Quite pleasant was it to carry on a rousing conversation with His Majesty the King, but as much as Irina would not have minded staying there and speaking about all of Alegasia with the wise and humorously eccentric old man, she felt an urge to have to break the conversation short and make her way down the hall, the very hall she noticed her lady Crystal tarrying down with a merry bounce in her step....or as it appeared to the knight...a little more of a devious bounce. [i]Ugh...by the Goddess, what is she up to now?[/i] Her brow furrowed in suspicion, her vigilant eyes upon the girl, watching her closely as her slender, petite, and rather cute figure moved down the gilded halls of white marble with a mesmeric and dancing sway, until she disappeared behind the corner, raising an alarm within the already flustered knight. [i]Dammit Crystal, this better not be another ruse.[/i] "I'm terribly sorry for the rude interruption, Your Majesty, but I must see to your daughter's well-being as soon as possible." Respectfully she cleared her throat and bowed in due courtesy to the man, the King replying with an understanding nod, [b]"Ah yes. While these will be times of merrymaking and whimsical irresponsibility, I am honored that you are still sticking to your royal promise, Sir Irina. Please, make certain my daughter is not harmed this night."[/b]

"I shall, Your Majesty." Irina bowed again. "You have a knight's word that no harm shall come to M'lady the Princess." And with her last adieus, the knight was off on storming feet down the hall, echoing ever bothersome to Irina the clack of her heels against the polished marble tile and bouncing about the gilded hall towards her ears, only reminding Irina of the slight discomfort she felt from wearing such...oddly shaped footwear. [i]Honestly, why do women adore these things so much? My feet are sore and it's only been five or six paces down the hall. My sabatons feel much more comfortable than this.[/i] Grumbling to herself with a few incoherent mutters, she rounded the corner to the next hall, making her way down it as swift as her burning feet could carry her, now wishing she did have her sabatons...or at least something more forming and comfortable than these damned heels. "M'lady? Princess where are you?" She called out to the girl, no reply other than the echo of her own voice. [i]Oh how I tire at these cat and mouse games of hers.[/i] As it seemed definitely to Irina, her the cat, but not the vicious feral feline of the forest, no...more of just a wee kit was the knight, especially when caught in those flashing, devious eyes of amethyst. [i]I swear to the Goddess, if she ever pulls this again, I'll be asking decree from the King to put her on a damn leash![/i]

Finally, after rounding the last corner, she arrived in the castle's kitchen...only to discover her lady...was already spoiling herself with liquor.... [i]Why is this not a surprise to me?[/i]