Page 168 of I Ran Away to Evil
“True.” Rowen nodded, adjusting their blue summer dress all covered in flowers. “Some people have no respect.”
“Alright, who scared Crown Prince Deryl? He’s gone and messed himself.”
The two rulers turned to the entrance to find an exasperated Countess Julia von Slyke. She wore her usual full-plate paladin armor. And she looked angry.
Rowen’s voice dripped honey as they said, “Julia! Congratulations on your wedding. Your wife is sure to make a beautiful bride.”
“Thank you?” Julia gave Keith a confused glance.
“Their Royal Highness of Peldeep and I were discussing your engagement earlier,” Keith explained.
“Ah, and was that before or after you used an offensive skill on one of our guests?” Julia crossed her arms.
Rowen gave up the pretense. “I assure you; I did not use any skills. I merely bared my teeth at the boy. I can’t imagine why a simple smile would leave him so distraught. I guess I’d better go make some formal declaration of apology.” They shared a toothy smile with Keith, fangs showing. “Just another reason to abdicate.”
“And you, Your Viciousness?” Julia turned on Keith. “You didn’t attack the prince?”
“I did not. Though in Their Royal Highness’s defense, the prince crassly mistitled them.”
Julia flinched. “Foolish. But it does not excuse their own poor behavior.”
“Spoken like a true paladin,” Rowen said, approaching the woman with a light hip swagger. They fluttered their eyelashes at Julia. “Care to show me where I can meet with Grand Duchess Calisto after the tea party? I’d like to make the appropriate reparations for being such a rude guest.”
“Your Highness, are you not going to apologize to the guest you accosted?” Julia questioned, but Keith noticed a smile tugging at her lips.
Rowen placed a hand delicately on their bosom. “Of course I will. Eventually. And through the proper channels.”
Keith knew they would find some way to turn the apology into a subtle insult, if it even made it to the prince. “I think I’ll make my way back to the main hall and wait for Henrietta there. Have fun apologizing, Your Highness.”
“I will.” The fox took Julia’s arm and walked back inside ahead of the Dark Lord.
Keith didn’t mind; he hadn’t sensed anything from Jacqueline since that first light thrum. He would meet Henrietta in the hall, and they would go back upstairs and get ready for the ball. And he’d finally get to see her in her matching dress.
Despite unwelcome attendees out to murder him, the evening was looking to be very promising. Very promising indeed.
CHAPTER 103
Without Nefarious Intent
Henrietta
“Your Grace, I have it on the best authority that Princess Henrietta Doryn of Nilheim is not under a curse, a spell, or the effects of a potion,” Grand Duchess Calisto told Duke Wyldon tartly. “Now, refreshments have arrived, so I will ask you to take your seat.”
Wyldon looked like he was going to argue, but facing Duchess Calisto’s polite and firm smile, he deflated.
It was an interesting sight to see on the strict man.
I smiled at our hostess. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
“And you, Princess, I will thank you to control your outbursts. It is unbecoming of a lady. Chloe has assured me that your courtship with the Dark Lord is above board and without nefarious intent.” The duchess addressed the rest of the table, “Now that everyone has had a chance to introduce themselves, we can discuss the plans for tonight!”
I felt bad for the four of my fellows who hadn’t had a chance to introduce themselves because of me. One glared my way, and I tried to apologize with my eyes. The woman huffed and stuck up her nose. She was a striking redhead with cherry-colored lips and a pale complexion. The other three just looked nervous.
The duchess instructed, “Now, each of you should have an escort tonight. If anything changes that, tell meimmediately. Otherwise, you will gather in the main hall to enter the ballroom after the dinner bell, so make sure you have an early meal. If you are too nervous to eat anything, do not worry, as there will be simple fair later in the evening. You will all enter as you are announced and gather in the center of the floor to start the first dance.”
“Your Grace.” The red-haired woman who’d glared at me held out a closed fan to get her attention. “Could you honor us with advice on how to navigateyour specific Spring Ball successfully? It seems some of us are lacking in proper etiquette training.”
Duke Wyldon flinched beside me. He fiddled with his glasses, and I was reminded of Keith.
