"my lips are sealed Lieutenant." Zarha nodded at his comment about not bring her dead husband up when he mentioned her coming the see him and intending to bring her and Ber to the office. Zarha laugh softly "Oh it surly going to be interesting to see what hole lady Johnson will dig herself into when she come and talk to Lieutenant Woodwick. If it feels like what she saying get to much would it be acceptable for me be excused?" She just more worried that if she doesn't ask now she might forget and be ashamed to ask and let it get the best of her and something that she would later regrate.

"I am Lady Estelle I am still only eighteen." She smiled when she went on about having to live something outside of the military, "Apart from my siblings military have been my main forcus since my brother passed two years ago." She explained.

"Thank you, Ms. Sliva," Warren nodded as she promised not to mention Lady Johnson's husband. But when she spoke further and requested that she could be excused during the discussion, he shook his head. "No. You will leave when I dismiss you, and that will be when Lady Johnson has taken her leave."

"It'll be a good example for you to follow, if you're truly interested in learning more about societal politics, dear," Estelle assured her. "It's best to push through those awkward moments, rather than avoid them."

"I'm hardly an expert at it," Warren added after swallowing another piece of meat. "You would have to spend more time with my mother, or someone like Lady Thornhill, to become an expert. But trust that everything I do has a purpose, and every purpose is to benefit you and your fellow soldiers."

Estelle gave a mild smile as Zarha spoke of her age, and of her brother passing away two years previous. She looked over to Warren and casually placed an arm on his shoulder and squeezed it. He looked up at her briefly and met her eyes, but said nothing. "I'm sorry for the loss of your brother, Ms. Sliva. We know it is no easy thing to lose someone so close to you," Estelle said. "But you have time to find hobbies outside of your work. You have your whole life ahead of you. You should try to have some fun!" She grinned. "If my son is working you too hard, you just let me know."

Zarha finished her plate but then again she had hardly anything on there. As she looked at Warren and back down on her plate and nodded. "I am sure you know more than you let on Lieutenant. Plus I don't want to inconvenience your mothers or Lady Thornhill's time when I am sure they have better things to do." She said politely.

She sigh softly "I feel your son isn't giving me enough work, maybe I am just saying that because I find work fun. I do not what i like outside of work, most of the time I am alone so it not like I can do things with anyone."

"Knowledge is simply not the issue," Warren said with a sigh, taking another bite and chewing it before he continued. "The issue is my inability to mince my words, even when I know I should." He thought back to his interrupted conversation with Alinore, and how he had responded to Lord Vernon's attacks. Had Alinore not been there, he might have said something worse, and with Lord Vernon being much more connected than Warren, it could have lead to something more.

"Some men think women are the more emotional ones," Estelle noted, looking to Zarha with a smile. "When in fact, women are much better at controlling ourselves. Which makes us better at navigating such social situations." Turning to Warren, then, she chewed thoughtfully and then smirked. "Speaking of Lady Thornhill, Warren, have you spoken to her since open court?"

"No. I believe she returned to Arynn Frey the day following. Why?"

Estelle sighed. "I'd hoped you would remain in contact. Perhaps you could write her a letter?"

"For what purpose? Do you need something from her?"

"It is not what I need, but what you--"

Warren lifted a single hand in the air, looking somewhat sternly at his mother for the first time since their group interaction had begun. "We have a guest, Mother, and I would prefer not to discuss our personal affairs in front of my subordinates like this."

Estelle sighed and took another helping of fruit for her plate. "So be it," she relented, and once more turned her attention on Zarha. "More work, dear? My my, you are a glutton for punishment, aren't you? You're much too young to be working so much, and what does it matter if you're alone! I'm alone, and I still do things. You've just got to decide to them. Put your mind to it, the way you've put your mind to learning to read and write. How is that going, by the way? Oh and please, do take more food if you're hungry. Eat as much as you'd like." The servants came back and made a round to fill their cups and check if they needed anything, then disappeared once more.

