There was a voice behind her. So close, that Nyxrin felt the breath upon her neck. She jumped, and spun around to face a certain blonde prince. "O-oh! William. I was just looking for you." She glanced down at her skirts, swaying so they swished with the movement before looking up at him again. "I take it you like the dress then." Will was also dressed for the occasion in full royal regalia. Nyxrin pulled a black lace fan from her pocket and hid her giggles behind it. "You look very handsome Your Highness."
Will remained calm and cool. "That is very kind coming from a talented and beautiful singer such as yourself." He hated dressing like a prince. Despite the fact that's what he was. And Nyx knew it.
"Also," Nyxrin continued, "I'm no lady. Just Nyx will do." Or she fully intended on calling him "Your Highness" next time they were in town.
"Ah, but you're our guest and our star of the day~"
There was that sinking feeling again. "Oh no no no no no no no." Nyxrin shook her head vehemently, "I am background music. Background." She had every intention of being merely ambiance.
The little blonde devil on the other hand was having none of that, "Star performer," He said with a smirk, "Don't be shy."
That was it! Nyxrin folded up her fan and swatted him on the leg. Her voluminous skirts hid the action from view. "You are insufferable Will!," She hissed at him, swatting him again with the fan, "I should never have let you talk me into this! So many people…"
"Ah, but think of this. It'll be a new audience. Think of where it could take you, hmm?"
Nyxrin bit her lip. "I am thinking of where it could take me. That is the problem." He was obviously trying to distract her with the success this could be. But what if someone looked too closely? She looked at her hands again. Maybe she should have worn opera gloves? Powered her face?
William was not thinking about that, "Ah, well, why don't you let me worry about that for you? " He winked, trying to put her at ease, "I won't let anything happen."
"But Will-" They had this conversation too many times before. Her worries every time someone looked at her a little too long. All the times she had tried to leave and he had convinced her to stay. She would have said it all again too. But they were in a hallway bustling with servants. "You can’t control everything you know."
"You are a guest of Ichotian royalty." He stated, clear in his meaning. If something happened to her, he would move the walls of Ichnotus to make it an international issue.
Nyxrin sighed, feeling the conversation beginning to curve into a circle. "I am today. Tomorrow. A week. A month. A year. But then what?" Try as she might, it was impossible to remind William of his own mortality. He was human, and would live for perhaps another 70 years at most. She was already more then twice that, with a good chance of living a thousand more if she were careful. She did trust that he would do whatever was in his power to keep her safe. She did not however trust his mortality.
William simply smiled, obviously not thinking that far ahead, "Friendship can go a long way." He was a prince, someday to be king. Additionally he had his gang.
There would be no convincing right now. Not when he was so young and certain. And besides, she was here now. It was already too late to back out. "We should be preparing. It’ll be starting soon."
"Hmm? Ah, I suppose so. I'll leave my violin here with you and the other musicians then. Can't be swinging my violin at the guests, now, can I?" Will handed over his instrument, still smiling that oh so dashing smile as he did so. "Break a leg, Lady Nyxrin."
Nyx whacked him with the fan one more time before William walked off to greet the guests. The portals would be opening soon. While most would not notice, Nyxrin could tell he would rather be anywhere but here. She had little doubt he would complain about it later. The corner of her lips curved up at that thought, and she turned to enter the room where the musicians were already playing a lively
song as if they were trying to wake themselves up.
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