"This entire floor is just library after library. She's been collecting since she was ten. Loved reading even back then, her teacher always brought new books for her whenever he dropped by for the lessons. I think she still have those books too..." 

Frances shrugs, "I suppose..?" He likes Elaine reading to him, he like her voice, but really sitting down and reading himself it feels kind of boring and lonely.

"Yeah I guess it is." Frances doesn't ever need to pass the time since well his job is to be Elaine's bodyguard 24/7 so he rarely gets free time, and even if he had free time he'd still follow Elaine around like a lost overprotective puppy.

Frances chuckles "yeah, she really is interesting. I've known her for a decade, and I do know her well, but...sometimes I still don't understand what goes on in her head."

"I suppose it is..." 

"Just because she can't die doesn't mean she can't get hurt." He paused for a second before adding "And I think she wants to keep me around, as a memento to the past or something."

"A decade now."

"She doesn't abuse them if that's what you're asking. It's mostly just hands off really, sometimes I think she just hires them to fill up the emptiness, so she doesn't feel so alone. It's easy to feel lonely in such a huge palace you know." He pauses "They're just a bit scared I think, because... well let's say Elli's return as a goddess was quite the bloodbath, and rumors spread fast so it's a lot of fear mongering in my opinion."

He shrugs "She pays good money. Plus it's a free place to stay so most of them accept. Everyone's scared to leave though I think..."

"The kingdom is barely even a kingdom anymore, there's, what, only a couple thousand people left? A lot of them fled out of fear, all those left don't really care. She pays everyone pretty well though so there's really no need for anyone to steal anything or murder each other, she thinks she can solve everything with money. There's a few crimes here and there but nothing major. We do have a dungeon but I think it's more for aesthetic purposes."


(Elaine has no idea how to run a kingdom, just in case that wasn't clear enough)

"The trade is fine, Edona is now suddenly and obviously known for it's gemstones and rare minerals so we've had a lot of traders. I'm sure we'll regain our population soon enough, in maybe a year or two we should be back to normal really. I doubt Elaine will be able to handle that so I suppose it'll end up being my job..." He sighed, sounding tired "I don't know why she even bothers to stay the queen really but it's not my position to question her."

"You can try... but I should follow you around and well...they're as scared of me as they are of Elaine so I'm not sure if you can get much out of them if I'm near."

Frances thought about it for few seconds, "why not," he shrugged, "I'm curious as to what they'd say too."

For a moment he felt panicked when his vision darkened but he just kept reminding himself he's fine and he's safe and there's no need to panic. There's this unsettling feeling in the back of his mind now but he just shook it off as if it's nothing. Frances stuck close to Apollo as instructed and followed him out.

Coincidentally a servant boy walked past Apollo and down the halls, carrying one of those feathered dusters in hand. (omg look how convenient, a npc) (is it technically an npc if I'm playing him for a bit? I mean like this dude aint gonna get a full character sheet or anything like that so i suppose he's an npc, but also he's also not a non-playble character because I'll be playing him for like three posts or smth...idk anymore)

The boy turned around, facing the God "Oh uh hello." he said politely "Is there something you need sir?"