[Maria waves a hand in a slight dismissive gesture.]

Not royals exactly -- nobles? Those in power at least. You're right though, it would be much different.

[That said though she slows in her eating.]

We were watching the executions.

[The way she says it sounds unemotional to say the least. Cold, flat, tired. She examines one of the corn chips she still holds, the memory of the bread Juste had passed out lingering on her fingertips now.]