Perna watched the Crown Prince's retreating back, worried that the dancing earlier had put him in a foul mood. She wanted to follow him, yet hesitated.
Then she remembered that she had been tasked with keeping an eye on His Highness's health. Pressing her lips together, she pushed through the noble ladies glaring daggers at her and hurried after Joseph.
Joseph tightened his mask, tore off the cumbersome shawl in one pull, and squeezed out of the crowded throng.
He let out a long breath and wiped away his sweat. Before the fluttering beauties could catch hold of him again, he hunched over and slipped to the doors of the Hall of Mirrors, then darted outside.
The night air in Versailles Palace Square was cool and fresh. He stretched his arms and wandered along at an easy pace, immediately feeling much more relaxed. He secretly swore that even if it killed him, he would never attend another ball like this again.
By the dim glow of the courtyard's oil lamps, Eman, dressed as a maid, vaguely spotted the Crown Prince's figure and quickly ran over. "Your Highness, why did you come out so soon?"
A lithe figure in white robes arrived from the other side at almost the same moment. "Your Highness..."
Eman turned, somewhat surprised. "Miss Perna, why are you also..."
His gaze swept over the two of them, and he suddenly seemed to realize something. He gave a dry cough. "Ahem. Your Highness, I have something to do. I'll go over there first."
"Don't go!" Perna's face flushed red. "I only came to ask whether His Highness was feeling unwell anywhere!"
Joseph hurriedly said, "I'm fine. I just wanted to come out for some air. Dancing is truly deadly."
Eman realized that he seemed to have misunderstood. Nodding