Zakarus knew the plan for the ball. Unfortunately, his preparations did not include the Preenian choice of menu that stained the ladies' dresses. The Preenians would have saved his nerves some hardship if they had chosen a different menu to reduce some of these ladies' constant complaints. Every few moments, red wine, meatballs in red sauce, or the occasional rose ice cream fell upon a white gown to a lady's horror. Irina's frequent eye contact provided him some companionship as she delicately ate some of the safer foods of cheese, dried meats, and bread.

"Remain focused," Zakarus whispered behind his champagne flute.

"I am. Have you not noticed how I can be continuously amiable with these ladies who—Konrik Loren and Korak Fallyn." Irina effortlessly transitioned from sarcasm to felicitous greetings on seeing their hosts approach.

Zakarus smiled, providing them a welcoming nod.

"Suzera Irina, it is by pure serendipity we meet," Konrik Loren gushed. "It always seems unlikely to find the person one seeks within a crowded place, but I just followed our connection, and here you are! My meditative practices truly are progressing nicely."

Korak Fallyn smirked and leaned towards her brother. "Not now, brother."

"That sounds lovely. The festivities are beautiful." Irina smiled, motioning towards the room.

The Preenians managed to do something right. Irina found the small ice sculptures, bare branches, and winter flowers—well, she assumed that they were winter flowers, beautiful. She never cared to learn the differences between flowers. If asked, Konrik Loren would have happily educated her. Unfortunately, the ballroom had tested her enough for the evening.

Another small gasp and scream happened behind them.

"Use this to help," a lady said to her friend.

Irina glanced at Zakarus as he pressed his lips together, and his shoulders slightly shook. Fallyn's voice brought them back to the conversation.

"Thank you," Konra Fallyn smiled, turning to her brother.

Konrik Loren stared off into the corner of the room. Irina followed his gaze to see a lady with plaited blonde hair offer a group of ladies refills of wine using a jug. Fallyn cleared her throat, causing Loren to turn his attention back to the group. Loren's confused glance transitioned to understanding when Fallyn tilted her head slightly towards Irina.

"Ah—yes. My sister is occupied for the first dance by the head of our guard, leaving my hand requiring a partner. Suzera Irina, would you honor me with your hand for the first dance this evening?" Loren asked with a slight bow of his head.

Irina smiled and fell into a small curtsy. "It would be my honor, Konrik Loren."

"Oh, wonderful. My spirit can become tranquil again. Now my sister and I must go lighten other spirits," he hurriedly stated.

Irina would have been insulted if she had not already been aware of the ladies behind them lamenting over their stained dresses. A sudden unease went from her heart to her stomach. Something was not right. Irina willed her eyebrows not to furrow as Zakarus cleared his throat with more force than required.

Shaed. A voice hissed to her. She took a sharp intake of breath and tightened the hold on her flute of champagne. Irina felt panic but could not place why. She felt a sudden need to run from the room and meditate somewhere to clear the feeling or gain clarity on it.

Zakarus's voice brought her back to the ballroom. "Do not be so forlorn, Iri."

"I am not," she hissed back. Irina took a large sip of her white wine to steady her nerves.

The cousins took a moment to survey the room before centering back upon each other.

"You better not manipulate your retelling for Shaed," Irina hissed.

"Dear cousin, whatever could cause such an accusation?" Zakarus smirked. "I will tell him that you enjoyed the festivities. He will never know you still thought of him without any instigation from me."

Irina gasped, turning to Zakarus, ready to retort, but stopped when seeing his face. Zakarus appeared enamored by something. Irina furrowed her eyebrows at the slight movement of his fingers upon his flute glass. It was one of his small indications of distress that she had learned to spot over the years. It usually only occurred whenever Suzerain Abran provided an insight he did not wish to hear.

"Oh," Irina smirked, following her cousin's gaze. "And, I will not tell him about your growing fascination. I will be at the food table, obtaining foods that will not stain my white dress, if you require me."

Zakarus glared at Irina's smirking farewell before turning back to the stairs leading into the ballroom. She stood in discussion with the two ladies that accompanied her as the High General lurked behind her with a watchful gaze. The lady with auburn hair must have said something witty, for Princess Amnicity hid her laughter behind one gloved hand as the other remained in her muff. She then turned her head to comment on something to the High General.

Zakarus frowned slightly; the Princess should not show such favor to a gentleman below her rank. It would cause rumors he would not like and could hurt the progression of his plans. Luckily, Zakarus could change such conversations in his favor.

"Pardon me," Zakarus stated to the persons in front of him, moving towards the stairs.

Zakarus reminded himself not to show any weakness on seeing Princess Amnicity's slight shift in demeanor on perceiving him. He could understand why her guard would be heightened with him nearby. So, he provided her with a slight nod that she readily returned. Reputations and standards had to be maintained.

"Princess Amnicity," he bowed when a step away from her.

"Suzerain Zakarus, should I be cautious or flattered with the way you have sought me out in this room?" Amnicity asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I wished to claim serendipity, but Konrik Loren already claimed such destinies when claiming my cousin's hand for the first dance. It would not be gentlemanly to steal another's phrase."

Zakarus's confidence grew on seeing her trying not to laugh at his words.

"You live an unfortunate life," she smiled, hiding her gloved hands within a dark brown muff.

Amnicity detested the ease of this conversation. She would not have spent so long on her hair if she knew it would result in wooing the wrong man.

So why are you slightly excited he sought you out? A soft voice asked in Amnicity's head.

"Perchance we could shift both of our fortunes by the Princess accepting my hand for the first dance," Zakarus ventured before Amnicity could answer her thought.

