Unbeknownst to the Duke and Meira, one of the guest had also planned to ask for a private audience with the princess and decided to ambush her on the way back after the Duke finished his conversation with the princess. When the Duke headed back to the hall with a pleased look on his face but with no sign of the princess, it wasn't hard to guess that the duke had done something, especially when there're two armed guards guarding a room in an empty area. He almost stepped out to meet the guards and asked but decided not to upon realizing their tenseness. Something was up.

Tapping a finger to his side, the noble considered his option, [i]Should I inform Prime about this....hmmm.[/i]
[i]Inform me what?[/i] a disembodied voice echoed in his head without any warning.
[i]That a change of plan might be needed.[/i] he replied without missing a beat.
[i].....The two bitches are here.....no changes on the plan. We make do whatever happen.[/i]
[i]The duke would make an awful choice.[/i]
[i]....That concern is....secondary...[/i]
[i]Ah....you're going to help then?....Hello?.....Hmph, fine, don't answer.[/i]

Finished with the quick conversation with no one, the noble walked away from his place and headed down.

-----

Alice was still walking around to find the noble that lend her the dress she was wearing and noticed the sudden addition of guards stationed around the hall. She passes it on as the time for the coronation nearing and warily looked towards the center of the room. She had walked around the side of the room several times and had not found the noble yet, which meant it was likely that the noble was hanging around the center. Should she look there? No, that probably would attract attention to her. 

[i]Might as well head to the doors then,[/i] Alice sighed.