The prince's gaze flicked down to the empty glass in her hand. "I see you're in need of a refill," he said, gesturing towards the champagne bottle. His voice was smooth and rich, and it sent a shiver down Diana's spine.
"Uh, yes," Diana managed to stammer, feeling tongue-tied in his presence. She held out her glass, and the prince poured her a generous serving of the bubbly liquid.
As she sipped the champagne, trying to gather her thoughts, the prince leaned against the table, his eyes fixed on hers. "I have to say, I don't think we've ever been properly introduced," he said, his tone light and friendly.
Diana felt her cheeks grow even warmer. "I'm Diana," she said, managing to keep her voice steady. "It's nice to meet you, Your Highness."
The prince chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No need for formality, Diana. You can call me Gerald."
Diana felt a flutter of surprise and pleasure at his words. No one had ever given her permission to use his first name before. "Thank you, Gerald," she said, feeling a little bolder now that she knew his name.
Gerald grinned, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret. "You know, I've seen you watching me all night. Trying to catch my eye, perhaps?" he teased.
Diana felt her heart skip a beat. He had noticed her watching him? She tried to play it cool, despite the fact that her palms were suddenly sweaty. "I couldn't help but notice you," she admitted, her voice betraying just a hint of her inner turmoil.
Gerald laughed, a rich, warm sound that made Diana's stomach flip. "Ah, honesty. I like that," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Most women try to act coy when they want my attention, but you're refreshingly upfront about it."
Diana felt a small surge of triumph at his words. She hadn't been trying to catch his eye, but now that she had his attention, she found herself enjoying it. "I don't see the point in pretending," she said, sipping her champagne to give herself a moment to think.
Gerald's eyes widened in surprise, obviously not expecting such a straightforward response. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Most ladies of the court would fall all over themselves to flatter me, but you're not like that."
Diana took another sip of her champagne, feeling a touch more confident now. "You say that like it's a bad thing," she said, arching an eyebrow at him.
Gerald chuckled again. "No, it's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's quite refreshing," he said. He leaned a little closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "You know, you're the first person all night who hasn't tried to use flattery to get my attention."
Diana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what about you?" she asked, leaning in slightly as well. "Are you used to being showered with compliments and flatteries?"
Gerald shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk tugging at the edges of his lips. "I suppose I am," he admitted. "But most of it is insincere, just a ploy to win my favor. It can get rather tedious after a while."
Diana couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. She had seen firsthand the way the other ladies threw themselves at him, trying to win his attention with every trick in the book. It must be exhausting, having to decipher which compliments were genuine and which were just a means to an end.
Gerald seemed to sense her pity, and he chuckled softly. "Don't look at me like that," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It comes with the territory, being the prince. People are always trying to court favor, and flattery is just one of the tools they use."
Diana nodded, understanding what he was saying. "It must be difficult separating the genuine admirers from the ones who just want something from you," she said. Her eyes flicked over to where Nora stood by the dance floor, surrounded by a group of men all eager to get her attention.
Gerald's gaze followed hers, and a slight frown tugged at his brow as he saw Nora laughing and fluttering her eyelashes at the men around her. "Yes, it can be...challenging," he said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Especially when they're as obvious as her's."
Diana nodded, feeling a small flicker of satisfaction that Gerald could see through Nora's act as well. "She's my step-sister and she has always been like that," she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Making a show of herself, laughing and flirting with anyone who will give her attention."
Gerald's expression softened as he looked at her, clearly sensing her resentment. "It's not her fault, you know," he said, his voice gentler now. "From the looks of it, she's learned that's the only way to get the things she wants in life."
Diana nodded, knowing what he said was true. Nora had grown up in a world where looks and charm were currency, and she was simply playing the game the only way she knew how. "I know," she admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. "It's just...hard to watch sometimes."
Gerald's eyes softened with compassion, and he reached out to touch her arm gently. "It's natural to be jealous, you know," he said, his voice gentle. "She's beautiful, and everyone wants her. But that doesn't mean you can't shine just as brightly."
Diana felt her heart skip a beat at his words. "You think so?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. No one had ever spoken to her this way before, like she was worthy of attention in her own right.
Gerald's hand was still on her arm, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "I do," he said, almost fiercely. "You've got your own kind of beauty, you know. It's not as obvious as your her's, but it's there."