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[color=ffce00]color:ffce00[/color]
-Grand Ball Room-
-[url=https://imgur.com/a/7kyqmR4]outfit[/url]-
-Interaction:[@AuthenticTomb] Aslam [@Lava Alckon] Farim [@Chrys] Amira[@Remram]The Juicer
-Mention:[@ReusableSword]Roman




Munir opened his mouth to answer Farim's teasing, only for the response to die before it ever reached his lips.

Then Amira ran.

Not politely excused herself. Not drifted away in search of quieter company. Ran.

His amusement vanished as quickly as it had come.

[color=ffce00]"...Well,"[/color] he said dryly, watching the balcony doors sway shut behind her. [color=ffce00]"That seems less than ideal."[/color]

Without another thought, he handed his half-finished drink to a passing servant.

[color=ffce00]"Brother, cousin, if either of you ever see me sprinting from a ballroom in tears, I expect you to stop me before I embarrass the family."[/color]

The corner of his mouth twitched faintly.

[color=ffce00]"Failing that, at least have the decency to pretend you never saw it happen."[/color]

Despite the humor, genuine concern had already settled behind his eyes. Amira was many things—bright, hopeful, occasionally dramatic—but seeing her flee the ballroom in such a state left little room for indifference.

[color=ffce00]"As entertaining as gossip may be, I suspect ensuring Amira has not decided to hurl herself dramatically from a balcony is the more pressing matter."[/color]

He straightened his jacket and turned to leave, but not before his gaze drifted across the ballroom one final time.

Entirely by coincidence, of course.

His eyes found the crimson dress almost immediately. Nora.

Lord Ravenwood appeared to have chosen a rather opportune moment to make his approach.

Munir lingered on the sight for only a second before dismissing it from his mind. Whatever conversation existed there was none of his concern.

At least, that was what he told himself.

[color=ffce00]"Try not to start any diplomatic incidents while I'm gone,"[/color] he said, offering Farim and Aslam a lazy salute before slipping into the crowd.

The ballroom had already begun the noble tradition of pretending nothing embarrassing had occurred. Music resumed. Laughter returned. Conversations restarted. Rumors undoubtedly spread from group to group, but Munir paid them no mind. Whatever fresh scandal had seized the court's imagination tonight could survive a few minutes without his attention.

He moved through clusters of nobles with practiced ease, exchanging the occasional nod or smile without ever slowing his pace. His destination remained fixed firmly ahead.

The balcony doors.

The moment he pushed through them, cool evening air washed across his face, carrying away much of the suffocating heat and noise of the ballroom behind him.

And there she was.

Amira stood beneath the moonlight, thankfully neither crying over the railing nor attempting anything particularly dramatic.

She was not alone.

Munir's eyebrow rose slightly as he spotted the broad-shouldered blond man standing beside her. The man was large enough to stand out in almost any crowd, and from the easy manner in which he approached Amira, it seemed they had already begun some manner of conversation.

Interesting.

That, he had not been expecting.

For a moment he remained near the doorway, observing quietly. Amira no longer appeared on the verge of bolting, which was already an improvement. The stranger did not seem threatening either, though appearances could be deceiving.

Still.

Curiosity had always been one of Munir's more defining flaws.

With an easy smile returning to his face, he finally stepped onto the balcony proper and approached the pair.

[color=ffce00]"There you are."[/color]

His tone carried the familiar blend of relief and amusement reserved for troublesome family members.

[color=ffce00]"For a moment I feared I would have to explain to your father how I allowed his daughter to vanish into the night unsupervised."[/color]

His eyes shifted briefly toward the blond man before returning to Amira.

[color=ffce00]"I see, however, that you have already acquired company."[/color]

The prince offered a polite inclination of his head.

[color=ffce00]"Munir al-Kadir."[/color]

The introduction was simple, casual, and confident.

Then his gaze flicked back toward Amira, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

[color=ffce00]"Now then, should I be concerned, or was this merely a strategic retreat from the horrors of ballroom conversation?"[/color]