Zarha sit and listened to Warren and his mother talked about Lady Thornhill. A woman who she hasn't really interacted with well at all. they had been no reason for Zarha to interact with the lady and with her being in Arynn Frey more than often it made less reason for Zarha to talk to her. To be fair what would they talk about? Their life was completely different. Thornhill was politics, she was a Lady and she spent most of her time in AF. Zarha, she was a commoner, a military person, and her life was Nevermere. So they have no reason to connect with each other. As they talked Zarha thanked the staff for offering her more water.

She laugh softly. "Yeah I enjoy work, I find it fun. yeah, I don't mind hard or unpleasant work. This job comes with them and if i mind them a bit then i feel like i might be in the wrong line of work. Plus I am fine." Was she fine though? possible not. she has spent the past two years shutting fun out that she was scared to have fun. Will work kill her, more than likely, but in Zarha's eyes, there is nothing really anything else to live for. "what do you like to do for fun?"

"The lessons are going well. Still struggle in areas but I am dedicated. My tutor she been really supportive." She explained.

Warren appreciated Zarha's drive to work hard and her dedication to her work. They needed more soldiers who lived and breathed their training, if for no other reason than war was coming and they needed to take every moment seriously if they were going to survive. Estelle was clearly less enthused, though. "Well, if it's what you enjoy, there's nothing wrong with that," she said, though her expression made it clear to Warren that she didn't fully mean it. "But work doesn't have to be your only source of fun."

Zarha asked the question in return, and Estelle thought it over for a moment. "I like to shop, and read, and occasionally I like to ride horses, though I am getting a little too old to let them take off and run free." Her smile returned at the thought of it, and Warren cast his eyes downward to his plate once more. Estelle used to ride horses all the time, but she'd done it alongside his father. Since his fathers passing, she'd become less passionate about it. Now she only seemed to do it on days she thought of him most. "None of that is particularly exciting, I know, but my work does keep me busy, as yours does."

Finally finishing her plate, Estelle placed her fork gently across the plate and pushed it a few inches away from her on the table. Warren's plate was nearing emptiness as well. "Well it is bound to take a little time, and patience is a virtue. I'm sure you know that much in working with Warren," she grinned. "But I select your tutor and I know her to be a wonderful teacher. I'm glad to hear you feel supported, I know she'll make certain you're as good as anyone by the time you're done."

With a few bites left on the plate, Warren mimicked his mother and slid the plate away, wiping his mouth with a napkin and folding it neatly to tuck underneath the edge of the plate. "Will the two of you stay long enough to have dessert?"

"I'll have none," Warren said, sitting back in his chair. "But Ms. Sliva, if you would like, you may."

"i think Horses are beautiful creatures." Zarha listen to Estelle speak. She was dedicated to her work and to be fair between, work, her lessons, the training, and looking after her family. But she is sitting there as she looked at Warren for a moment and then down to her plate. Maybe she been to scared to learn what is fun for her. Maybe people don't interact with people because they just see her as somebody who they cannot have fun with. However, how can she prove that she is at least trying to make a difference if all they do is ignore her and just don't interact with her?

"Well I do have a sweet tooth and the desert at the military wing are not that nice. so I can not turn down a sweet treat." She smiled softly

"They're absolutely wonderful animals, aren't they?" Estelle agreed. The conversation reminded Warren of the horse that was lost in his attempt to catch Whitby earlier in the season. He had neglected to tell his mother that part. She didn't need to know every gruesome detail.

As Zarha commented her love for sweets, Warren nodded. "The two of us ladies will have some dessert if you don't mind, Emily."

"Of course, Lady Estelle," the maid said with a bright smile. Estelle returned the smile as the young woman removed the used plates and leftover food from the table. She topped off their drinks before leaving to retrieve the sweets.

"I'll be back in a few moments," Warren said, standing up. "I have a few things to retrieve from my office."

"Couldn't you wait, Warren?" Estelle asked, lifting a single brow at him. "Until we're done?"

"I'll have returned before you've finished your dessert. Ms. Sliva and I will need to leave for the castle as soon as she's done."

