[h2][center][color=burlywood]Niklas König of König der Welten[/color] and [color=FF0000]Mai Mei of Liang [/color][/center][/h2]
[center] Collab in between [@OfWindAndRain] and [@ayzrules]; interacting with [@darkwolfsomenumbers] and [@RomanAria] [/center]

As Mai strode away from Casimir, she flicked her gaze around the spacious ballroom once again. There was Caterina Versini of Svearike, sauntering in the opposite direction of Elizaveta Romonova of Noslainia and Nikolai Johanseen of Anduin; Isobel Martinez of Trelins dancing with Casimir; Yu Liang of Weifang coming in late-not [i]fashionably[/i] late, mind you, just plain late. Even later than Yu came Talya Krasnoff of Zeassa-accompanied by three [i]wolves[/i] of all things (and Mai had thought that the ball python Fareeha Amari had curled around her wrist was a little extreme!)-while the aforementioned Fareeha made conversation with Serafina Grey of Norden. Liviana Traianus and Edwin Drakewine stood together, their height difference extremely noticeable, even from Mai's distance, as Elizaveta and Nikolai approahced Leonard Fords of Krieg-Königreich. Mai's eyes drifted towards the tables lined with food, where Cara O'Brien of the Celtic Consortium and Henry Peterson of Elaniel conversed before Henry located Feora and began walking towards her. Finally, Raven Willow of Aciras, their host, and Niklas, her betrothed, entered the cavernous ballroom. 

Mai took a moment to listen to what Raven had to say, her expression arranged in one of polite curiosity. After the brown-haired princess of Aciras had finished speaking, Mai turned to approach Niklas, only to find a young woman no older than she was with skin the color of caramel and bright hazel eyes standing before her. "Princess Mai, my name is Ayreesha. I have been assigned to attend to your needs by Prince Casimir for the duration of your stay," she said by way of greeting, dipping her head slightly.

Mai sighed inwardly. She was immediately wary of such a "gift". After all, this would be the perfect opportunity for Casimir to gather information about the other royalty in attendance. [i]As much as I enjoyed Casimir's company in the past, I must not let his outwardly friendly demeanor fool me into complacency,[/i] Mai thought to herself. She would have liked to believe that Casimir harbored no ill will against anyone, especially against [i]her[/i], but unfortunately, politics were politics. Mai couldn't afford to blindly trust other people, even if she genuinely liked them.  

Nevertheless, Mai was not going to be so rude as to reject Casimir's "gift". She smiled warmly at Ayreesha, and impulsively decided to clasp the other woman's hand inside her own. [color=FF0000]"Ayreesha, it is an honor to meet you,"[/color] Mai replied pleasantly, scrambling for a suitably harmless task for Ayreesha to perform. [color=FF0000]"Would you be so kind as to bring a bowl of cherries and a vase of roses to my chambers for me? Oh, and if you could find calligraphy brushes and have them brought to my chambers along with the cherries and roses, I would be much obliged."[/color] Mai flashed Ayreesha another friendly smile. 

Ayreesha bobbed a curtesy. "Of course, princess," she murmured before hurrying off. [i]There,[/i] Mai thought to herself, satisfied. She mentally made a note to be extra careful about her bladed fans, parasols, and hairpins, as well as the small daggers she had hidden deep within the folds of her ball gowns. With Ayreesha around, Mai would have to be even more cautious than she already was about her potentially incriminating belongings. 

Once Ayreesha was taken care of, Mai glanced once more around the ballroom. Her gaze fell on Niklas, and their eyes met. He fluidly made his way to the crowd until he was standing in front of her.

[color=burlywood]“Princess, I see that both natural or artificial lighting both do nothing but agree with you. How do you think of this… selection of royalty, thus far?”[/color] asked Niklas. He then went on to assign animals to some of the people-Casimir, Fareeha, and Serafina, Mai guessed. [i]Casimir as a peacock? Oh, that's perfect. It's absolutely perfect.[/i]

Mai couldn't help but smile at how genuine Niklas was. A part of her whispered that it could be all for show, that he was faking his sincerity in order to earn her trust, but another part of her desperately wanted to believe that he meant everything he'd said to her thus far. 

[color=FF0000]"You're not bad-looking yourself,"[/color] Mai replied teasingly, a coy smile slipping onto her face. It brought a smile just as friendly as hers was coy to Niklas's face, and he gave a slight bow of the head in recognition of it. 

Mai leaned in closer and lowered her voice, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes, Niklas's own finding hers and returning it with a curious, playful glint of his own. [color=FF0000]"Between you and me, though, Princess Liviana of Lusitania reminds me of...of a mouse, or a shrew. I do not mean it in a derogatory way-quite the opposite, in fact. People tend to underestimate rodents, when they are actually quite intelligent. How else would they survive in this world?"[/color] Mai paused to gauge Niklas's reaction, cocking her head to the side. Genuine people tended to like it when others were genuine with them. [i]If he truly is as "real" as he comes off as, he will not think too much of my comment,[/i] she thought to herself, as Niklas began nodding in reply.

