isabella strode through one of the outer halls, a loose circle coat wrapped around her skinny shoulders; her pale skin was made paler by the cold and the wet she was subjected to, although she found little other choice, as she retreated from the chambers of some castilian noble or another who had aught to complain about: as always, it seemed her father, sister and brother were nowhere to be seen, and the placating of her nobles fell yet again on her shoulders. it felt a waste: she would be only a duchess, no need for placation or diplomacy. so lost in thought was she about the ire of men and her duty in soothing it, that she did not notice the woman she stumbled upon until her left side collided with another’s.

“ goodness ! “  she exclaimed, albeit a slight bit against her will, and then turned to the lady in question; it was no one she knew, nor anyone she recognized, but she frowned anyway. affecting another soothing, empty tone, the princess offered her apologies. “ my lady, i must ask your forgiveness, it seems i was lost in thought, and in my haste to ESCAPE this wretched weather, i have trampled you. are you quite alright ? “