Estelle clicked her tongue and, having already given up the fight, shooed him away. He disappeared from the dining area, leaving Zarha and Estelle alone. "You'd be surprised to see him with his nieces and nephews," she said, folding her hands over one another in her lap. "He's quite sweet. What is your family like, Ms. Sliva? Are you very close with all of them? You mentioned multiple siblings, did you not?"

Zarha smile. "They are oftern growing up after me and my twin brother sadily passed we would venture to watch horses in our free times. Just wishing we would have one of our own. Sadly watching was all we can do." She smiled softly, it was one that suggest that she was remembering happier times. She looked up as Emily came in and she was looking forward to gift. However, when Warren left her with his mother she felt a bit nervous. She looked at the door for a second before she forcus on Estelle more.

"you wanna know about my family? um yeah i have sibiling my twun his name was Maximus. But there is Lilac she is sixteen. I feel like once she finished training she won't carry on in the military. She doesn't like blood and when it got to one-one combat or sparing side of things she always scared to hit other people not wanting to hurt them. Then we got Rajiv, he is currently fifteen and the amount of times he miss training it really sad. He could make a fine soldier cause apprently once there, he is top notch. the babies of the family, Idris who just turn tenm he is so checky like that amount of things that came out of his mouth, you can't be angry around. He just want to make sure that everybody laugh and happy. Then Winona who is six. She is too soft for this world. Like I feel like she going to grow up to steal any mans heeart or fall in love with the wrong man when she old enough. She willing to trust anybody. If anything I can see her growing in politics if she wasn't as easily to trust." Zarha explained her family. "That is my family." She knows she didn't mention her parents as she feels like her parents wasn't interesting

While Warren was gone, Estelle sipped from her glass of wine and listened to Zarha talk about her siblings. She did find it interesting that the girl didn't mention her parents at all, but a lot of young commoner children had to take care of their siblings while their parents worked. It was unfortunate that their parents couldn't be in their lives as much, but necessarily thanks to their class differences. She wondered if Warren would have been as successful or determined had William not been there to guide him. Or if Everly and Willa would have been as strong willed if she hadn't been there to teach them their worth.

"Well, not everyone is meant for the military and that's quite alright. We all have different paths to follow. My father and grandfather, my late husband, and both of his parents, were all proud members of the military. They passed that passion down to Warren, but the women of my family have all found a different path. There are many ways to help people and support one's kingdom." Though, she supposed, they weren't necessarily as concerned with supporting the kingdom as with supporting themselves. That was also understandable. "As for the little one, she may yet learn to harden herself. At six we have rarely yet learned that the world is a dangerous place and that people are capable of terrible things. One can only learn not to trust people through experience. I find it rather pleasing that she has not learned that yet. That means that you, her siblings, have been kind to her. We all deserve to grow up with that kindness."

Emily returned with the cart once more, this time placing two plates down in front of each lady. A slice of chocolate pie with whipped cream and a strawberry on top sat on the plate, and as soon as it arrived, Estelle dug into it with her spoon and sighed at the taste. "Mm, I love dessert. It's my favorite part of every meal." She enjoyed another bite before returning her attention to Zarha. "Well dear, our lunch is coming to a close and I feel I've been the one asking all of the questions. Is there anything you might like to ask me?"

In his office, Warren opened a locked drawer in his desk and retrieved a few documents that had been rolled and tied with string. He tucked them into his inside jacket pocket, then locked the drawer once more and sat down for a few moments to sign off on some paperwork. Once he'd done so, he locked everything back up and headed back for the dining area.

Zarha sits and listened to Estelle, She can listen to her all day if she could, but sadly she got work to get back to. Otherwise, she would of tried to be cheely if she could stay behind more and just ask all the questions in the world. However Warren would possibly say they will need to head back. Which to be fair Zarha is looking forward to as work. At the same time though this woman is very insightful. "true. We do need Healers, builders and other professions out there to make sure that Nevermere works the best it fully can. I personally don not think if I didn't have military I could go into another job." She explained. Like she is learning to read and write but aside from that all she good at was military work.

