I wanted to address the elephant in the room now, but there was no way I could question Blake the way I wanted to, and considering the High Chancellor or King Balor hadn't seen fit to tell me, I obviously shouldn't care.
So I took a deep breath and put a gracious smile on my face "well if the arranged marriage was indeed your idea Prince Blake, thank you for giving us another chance at peace." Blake's shoulders seem to relax and King Jergensen nodded approvingly.
The High Chancellor cleared his throat "well Prince Blake when would you like to marry our Princess Allura?"
Prince Blake straightened up "I think that should be a private conversation between Princess Allura and I."
The High Chancellor stiffened besides me, and I knew that Blake had just said the wrong thing "maybe so but this does concern the both of our kingdoms so it is a bigger conversation than just between the two of you."
"I agree, which is why I must question why you are here and not King Balor." Silence fell across the room and it took everything in my power to keep my face blank.
"Blake-." King Jergensen tried to intervene when the High Chancellor interrupted, "-King Balor wanted to be here but unfortunately his health is not the best, but he will be here for the wedding as soon as we set the date."
"Well then we should wait for King Balor's health to recover before we pick a wedding date."
"No he would like to see his daughter settled in case things take a turn for the worse."
"And what does Princess Allura want?" King Jergensen interrupted, and suddenly I felt all eyes on me. I knew the High Chancellor was lying through his teeth when he was talking about King Balor's health, but I had to think of the mission. So I became small, and teary eyed, as if I was thinking about my sick father.
"I just want what's best for our kingdoms" I whispered softly before lifting my napkin off my lap and setting it next to my plate "excuse me." I pushed away from the table and dramatically fled from the room.
As Blake hadn't shown me beyond their personal port, I went there, waiting for the High Chancellor to give me the all clear to go back inside, but I wasn't expecting the person who came out.
"Princess?"
My back stiffened as I heard Blake's voice, was this the High Chancellor's plan? Send Blake after me.
Just in case it wasn't I decided to play it safe "leave me be, please."
I heard him sigh then his footsteps in the sand, as he stood next to me "I do want to marry you."
Well that sounded promising. Praying the plan hadn't changed I continued to gaze out at the churning waves of the sea before admitting "it didn't seem like it back in the dinning room. It seemed like you were protesting our marriage, even though it was your idea."
"Princess-"
"Allura" I interrupted, unable to stand the informal title a moment longer "if you are still intent on making me your wife call me Allura."
I felt him hesitate again before murmuring "Allura, I am sorry. I didn't know about your father's health and when you arrived here with the High Chancellor I was worried you were coerced into this marriage."
The pain from where my teeth cut my tongue was minimal, compared to the panic filling me.
How did he figure it out so quickly?