Roxanne's tiny giggle dissipated as soon as, contrary to what she had believed was going on, the man explained his situation to her. [i]He truly was going to be her personal attendant.[/i]
It took her a handful of seconds to glance between the two men, quizzical expression painting her features, and when nobody said a word further it appeared as what they were saying happened to be the truth after all. However, she wasn't the first to break the silence in that moment.

"But Alain, he's-" Quentin began, cheeks still a light pink, though whether it was from the former running or the thought that Her Highness would be waited on hand and foot by [i]a man[/i] was unclear.

The guard cut the boy off, knowing full well in the back of his mind the question that was on everybody's mind: 
[i]Was King Cedric out of his mind to assign a[/i] man [i]to do the job only a woman could do, and a job only women have done traditionally, for centuries?[/i]
"Yes, Quentin, I-"

"Enough." a feminine voice spoke up among the two males' chatter, and Roxanne gazed, hard-eyed, at the man with the former innocent smile, now with his head lowered in a deep bow to her. She seemed to be gauging him from where she sat atop the Clydesdale-cross stallion, who under the tense moment appeared to grow nervous or restless himself, snorting and pawing at the ground. Or perhaps it was at the presence of this [i]stranger[/i].
"Quentin. Would you assist me?"

"But of course, Your Highness." the boy, holding his tongue, was animated again by her words, and moved over to hold the reins of the horse, and Alain moved to her side as well to help her dismount, skirts and all, without causing any injury to herself. She thanked the two of them curtly, and stepped closer to the man introduced as her new personal attendant.

"Rise, and tell me your name, good sir." she stood tall and proud to appear more intimidating, in hopes that if this was still somebody's idea of a charade it would be concluded immediately. "And outside of that, I am only left to wonder. What would a gentleman like you gain from being my [i]personal attendant[/i]? Furthermore, I pray my father has not completely lost his mind, for assigning a man to a position a woman is so aptly suited appears to me to be one of his more..." she paused, grasping for the appropriate words as to not disappoint the gentleman who appeared so eager, but in a manner in which she wished to quietly dismiss him. She would [i]not[/i] be having another personal attendant, and on top of that, it would [i]most certainly not[/i] be some lecher with a silver tongue, "...[i]jocular[/i] decisions."

"Your Highness." Alain's voice was uncharacteristically soft as he stood stiffly at the princess's side, weapon in hand and him on high alert, "I am regretful to inform you that His Highness, King Cedric appeared to be perfectly content with this decision. I am afraid this is not the practical joke you may take it to be, though it pains me to admit it."

"Yes, I can see why..." Roxanne shrugged her shoulders in defeat, half-turning around to notice Quentin hanging around with the horse in tow, though his ears had gotten the better of him in a way that made her chuckle. He was always eager to know of all the news in the castle and more, though Roxanne had deemed it never maliciously, but only to sate his own curiosity. Having known the boy from his childhood years ensured that he was one of the people she could talk to about whatever was on her mind, concerning the [i]royal affairs[/i] she was forced to dabble in.
"Quentin, please, would you escort my dear Wind to somewhere he may quench his thirst? I realise he might be parched, and I should not burden a poor horse and have him entangled in my own affairs." she nodded at the boy, who took the hint faster than she expected and with a disappointed sigh and a begrudging 'Yes, Your Highness...' took a tighter grip of the reins. Though, she did say one last thing to them before the two of them made their departure:
"He is growing into a fine young stallion, Quentin. Although his breed might be better suited to cart pulling, he rides like his namesake. I appreciate all your efforts, Quentin. It is an extraordinary caretaker that makes a horse great."

"I...Th-thank you, Your Highness!" he squeaked. Her compliments always caught him off guard, and had him sheepishly trying to push some stray tufts of hair away from his face, behind his ears, fidgeting with rosy cheeks again. He even puffed out his chest as he bowed to the three individuals, his leaving gesture, before walking off with the horse trailing behind. Roxanne could have sworn she heard him whistling halfway down the line.

"Yes, well." her attention was returned to the matter at hand, at the man who had stood from his bow now. He stood taller than her by far, though she wasn't one to be put off by something like that. She [i]did[/i] hold a higher honour than most men she spoke to, besides.
"Your name, sir. I'm afraid if it is as my father wishes, then it will have to be as it has to be. I do not particularly approve, but..." she sighed quite deeply here, dusting off and straightening the skirts of the royal blue gown with trimmings of silver she had chosen to don that particular day. It contrasted heavily with the colour of her skin, and even the colour of her hair and her eyes, feminine and refined as it was. "...I hope you hold your word to your promise."

She brought her voice down, blinking up at the man through hooded eyes again and an almost threatening ease about the words she spoke, and the smirking lips through which they came, "Try anything funny, anything at all, and I will have you hanged, drawn and quartered before you so much as have a chance to call my name to beg for my mercy. I will also have you know I personally am competent enough with a bow and arrow. And if you so much as try to run, I will find you. And I will [i]hurt you.[/i]"
Straightening herself up and giving the man as bright a smile as she could manage, she continued in a loud enough voice for even Alain, who stood by tense though still ready to pounce, to hear. "I, though it pains me to say it, have no choice but to accept your offer for now. Do know that I will consult my father about this, so if I find out this is some ploy and you have our dear guard Alain in cahoots with you, I will know. Furthermore, if it really is as you say, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir..."