This is bad. It's not a good look for the princess, considering her earlier concerns and protests about what kind of reputation she might earn for herself. Niou is good at this-- pulling you into his pace, making you forget things that need to stay in the forefront. Like Yukimura, he's always playing five games of chess at once. It's no wonder why they get on so well.

He does, on some level, register the little nudge, and he answers it with an appreciative nod and move in the direction she's indicating, his eyes never leaving Niou and the princess.

"You understand well," he says back quietly, and with sincere gratitude. He has to help her. He needs to go over there. "Thanks, Dorothea. Please excuse me."

Pushing down whatever unpleasant feeling that is, he heads in their direction with a recentering breath. And he's relaxed, calm, sure of himself. Casual and friendly as he returns to his fiancée's side and greets them with a smile and an arm around to her far shoulder.