<strong>"Thank you my lady, with you here, I'm sure it will be a good one."</strong><br/><br/>Even with his face covered and the taboo that surrounded him… Marina found herself drawn in by the deep yet soft sound of his smooth voice… and those eyes, the most hypnotic shade of icy blue she’d ever seen… a girl could get lost in eyes like those…<br/><br/>The tone of his voice… did she sense a smile under that mask? He sounded a little bit happier than when he first approached her… well good, no one deserved to be miserable on their birthday. He seemed so nice too, the vibe he gave off was even the slightest bit offputting or unpleasant… she got the feeling that he did not deserve the reputation thrust upon him by the public.<br/><br/>It made her feel incredibly compelled to find out the truth of this whole thing, instead of relying on cold and heartless rumors spread about by society.<br/><br/>As the music drew to a close, Prince Emeric brought them a slow stop upon the dance floor… had time really passed so quickly? His hands withdrew from her body before one hand reached for one of hers and brought it up to press the cold lips of his porcelain mask against her flesh… her heart broke for him, he was so afraid of his own people, that he couldn’t even give a lady a proper kiss on the hand.<br/><br/><strong>"That was wonderful, thank you my Lady, I hope to have the pleasure to dance with you again. Please, enjoy yourself."<br/></strong><br/>“I look forward to it” Marina replied, her tone kind and warm, she performed a graceful subtle curtsy in respect for him as a prince and a gentleman… watching then as he turned from her to give his attention to the next lady he was expected to dance with.<br/><br/>She watched for a moment as it came time for Lady Rebbeca to take a turn dancing with the birthday boy… but seeing Rebecca’s stiff posture and the chilled look in her eyes… the disgusting ignorant behavior was too much for Marina to look upon any longer, she couldn’t bear to see the sadness in Prince Emeric’s eyes as he quietly and gracefully took it and accepted it as his lot in life.<br/><br/>It was wrong. No matter what was under that mask, it didn’t give anyone the right to degrade him as being unworthy of respect and understanding.<br/><br/>Retreating towards the back doors that let out onto the terrace, Marina silently excused herself into the cool but comfortable night air… she closed the doors behind her and released slowly the breath she’d been holding.<br/>Turning around, she gazed upwards at the sky of inky navy blue, dotted with sparkling silver stars… it was all so funny… she’d never thought twice about any of the royal family before now, but… well, after meeting Emeric and talking with him awhile… seeing the sorrow in his eyes… the kindness in his voice… the way he spoke to her like she wasn’t just a baron’s daughter…<br/><br/>She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so comfortable to just be herself…<br/><br/>What was happening here tonight? There had been a spark of something tonight there in Prince Emeric’s arms… but what exactly was it?<br/><br/>Taking another deep breath and slowly releasing it… Marina turned herself back around and proceeded to the ballroom doors, she entered and cast her green gaze to the dance floor… Prince Emeric was retreating from a blushing Lady Toria, Marina couldn’t help but observe how elegant and graceful every movement of his body was… it was breathtaking to behold…<br/><br/>She had to wonder… if not for the mask and his ‘curse’... would he ever look twice at a baron’s daughter?<br/>