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"My apologies. It slipped out of habit," he spoke, deciding now was not the best time to get into debate over word usage. She had spoken many things quickly, some which he was certain she planned to keep to herself. While he did have questions about that, there were more pressing matters that needed attention. She was freezing- he could tell that much. And it was much more than the temperature of the room should have allotted. "Forgive me for being so forward, but you do not look well. If it would help, I have a travel cloak which you may borrow until this passes? Or, if needed I can call a doctor."

"I see..." For the moment, the prince was glad the person standing in front of him was blind. The expression on his face was completely dumbfounded and baffled and completely un-Prince Astraeus worthy. One moment she slipped off into a hall. The next she reappeared shivering to the point that she looked like she needed medical attention. Then...she exhaled steam and was perfectly fine. ...What?

"Normally I do not...inquire on such matters. I respect that others have secrets about themselves they wish to keep," he began slowly. "But what did I just witness?"

At her beckoning, the prince followed, his curiosity getting the better of him. A lack of energy? Well...he could certainly understand the symptoms then. Stars that no longer had energy and light to release all eventually cooled, and lately he had become all too aware of how quickly this happened with smaller ones. "Ah, do not worry about the food," he replied, slowly processing what she said. "If I may ask, why did this come about so suddenly? Did something occur?"

Ah, that was a smile he knew well. The follow up question that he was formulating died on his tongue. He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head before opening them again. "Very well, so long as you are well, I will not press any further." He bowed, despite her not being able to see and turned back to the ballroom. He paused after a couple steps and glanced back. There was a gentleness in his tone as he spoke once again.
"Though, if I may make a suggestion? Perhaps ask one close to you to help you master that reassuring smile. Not everyone is as easily fooled as I am."

The new voice did make the prince pause, if only for a moment. His shoulders tensed at the crackling and popping sound that came with the voice. Was that-? No, he determined, it was not, and relaxed his composure again. This "Ke," as Cidri called him, seemed to be on decent terms with her. She seemed to know people here, including Arron, whom Astraeus and Lucky both trusted. If they weren't raising an alarm, then there was no threat to the party from this one. And if the pair waited that long to speak to one another, it was none of the prince's business as to why he was here nor what Cidri had sent him off to do. He continued his stride into the noise of the ballroom.

The mermaid giggled and bounced happily again, practically beaming at the compliments her two friends had given her. "Th-th-thank you! Y-you look like a r-really p-pretty lady, t-too, Kate! A-and you're v-very h-handsome, Arron!" She smiled brightly and finished up her strawberries, before tilting her head curiously, wondering what it was Kate wanted to ask Arron.