Genevieve blushed. He smiled at her and she actually blushed! No man had made her blush like that in a very long time. Not since before she became comfortable courting. A sense of...relief washed over her and Genevieve let out a small breath of air she was unaware she had been holding. So, he hadn't reacted as Elenore did. He gracefully accepted her more than forward gesture without making her feel like a moron. He<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>a kind man. This sort of thing had gotten her scolded in the past, most of her suitors berating her like a daughter, but not this man.<br/><br/>Feeling her confidence returning, Genevieve looked up to continue their conversation, but kept silent as one of his guards entered. At almost the same time Genevieve's ears picked up...thunder? No, the roar of an immense crowd. How long had that been going on? As the King spoke with his guard, Genevieve's brow furrowed. He spoke to the King quietly, almost so much so that Genevieve couldn't quite catch what he was saying. However, it was the Kong's response that clued her in.<br/><br/>It was his people. Here. To see her.<br/><br/>Genevieve's heart dropped and her face, incredibly, paled. Showing herself to these people would only make it that much harder to leave. The King was a man of his people and if they approved of her, he would only hold on that much more tightly. Goodness, but she felt like she would sick up. In this single moment, Genevieve wanted nothing more than to hide in her rooms and never come out.<span style="font-style: italic">Take a breath. </span>Chest heaving, Genevieve drew in air and held it a moment before releasing it.<br/><br/>The fact of the matter was she<span style="font-style: italic">had</span>entertained the idea of marrying this man and if it did happen, it would not show well on her to hide in her rooms when her future subjects wished only to glimpse their future queen. She locked eyes with the king before taking the napkin from her lap, placing it upon the table and rising to her feet as he did. She could feel herself shaking. Was it nervousness? Or anticipation? "I..." Genevieve swallowed in an attempt to steady her voice, surely grabbing their attention as she spoke. "I don't think a small appearance will hurt." She could feel small beads of sweat trickle down her temples. Her lady's maids exchanged nervous glances. They had never seen Genevieve so shaken.<br/><br/>If he offered her his arm, she would take it: no, cling to it, in an attempt to control her shaking. She would follow him to the door, but pause before leaving the antechamber and look to him, her eyes conveying a vulnerability she very rarely let surface. "I.." she would begin softly, so as not to be heard by anyone but him. "I've never..what I mean is.." her eyes would squeeze shut as she searched for the words she wanted to say. "I've never been presented to the subjects of my suitor before." Her eyed would open and she would stare at the subtle threadwork on the sleeve of his coat. "I've always been sent away before then." Sure, she had met nobles, but she had never been in front of a large crowd. Balls, yes, but even then the attention was never solely focused on herself. There was always dancing and discussion. She would meet his gaze, trembling still. "What if they don't...approve?"