The prince chuckled, leading her out into the middle of the ball room, "Good, I'm glad to hear it." A light, orchestral song began to play, filling the room with soft music as the prince placed a hand on Blaine's waist, the other staying in her hand as the dance began.
Blaine followed the prince’s lead, resting her free hand on his shoulder. Thankfully, she’d learned some dances to be able to “woo” men for work, and even if she hadn’t known this one, she knew enough that it was easy to grasp the steps.
Now all she had to do was request a private audience… Piece of cake, right?
Andion watched from the side lines, leaning against a pillar as he accessed the room and made sure to keep an eyed of Blaine and the prince. So far so good. If they could get the private audience then it would be even better.
“Your highness… If I may, I have a question for you,” Blaine started, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she looked up at the royal.
Stay calm and don’t act suspicious… Easy. Just breathe. Be the perfect, polite, easily startled lady.
The prince raised a brow, tilting his head to the side as he spun Blaine around once before pulling her back to his body, "Of course, ask away."
Blaine hummed, genuinely unsure of how to go about asking this of him. She needed to get the audience with him… Maybe she should try to win him over first? No, that would take too long.
“My, um… My betrothed and I would like to request an audience with you and the king. As soon as possible. A private audience,” she said quietly, still unsure if she was going about this correctly. She hadn’t had enough time to figure out the best way to ask.
The prince frowned softly, clearly confused as to the sudden request for a private audience, "I.. I'm sorry? A private audience with you and your lover? Why ever so?"
Shoot. I didn’t think this through enough.
“I’m sorry, I promise I wouldn’t ask this of you unless it were very important. We have some information that should not be shared in public,” Blaine said, lowering her voice so any other couple around them wouldn’t hear. And now she just sounded suspicious… Great. “Please.”
The prince stopped the Blaine and himself from dancing, pulling her off to the side as the rest of the room kept spinning, "And who, I might ask, is your betrothed?" He titled his head, looking her over not with flirtatious interest, but sizing up an opponent.
Blaine glanced back toward where she had left Andion. Thankfully, he was still there, and she just nodded toward him.
“He’s over there. The tall one with the scar across his eye,” she murmured.
Andion was already looking at the pair, giving the prince and Blaine a small nod when he noticed they were looking their way.
The prince, frowned, eyes up Andion and how much of a threat he could be. He turned to Blaine, "What's your real name?"
“I’d rather not say here, if you don’t mind. I… maybe have some people looking for me,” Blaine explained with a grimace.
The prince's frowned deepened. A part of him wanted to help, but also at the same time he knew to be cautious, "Do these people have a name? Or do I have to accept your audience request to find out?"
Blaine chewed on the inside of her cheek, her gaze straying to Andion again. She hadn’t ever had to convince someone she was good before… most men just believed that she was a prostitute and would give them what they wanted before she eventually killed them. This was harder than that.
“I assure you, your highness, that if I felt it was safe to tell you here, then I would. As it is, I don’t know who could be watching or listening,” she explained quietly, meeting his eyes again. “Please. I just need you to trust me on this.”
The prince waited until after a group of young men and women walked by before he replied, even then a smile and a nod before turning back to Blaine. The smile disappeared, “Meet me here after the ball, you and your man.”
Blaine nodded, sighing in relief. It had worked. He was willing to meet with them.
“Yes, sir. We will see you then.”
The prince gave her a nod in return before he walked away, that charming smile plastered right back on his mouth as if nothing had happened. A skill of being a royal.
My gosh, I cannot believe that just happened.
Blaine made her way back to Andion, grabbing a glass of wine as she passed them. She wrapped a hand around his arm when she reached him and tugged on it.
“We meet here after the ball,” she murmured.
Andion loosed a breath, the only indication that he had been nervous about the whole exchange, "Wonderful. Now we just bide our time and try to not look too suspicious."
Blaine nodded, sipping on her wine. “Have you eaten since we got here? You should make sure you have food in you so that you don’t get dizzy.”
Andion waved a hand idly, more focused on tracking the prince and his movements then anything else, "I'll eat in a bit, I'm feeling okay right now."
“Andion, if you don’t eat now, you might forget. Just grab something and eat it while you look around,” Blaine argued, nudging him closer to the table. “I’ll keep my eye on him while you look.”
Andion sighed, slipping his arm out of Blaine's so he could move to the near by refreshments table, "Fine, fine, if you insist." He kissed her cheek before slipping away.
Blaine chuckled quietly and dipped on her wine again. She followed the prince’s movements, trying to stay aware of everything else at the same time.
The ballroom was packed at this point. The middle of the room was cleared for dancing and people were littered around the walls, the stairs and even outside. The place was huge, but most of the city seemed to be present. The prince floated around the room, talking to all if not most of his guests. He looked a little tense, but one would only notice if they were looking.