EXT. OUT OF THE ROYAL PALACE - DAY

A carriage pulled by grey horses stops in front of the royal palace.

AMAURY SOMNERI and his preceptor, MALCOLM CARNET, come out of the carriage.

Amaury (16) is a tall guy with dark hair, a slightly big nose, and a dumb face. He talks with a strange northern accent. He's wearing a grey suit with a long jacket and grey boots. He's sporting a little silver earring, too.

Malcolm (50) is a man with dark hair who is wearing a white stovepipe hat and a matching suit.

The two climb a few white steps that lead them to the brown front door. There, Rohesia, Tybalt, Isabel, and Althea welcome them.

The Staffords are all dressed elegantly, and Berty is standing beside them.

ROHESIA (with a huge smile): Welcome.

Rohesia hugs Amaury. Then she turns to Malcolm.

ROHESIA (she keeps smiling as she shakes his hand): Uh, you're the preceptor. How's it going with Amaury? Is he studious?

MALCOLM: No, my lady. The boy is perpetually negligent, and he does not show any interest in his studies.

Rohesia's expression becomes surprised and disappointed.

AMAURY (laughing, he turns to Rohesia): Don't ever listen to him. Thanks for the hospitality, lady Rohesia.

Then he turns to Tybalt.

AMAURY: Now that you have become king, do I have to call you Lord Tybalt?

Amaury hugs him in a brotherly manner.

TYBALT (lacking in affection, even though he's happy that his friend is in Nevergolden): No.

AMAURY: It's a good thing. Anyway, we have got to go to Nopray these days.

Then he greets Althea.

AMAURY: Althea! You look like a whale more than ever!

ALTHEA: I'm no longer a whale. I got thin. But you keep talking with this terrible accent.

Amaury laughs. Then he hugs Althea.

AMAURY: How are you?

ALTHEA: Bad, now that you've arrived.

Then, he greets Isabel in a "coldish" way. He doesn't hug her. He smiles at her, but nothing more than that.

AMAURY: Hello, Isabel.

ISABEL (Coldly. She doesn't even smile): Hello, Amaury.

Amaury doesn't seem to notice Berty. The footman turns his nose up, but he doesn't say anything. Then Rohesia approaches Amaury and Malcolm to talk to them. Isabel goes away, coming back to the palace. Althea follows her.

ROHESIA: How was your outward journey? I know that a field of corn caught fire some days ago...