"And what is your name, Archer?"
Taris lifted his chin slightly in response. "Taris, your Highness. Taris of the Western Valley."

She stared for a long moment, regarding him with a practiced blank face, until she gave a forced smile. "I am sorry to hear our friend is unable to receive you, Taris of the Western Valley. And after such a long journey." She had known he couldn't be from around here. He was a blend of nothing from around here, his dark skin rather different from her cousins. Although his build was similar, even if he didn't reach their unnatural eight foot stature. 
And she couldn't help but notice other things, but refused to allow her mind to linger on them.

"Well, I welcome you, as you'll find no welcome elsewhere." Her expression was still blank but her eyes flashed darkly for a moment. "If you grow tired of meandering, I'll be in the library. It's on the second floor of the east wing." 

She bent and ended their meeting, turning without another glance to glide down the hall, her annoying train of followers at her tail. 

It would be at least another two hours before her husband and his friends returned, covered in dirt, dragging a boar or stag between their horses. So that gave her two hours, at least, to wander the library, amusing herself with histories and old songs. She longed to go with them. Or at the very least have the option to join her friends in a hunt. I'd need friends, first. She thought bitterly. They wouldn't notice if I vanished for a while. maybe I could go down into the tunnels. 

She hadn't seen Envy and the orphans in almost a year, now. Since marrying Kentaro she'd been forced to spend her time here, making appearances and curtsying and eating like some stuck up snob. Aera loathed it. If she had the choice between all this extravagance and cleanliness and the dark and dirty tunnels of the theives den, she'd much rather the latter. 

Opening the door to the library, she turned and smiled as politely as she could to the three maids that followed. "I would prefer you stay here. If I need anything, I'll call. Until then, do whatever you please. Just no visitors." Closing the door again, she turned with a sign and sat heavily in one of the cushioned chairs, wanting a few moments of peace before she picked up a book.