Kyera smiled even though the expression felt tense. As a princess this woman's words cut deep, but here she wasn't a princess. She was a common forest girl with talent, nothing more. Though this had never bothered her before, Kyera suddenly felt the prick of pride she thought she had caged.
"I am indeed a forest born. Perhaps I can explain why we don't like your fare?" Kyera asked, her voice soothing and calm. The Fourth Prince had both eyes trained on the Waitress the gaze itself indescribable.
"Oh?" she asked the fake, innocently questioning look filled with mirth. Kyera slowly stood to her feet.
"We hold respect in high regard, but manners are first and foremost. Perhaps it's time you learn to be less shameless." Kyera replied softly but that only seemed to amplify her words. Lowering her voice made it seem like she was doing the miss a favor by not broadcasting her criticisms, but that wasn't quite true in a establishment like this. The lower the voice the more others wanted to hear. A few sniggers nearby let both kyera and the girl know it was heard.
"I am Shamless? Says the Fox seducing a Wolf." she replied and Kyera froze. 'Is that how others saw this?' she wondered but before she could respond a gentle hand took hers.
"My dear Waitress, Lady Kyera is the healer of My Mother, The Empress. She is more than qualified to be at my side publicly where as you could never even grace my bed in secret." Clovis spoke coolly and calmly but the words were like ice daggers to her skin. It was clear he had no intention of letting her cut down this Forest girl.
While she stood digesting his words, Clovis turned away guiding Kyera toward the door. She couldn't help, but follow his lead out of this place. Clovis frowned once they were out, taking his hand off of her.
"I am so sorry, Kyera. A guild member suggested it for dinner so I thought…" he tried to formulate a sensible apology. Kyera chuckled softly offering a bright smile in the moonlight.
"I should have said something. You are more use to the day life, night life is my World." Kyera replied with a grin, her skin seeming to soak up the moonlight. Her grin was infections, despite his embarrassment his lips curled up into a mirroring smile.
"Then I am in your hands, My Lady." He replied, his voice serious but his eyes filled with mischief. A clear sweet laugh like a entertained babbling brook filled the air in her amusement.
"Come on. I know the perfect place." Kyera assured him with a carefree smile. Her expression seemed wild and free, almost dangerous, but also alluring more than the concubine had ever thought of being. He couldn't help but nodded, wanting to know what this enchanting beauty had in store.
Kyera led him down the street, there weren't many people out and about but there were some. Most of whom shouted greeting to them, though they had no idea who the Prince was, Kyera wasn't a stranger. She nodded and called back, leading the Fourth Prince deeper into her world.
Soon the arrived at Kyera's intended dinner location. A group of tables under the night sky, fairy lights hanging in the trees. It was rustic and simple but the Prince stared at it with a sense of wonder. The simple romance and lack of perfection and rules was astounding to him. Politeness perhaps, didn't have to mean stiff and elegant.
"Welcome to The Grove. Very few nobels visit and those who do are second generation rebels. So no need to worry, your Highness." Kyera assured him before leading to a wooden table with 2 simple chairs in the back under a apple tree adorned with soft silver lights. He pulled her seat out for her before taking his own.
"This place is incredible." his words careful as if afraid he would break the magic web of this place and it would cease to exist.
"Wait till you taste the food, your Highness. It is especially fresh." Kyera pointed out with a grin. A monkey ran over and lept onto a chair beside her. Its brown and black fur and long spindly arms perched elegantly on the chair back. "Kota, it's a pleasure to see you here. I suppose that means your mother is here as well?" Kyera teased the monkey who jumped up and down excitedly making loud eeeeking noises. A black haired woman with streaks of chestnut walked over, her dress a sapphire blue in the evening light, a pair of pantaloons under the fitting silhouette.
"Princess Kyera, Darling!" the woman exclaimed hugging her tight. "I thought you had disappeared. Bless me we were all so concerned." the woman began to fawn but Kyera cleared her throat and looked at the prince. The woman's eyes widened as she realized who was at the table.