His tie was slightly loosened, his jacket unbuttoned. It was the first time she had seen a flaw in his appearance, seen him less polished.
"I needed some air," she replied. "It's a little stuffy inside."
"You're part of this evening."
"I'm aware."
"So are you really out for some air?" he continued. "Or are you escaping?"
Akhile lifted her chin. "It's the same thing sometimes."
Nathaniel inched closer, but still maintaining a distance. He wanted to look at her eyes so he could read her better.
"You handled yourself well tonight," he said.
"Was that another compliment?"
"No…just an observation."
His gaze dropped to her mouth for a second too long. Her whole face was glowing, literally the glitter from her makeup.
She smirked. "You're allergic to giving compliments."
His mouth twitched, struggling to produce a smile.
"You were a Redcliff today."
Akhile swallowed hard at this realisation, because it was too accurate. She looked away quickly, pretending it didn't bother her.
"I'm a princess," she said. "It's literally my job to play a part."
Nathaniel held out his hand and tilted her head back so that he could see her eyes again.
"You weren't acting like a princess," he said quietly.
Akhile raised her brows. "What does that mean?"
"It means you weren't playing a part," he replied. "You were a Princess…well, you are one."
After a long pause, he spoke again, changing the subject.
"I think you embarrassed my brother at supper the other night."
Akhile's eyes widened slightly. "I did not. I left on my own accord, and it wasn't about any of you."
"You stood up and walked out," he said. "You left both of us sitting there like children who'd been scolded."
Akhile burst into uncontrolled laughter.
"Well…you were behaving like children."
Nathaniel's eyes darkened with something unreadable.
"We were competing," he said simply.
Akhile blinked. He admitted it so easily that it almost threw her off balance.
"And who won, you?" she asked lightly, trying to tease him more than anything.
Nathaniel inched over some more. Close enough now that she could smell the clean, bitter scent on him mixed with cologne. Like cigarette smoke and cologne.
"We haven't finished the battle," he said.
Her pulse picked up, and she hated that her body betrayed her so quickly. Is that what they were discussing in the library late at night? Battle?
She forced steadiness into her voice.
"It looks like you're a little overconfident there."
"I'm certain," he corrected.
Akhile scoffed. "You're always certain about things."
His gaze dropped to her mouth for half a second again when she said this, and then quickly back to her eyes.
"Not always," he murmured. "I have to admit I haven't been completely certain about you."
That tiny crack in his composure, just one word, made her chest tighten.
She remembered her dream. It stayed with her just below her thoughts, ready to pop up whenever she was forgetting herself.
The part where Cora told her: Learn about him.
Akhile exhaled.
"Why are you being…like this?" she asked quietly.
Nathaniel's brows lifted slightly. "Like what?"
"Human. I don't know, you're being nice all of a sudden," she said. "You've been like Mr Strict man, and then now suddenly you say things that sound like…"
She stopped herself.
Like you care.
Nathaniel watched her carefully, as if weighing whether to answer honestly.
Then he said, lower:
"Tonight, really mattered to me. The pressure is off now."
"That's obvious."
"No," he said, voice firm. "To them, it's obvious. To you, it means something different."
Akhile's throat tightened. "I don't understand you."
Their eyes held together.
"You don't have to," he said. "In time, you will."
There it was again.
Not yet.
Akhile felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand. She took one step back out of instinct, trying to regain the boundary between them. Maybe he had too much champagne.
Nathaniel didn't fill in the space she created. He just stayed close enough to make her feel him.
"You're doing well," he said again, quieter this time, almost like he didn't want anyone else to hear it.
"Is that supposed to motivate me?" she whispered.
"It's supposed to be the truth."
The corridor felt smaller. For one second, Akhile wondered what would happen if she closed the distance. If she tilted her face up. If she stopped pushing back.
The thought made her queasy.
Suddenly, there were footsteps, echoing sharply down the hall.
Moira appeared, her breath slightly rushed. She looked very elegant in a pink chiffon halter dress, her hair hanging loosely, tied up into a messy bun.
"Mr Redcliff," she said quickly. She noticed Akhile standing next to Nathaniel and looked shocked that she had been alone with him. Moira bowed for the Princess without saying a word.
She continued, "One of the board members is requesting an audience with you. They want a private toast and-"
Nathaniel didn't turn to face her. His eyes stayed locked on Akhile.
"No," he said.
Moira froze. "Excuse me, Sir?"
"I'm escorting Princess Cora back to the Estate," he replied calmly.
Moira's lips parted slightly. It was the first time Akhile saw her genuinely caught off guard. They were always in sync, completing each others' sentances.
"But Mr Redcliff-"
Nathaniel finally looked at Moira, making the air shift.
"Norman can handle it," he said. "Tell him to keep everyone entertained and keep the investors occupied. He knows what to do."
Moira's jaw tightened. "Of course, sir." She bowed before she turned away. "Good evening, Mr Redcliff, Princess Cora."
Akhile's heart hammered. Nathaniel stepped closer again, but this time he extended his arm to escort the Princess.
Akhile stared at it for a second. Then she clutched her hands around it. Her fingers barely touched his sleeve, but the contact sent something sharp through her chest. She had won her silent battle with Moira that night. Nathaniel chose her this time.
"Come," he said quietly to Akhile. "You've done well for one night."
As they walked back down the corridor together, Akhile realised something was changing within her, something was not the same. She didn't want to pull away from him.
Norman was halfway through a conversation when Moira found him. She didn't give her usual warm smile, instead, she was frustrated.
Her heels clicked once, sharp against the ballroom floor tiles, before she leaned in just enough to keep her voice contained between them.
"Master Norman," she said. "Mr Redcliff has requested that you take over for the evening."
Norman's brows lifted slightly. "Requested?"
Moira's jaw tightened. "He's escorting Princess Cora back to the Estate."
Norman's expression didn't change much, but his eyes appeared sunken.
"I see," he said evenly.
Moira pushed away quickly, like she didn't want to linger on the detail. She didn't even offer to stay on if he needed some assistance.
"The Geneva Group representative is still present. They want a private toast, and the investors are asking after a Mr Redcliff."
Norman nodded once, already switching gears.
"Of course." He glanced across the room toward the corridor exit, wishing he could escape.
Norman didn't look surprised that his brother had left the crowd. Nathaniel often disappeared when he'd decided the night's purpose was complete. What surprised him was who he'd chosen to disappear with.
He turned back to Moira.
"Tell Geneva I'll be with them in a minute," he said calmly.
Moira hesitated. "He didn't give-"
"I know what to say," Norman interrupted gently.
Moira nodded stiffly and stepped away, leaving Norman standing still for a moment, letting the music wash around him before he chugged down a glass of champagne.
He was alert.
He lifted his glass again and turned back to the crowd, to be the perfect host as requested.
But as he guided the Geneva representatives toward the private balcony for their toast, Norman couldn't stop one thought from repeating itself:
So Nathaniel finally decided to act like a man.
The idea was almost amusing. He's trying to nurture his bruised ego.
Norman's smile remained.
He grabbed a fresh glass from a waiter.
"To the expansion," he said smoothly, his voice deep and joyous.
There was applause again, and the ball continued without Nathaniel.
But Norman knew things had shifted that night, and it had nothing to do with escaping the commotion.
As the applause faded, Norman's gaze drifted once more toward the exit and the corridor, wishing he were making his way back to the estate.
Then he smiled to himself and sipped from his glass.
"Careful, brother," he thought. "You don't know what you're up against.