“Our last introduction for this evening is an unexpected addition.” Duchess Callisto announced to the quiet, waiting assembly. Every other debutante had already been announced. And of course I was last. “Countess Peregrine Fern has journeyed far to be the first Sumbrian gracing this celebration, and while she is neither an elite nor a member of the Continental Council, I am not surprised that she was chosen. Please welcome her and all of our newcomers.”

  At least Callisto included a cheer for everyone with my own welcome, forcing even those hostile to Sumbria to join in. It was rather kind of her, and I nodded a thank you to the older woman.

  She saw it, and smiled warmly to the crowd, “Now, I would turn your attention to our special guests - Minstrel Bronwynn and the Ravenwood Ensemble!”

  A flute sounded gently throughout the ballroom, and Bastian took the first step, pulling me onto the dance floor. The first dance– and I couldn’t imagine dancing with anyone else.

  Not Crown Prince Deryl, and certainly not Lord Geoffrey.

  Bastian was stiff, but he was skilled. Easy to follow, and easier to hold. I didn’t know how I felt about him as a person yet… but so far he’d been kind, funny and understanding.

  There was something wonderful about dancing with someone you found attractive; Feeling their arms wrap around you, moving together, and settling into their rhythm. And now I could hold onto his muscly forearm to my heart's content.

  “My eyes are up here, Peregrine.” His playful voice startled me. I'd been caught staring intently at his chest and upper torso, admiring the view.

  Granted, it was at eye level, so I had an excuse. “Is the height difference something we’ll have to work through?”

  “I think there’s a simple fix.” A light twinkle flit across his eyes just before his arms went firm and he lifted me into a spin.

  “Bastian!” I was suddenly eye level with the man, who swung me in a circle once before gently dropping me back down. As I caught myself, three other couples did the same thing; including the Dark Lord and Princess Henrietta not five feet away.

  “See? No problem." Bastian whisked us back down the hall, obviously enjoying himself. "I can just carry you around if need be.”

  “Everywhere?” I challenged.

  I shouldn't have. “All right.”

  "You wouldn't!"

  "Why not?" He smiled.

  Well that put all manner of thoughts into my head, some of them just silly. I had to fight between my desires and my propriety… desire won. “I will accept… but only after we're engaged!”

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  “I can work with that.”

  My heart raced, thinking this might actually be happening and I might actually be getting married to this man after I'd only just met him.

  And how I didn't hate the idea.

  Bastain dipped me into a spin, and as he drew me back into his arms, the music came to a stop.

  We cheered with everyone else, and just as I was bracing myself to go and greet Their Royal Highness properly, Bastian pulled me in the opposite direction; towards the food table.

  I didn't resist.

  “Isn't this the part where we go and show off how great a political match we are?” I asked, accepting a glass of bubbly wine as Bastian snagged one for me and one for himself from a passing waiter.

  “No.” He tinked his glass against mine and then downed it in one fell swoop. “This is the part where we avoid our leaders and take a night off.”

  He motioned with his now empty glass at an aged celestial priest lounging against one wall. He was staring openly at a gentleman wearing violent pink robes. “Nelson is in charge of Their Royal Highness tonight. I'm in charge of seducing you into marrying me for the betterment of our countries. How am I doing?”

  I laughed at his playful raised eyebrow. The words from earlier getting thrown back me.

  “Excellent.” I assured him. “But we'll have to greet Prince Deryl, or I'll be the one to suffer later.”

  “All right.”

  I took a sip of my drink and crinkled my nose. I wasn't an alcohol fan; never had been. “When we do, can you be less accommodating and more… aloof?”

  “All right.”

  The humour in his reply wasn’t lost on me, but it also felt strange. “Will you say that to everything I ask?”

  He handed his glass off to a passing waiter and then turned back to me, leaning closer to reply, “Only after we’re engaged.”

  The breath on my ear sent a shiver down my spine and a burning in my cheeks. “I don’t believe you–”

  “--HENRI!” I was cut off by a high pitched angry screech nearby. Queen Thalia of Drendil was in fine form, yelling at her daughter loud enough to draw everyone’s attention.

  “Mother,” Prince Henrietta curtsied, “Father.”

  The Dark Lord wrapped an arm around the princess, "Good evening King Simon, Queen Thalia."

  "Do not speak to me, Monfort." The king snapped back. "I’ve had enough. We’re here to bring Henrietta home, and there’s nothing you can do here to stop us. Get over here, Henri."

  Bastian stiffened beside me. Henrietta didn't move. "I apologize Father, but I won't be going with you."

  "You dare!" Queen Thalia snapped her fan close, heavy on her palm. "Henri, come here this instant."

  I didn’t know how I felt, aside from second hand embarrassment for the princess. Bastian was clearly unhappy with what he was seeing, and even took a step forward to help. I appreciated that he kept a hand on mine while he did so, and I stepped forward with him.

  Sumbria and Drendil were close, but Peldeep and the Dark Enchanted Forest were much stronger allies – and I was going to marry into Peldeep, so that meant they were going to be my ally.

  Probably.

  Hopefully.

  My support wasn’t needed. Before things could get further out of hand, the grand duchess arrived.