“Florina…”

Augustus smiled broadly, standing to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. They were family, after all, and it only served him at this time to reinforce that fact. He offered her a place to sit and sat as well. One of the servants stepped forward to pour them both tea. Augustus remained silent during this time, studying Florina with curiosity before the servant stepped away to give them privacy.

“How are you?” Augsuts said, making conversation lightly as he sipped his tea, “I hope yesterday’s events have not left you too unsettled.” However…how could they not?

“A horrible dream indeed,” Augustus sighed, sipping his tea, “If only it were one from which we could awake. As it is…” The prince sipped during his pause, eyes never once leaving Florina, “We will have to do our best to move forward, wiser and with renewed purpose.” He let the statement linger in silence for a moment, as if it were to impart something significant before he adjusted in his chair and continued with the same easy tone.

“I must warn you, your aunt is rather cross with you, Florina,” He grinned handsomely as if he and the woman in front of him were co-conspirators against a common enemy, “She’s never liked surprises. Phaedra far prefers being on the inside of secrets that need keeping. Anything else, she’s bound to take personally. Me, on the other hand…” Augustus took another sip.

“Me? I can understand why one might keep things close, even if it’s inconvenient for me personally. I believe that to be the case with your gift, my dear. I can understand your reason for keeping it hidden, however inconvenient the aftermath might be for us both.” Augustus considered her.

“I hope to save you some of that inconvenience, so long as you are willing to work with me to do so.”

Phaedra could be the bad cop. He intended to be the good one - so long as it worked in his favor.

Augustus smiled and shrugged, his manner still one designed to put Florina at ease. “Anger hardly seems practical given the current situation. And I aspire to be a pragmatist—with mixed success of course.” Augusts winked at her good-naturedly. With his tea emptied, unbidden stepped forth to fill it. He’d also top off Florina’s cup before immediately retreating to his respectful distance.

“Your gift uniquely situates you to help us with what seems to be our primary predicament: there are gifts out there that we do not know of, whose gifts we do not understand. They are creating a culture of fear in Lorendale and sowing seeds of suspicion that will target the registered, law-abiding gifted who do not deserve it.” He sipped, growing more serious.

“We must actively seek out these transgressors, and with you as advisor of gifted, I believe we’d have the chance to do it right.”

Augustus's brow furrowed in sincerity. Hunting down gifted? Correctly or incorrectly, he hadn't thought of her task in those terms. Augustus did not seek suffering or persecution, merely safety for his people (though perhaps to others, that may appear an injustice).

"Not hunt down gifted, no," Augustus said, "Only give us a fuller understanding of incidents or situations when they arise. To assist in an investigatory capacity -- one that might prevent people with malicious intent to live among us unknown." He started again, seeking to add new framing to his ask.

"You are uniquely positioned to be an ally and an advocate, Florina. I have no doubt that many gifted seek to do the right thing. You can give them protection from those gifted who would restrict their freedoms with their misdeeds. Ones like Elena Eldouir."

”You will have your aunt to help guide you,” Augustus said patiently, “If there was ever a woman who knew how to navigate choppy political waters, it’s Phaedra.” He smiled a little, as if with affection. He meant what he said. Phaedra was one of the most skilled creatures of court; despite their romantic estrangement, they’d remained close partners in that regard.

“You musn’t blame yourself for Miss Dumont. Her sins are hers and hers alone. But you do have an opportunity now to prevent such a thing from happening again…so long as you take it. For I believe you more than capable.” He indicated for more tea to be poured, and the servant obliged.

Augustus smiled widely. His optimism was genuine. Honora Allemeade had been a catastrophic failure of an investment. She, after all, was not a creature of court. She’d been the queen’s governess, sure, but that was not the same as one who had real standing and connection to the rise and fall of the crown. Florina could redeem her kind, he thought. Be a real force to help him and the crown hold the country together.

“Thank you, Florina,” Augustus said, sipping his tea, “I shall instruct your aunt to meet with you and offer her aid. I plan to visit Allemeade Keep to tour it in a week’s time, and I should like for you to accompany me.”