*disable_reuse
The pair don’t say much else on their walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. All that can be heard is the clicking of $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name}'s shoes and the occasional soft sigh from $!{player_first_name}. A worker or two pause and bow towards the $!{royal_title} every so often, but neither one of them caves and says a word as they reach the gardens.

$!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} stands back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. $!{royal_he_she_they} had seen these gardens hundreds of times.

Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. The two of them are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

The gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} was sure that some part of the competition would take place here too.

Eventually, $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} follows after ${player_him_her_them}, who managed to wander further into the garden without ${royal_him_her_them} realizing. After stopping a decent distance away. $!{player_first_name} looks up, with an unknown facial expression on ${player_his_her_their} face.

“I, er, assume you probably have some questions, right? About me, or the competition in general? Feel free to ask me anything you’d like,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} offers, moving a bit closer to the camellia flower bush. 
*label aloofquestions
*choice
    #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
        "Pretty much after Lyon did," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} answers, remembering how frantic ${royal_his_her_their} father was. $!{royal_he_she_they} had never seen him so giddy and excited about sticking his nose into ${royal_his_her_their} love life. 
            
        "The minute he was made aware that you were my highest match, he began to dispatch different guards to head towards the other contestants places. All the while, creating and drafting what he would say for the news conference," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} finishes.
            
        In truth, the $!{royal_title} really hadn't had time to digest the news and competition ${royal_himself_herself_themselves}, but what difference did it make anyway? $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} always thought it was best not to think too hard about the things ${royal_he_she_they} didn't have the ability to change.
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
        "No," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} answers, rather quickly. 
            
        A bit abrupt, but it was the truth. $!{royal_he_she_they} simply didn't believe that a computer system could determine ${royal_his_her_their} spouse. It sounded like something straight out of a fairy tale or some crazy game.
        
        "I think we could have some chemistry, but it's simply too soon to tell," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says eventually, attempting to add more detail to ${royal_his_her_their} previous statement.
        
        "I see," is all $!{player_first_name} says.
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
        $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} nearly snorts. Free time?
        
        "When I can, I like to read. I'm a fan of the classics," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} answers, picking a flower off its stem, despite the "spoken unspoken" rule about leaving the flowers alone. "I can barely find time to sleep these days, never mind read."
            
        I am unable to read at the volume I did when I was younger, but I try to finish at least a book every few weeks. 
            
        "Besides reading, not much else. Mozelle likes to stick her hands into anything she can find though," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, a smile playing at ${royal_his_her_their} lips. It vanishes as quickly as it came.
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    
    #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
        "Not really," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, which seems to surprise $!{player_first_name}.
            
        "Really? I mean, it's not really your cup of tea, is it?"
                       
        "Father's been trying to get me paired off with somebody ever since I was born. Things like this have become second nature at this point," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} adds before letting out a deep sigh.
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    
    *selectable_if (background = "guard") #"This is kind of weird, isn't it? I used to guard you and Princess Mozelle and now there's a possibility I might marry you..."
        $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} hums a bit underneath ${royal_his_her_their} breath, eyes focused on the horizon. 
        
        "Marriage might be a bit premature, but yes, when Father said that somebody from the guard would be in the competition, I didn't think that would be you," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} answers.
        
        $!{royal_his_her_their} memories of $!{player_first_name} weren't overwhelmingly negative or positive, though ${royal_he_she_they} remembered that Mozelle was fond of ${player_him_her_them}. $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} figured that was attributed more to the fact that ${player_he_she_they} carried a sword though.
        
        "I'll take you over my ex though," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} smirks.
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    #“What’s it like being the $!{royal_title}?”
        "Stressful, I suppose. Being told where to be at, when and why constantly gets old, but I do enjoy talking to the citizens, traveling when I need to. Really, it's more like a job or a duty to me," $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} answers.
        
        The $!{royal_title} used to despise going out in public and doing ambassador like events, but as ${royal_he_she_they} grew older, ${royal_he_she_they} became more and more comfortable with it.
        
        "It's hard sometimes, but if I had a choice in where I would end up when I was born, I'd still choose to be a royal."
        *page_break
        *goto aloofquestions
    
    #$!{player_first_name} stops asking questions.
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chp2_royalgoodbye