Ethan didn't look to be too concerned over the other Knights, instead he seemed to look more ready than anything. It was painfully obvious that even in fine clothing, the Wayward Knight was still that, Wayward. The arrogance never left his hazel eyes, though they did waver when he heard her laugh. Looking back over his 'friend', he wondered why she laughed. It was so sudden that he couldn't quite place it. Then a thought came to his head, could she have been laughing at him? Pft! He thought he looked rather good for the evening, even if he hated this type of clothing. It would never occur to him that maybe she was actually picturing how Ethan made the Knights look like rookies. How could he? After everything that's happened, she rarely showed signs of liking him in any regard. In fact even now, her asking him to the dance could have been out of regret and sympathy for what she said the prior evening..
For once, Ethan's smile faded and he looked over at the woman next to him, about to say something along the lines of saying it was okay to not force herself to do anything with him, that is until his eyes saw the sadness in hers. Stashing his own insecure feelings away, he just smirked at her before retorting in a playful tone, hoping that the tone could hide his own expression.
"Hah lass, after seein' yah with me own eyes..The trainin' worked wonders. So much so that when we get a chance, I wanna spar wifcha when yer at yer best. Blades got a dull edge for a reason, na' that I wanna hurt ye or nothin." 

With a scoff, Ethan moved a hand down the outfit he wore, tilting his head with a smirk, staring into her eyes. 
"Oi, yah been lookin' alrigh'. Dun' tell me yah aint been starin' just a wee bit. Course I wouldn't blame yah if you did, seven 'ells..You caught my attention too, even if romance aint entirely on yer mind. 'Tis still nice knowin' ye can 'ave someone turn an eye at ye..hah, did ye jus' say I aint a clown? That's the first time yah ever said somethin' like that. An' I try so hard bein' the fool yer king so loves eh?"
With a shrug, Ethan simply sighed. The 'Street Rat' didn't care what others thought or whether he looked too noble or not noble enough. He only tried so hard to look the part and to clean himself up so that Briella didn't have an awkward night..course that could still happen knowing him. He was probably going to make this a show of a time. Then again, maybe that was what she wanted? 

"Guess ye got a point lass. Aint a damned thing we can do and we may as well let em do whatever it is they gun' do. 'Sides, I plan on 'aving a good time with ye tonight, Good times tend 'ta cause the wanderin' eyes of those around ya."
As she went on to explain how hard of a time it would be to have fun, the word 'dance floor' clearly struck a cord, making a grin appear on his face. The thought of causing some 'Mishap' or something in the like could very well start off a fantastic night. Though the line had to be drawn somewhere between his fun and amusement to actually breaking the gathering up in a horrible way. Ethan would try and keep away from that. So instead of thinking anything too crazy. he would try and make something happen. The woman at his side wasn't entirely happy with what happened lately and if he could help and make it better in some way, he was going to. Even if it meant spending the night in the stocks. 

"Ohh! Fire dancers eh? Can I get on that? Wha' if somethin' were 'ta come up? I tend 'ta be quite on me feet when fire's about. Ever work the forge on a pitch black night? Sorta the same thing!" 
It really wasn't the same thing and Ethan knew that, he only wanted to play the part of the fool that Briella seemed to think he was. In truth he had no idea how to comfort his partner, so being himself would just have to do for now. 

"Ye would mind too eh? Pft fine lass, I aint needin' a blade 'ta defend myself if it comes 'ta that. 'sides..Despite everythin' yah said about not watchin' me back. I think ye would help if some one were 'ta come at me with the intent of puttin' me in the ground. Ye like me around, even if I aint entirely the best of company." 
That is when he seemed floored by what she said. She didn't..she couldn't have just said she was [i]impressed[/] with him! Let alone the fact she was there when he was forced into the arena, he just stared at her with wide eyes, trying not to smile at the fact that he was able to get her to say something nice about him or his skill level with a blade. Clearly though he couldn't stop the smile, showing just how much he appreciated her comment on it, so much so that the arrogance in his eyes faded, replaced with the very appreciation he felt for her words.
"Hah, ye were impressed?..That's the first time yah ever really paid me a compliment on me fightin' talent lass. Hah, I always knew you were." He teased, smirking at her playfully before nudged her with his arm, knowing that a very minor nudge wouldn't budge her at all. 

"You're quite good yerself. Beautiful and deadly all in one." Ethan exclaimed just as the prince came over.

For a Blacksmith that lived in the slums, Ethan didn't quite know what a silver circlet meant, but slowly began piecing it together over the conversation that the boy and Briella were having. As he continued to listen, he smiled at how kind he seemed and by then figured out who he was, his personality was strikingly different than the Kings; So much so that Ethan himself began thinking of how he would swear his blade to protect this child if he were to be crowned. Someone as good willed as this boy should be the one who had the throne. The people in the Slums may actually stand a chance at living a better life than what they were now. Perhaps more fresh food and less corrupted coin flow. 
When Briella greeted him, Ethan also bowed his head in respect. 
"Hello lad hah, the greatest hm?" With a sly smile, Ethan smiled up at Briella before turning his attention back at the young man. "Thank ye for sayin' so..but know that it aint about the blade. All ye gotta do is let those cares ye got slip away. In a fight it's important to jus' feel the moment and let it overtake ya. When ye truly do that? You may find that you can do things that some consider impossible." As he finished, he winked at the boy. "I betcha that you'll be amazing with a blade, my lord." That was the first time Ethan said 'My Lord' when not prompted. 
With a smile, he let Briella take back over, not sure if he could stop himself from being rude or too preachy. He liked this young man and if he tried guiding him in any way, the prince may take offense to it.

As the prince carried on with his riddle, Ethan wouldn't to say he may know the answer, only to bite his tongue. The lad didn't deserve to be interrupted so he just let them go back and forth until he said his good byes.
"Farewell, prince Aaron." He stated, waving him off before looking over at Briella, smiling.

"I would gladly be apart of his royal guard if it meant he were to be crowned..he is quite a lad an' I hope fate is kind enough to lead us down such a road." Though he said that, he made sure to whisper it into the ear of the lady knight.
"I met em..I agree wifcha." 
He stated, turning to the table of fine assortments and foods. Motioning toward them, Ethan sighed at how there was a ton of different foods that could feed a family for months, maybe longer down in the slums. He still didn't like the fact that he couldn't bring his family to the court, but instead he figured he would look out for them with his own coin, making sure to be discreet and also to tell his father to watch out when it came to the coin flow in the lower part of the city. He still didn't catch the group of cut-throats that 'enforced' banditry in the Slums. When he got some time, he would though..

"Hah, wonder how many will eat tonight eh?" Said the Wayward Knight, slowly gathering a bit of fruit, tasting it as his eyes fell on a few girls that seemed to be looking at him. With a tilt of his head, his hazel eyes lingered for a moment before he just shrugged, moving back to be closer to Briella.