The ride through the streets was about as peaceful as the one on arrival, even without the benefit of the personal guard following his every step. Blondie was walking ahead with new strength in her after the break, and Tehr found himself before the palace in no time. Things seemed to stay the same in some ways, the guards nearby watching his approach warily, but making way as they recognised him.<br/><br/>The hallways held a number of servants moving about at the time, seeming to be carrying maps and scrolls of various sorts with them, rushing about arranging something. There was a bit of noise coing from the direction of the throne room, where the court seemed to have gathered. It was still going on, and apparently not all that peacefully.<br/><br/>Indeed, a Spaniard man in armor was speaking loudly before the queen, guarded by two halberdiers bearing the spanish regalia on them, as the bearded nobleman pat his chest with a look of absolute confidence on his face. "That is why the loyalists will crush the opposition, and the throne shall have its chance to set things right. We are confident that victory can be seized by the end of the coming year, if her Majesty is willing to lend her aid." The man's tone made it seem like he was demanding rather than asking, but the look on the Queen's face was resolute.<br/><br/>"Is it the citizens of my nation that are not being fed but trampled in a war? No. Is it the power of the Crown of the Isles that is being challenged? No. Do I respect my fellow monarch and their family in Spain? Yes." The Queen's expression was serious as she regarded the man without any hint of weakness on her, speaking regally and in control despite his apparent intent to interrupt her, her voice covering whatever words he might have tried to speak.<br/><br/>"We shall not send our sons and daughters to die on a foreign soil, not when the war is waged on internal matters that have been brewing for quite a while! I believe your own monarch said it best twenty years ago: 'Meddle not in the affairs you know little of, for blind aid may truly blind one of just what they are supporting.'" It seemed the words came as a smack in the nobleman's face, based on his shocked, angry expression, before he schooled his expression to careful neutrality again. The Queen's voice continued, addressing the people gathered.<br/><br/>"We have made our ruling that the Isles will not take part in the Spanish civil war, not directly at least. You are welcome to continue hiring mercenaries if you so wish, but the Crown remains neutral on this matter." Her expression remained carefully guarded, the man nodding his head and turning to leave, annoyed but not seeming too surprised at the outcome. As this passed, Lilian the guard captain had already noticed Tehr and approached him quietly, the Queen smiling as she spoke briefly at another of her guard. It appeared Tehr had arrived to witness the last of the other issues for that day.<br/><br/><em>"It is good to see your face again, Master Tehr. The roads are becoming safer, and what mercenaries might have thought to become bandits on quiet days are seeming to set their sights on Spaniards and their quarrel for now. The Queen has been hoping to see you again, would you wish to approach her in court, she'd surely be welcoming to it, should you instead wish to meet her in private, the court's session should be finishing already. We've had Loyalists and Revolutionists speaking here today which is why the day has run long, but the Queen has held steadfast in the belief its best for the isles that we do not charge into another's war, on either side."</em>The guard captain summarized the situation slightly, but as she did so her arms crossed under her bosom were pushing the leather-clad breasts higher on display, the gesture a touch shameless it seemed for she made no effort to hide a nippleslip occuring when she stood close enough to him that none besides him might witness such.