Amnicity tilted her head while taking a brave step towards the Suzerain. "What a very odd statement."

"How so? It seemed clear to me. The Princess will make my dancing look proficient, once again, and I will assist Her Highness's feet by not treading upon them."

The slight shift by High General Lessure made Zakarus smile. Amnicity's returning smirk only heightened the corners of his mouth.

"You make a very persuasive argument Suzerain Zakarus. However, you have yet to ask me properly," she responded while raising her chin.

Zakarus furrowed his eyebrows in shock and frustration. A spoiled princess could prove to be a perplexing annoyance.

"Princess Amnicity," Zakarus histrionically announced, gaining the attention of a few persons nearby. "Would you provide me the greatest honor of dancing the first two dances with me?"

Amnicity raised an eyebrow at his announcement of two dances and zealous bow upon the stairs. Unfortunately, his display caused a small rush within her she could not place. It honestly left her little choice.

"It would be my honor." Amnicity smiled.

Zakarus started at her smile. It did not seem sardonic but almost had a fondness to it. And, her move to stand closer to him had created a hopeful rush inside his heart that he could not place. Who is this woman to me?

Zakarus pushed the feelings and thoughts from his head to focus on the moment. "Thank you, Your Highness. Would you like to meet at the bottom of the stairs?"

"Thank you for your consideration. That would be agreeable." She nodded before beginning to walk away.

Zakarus's hand shot out to grab hold of her arm. The two exchanged a shocked look at the touch and rush that went to their hearts.

"Pardon me," he whispered, dropping his hand. "I just wished to add that you should be careful with the feast. Some of the foods could stain your dress. I would hate for Lady Toria's beautiful creation to be ruined. Especially before our two turns around the dance floor."

Zakarus and Amnicity exchanged one more inclination of their heads before parting.

***

Amnicity took a steady sip of her champagne to steady her nerves. She could feel the eyes on her as Zakarus walked away. Amnicity glanced towards her part to see Lady Elry and the High General watching the Suzerain's departure towards his cousin. Lady Elry appeared to be doing her best not to laugh.

Amnicity cleared her throat and adjusted her shoulders to appear more regal. "We should go pay our respects to the Konri and his family."

"Of course, Princess," they murmured together, following Amnicity as she moved through the ballroom and away from the Judian nobles.

Lady Toria decided it best to keep her tongue at rest behind her teeth than risk exposing damaging wit within a ballroom of flesh-eating birds. A snort threatened to escape at the thought of categorizing them as white crows. Well, not white crows. They could also be seagulls with the amount of useless noise they made. She had been annoyed with the birds on a trip to the coast with her family. All they did was fly about, making noise, and trying to steal food. Yes, it suited this crowd very well.

"Oh no, my dress," a lady almost screamed to her right.

Lady Toria turned to see a dark-haired lady staring in horror at the tomato sauce dripping down the bodice of her dress. The meander side of Lady Toria wanted to stop and let the lady know that the stain gave her dress more personality. A blonde man beside the woman pulled a handkerchief from his jacket.

"Here, use my handkerchief," the gentleman offered.

"Thank you," she seemed to almost sigh.

"It is no trouble to assist a beautiful lady in need." The gentleman bowed, making Lady Toria stop herself from rolling her eyes.

Seagulls. Lady Toria sighed to herself.

Lady Toria hoarded her insults for the carriage ride home or gossiping with the maids. She needed to focus on appearing amiable for the next few hours. The task proved to be simple when conversing with the Konri and Konra. After the proper admirations for their surroundings, the conversation shifted to the ice sculpture competition.

Konri Mezio displayed an easy wit, teasing Princess Amnicity about possible nightmares from viewing a fearsome dragon in ice form.

"Though, my fear of dancing probably outweighs the Princess's fear of ice dragons. Her Highness's steady nerve has not caused the halo of her aura to shift. Mine is becoming a rainbow with—"

Konra Lelena interrupted her husband's teasing with a soft touch to his arm. "Mezio, look at how you make the Princess blush! You must excuse him, Princess Amnicity; sometimes champagne affects his sense."

"I am at peace, Konra Lelena," Amnicity laughed. "No harm has been done."

"Good, now you must excuse us. It is time that the Konri faced his ice dragon by dancing with his wife."

"Oh darling, you are more of a great ice bear filled with wisdom and beauty," Mezio almost sighed, making his smile and kiss him softly on the cheek. Mezio turned his attention to Amnicity. "Her Highness should join us on the floor."

"It would be my honor." Amnicity bowed her head slightly with a small curtsy.

Konri Mezio and Konra Lelena returned the acknowledgment before venturing towards the center of the ballroom.

"Shall we subtly flag the Suzerain down instead of going to the stairs?" Lady Toria smirked. "He only stands a few feet away. I am sure on his next subtle glance I could—"

Amnicity decided it best to ignore Lady Toria and started the short walk to fulfill her promise. The first strum of the violin sounded when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Suzerain Zakarus stood, waiting with a slight smile on his face. He held his hand out to the Princess. Amnicity handed her glass to Lady Elry with a glance to the beaming Lady Toria. Her heart swelled and then clinched when she took Zakarus's hand.

"Shall we?" He asked.

Amnicity nodded, and the two walked to the edge of the dancefloor. Whispers only heightened when Konri Mezio provided the welcoming nod for the couple to join them. No one seemed to notice the change in the Korak's facial expression by the gesture of goodwill.

***

Some more Zakarus and Amnicity action.  What do y'all think?  Thanks for reading!! :)