"What are you doing here?" Melody hissed, quickly blinking to keep any other tears from coming. "This is not a public event. How did you even get in the palace walls?"

Jim was relaxed, and to Melody's surprise, dressed appropriately for a ball. His shoes shined, even in dim moonlight, and his white jacket was pressed and arranged just so. She kept her eyes from drifting across his broad chest and taking in all the decorations of medals dangling there. At least, she tried. To her greatest chagrin, he held that knowing smirk, accompanied by one eyebrow quirked in an infuriating, knowing way.

"Princess, is the ocean really the best place for you to be right now?" he asked. Melody tried to control her face. He had discovered. She was not "just Mel", but the princess. And he now knew he had kissed her on the night of her betrothal ball.

"Why are you here?" she demanded, hoping her sharp tone would frighten him away. People were always afraid when royals used sharp tones.

"Am I right? Was the prince really all that terrible, terrible enough to drive you to drown yourself?" he asked, completely ignoring Melody's question. She crossed her arms. If he would remain silent, so would she. Instead of noticing her anger, he stepped closer to the water's edge, careful to remain just out of reach of the waves. They stood facing each other for much too long.

"You should go back," Jim said, breaking her gaze and looking back towards the castle.

"I will. When I feel like it," Melody sniffed, and stepped out of the water. The dress could handle the salt water, of course. But dripping on the ballroom's floor was something she'd sworn off long ago. That, and stepping out of the water put her closer to Jim. Not that she wanted that. At all.

Jim smiled at her, as she moved out of the water. She appeared to glide, as if her own dress was made from the water she was emerging some. She looked older here, in the moonlight and in this dress. It stirred something in Jim he hadn't known before. He put his gaze back on the horizon and wished the feeling away.

"You didn't answer me," she said, less angry now. "How are you here?"

"I have a job," Jim said, keeping his eyes trained on the horizon, despite the glittery girl beside him.

"You don't look like a waiter," Melody retorted. "And you don't work for my family. I would know."

"You know every servant you have?" Jim said, sliding his gaze back to her, smirk in place.

"I try to," Melody said. "They're people, after all." There was an honesty in her voice so pure Jim did not doubt.

"True," he said, "But you aren't the only royal in attendance tonight."

"So you're a bodyguard for some aristocrat in there. But chose to follow me instead of minding your post," Melody said, starting to make her way back towards the ball. Jim followed suit, quickly matching her steps. To her surprise, he chuckled.

"Something like that," Jim said. Next to her, she could see the stubble that was dark around Jim's chin and neck, and smell something pleasant and roguish, something manly and real. She shivered, she hoped just from the cold. The pair walked in silence back towards the castle, when he stopped her suddenly, by looping his hand around hers. She felt herself take a sharp breath in. His hand was calloused and warm, and felt strong beneath hers. Her heart began to speed up. What was he doing? Did Jim plan on kissing her again? She faced him and parted her lips slightly. Why couldn't she breath?

Jim looked at her for a moment. There was something in his eyes, a hunger, but he quickly blinked it away. "Your shoes, your majesty?" he said, looking down at her feet. Mel blushed, and looked down too. She slid her hand from his and bent into the bush where she had tossed the golden shoes she had worn. She attempted to keep her balance and slide them on, wobbling slightly.

"Here," Jim said, coming up next to her. With that, he knelt down and slipped one foot gently into the shoe. Then, slowly, the other. His hands were gentle and quick, but they seemed to linger. She felt his thumb brush her ankle as he looked up at her. "All better," he said, voice husky as he looked up at Melody. She nodded, unable to trust her own voice. He straightened but did not pull away. Instead, face to face with Melody, he looked at her. And for once in her life, Melody felt truly seen. His hand raised, gentle and cautious, and tucked a loose tendril behind her ear. His hand remained there, gently toying with the strand of hair, as his other hand moved to Melody's waist.

Melody held her breath, expectant. She couldn't remember why she was so angry with him at the beach, now that she could feel his warmth and smell him and was so close to his face. She lifted her face to his, hoping maybe for another kiss. At that moment, Jim's fingers bumped against the comb in Melody's hair. His eyes moved towards the heirloom, and suddenly the heat dropped. His hands fell away and within a moment, he was several feet away.

"You need to get back in. I am sure they are looking for you," Jim said, suddenly interested in the ivy growing behind Melody. And all those feelings of frustration and anger returned. Without a word, Melody turned on her heel and quickly returned to her ball. Forget him, she urged herself.

Jim remained outside a few moments longer, trying to calm his own heart and willing himself to never be in the position where he could be so close to the princess again.