Zarha eyes lit up slightly when the desserts come in. "Oh, my these look stunning. Much better than the baked treats I have see at the bakery." She explained. Zarha started to tuck in. the flavours felt like magic in her mouth, the chocolate flavour just melts in her mouth. The soft cream helped guide the pie down her throat. Pure bliss is in her mouth right in this moment in time. She closed her eyes for a pure moment of happiness as she was enjoying this stunning experience.

After a moment she heard Estelle ask a question if she wanted to know anything about her. "honestly, you can ask all the questions, after all you are funding me getting a better education. It totally fair that you want to know the person who you are funding." Zarha explained as she thought for a moment. "I heard arrange marriages is common practise against nobilty? Was you and husband's arranged or was it out of love or both?" Zarha asked.

Estelle smiled as the girl dug into her dessert, happy to see that she was enjoying it so. Like the piece of candy in the carriage, Zarha was more capable of appreciating something as simple as chocolate pie than most nobility were. Even Estelle found it to be a rather mild sweet, all things considered, but something about seeing Zarha enjoy it like that made Estelle also enjoy it all the more. "I'm glad you like it," she said.

When asked about her marriage, Estelle nodded. "Yes, our marriage was arranged. Truth be told, I didn't care for William all that much at first," she said quite plainly. "I thought he was boring. He didn't care for social events, so when we would go, he would find the first table and sit down and would remained glued to his seat throughout while I did all the mingling." Estelle rolled her eyes. "He would never come along to tea or lunch dates we were invited to, only when absolutely necessary, and he spoke endlessly of his work. We barely held a proper conversation for the first two seasons we were wed."

Sighing, she cut her pie with her spoon and took another bite. Once she swallowed it, she smiled. "When I became pregnant with Everly, I saw the true William. He was very attentive. Always worried about my health, getting me any and everything I asked for. We had servants, but he insisted on doing much of it himself. Especially just before I gave birth. Up to that point, I'd thought he didn't care for me much. That happens sometimes, with nobility. But I considered myself to be very lucky after that. I came to love him very much." Still smiling, she took another bite, and then a breath.

"I've arranged marriages for all three of my children, though I did so with their input. That's why Everly didn't marry until after Warren, despite her age. She was such a picky girl that--"

"Mother, that's quite enough," Warren said, re-entering the room. Estelle glanced at him, shrugged a shoulder, and took another bite of her pie.

"You've always had the worst timing," she cut back, though said nothing more of the matter. "I suppose now that Ms. Sliva is finished with her dessert, you'll be leaving?"

"Yes," he said, still standing by the entrance. "Ms. Sliva, are you prepared to return to the castle? If so, let us go. Mother, I will come home for dinner tomorrow."

"That's fine, son. Do try to get some sleep, tonight. Oh, and it was wonderful meeting you, Ms. Sliva." Estelle lifted her glass of wine as if toasting it to Warren and Zarha, nodding her head to both as they exited once more. Again they came to the carriage, and Warren offered his hand to help Zarha inside. They were able to sit across from one another this time, now that Estelle's bags had been removed. As the carriage began moving, Warren leaned back against the carriage seat and sighed.

Zarha listened as she spoke she was interested in what she was saying but then ruined when Warren entered and said that it was enough. Zarha looked at him. "It was getting interesting sir." Zarha look was the "oh come on" but she leaned in towards his mother. "if it alright with you, i need to come one and ask more question without this one cutting of all the interesting bits." She spoke only loud enough for his mother to hear. When she said this one she looks towards Warren. With a soft smile. "I always find arrange marriage interesting though." She explained as they stood up.

She give a curtsy to his mother. "if you ever want company and if Lietanent allows I will always be down to learn more politics from you." She smiled. plus she want to get to know more about the woman in front of her.

When they got into the carriage and she looked down for a moment. "Your mother is really nice, I don't know what the warning was about." She smiled