For a few moments, it was clear that the young Cazt heir was too taken aback by the offer to respond, her golden eyes widening at the sight of the offered hand.

After a moment's pause, of hesitation on Veilena's part, she raised her own delicate gloved hand and placed it in Serenity's, her confident expression returned.

"They [i]have[/i] picked a lovely set for tonight, haven't they?" she commented, a small smirk crossing her lips as she spoke, her head tilted slightly to her left. "I think I'll accept your offer, Lady Arcedeen."

There was an audible clank as the black knight raised one hand, but Veilena looked back over her shoulder towards them.

"There's no need, Haelstadt. I'm sure I'll be safe during our dance. I'll only be faced with the impotent gaze of fools."

Perhaps she took a little too much pleasure in the idea of angering those among the nobility who were unhappy to see her there.

After a few moments of silence, the black knight's arm lowered. Still Haelstadt said not a single word, instead eyeing their charge silently for several long moments before straightening slightly. Indeed, Veilena was never seen in public [i]without[/i] the knight in black plate, no matter what the situation would entail. Perhaps that should have made it unsurprising the bodyguard accompanied her even here, but it didn't stop the whispering of some of the nobles nearby. Not all of them were showing their distaste for the Cazt heir's presence. Perhaps not all of them cared.

But enough certainly did.

[@ERode]