, leaving people travelling past the area by boats rather than on the road, they were close to the House Wynt territory anyhow, but the branch of the family that had held control over them had died out a generation ago. They did contain some great old forests, modest farmlands, and a stretch of the kingdom's more prominent old roads built during the reign of the First King. Restoring them might cost a fair sum, but in turn, they might provide a lot for the house.<br/><br/>It was a political maneuver, and obvious favoritism towards the Queen's Consort ,being seen gifting things to his House was to be expected in some fashion though. It did not outright confirm the rumor, but it did lend it prominence, and hence it might afford him some more power and his word some extra weight behind it in the court too. What's more, according to the paper the house that had the region in its care since House Wynt lost control of it had been a minor house allied with the House Dale.<br/><br/>The fact he was offered this seemed to earn a calm nod from the Duke ir'Caelor who seemed to find the matter entertaining, and a curious look showed in the eyes of Rosalyn as she watched him intrigued, lifting a wine glass in a polite congratulational move on her part, the gesture so small that it didn't draw people's attention as such but someone looking at her at that moment would certainly notice. It seemed the Duke himself was waiting a bit curiously on how he would answer.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Some skill rolls on how he handles the request, if he has extra thoughts and ideas to add, and so forth is all welcome and a chance for extra XP from roleplaying. Also trying to add a touch of the ongoings of the court now and then.</div></div>