Liv couldn't help but outright [i]stare[/i] at Niklas. What was... what was that thing on his head? It was so... strange. Liv could understand a laurel wreath or even a wrapped scarf, as was favored by the inhabitants of the furthest southern city-states to keep off the sun. But... what was that thing? it looked terribly impractical, and while she supposed it might work aesthetically for some, it certainly didn't work for others. Like Niklas. ... wait, a feh-door-uh? What a strange name for an item of clothing. 

She finally had the decency to avert her eyes, as she was quite bluntly staring... and then silently choked as Niklas referred to her as a "beautiful gem." Really. [i]Really, Niklas? At the least you could have told me something believable. You could have even called me "cute"-- it's more easy to accept as truthful than "beautiful".[/i]

She belatedly realized that the "beautiful gem" comment had been leading up to a question, so she answered politely, if somewhat flatly, "peior consuetudinem fui." She sat still for a moment, then went even paler than usual, shrinking in embarrassment and gently clapping her hand over her mouth. In flustered English, even more heavily accented -and less coherent- than usual, she mumbled, "I am sorry, I slip languages when I am thinking less, I so am sorry." 

And then, of course, she realized that she'd still not properly answered the question, but rather than babble /again/ she just squeaked out another "I am sorry..." and let her hair fall in front of her face, hiding her blush and embarrassed tears from the others. 

[i]Gods. Mother and Father were right. I really am useless at this. Girls really are too stupid to learn English. Except for Aeli and Claudia cause they managed it fine but they were taught by better tutors cause they were supposed to go with Felix to... wherever he went and they needed to know english so they were taught and I wasn't cause I'm just a stupid little girl who just needs to go home and get married down to some wealthy pleb who offers a good bride price and get forgotten about.[/i] The tears that had welled up in her eyes spilled over then, though she was mostly sure her hair hid it.