Alexei led Ingrid out to the garden still wondering what Nikolai had been going on about all that romance talk, and how he had to take her slow. One, they were essentially tied to each other already, Pavel, and the King of Sweden already had contracts in their possession stating exactly that. The marriage was only a formality to make certain that any potential heirs were legally recognized. Looking down at the blonde clutching his arm, he felt something knot up in his gut. There was something about this woman....<br/><br/>He knew she was a virgin, that much was guaranteed by the same contract that bound their fates. An innocent, but there was something about the way she looked at him....as if she would devour him whole if given half the chance. No woman with Ingrid's 'innocence' should be able to pull off that look so effectively. He smiled when she raced off, excited about the hedge maze. She believed that she was too quick to he caught, but he knew something she didn't. That there were several 'secret' passages leading to the center of that maze, and he knew where every single one of them was. Pivoting on his foot, he headed toward the closest one, intending to beat her to the center.<br/><br/>The moment she burst through into the center of the maze, he allowed her to get a look around, knowing full well she was unaware that he was right behind her. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he chuckled deeply in her ear as he spun her.<br/><br/>"Catch you if I can, huh?" He teased. "So what is my prize for capturing such a beautiful specimin?"