"I'll leave you here," Semret curtseyed and backed out the door. Janet sat in the corner with a notebook, quietly working on something as we waited for the tutor to arrive, I guess.

I followed Clarence to a table in the center of the room that was set for dinner. It looked so out of place with all of its shimmering furnishings but no table cloth or napkin.

I wonder if those are the parts I got right when I arrived, I thought to myself, running my hand along the ornately carved chair back.

"Janet," Clarence's voice commanded the room in a way I didn't recognize, so I looked over to see him standing extremely proper behind his chair. I followed suit and stood behind mine.

Janet put down her book and walked across the room, her shoes clicking against the hard surface in a rhythmic allegro, "Your Highness," she curtseyed before stepping around me and pulling my chair out. Clarence pulled his out, though I knew that wouldn't happen at an actual formal event.

I walked around the left side of my chair and stood in front of my chair, sitting elegantly on the center of the chair as Janet pushed it under me.

"Very well done, Genevieve," Janet smiled, walking around to the front of the table to give the rest of the instruction.

As Janet showed me which cups and plates and cutlery to use for which part of the meal, Clarence demonstrated proper procedure and made sure I was choosing the right piece. We had to run through the process of eating dinner three times before I got it, by which time I was practically starving from thinking about food.

"Do you think I can actually have something to eat?" I asked Clarence, staring longingly at my empty plates.

"Well, this is a palace, and you are almost a princess," he winked. "I think I can find you something to eat."

What did he mean I was almost a princess? Oh, I'm supposedly his girlfriend. Two steps from a princess is more like it. I was about to thank him when he added, "Wait, didn't we eat lunch like an hour ago?"

I fiddled with the napkin in my lap, "Yes, but I was nervous."

"You were nervous?" The way he stares at me makes me feel like he wants to understand.

"I was nervous about lunch with the queen, so I didn't eat much."

His eyes grew a little wider and it seemed like he understood.

"Janet," Clarence's voice filled the room in a deep timbre again. "Please fetch Genevieve's ladies maid." He looked at me, perhaps searching for a name.

"Marinette," I offered Janet. "Please fetch Marinette."

"Yes," Clarence nodded, "And could you ask her to bring Miss Levin a suitable tea for while we work."

By way of answer, Janet curtseyed and left the room, leaving Clarence and I standing two feet away from each other in an otherwise empty room that could easily fit fifty people or more.

"While she handles that," Clarence stepped away and pressed a small button on the wall. Music came coursing through the room and Clarence held his hand towards me. "Let's learn to dance."

I could feel my muscles tighten up at the very thought of having to learn a choreographed dance. "I'm not sure that's the best idea," I winced. "I was in dance for a few years and I'm really not good at this." I shook my head, hoping that would add to the effect.

"Well, then we better get started because in less than ten hours there will be hundreds of guests and photographers watching us and my parents dance a formal Montelivian dance. Alone."

I was starting to second-guess my decision to ask for food. "Yeah, that makes me feel better," my voice dripped with sarcasm. I tried to keep my breathing level and face calm, but I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to do this at all.

Clarence closed the space between us and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Not to put too much pressure on us, but if we get caught, you don't work here anymore and I-" he stopped to think of the right words. "I might not work here anymore either."

The possibilities swirled through my head, making the room spin.

If this goes wrong, that's sure to make international news. Who would hire me after that? Am I going to end up selling hats for the rest of my life? I can't-

I felt Clarence press his hands more firmly onto my shoulders, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"Are you all right?" he asked, pointing to a nearby chair. "Do you need to sit down?"

I shook my head, taking in a shaky breath and rubbing my hands against my thighs as I did so. "No, I'll be okay. I was just thinking about..." How can I explain this?

"About how big my name will be splashed across the tabloids if we mess this up?" he asked, stepping back and looking me up and down.

The skin on the back of my neck tingled and I reached my hand up to brush it away, nodding.

"And about how your name will be there next to mine?"

I nodded again. "Yes, both of those things. I don't want to be dragged through the ringer by the press and I don't want people thinking you're a huge liar who isn't fit to be a king."

His eyes widened and his jaw slackened. "I hadn't thought of that."

We stayed silent for a minute, staring at each other. My legs were shaking but I refused to give in. Finally, after several seconds, I gulped, trying to force out the lump in my throat. "I guess I have to at least look like I'm trying, then?" I asked the statement like a question, looking into Clarence's eyes for confirmation that I would be okay.

