*disable_reuse
We don’t say much else on our 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. 

The occasional worker or maid passed by us, nodding or bowing towards me, but I barely pay them any mind. I just wanted to get this forced field trip over with.

Once we arrive in the gardens, I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times and really didn’t care about them.

Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I 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.

These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here.

“Well, here’s the gardens. Don’t get lost, don’t pick the flowers and make sure you have your exit buddy. I’m out of here,” I say, turning my back to $!{player_first_name} as I make for the exit.

“Wait!” $!{player_first_name} exclaims. “You can’t just leave me here.”

I chuckle and stop in my tracks, turning around on my heel to face ${player_him_her_them}. 

“I can and I will. What are you going to do? Tell Father?”

*if (background = "guard")
    I chuckle and cross my arms. "You don't have to look over me anymore. You left the guard years ago," I add. 

I turn back around and I’m nearly back inside when $!{player_first_name} calls out to me again. I nearly trample down a few hydrangeas as I walk back over to ${player_him_her_them}, this time, much more annoyed.

"Well, since this is apparently 20 Questions, please, ask me all that you desire,” I huff, sure that if I could breathe out fire, I’d be doing it right now.
    
*label sarcasticquestions
*choice
    #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
        "Father decided to tell me mere moments before the stupid press conference," I say. "Pretty great timing, don't you think?"
            
        I shake my head and glance back at the hydrangeas.
            
        "He knew about it for a while but didn't bother telling me until it was convenient for him. As usual."
            
        "I see," $!{player_first_name} replies, probably just to move the conversation along. I let the subject drop.
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions
    #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
        "Please," I say, laughing a bit at the idea. "A computer program with the ability to determine somebody's love life? Sounds like the plot of some horrible game."
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions            
    #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
        "Free time? Not sure if I know what that means anymore," I say, walking over to a bench near by to take a seat. 
            
        Back when I was younger, I had my hands in anything I could find. Writing poetry, archery, playing the piano, well, the list could go on. As I grew older, my responsibilities increased and, well, I barely had time to sleep, much less do anything else.
            
        "When I can make the time to not do my Father's bidding, I enjoy playing the piano. Maybe archery if I really have a lot of free time," I answer finally. 
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions
    #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
        "Not at all. In fact, I'm ready for all of this mess to be over," I reply, messing around with a string on my clothing. 
            
        I was in no way nervous about a bunch of people making fools of themselves just to get me to pay attention to them. If anything, it would just be incredibly entertaining.
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions
    *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..."
        "Wow, they truly have some world class teachers at the Guard Academy, huh?" I ask with a roll of my eyes.
        
        You didn't need to be involved with court politics to realize that this was pretty weird. I wasn't as young as Mozelle was when $!{player_first_name} was around, but still, it was weird to think about. 
        
        Eventually, I turn back to ${player_him_her_them} and suppress another eye roll.
        
        "Yes. This is very weird. I hope there's more civilian in you than guard. If I wanted to be around the guard all day, I would've joined like Father wanted me to at 18."
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions
    #“What’s it like being the $!{royal_title}?”
        "Well, $!{player_first_name}, think of your dream job. Whatever you went to school for, or dreamed about when you were a kid, or whatever you've always wanted to do. Think about that and how you've wanted to do it for so long and finally, you get to do it," I begin. I rub my eye and stay silent for a moment, before I continue. 
            
        "Then it turns out that well, you're always getting yelled at for doing your job wrong, or somebody blames you for something out of your control, or it turns out your dream job really isn't your dream anymore, but it's too late to leave or you physically can't leave. That's what it's like being a royal," I finish, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. 
            
        In my eyes, the cons outweighed the pros. Sometimes I think I would've been better off not being a royal, but I'd never say that out loud.
            
        "Wow, I had no idea, at least not to that extent," $!{player_first_name} says. "That's a lot to take in."
            
        "You get used to it. Could be worse. I could have most of the country hate me like my cousins," I chuckle.
        *page_break
        *goto sarcasticquestions
    #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chp2_royalgoodbye