"Found some eye-candy eh?" Augustus's ice blue eyes tore away from the woman's pale breasts. He was met with Claire's own brilliant pair of obsidian eyes, their depths so entrancing, he'd almost forgotten to listen to her next words.<br/><br/>"Want to trade places? I'll be the prince that doesn't have to worry about who he marries right now and you be the princess with men clamoring all over her" There was a laughing tone that laced the cheer of her voice. Augustus opened his mouth to respond, only to clamp it shut once more, as Claire raised her hands over her head, in a stretch, arching her back as she sat upon the chair. Her thigh bumped his, her warmth literally radiating, reaching out to his body, as if inviting him. She was close enough that he could pick up the light scent of lavender he was so familiar with, such a sweet scent. Augustus muffled a groan, forcing his wandering eyes from her arched form, in fear that she, or anyone else at the table, may notice. This was the closest he was to her for quite a bit, he'd always kept a safe distance from her, even at dinner. Curse the servants for arranging the seats in such a way.<br/><br/>They were seated at the very front of the ballroom, at a slightly curved, rectangular altar-like table, seated in order. The queen, at the very end, the king beside her, Claire and then Augustus. And figures that he would be seated next to Claire. But it seemed only fitting to have the King and his only heir to be seated between the two rogue blood royals. The gods seemed to love watching him suffer.<br/><br/>"After the ball we should go down to the training grounds and spar if its not too late. I don't like sitting here and lounging around." Oh, how much he wished that the training grounds were not where she wanted to go.<br/><br/>"Maybe." He answered with his deep, velvet like voice. A voice any woman would swoon for. He could have all the women in the world.<br/><br/>All but<span style="font-style: italic">one</span>.<br/><br/>Augustus focused on his food, which seemed to stay the same amount, even as he picked off the sides, eating slowly. Being at this ball seemed just too tedious, and what's worst, every power-hungry and greedy pair of eyes seemed to eat up Claire's show-off appearance almost hungrily. Augustus almost growled, eyes meeting almost all of their eyes with a loathsome glare. What<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>she thinking? Wearing such a form-fitting dress. And on a day she knew many nobles would come, no less! Surely, she wasn't aware how much unwanted attention she would catch... Hell, even the suitors' fathers eyed her with their disgusting lustful gazes.<br/><br/>His stomach churned, a sickly, irritant feeling that made his food seem unappetizing. Augustus pushed his plate from him, and as he made a grab for his cup, seeking to drink water as his previous mouth-watering from Claire's obliviously attractive show of skin had made his throat dry, his cold hand met with someone's even colder hands. Augustus looked up to meet Kaylin's own blue eyes.<br/><br/>Kaylin... Claire's personal maid. He hardly ever noticed her, she shadows Claire almost as if she was an<span style="font-style: italic">actual</span>shadow, silent and watching, but never speaking unless addressed. She was peculiar, this one, moves as if she has another purpose, and hovers around Claire as if she were a watch dog, ever aware, wary, and not once does she seem as if she's dazing off. And as she stared back at him, it seemed as if those bright, silvery blue depths held somewhat of a knowledge he was not aware of. As if she knew something.<br/><br/>Kayling dropped her gaze, muttering a quite apology before grabbing his half empty plate to put away. Augustus's eyes followed her as she scurried toward the shadowed area, where her fellow servants awaited, taking other dirtied and cleaned off plates that she had balanced in her arms. She was peculiar...<br/><br/>Augustus snapped to attention once more as a pair of warm, too-moist hands, fell atop his own larger one. It was the green eyed one from earlier, Breasts. Augustus had the worst habit of nicknaming the women he notices by the first feature he notices on them. Which in this case was her breast.<br/><br/>He was only half paying attention to her broken rambling, something about being nervous to approach him, as he had noticed Claire was gone from her seat. He was only half paying attention as she introduced herself, something about Nicolle... Nicolla? Nicollita? He was too busy watching Mark's ridiculous nitwit, schoolboy feelings let him trip over his words. Just too busy watching Claire be just way too close to notice Nicolle... Nicolla.... Nicollita(?) pressing herself close to him.<br/><br/>But as he finally looked down upon the too-desperate female, he found that the song they had been dancing to had just concluded. Which was his cue to leave.<br/><br/>Augustus bowed to the woman, still unsure of her name, as she curtsied back, once again attempting to catch his eyes with her breasts. And just as he was turning toward the doors, seeking refuge in the dark corridors, Claire's voice called him back.<br/><br/>"May I?"<br/><br/>Augustus crinkled his nose, a habit he'd tried so hard to stop over the years, a habit that Claire knew was always when he was considering something. Maybe he should decline and just save himself the difficulty...<br/><br/>With a sigh, Augustus held his hand out, offering her the dance she requested.