"I truly hope I wasn't stealing your time from His Majesty," Elara said lightly, her tone threaded with a chuckle that seemed to glide effortlessly into Florian's ears.
Her green cloak swept behind her as they moved, her poise unshaken by the whirl of dancers around them.
She tilted her head closer, her voice dropping into something conspiratorial, almost playful. "Though… it did seem like you needed a break as well."
Florian's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. The corners of his mouth twitched despite himself, and he let out a small laugh.
'Wow. She's good.'
His lips curved into a smile as he admitted, "Talking to all those nobles was tiring…"
The look Elara shot him was amused, sharp yet soft at the same time—a single arched brow paired with the glimmer of humor in her eyes.
It was the kind of look that said, without words, "but I'm a noble too."
