you find Courtgain sitting along the edge of the palace's massive garden pond, tossing pieces of bread to the fat ducks that swarm around him, quacking eagerly. Courtgain is clearly enjoying himself, his normally serious expression replaced with a genuine smile.

As he hears your footsteps approaching, he looks up, his expression flickering back to neutrality.
"Hello." His tone is cordial but cool, his sharp blue eyes giving you a quick once-over before he goes back to feeding the ducks.