The Royalty gets a Bodyguard.

Hayworth nattered on about the man he'd found to replace Alice as Taryn's bodyguard, completely and blissfully aware. "He's very respectful, in addition to being skilled in many different fighting styles. I'm sure you'll come to like him."

Taryn resisted from rolling their eyes. They stopped walking, and looked at him. "My prince, look around you, see anyone?" they asked as calmly as they could. They wanted to see if he could even see Alice around them, if he even knew she was there.

Hayworth made a show of looking around, peering under a stone bench in gardens and looking behind a tree. He turned back to Taryn and shrugged exaggeratedly. "I see a lot of flowers, as I expected. This is a garden, after all. What exactly were you hoping I would find?" He grins slyly. "Did my princess wish for a rose from her future husband?"

Alice grimaced, rolling her eyes so hard they might fall out of her head and mimed gagging. All the rumours she'd heard about Vandike and they didn't cover half of the pretentious, arrogant, condescending patronizing mannerisms he carried like a cloak of self righteousness. If he weren't so high profile, she'd already be making plans for his imminent death and burial.

Taryn smiled at him, although in reality it was to stop them from laughing. "While a rose would be lovely, I merely meant to suggest that this garden has more than two people init," they said softly. "Alice, could you come out here please," they added, trying not to grin.

They really didn't want to push any buttons, but Alice leaving was not happneing. They weren't even quite sure where Alice was right now, but they assumed within earshot. If she's not I'm in trouble...

Hayworth started to say, "Really, milady, you need to give up this ridiculous idea that the girl is in any way-" but cut off when Alice dropped from a nearby tree, landing with hardly a sound. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her generous mouth was set in a hard line. "Ah. You."

Alice dipped her head in a nod. "Prince Vandike." She glanced over at Taryn and her lips tilted in a ghost of a smile as she swept into a picture perfect curtsy. "Your Majesty."

Taryn looked rather impressed at the curtsey, "My Prince, this is Alice," they said, keeping a calm composure. "As I can assure you, she is quite good at her job." Please don't take her away from me. Taryn really did appreciate Alice actually appearing, not that Alice had overly much choice because of job and all, but still.

Hayworth looked at Taryn. "I don't believe some odd appearing act proves any sort of skill, princess. However, as you seem to be quite insistent the girl stay on, I'll consider simply adding my man as extra insurance, in the event that the girl can't get her job done." His tone heavily implied he didn't think Alice was truly capable of anything and Alice bristled, clenching her jaw, but said nothing.

Taryn resisted the urge to roll their eyes. "If you insist," they said softly, bowing their head, trying to be respectful, and trying not to argue anymore. Their eyes glanced over at Alice, offering a half smile, although without much feeling behind it.

Alice pursed her lips together, grey eyes glinting like the steel of her knife, and curtsied again. "As you say, Lord Vandike. After all, your judgement is surely better than mine." She said, saccharine sweet.

Hayworth waved a hand at her dismissively. "Of course it is, girl."

Alice dug her nails into her palms when the little princeling almost shooed her away and reminded herself that this was a person she most certainly could /not/ kill without far reaching and disastrous repercussions.

Taryn looked over at Alice, really rather impressed with both their self restraint. Taryn however, was slowly convincing themselves that they were overreacting. Surely, he would become sweeter over time, he was just nervous. However, they found themselves saying "Her name is Alice," despite their attempt to stop themselves.

Alice and Hayworth both blinked in surprise when Taryn spoke up.  "Wha- what?" Hayworth said, stunned that they had corrected him. He'd never had a woman speak out against him and was almost entirely positive that he'd heard incorrectly.

Alice's mouth twitched in a smile, some of the cold, burning anger ebbing.  It'd been a long time since anyone had thought to call her something other than girl, longer still since anyone had pointed out to another that it wasn't her name.

Taryn could feel their hands trembling, and withdrew them around themselves. "Her name...it's Alice..." they said, much quieter. They were wondering if that had been a terrible mistake. They looked down, staring at their feet, not that they could see them beyond the dress.

Hayworth looked over at where Alice was standing perfectly still and then back to where Taryn was standing in front of him. "I don't quite see why it matter's what the girl's name is." He reached out and patted them on the shoulder. "Clearly, our discussion has riled you up. Why don't you and I go back inside, warm you up, and we can forget all about this stressful matter."

"Because she's a person," they whispered, unable to even really continue, because every time they spoke they felt even more defeated. They didn't say anything else, arguing felt incredibly pointless. He clearly wasn't listening. They just kept staring at the patch of ground in front of them.

"She's just a stand-in bodyguard. Now, let's head back in and celebrate our engagement." Hayworth tucked their arm back into the crook of his elbow and escorted them back into the ballroom. Alice trailed behind like a ghost, silent and foreboding.

Taryn bit their lip, nodding. They glanced back at Alice before they lost sight of her. They put on a happy face as they returned to the ballroom. They began speaking with dignitaries and other court members, trying not to seem bored by the conversation, or slightly creeped out by the probbing questions.

Hayworth chatted animatedly with the other guests, but he kept Taryn's arm hooked tightly in the crux of his elbow so they couldn't wander off. He wanted to present a united front to the other nobles in the room.

Taryn attempted to wonder off a few times, but really couldn't so was forced for a while to stick to him until things began to wind down. Although, even then they weren't sure if they'd be able to escape him at the end of the night. He really didn't seem to want them going anywhere.

Alice stayed behind Hayworth and Taryn, far enough away that nobody would think she was following them, but close enough to react quickly if another assassination attempt was made. Not that she would be particularly broken up if the little guttersnipe of a prince fell dead at her feet. He was a pig, masking his arrogance and condescension with a false smile and faked geniality.

Taryn was relieved when the night seemed to be coming to a close. They really did get tired of smiling and exchanging overly exaggerated emotions with other people in the court. They had never really had to play this hard in court, the game wasn't something they were good at or used to.

Once the guests had all dispersed, Hayworth loosened his grip on their arm. "Now that the party has ended, shall I escort you to your rooms? We can talk more in the morning."

Alice stationed herself just behind Taryn, now that a constantly moving crowd was no longer in her way. She stood there, face impassive and hands clasped behind her back, the picture of professionalism.

Taryn nodded. "Oh thank you," they said, trying to continue being polite. They glanced over at Alice, watching her for a moment again, before looking back at the prince.

"Alice stays with me at night, outside my door," they added quickly.

Hayworth frowned, glancing at Alice standing stern and strong behind them. "I see. I'll be sure to implant more effective defensive measures this week."

Alice narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm sure that won't be necessary, Lord Vandike."

Hayworth scoffed. "I assure you, girl, that it's very necessary. I don't want anything to happen to my future bride. One of my men will take over the night watch in front of the princess's bed chambers. You may assist him." He allowed.

"As you say, Lord Vandike." Alice said through gritted teeth, taking deep long breaths.

Hayworth nodded in satisfaction and hovered his hand over the small of Taryn's back as he began to lead them out of the ballroom. Alice followed.

Taryn took a small breath, trying to deal with their own frustrations. They allowed him to walk them back, walking a little bit more quickly than they normally would. They couldn't wait to get away from him, which made them feel a little guilty inside.

Hayworth eventually found Taryn's bedchambers and came to a stop in front of the door. "I suppose this is where we say goodnight, milady." He bowed, picked up their hand, and kissed it.