[i]A shrew sounds about right,[/i] Niklas thought to himself. The word itself didn't sound as attractive as what other animals might sound like, whether naturally or via connotation. With thanks, he smoothly replied, [color=burlywood]"That does sound about right, M'lady Mai Mei. Shrewd people are of the likeness of a shrew, no?"[/color] He chuckled slightly to his own little connection- shrewd and shrew. Should've been more obvious to him, he figured. 

Mai gently took Niklas's hand and placed hers on top of it. [color=FF0000]"But enough about everyone else, hmm? I want to get to know [i]you[/i]. Tell me, Prince Niklas, would you rather live in a bustling city or in the peaceful countryside?"[/color]. Mai gazed up at him through her mascara-coated eyelashes, a soft expression on her face as she waited for a response. Niklas, likewise, stared affably down at her, silently remarking to himself that she was far more beautiful than any strutting peacock. A certain allure surrounded her and every word she said- and the mere realization of it both enhanced it and made him wary of it. 

[color=burlywood]"Well there's not all that much to me, Princess Mai. Although, if I had to choose..."[/color]

Niklas paused, then, momentarily stumped. He turned his head to the side, searching his own mind for answers. Countryside, or city? Lonely peace, or bustling civilization? It took him a minute or two to come to a full answer.

Gently turning his hand over to, even more gently, grasp Mai's hand, he stared down at their hands between them before answering her.

[color=burlywood]"... I think I'd stay home, in my own city. I've little experience in the countryside, but I've plenty to plenty of cities. I wouldn't want to stay in the vast majority of them, but home... it's home. I love the people, the coziness, the comparable sluggishness of my home compared to this place, how everyone's always up for a bit of a chat, even on the sidewalk. I don't have too much experience out in the countryside, so it's not an entirely fair decision- but one nonetheless!"[/color]

Pausing for several moments, he added, [color=burlywood]"I wouldn't mind taking time off out in the country, though. Even more so if I had good company."[/color]

Mai listened as Niklas answered the intentionally harmless question that she'd asked him, parting her lips slightly as she considered his words. [i]His own capital city, hmm? I cannot blame him for that. I would rather be in Liang than here, but I suppose that's the same for everyone. We're most comfortable at home.[/i] Niklas finished speaking, and there was a momentary pause as Mai absorbed his words. 

Niklas stared at Mai for a moment, his smile slowly turning into a thoughtful twist of lips. After a moment, he spoke his mind.

[color=burlywood]"Princess Mai Mei of Liang- I know your history, let's not dance around with it, just as you know mine. I know your past with certain types of people, notably soldiers, and I assure you that myself, my people, and the soldiers that serve for my people, under my command, and myself as a soldier, are good, honorable people. We are true warriors- protect the weak, protect our own, and hold our own against any foe that threatens them. Our former isolation from the world of politics was considered the best way from involving our men in questionable conflicts, that might mean a confliction of our duty. I wish to clear the air, and assure you, directly, of my intention and purpose."[/color]

The plans that him and his father had drawn up, and were working on implementing- they might be seen as terrible, or barbaric, but they were exactly according to their sworn duty. They would protect and support their own, and the weak.

Mai was mildly surprised that Niklas would decide to address the one thing dividing them so directly, and on their first meeting at that, although she should have seen it coming. Blunt honesty seemed to be a constant with Niklas, and his word choice left her no way but to address the [i]issue[/i] head-on as well. And, of course, one could not ignore the fact that Niklas most definitely knew of her history and had made his own inferences about her based upon the information he'd been provided with, which, considering Konig der Welten's technology and military sectors, would have been quite an extensive amount. 

Mai let him speak, her expression arranged in one of polite curiosity the entire time, even as her mind raced forward to come up with a suitably vague yet sincere answer. As Niklas talked, Mai studied him discreetly. Niklas was the type of person that commanded respect-sharply dressed, friendly yet authoritative, honorable yet deadly. Mai didn't know how he could come off as both honorabe and deadly at the same time, but somehow, he did it. She supposed that was better than what most Liangii nobles came off as.

Niklas finished speaking. Mai smiled gently. [color=FF0000]"I am glad that neither of our backgrounds will be a source of disagreement, now that you have...informed me of the way that [i]real[/i] soldiers act, Prince Niklas,"[/color] Mai answered carefully, her voice unwavering. She let her eyes stray over Niklas's face until they found his, before glancing down at their clasped hands. [color=FF0000]"I would hate to have any of division in between us that would impede our marriage in any way, shape, or form,"[/color] Mai continued softly, looking up and holding Niklas's gaze this time. 

Niklas shook his head, after a moment, gently. 