"I don't think we need to be star-quality," his smile returned, "only look like we deeply and affectionately care for each other."

"Well, we care for our futures, and we've both been in love before, so let's channel that," I suggested.

A flash of something I didn't recognize crossed his face before his diplomatic expression returned. "Yes, let's. Now, first, you take my hand."

What was that about? Had he never been in love, or was this somehow about me? I shook my head to clear it. Stop thinking like that, Genevieve.

I followed his lead, placing my hand into his and stepping closer to him so he could put his hand on my back. Instinctively, I placed my free hand on his shoulder.

"No," he shook his head. "Your dress is long, you need to hold it up with that hand or we'll both trip over it."

I looked down at my knee-length dress and then back up to him, "This isn't long."

He took a deep breath in and I realized what he meant before he answered me.

"Oh, you mean this evening."

"I know this is a lot to take in, but just follow my lead and we'll get through this. Jobs intact."

I could do that. I had to do that.

I stepped on his feet more times than I could count, but the steps were quite easy to figure out. The problem was just that I couldn't get myself to follow when he led. Or that's what he kept telling me.

"You're doing the right stuff at the right time, but if you don't follow me, your feet end up in the wrong place and we crash."

I was about to ask how on earth a person learns to follow another person when Janet opened the door and held it to allow Marinette to push a tray in.

"Your tea, Genevieve," Marinette curtseyed when Janet shot her a glare, probably because she'd used my given name.

"Thank you, Marinette," I shot Janet a glare of my own. "I appreciate it."

Marinette curtseyed and smiled. Once she had left the room, I sat down to eat the meal Marinette brought me. Everything about it was delicious, so it wasn't until I was done that I noticed Janet and Clarence whispering in the corner while pointing at the document in her hand.

"What's that?" I asked, standing up and walking towards them.

"Just some work stuff," Janet said, folding it in half and tucking it into her book. "It can wait if you're ready to get back to it."

Either she had a really good poker face, or it really was nothing.

"I was thinking it might help you if Clarence and I show you how it's done," Janet offered her hand to Clarence and he glanced at me before accepting it.

"Does this mean I get to sit down?" I asked her, "Because if it does, I vote for it twice."

She laughed as Clarence led her onto the dance floor, carefully holding her hand in his and gently touching her lower back with his hand. I watched closely as Janet picked up her skirt in her hand and held it slightly up and out to the side. I ignored the way they held their heads, because I knew I needed to focus on not stepping on anyone.

The music started to play over the speakers and Clarence guided Janet around the room. I watched his fingers press into her back or gently pull her hand, encouraging her to spin this way or move that way. They almost seemed to float across the floor, every so often coming down to earth for a brief pause. It's weird to see Janet like this - so relaxed.

It was only when the music ended that I realized I'd been so caught up in watching them move that I'd forgotten to sit down.

"So?" Clarence asked, walking towards me. "Do you want to give it another try?"

I took a deep, steadying breath. Genevieve, you have got to let him lead.

I nodded my head and placed my hand in his, "Yes, I'm ready."

He walked towards the middle of the room and I tried to relax, letting my arm feel the gentle pull of his fingers when he spun me in to start the dance.

I must have done too good a job, because I crashed right into his chest in a less than graceful fashion. "Sorry," I winced.

"It's fine," he placed his hand gently on my lower back, smiling slightly. I was so focused on his deep brown eyes almost shining that I forgot to pick up my skirt until the music started. Frantically lifting it up and out to the side, I did my best to relax and let Clarence lead.

I forgot to focus on the steps as his hand pressed into my lower back and his eyes stared into mine as he twirled me around the ballroom. I could feel the heat radiating off of him as we spun, wrapped in each other's arms.

I stumbled through the dance somehow without stepping on anyone's toes, and when I looked up from my curtsey, I could see Clarence smiling ear to ear. The blood rushed to my face and my whole body warmed as his gaze lifted up from my dress over the dark skin of my shoulders and right into my eyes.

"You did it!" He rushed towards me and picked me up in a hug, twirling me around and around until I couldn't tell which way was up. "We really did it!"

He lowered me to the ground and I held onto his jacket sleeves for balance. Get yourself together, I thought to myself as I lifted my eyes to meet his. "Yes," I breathed. "Yes, we did it!"

Janet cleared her throat from the edge of the room. "Shall we move on, then?"

"Water," I managed to squeak out. "I need some water first." 

A/N: Okay, I admit this one is a little longer than most but I just couldn't break it up! What did you guys think of it? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)