“O-oh. Of course...”
Lily bit her lip and ducked her eyes again. Fool. Sheltered, shallow little fool. The overwhelming weight of just how far out of her depth she was suddenly came crashing down on her shoulders and she very abruptly found herself on the verge of tears.
God, this was ridiculous. She shouldn’t have come tonight—she couldn’t even carry on a basic conversation without nearly falling apart!
She tried to keep her voice cool and collected, but it still wobbled a bit when she murmured, “I fear I have overstepped in your hospitality, ser. I— if I’ve caused offense I assure it was unconsciously done. But perhaps I’d best leave you to enjoy the ball.”
She forced a smile and started to pull away from him, already wondering about her chances of sneaking out of the ballroom to find somewhere secluded to hide herself for the rest of the evening, and just how humiliating it would be if she was caught.
In a last desperate attempt to avoid seeming rude, she added quietly, “Thank you for your time, ser, and conversation. Truly. I hope you enjoy your evening.”
“Not unless you’re about to propose marriage,” Reina replied brightly. She sipped at her own glass, then set it aside with a shrug. “Honestly though, you’re a bit dour for my tastes. But I’m flattered.”
She smirked a moment longer, then sobered a bit and added, “I need not ask about your holdings if the topic is truly of such secrecy though. Perhaps you’d rather tell me your impressions of the ball, instead.”