Henry matched the princess's pace. She was going so slow he wondered if she didn't want to return to the banquet hall as much as he didn't.
When she asked what they had talked about, he gave a half-truth, feeling guilty the moment the words left his mouth.
"We were discussing the expedition your father is sending us on," Henry said.
He didn't want to hold back with her but he would feel accusatory bringing up the romance novel so he left it there. She was the only other person who was supposed to know about the existence of the book in the first place.
Before they got to the end of the dimly lit hallway, the princess stopped completely and she touched Henry's cheek as she stared up at him with worry-filled eyes.
"Is it going to be dangerous?" she quietly asked.
He stood rigidly, resisting the urge to hold onto her.
"I can handle anything sent my way," Henry assured her.
A small smile appeared on her face.