[color=burlywood]"Not our marriage. I don't want any barriers between us, just us, as individuals. The marriage is only symbolism- but you, I would, at the least, have my friend. If not ally, if not wife- friend. I'm not entirely selfless in that, though- having a stunning beaut such as yourself as a friend would be nothing more than an endless pleasure, especially with your intelligence and abilities."[/color]

Mai took a minute to let the weight of Niklas's words sink in. She tried to remember the last person who had been so unashamedly sincere with her besides her uncle or Zhou, and the only one she could think of was Casimir, though Mai seriously doubted that he gave any second thoughts to the words that slid off his honeyed tongue. [i]Niklas can be sweet if he wants to, I'll give him that,[/i] Mai thought coolly. But as much as she wanted to fall for his charms like a princess in a fairytale, Mai just [i]couldn't[/i], even if she tried to forget politics and diplomacy and alliances and everything else that was her life, that was [i]her[/i]. All the naivety in her had been scoured away by loss and betrayal and fear.

Of course, Mai could always [i]act[/i] flattered. And in a way, she was. [i]If Niklas truly does want us to become friends, everything will be much easier,[/i] she mused to herself. 

Mai lowered her eyes, a demure smile playing at her lips-a smile that was entirely different from the coy one she'd allowed to slip onto her face earlier in the conversation. [color=FF0000]"You flatter me, Prince Niklas,"[/color] Mai murmured, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with her free hand. She looked up again. [color=FF0000]"I must say that I have the same hopes for our marriage, no, our [i]friendship[/i]. And I must say the same to you-I would be very much interested in learning all there is to know about your home and your people, and I am absolutely certain that we will have much to discuss in terms of, well...everything."[/color] Mai's chocolate-brown eyes sparkled with amusement as she finished speaking, a hint of playfulness lacing her words. 

Holding their gazes to each other, Niklas nodded and smiled- wider. 

[color=burlywood]"I look forward to it. And much as I'd prefer your company, we still must mix with the rest of... well, everyone. And, having taken stock of everything, it appears that most people have formed groups and are already in conversation. Anyone in particular that you'd like to talk to?'[/color]

Mai gave a small, lighthearted laugh in spite of herself. She didn't know why, but the suggetion seemed so absurdly [i]normal[/i] that she couldn't contain herself. Mai surveyed the grand ballroom, looking for anyone whom with at least an acquantaince with would be beneficial. Her eyes wandered from Caterina Versini and Shawn Hunter (who seemed to be complete opposites, Mai noted) to Nikolai Johanssen, Elizaveta Romanova, and Leonard Fords (who were engaged in an engrossing conversation, from the look of it) and to Henry Peterson and Feora Wulfswinth (who were meeting for the first time, if Mai's judgement could be trusted). Finally, Mai picked out Edwin Drakewine and Liviana Traianus, of the Empire of Britannia and the Lusitanian Empire, respectively. The two were making conversation with each other. Mai mentally winced. Even from this far of a distance, she could tell that the conversation was most likely horribly awkward, which was accentuated by the fact that Edwin was, what-a foot? A foot and a half?-taller than his betrothed. 

[i]Oh, dear. What a combination.[/i]

Mai turned back to Niklas. [color=FF0000]"I would very much like to become acquainted with the prince of the Empire of Britannia and princess of the Lusitanian Empire. They are quite the couple, are they not?"[/color] replied Mai, nodding slightly in their direction. Mai had her own reasons for seeking out the pair. She wanted to take stock of how much the media said about Liviana was true, and the same could be said of Edwin. Edwin at least would make a formidable ally, as well as a formidable enemy. She was not sure if she could say the same about Liviana, but Mai would not be so quick to judge the princess based on her height and past. 

Niklas, naturally, gave a mock-serious salute and adopted a super-serious expression- too serious of one to be taken seriously.

[color=burlywood]"Yes ma'am, bosslady princess. If you'll watch your step- you wouldn't want to be running into any wolves or snakes- I'll escort you over to the Prince and Princess directly."[/color]

And escort he did- he offered his arm, letting Mai loop hers through his, before marching at Mai's pace across a portion of the room though he did reach out a bit to snatch two chocolatey goodies; one of which he offered to his bride, who accepted it] to the two oddballs. Mai [i]had[/i] to grin at his response to her proposition and delicately took a few bites of the chocolatey sweet, making sure that she didn't smear her lipstick, stain her fingers, or otherwise mar her appearance with a streak of melted chocolate-an art she had perfected long, long ago, around the time that she embraced spiky high heels and beautiful billowy skirts.

And Mai was right- they were almost painfully awkward.

Stopping three or four feet in front of the two, Niklas gave a super-serious bow to the Princess, and then another one to the Prince- though he kept his bow to Princess Liviana slightly, marginally deeper- before declaring, [color=burlywood]"Greetings Princess Liviana of Lusitania, Prince Edwin of Britannia. My congratulations on your betrothal, and let me introduce ourselves- as you probably know, I am Prince Hooligan from Konigraow der Linen, and this lovely feline is Princess Meow from Lirooow."[/color]

[i]This is the most absurd introduction I've ever had the misfortune of listening to,[/i] Mai thought. [i]It's probably even worse than anything Zhou could have come up with. [/i]

[i]Nailed it,[/i] was what Niklas thought at that same moment.