Haro had to admit: he wasn't the heaviest drinker. If he really had to think about it, there'd only been about three significant times in his life where he had. When he was a child, behind his mother's back, his father slipped him some red wine at the dinner table. Boy did he get an earful from mom after that. A couple of his friends, a few years later, managed to purchase some ale and they shared that among the three of them before being chased off by the village guard. That was fun. And finally, a few of his fellow Special Forces trainees snuck off base after their graduation ceremony and pooled their stipends together for a night on the town.<br/><br/>Good times...<br/><br/>His face was heating up, but he couldn't tell if it was from the alcohol or the heavenly view that the princess had blessed him with. Paranoia started playing with him. She had to know what she was doing at this point? Right? She was deliberately teasing him. Right? He cut a slice of bread off and slipped it into his mouth. So soft and moist. He smiled, wondering if the princess tasted this good.<br/><br/>That thought didn't last too long.<br/><br/>The two of them started up a conversation and she was pretty much confessing all her feelings to him. Haru sighed through his nostrils, but still smiled. It was a fun fantasy to play with; being able to woo royalty.  Ah well. Maybe he'll meet a nice farm girl one of these days. Or maybe a mage. That would be exotic.<br/><br/>The princess started spilling some juicy gossip about another royal, her sister, perhaps? Haru was unfamiliar with these names. Still, it was always fun to eavesdrop on gossip. He refilled his glass gingerly and listened to the tale of a royal unsatisfied with with love life. Haru smirked and looked towards his acquaintance.  Lucky bastard might have a shot with two princesses. Haru sighed, then took a deep sip from his glass.<br/><br/><i>"She keeps talking about how thrilled she was to watch some new guard... I think she said his name was Harunaka or something like that... "</i><br/><br/>Haru choked on his wine. He coughed violently. His throat burned. His eyes bulged. They were red. Did she mean him? "I'm-" *cough* *cough* "sorry! Mmmh!" He cleared his throat roughly and beat upon his chest to dislodge the last droplets of wine from his lungs. "Wrong pipe and all..." His cloudly eyes flashed over to Kiran. He gave him a mixed look of<i>Was she talking about me</i>&<i>Don't tell her its me.</i><br/><br/>It was a bit of fear that made him now want to keep his identity secret from the princess now. There was an irrational fear of he somehow being blamed for something treasonous and loosing his head for it. Stories tell of royals being heinously petty humans. A lowly farm boy like him would make an easy scapegoat for any romantic drama going on in the castle. He gulped.<br/><br/>Still would be fun, though... if given the chance. "If I may..." his words lips flapped independently of his brain screaming for him to shut up. "I believe everyone should follow their heart regardless of the situation. If you see someone you like, you should pursue them despite your status or position in society." It had to be the wine spinning this fairytale tune from his lips. Perhaps this should be his last glass...<br/><br/>Maybe one more...