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Annalise had been consumed with her search for any information, no matter how old, on the country that not only threatened her freedom but the freedom of her people and the other remaining independent countries. She had been so consumed in fact that she hadn’t heard the large Prince enter the room, let alone the scolding of the scholar who had attempted to communicate to Vyarin that he was not to touch any of the parchments without permission from one of the mages. Though it seemed the scolding fell on deaf ears, at least in terms of Annalise. The scholar, seemingly annoyed that the large male either didn’t understand him or didn’t care to respond, marched over to the table Annalise was at and slammed his hands on the table after attempting to get her attention verbally for only a second. 

The blue eyes of the eldest Princess looked up at the scholar with a look that communicated both that the action had startled her and that if the man did something like that again their next interaction would not be a pleasant one. She may not have authority when it comes to the books but she was still to be respected as, more or less, the heir to the Astalian throne. The Scholar however seemed to not be concerned by her expression and instead motioned to Prince Vyarin before speaking. “Please inform your…guest, that he is not to touch anything in here unsupervised. This includes anything you currently have on this table.” The man did not give the Princess a chance to reply and instead seemed to walk away to leave the Princess, Prince, and the Book Keeper that had been watching the Princess to do whatever it is they were going to do.

Annalise’s gaze followed the Scholar’s gesture to the Prince. Her expression still annoyed from the interruption but her gaze softened when she realized it was one of the suitors that was the cause. As much as she was hoping the men would find a library a boring place to meet, and as much as she certainly did not expect Vyarin of all people to find himself there, she had to remain civil. It was for the good of both of their countries after all. She closed the book she had been shuffling through after she noted the page she was on and slid it over to the side, next to a pile of other books and scrolls. 

“Prince Vyarin, what a lovely surprise to see you here.” She started in his tongue though it was likely much more of a formal or technical way of speaking than perhaps he was used to. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” She inquired, not moving from her standing spot on the other side of the table. The chair had been pushed to the side long ago, it was clear she had no intention of sitting in it, so she offered it to Vyarin. “Would you like to take a seat? I am simply doing a bit of research on…” Her sentence trailed off, she had told the group she was doing research for the preparations for the ball, if she told him she was instead researching The Empire, what would he think? She casually placed a few rolled scrolls over the book covers that were exposed, attempting to make it look like she was simply clearing space for him. “On various customs of the people around this great continent.” She finished after a brief pause. It wasn’t totally a lie, The Empire was part of the continent. Though she hoped he did not pick up on her hesitance.