<span style="font-style: italic">"Father!," Antoinette exclaims at his motion. "Perhaps if there is such a man in the kingdom that doesn't merely want a docile mouse for a wife. I can't imagine such a fate." Indeed, she shivers just thinking about it.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Cecelia nods, telling Allen without words that she know's what's going on. Try as she might she can't get all of the tension out of her frame. Keeping an eye out for his return, she circulates among the crowd, stopping and chatting here and there with other fellow servants. A few people take notice when the Princess' favorite servant returns with a sword sheath at his hip. </span><br/><br/>"Hmm. I haven't heard of that plot before. It sounds quite interesting," Taya replies with a smile. Since they are facing towards the entry ways, Taya's sharp eyes pick up on Allen reentering the hall. "In any case," she says without missing a beat, "I'm sure most any title you wish to read can be found in the study." Clearly something had alarmed the either faithful ever watchful Allen for him to go retrieves his sword from under his bed. Would an assassin try striking here, in front of so many people?