As the Princess laughed at his flowery introduction, Richelieu kept his cards close to his chest and revealed no emotions that would indicate if he was flustered or even fazed at all. He had plenty of experience in dealing with those stationed above him, and while being ridiculed was never pleasant, it was simply a part of social politics. He could only hope that Garren kept his head and didn't take personal offense to the Princess’s jabs.
The Princess had put him and Garren in a rather awkward situation, but it was clear that at least one of them should go with the Princess. While Richelieu felt uneasy leaving Garren alone with Queen Alexandria and the Queen of the Amazons, he had a gut feeling that he should follow the Princess. Richelieu considered himself to be a disciplined young man, but the seductive charms of the Princess combined with the allure of danger associated with the tall woman was too much to bear.
“My apologies, I didn't mean to offend anyone by ‘speaking above my station’.” Richelieu cooed warmly as he slowly stood up from his chair. “I seem to have mistakenly thought that my status as a diplomat was enough to warrant my, and my companion’s right, to speak at the table. I shall be off to discuss matters of agitation with the Princess and I’ll leave Garren here to continue the meeting proceedings. “
Richelieu said all of this in a calm manner that did not betray whether if his apology was a sincere one or a less than subtle jab at the previously displayed table manners. With a pleasant smile, Richelieu exited the area and followed the Princess to her personal tent. She had managed to get ahead by quite a distance in the short time that it took Richelieu to excuse himself from the table but he was able to find her with minimal difficulties. If he had stayed to question the Queen, it would have most likely been an entirely different story. When he finally reached the tent that he saw the young woman dart into, he stood outside briefly to question his previous logic of leaving the matters of the meeting to Garren.
Richelieu took a leap of faith however and decided that Garren seemed trustworthy enough to be entrusted with such matters. Now it was time for another leap of faith. After taking a deep breath, Richelieu stepped slowly yet assuredly into the tent with the Princess and closed the tent flap behind so that he was alone with her. “Now that we are alone, may we discuss what could not be spoken aloud at the table?”