"I wasn't expecting you to volunteer an explanation on their behalf. I take it there won't be such rules in your kingdom."

"It's a rule and not just a social pressure thing? Yeah, no, in no way."

"It's a social pressure thing, but there's a lot of social pressure."

"Yeah, no, in no way."

She smiles. "I think you'll do as well as anyone can, Illia. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I'll do my best to live up to that."

"When are you headed there?"

"Probably either late tomorrow evening or day after tomorrow."

"...that's fast."

"Odette got the city habitable, not finished finished."

"Still."

"She is very good at what she does."

"So are you, if you pulled this off in the space of a month."

"I haven't really done much yet."

"Convincing the Elves to let you, that's something."

"I suppose."

"It's really something, trust me. It's impressive and you should be proud. Don't think of this as something you stumbled into, it'll be easier for you to be maneuvered out of it."

"That's a point. Honestly I'm mostly just glad I was studying engineering, back at the University; I'd probably feel horribly underqualified to provide an acceptable standard of living otherwise."

"What are you considering acceptable?"

"'Decent food, clothing, and shelter' is what comes most immediately to mind; I suspect I have higher standards for those than you do but the details would take longer to articulate...I can do things like mechanical looms, sewing machines, and printing presses, I know enough to make a difference about architecture and agriculture..."

"It'll be the envy of all Beleriand, I expect."

"Here's hoping."

"What are your laws? How are disputes mediated? What relationships do you have with everyone?"

She starts explaining the drafts of various laws and systems she's been drawing up.

She has suggestions and critiques.