Lamont's jaw tensed. He stepped to squarely face her, glaring her directly in the eye; he had dealt with this brothers long enough to at least stand up for himself in stature. The words Kiara said instantly had him angry; Kiara the flame was back and he would not be burned!

This was easier said than done. Looking ready for a fight was one thing, but talking was quite another. His mind fumbled with the what to say, grasping for something that would sting, something that would lash back at Kiara's comment with equal ferocity. Why, oh why did he always say the wrong thing when he didn't mean to but could never say the right thing when he wanted to? By the time he had come up with a half-way decent retort, the princess was already halfway across the garden.

Lamont gritted his teeth and looked away, never able to voice his retort. He had it coming, and he knew it. It wasn't the first time he was called selfish, weak, or cowardly, but hearing it still hurt. Of course he had seen his people! He just... never bothered to pay close attention to how they dressed. And pretentious family! This from an Astoran! Anyone from that country typically made the finest Berinike warrior look like a country bumpkin, so to call his family, especially his father pretentious... This was what had gotten Lamont the most fired up, but here he was, stuck with his frustration.

As usual.

If he wasn't careful, all that pent-up anger would get the best of him.

He strode away, doing his best to swallow his wounded pride and the anger clawing to get out. He decided to retreat to the library, the very thing Kiara scolded him for. To hell with that she thought of him. Perhaps he'd get around to that disguise later in the evening...

~~

Lamont was not present for breakfast the following morning, which did not seem to surprise King Hugo at all and had Queen Alexis curious.

"My son told me just this morning that the two of you would be spending some time together today," she said mildly when Kiara arrived for breakfast, pinning her with a careful gaze, "but as per usual, he isn't here. I refuse to send a servant out with food for him this time. I'm at half a mind to lock that library up."

"Or burn it to the ground," Hugo grunted as he slurped back a fried egg. "Would do that boy some good."