Chris began to drown out the incessant talking, nothing seemed to pertain to her, and they certainly weren't talking to her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the waiters floating around carrying their large trays. She had been to several balls in her own kingdom, but she was forbidden from indulging. Her mind began to wander as she contemplated what would happen if she were to have one now. Surely there would be no harm, after all tonight she was just any other party goer, just an ordinary woman.
Even as she felt the slight touch on her back as she was guided along her mind was still thinking about other things.
"Should I grab one for you?"
"What?" She brought her focus back onto Zeven.
"your eyes keep gravitating to the waiters and their trays of hors d'oeuvres."
"Yours are on the desserts."
While Zeven was grateful that she hadn't realized that what he was looking at was not in fact pastries, but something far sweeter.
"Touche, but what will everyone think when I can't get my so-called lover to glance at me with half as much longing as the food."
To any potential on looker, their conversation seemed very private and romantic. His arms were wrapped around her waist pulling her into him. His eyes seemed enraptured by her just as her eyes seemed to be for him. Their voices were low, concealing their actual words.
"The food doesn't talk." She drug the back of her hand down the side of his face, caressing his cheek.
Zeven flagged down a waiter, taking a single item off his tray. One hand still wrapped around her waist as he tried to pass the hors d'oeuvre to her.
"I can't." Her face fell momentarily. And Zeven instinctively moved to block her from view.
"Why not?"
When he looked into her eyes their previous conversation came to the front of his mind. His chest burned with anger at her upbringing, but now was not the time to express it. Instead he proposed a solution. Anything to see her smile at him with the unrestrained joy that she often hid.
"Then why don't we share them? We'll have one of each and split it. Just to taste."
"You love sweets, I have a hard time imagining that you would be willing to share."
"Don't you know I'm trying to watch my figure?"
"Oh really now?"
"I'd love to watch yours," he winked at her. "Relax, it's all just an act so enjoy it. Be someone else for a change. Anyone you want, as long as you still love me. Now, Say ahh," he continued in a quieter voice, "Please don't refuse, you and I are supposed to be infatuated with each other."
She did as he asked, opening her mouth just wide enough for him to slip a bite of smoked salmon between her lips. The cracker that carried it snapped as she bit down. As she chewed she saw Zeven pop the rest into his own mouth, licking his finger to remove the creme that had escaped the sides.
The sight was almost as good as the taste.
Instead of seeing her smile, he got to see red blooming across her cheeks tinged with delight. A look that suited her just as well.
"people are staring."
"we are madly in love, we shouldn't even think of other people."
Together they ate their way through the entire menu, Zeven taking great pleasure in feeding Chris himself. It wasn't until she came very close to biting his fingers that he gave up the notion.
The atmosphere around them was light and bubbly like the champagne they were drinking.
Until something caught his eye. Stealing his attention away from the way Chris's eyes lit up as she tried something particularly delicious.
"Pardon me for a moment, there is something I need to take care of." Zeven's brow was furrowed as he said that, his focus shifted off into the distance.
Chris reached out to stop him, but only managed to catch air. Leaving her all alone in the middle of a battlefield. She could feel the eyes on her. Quietly observing every move and choice she made. They began to slowly encroach on her space. Seeking a chance to talk with the woman who had supposedly captured the Crown Prince.