There was (in her mind) an unnecessary amount of time spent consoling her father and brother. Silke was astute enough to be aware of the reasons behind their probing questions. They were both exceedingly overprotective of her despite realizing she could take care of herself. She tolerated their anxiety because she knew that, though they never spoke of it, the loss of Countess Rosamund Kasper and Alistair Kasper had made them a touch paranoid about her health and safety. Both men were passively aware of the fact she shunned all romance, however, so they believed all her reassurances that she had no romantic intentions whatsoever. The gleam in her eye when she spoke of educating him on manners of politics, finance, and management was arguably her most persuasive argument that there would be no adoring gazes exchange. Vincent especially had a hard time imagining any of his friends being dazzled by her business acumen.

Instead of riding one of her horses to the palace, she had arranged for one of their estate's carriages to take her. The driver would have accommodation from the royal staff so long as she was visiting and the horses could be unhitched and refreshed while they waited. Besides the convenience of the carriage, it was a practical necessity, as she had packed two large tomes and one smaller book, a few scrolls, and had secured a blank ledger for him, all of which would be gifts of sorts to help propel him on his studies. These documents had been packed inside a small chest for transport.

She glanced out her window as she arrived and let out a soft sigh. For a few years now she had been driven towards this singular goal of creating a steadfast ally, someone who could stand tall and firm among the nobility, who would bolster all of them and be the support her family needed when she was gone. Now that he arrived in the form of Galt (or at least she hoped), she found herself both excited and strangely depressed. Once she tutored him and boosted him to a higher position, she'd lose her purpose. She would lose her anchoring passion and be adrift and alone, more than she already was, and that was a frightening thought.

As the carriage rolled to a stop, she pulled aside the curtain to glance into the courtyard, spotting a steward running up to greet them. Her driver stepped down from his seat, rapped on the door lightly, and opened it. "We've arrived, my lady." He reached over for the parcel with the books and scrolls and handed them to the nearest guard while the steward escorted Silke out of the carriage. Previously slumped shoulders had straightened, her apathetic expression was a flawless mask of congeniality, and she forced herself out of her melancholic disposition.

"Lady Kasper, is it good to see you looking well," the steward intoned as he began leading the way towards the 'Silver Tower' where Galt was waiting for her. It was a strange place to have an audience, but he had learned long ago that his opinion meant absolutely nothing to the aristocracy, and they would act however it pleased them. He was, however, curious about the pair. Rumors had only intensified in the last few days that the elusive Silke had been charmed by the roguishly handsome new count. That was, after all, what most of her peers would dream of- falling madly in love with an eligible bachelor that would return their affections.

"Even if it's been only three days, it's been too long," she replied with a large smile. "I can't imagine how taxing it must have been for the staff to clean up after the festivities," Silke empathized sincerely. "You'll have to teach me some of your secrets for how all of you move so quickly. When Vincent returns late at night from travel or a hunt that has run long, he's an absolute bear to tidy up after."

"Surely you don't clean yourself!" the steward replied in alarm, successfully diverted from his wild speculation from Silke and Galt. Their guard companion also seemed concerned gauging from his knitted brows.

"I do try," she answered with a cheeky grin, leaning a bit closer. "It's hard for me to sleep when I know he'll be returning that evening, and our staff are all such diligent workers. The least I can do is look after my fool of an elder brother now and again," she said with a wink.