Eira smiled, somewhat relieved when he insisted that he didn't mind. She gave a small chuckle when he said that coming here was worthwhile, offering her a wink under his mask. "Well, I'm glad my company wasn't too terribly boring," she was half joking, but half serious. It wasn't all that long ago that people were often afraid to approach her because they found her intimidating, and she gave them good reason to. She hadn't exactly been easy to approach or to talk to. She didn't want to get close to people, so she had built walls around her heart, both to keep them out and to keep her emotions in. As a result, she had seemed cold and aloof. It kept people away, which was fine by her. At least it was for a time, until she needed people, until she needed them to believe in her when she had given them no reason to. It was then that she realized that she couldn't keep the act up forever. Not if she wanted to be queen. She had to show people that she cared, that she wanted what was best for them, that she would do whatever it took to protect them.<br/><br/>Time had thawed her heart, but it didn't erase the preconceptions many still held. Many still kept their distance, or approached very cautiously, believing that they didn't stand a chance, or afraid of how she might respond to them. It wasn't entirely terrible, but it hurt her chances of finding a husband, at least a little. Not that she was terribly upset about that, given that she didn't particularly want a marriage right now, not one that was nothing more than an alliance, but her kingdom needed aid, and she had a duty to do what she must to ensure that they got it. Still, she wished it weren't this way, that she could let herself fall in love, that she could marry whomever she loved regardless of status. But alas, it seemed as though such a thing was never meant to be, no matter how badly she wanted it.<br/><br/>When she thanked him for allowing her at least one evening of pretending things could be normal, he replied with a simple word, spoken softly. It was his expression that spoke volumes, it was a more intense reaction than she might have expected. He carried it well, but his expression had fallen. She couldn't say she disagreed with the reaction, though. It was surprisingly disappointing. She turned her gaze back to the scenery to avoid seeming like she was staring as she fell silent, entertaining her own thoughts briefly, before his voice broke through the silence.<br/><br/>He explained that he had suspected she was someone important ever since the moment he asked her to dance. He then explained the reasons why he suspected, starting with the way she carried herself. That was no surprised. She had been groomed to be queen since she could walk. It was as natural as breathing at this point. He then said that she was passionate. That, she hadn't expected. She had never really seen herself as a passionate person. But she supposed it wasn't wrong. When it came to the things and the people she cared about, she was. She supposed that was what ultimately saved her from herself. Still. Was she really that passionate? For him to wish that everyone was as passionate as she was? She didn't know, but she supposed that she would take his word for it.<br/><br/>At any rate, she was glad he had figured it out. It showed that he was intelligent, or at least observant. Not that she had suspected him to be unintelligent. The fact that he was here when she was fairly certain he hadn't been invited was proof that he was at least clever. "Well, I'm glad you think so," she replied with a hint of a smile. She chuckled somewhat weakly at his somewhat facetious comment. "The latter, probably, if my previous luck is anything to go off of," she replied with her own rather facetious comment, although she, too, was speaking with some truth.<br/><br/>"Mmmm. Yeah, it is strange," she replied with a smile in response to his grin. "Me, let loose? When did that happen? That's never happened before," she joked a little, although there was a hint of truth to it. It was meant as a joke, though, despite the fact that joking certainly wasn't her strong suit. "In all seriousness, though, I'm glad. Really," she replied with a small smile. "I enjoyed myself, too. Surprisingly, considering I was fully prepared for a dreadfully boring evening. I'm glad I was wrong. It was nice, pretending to be normal, if only for a moment," she mused as she stared down at the people below before looking back at him as he took a step towards the door.<br/><br/>"We could. But you're probably going to get caught if we do," she suggested, knowing that the guards wouldn't have given up that easily. "I can help you escape, if you want," she offered, tilting her head just a little, the smallest hint of mischief twinkling in her blue eyes. "On one condition," she added with an almost impish smile that belied the hint of worry beneath, the fear of him turning her down, and the smallest flicker of hope that he wouldn't. "Come visit me again sometime?" she asked a little more seriously, not entirely successful at hiding the little hint of hope that lingered somewhere behind her eyes. "My position often leaves me wanting for interesting company, so..." she didn't need to add a reason, she didn't know why she did, but it had sort of come out. Oh well, what was done was done. No use worrying over it now. All she could do was await his answer with bated breath.