@ElderGod-Icefire
Aurel shook his head a little. "It has not." he agreed, gaze moving around the room. Many things in the palace never changed. This room was one of those. It had been like this for his whole life, and he didn't anticipate it changing much in the rest of his life either. He just didn't see himself remodeling it. It wasn't something he really… cared about, much. He didn't like it, but he didn't care enough to try and change it. Ah well.
It was not much longer before Ragnar arrived, along with the queen. Aurel's mother was a quiet woman, though whether she was quiet because of her personality, or because of her husband, was anyone's guess. She did recognize Luce, but said nothing as she came over to her seat, sitting down with a soft rustle of skirt. She had been beautiful, when she was younger, and she still carried some of that with her. She had long brown hair shot through with a few silver strands, and soft curves. It was the look in her eyes, the same color as her son's, that was almost haunting. Despite the neutral position of her expression, there was something in her gaze and something in the curves of her lips, that seemed very sad. Very subdued. And, well… after decades of marriage to Ragnar, who would not be?
Ragnar, for his part, just looked over at the two younger men. "Good of you to join us for dinner." he said, settling into his seat at the head of the table. "Lord Callistar should be here soon."