AN: In which Shiro encounters a problem and Allura is made aware.
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The moment Shiro went to the end of the line people stepped aside.
"No, I can wait -"
"Heroes don't need to wait," smiled one of the guests.
He blinked as he heard other people murmuring agreements. He tried to find Allura to see what he should do but the crowd around him prevented him from seeing those seated at the royalty guest table.
"...Thank you."
He walked down five feet. More guests parted. He walked another ten feet...then kept going straight down to the front of the table. He kept his walking pace steady and his shoulders straight like he would in his paladin armor. He was representing Voltron and Princess Allura. He wouldn't dare sully his team's hard earned reputation.
"Shiro, the Black Paladin," rang out a servant. "Hero of Voltron."
He bowed down slowly, trying not to let his irritation show for the added title.
The table for the royal guests was more packed than Allura thought it would be.
She recognized a few from previous dinners elsewhere but the rest were pretty much new to her. Her senses hummed as she felt some strong quintessence across from her and further down the table.
The Princess of Tilipe keeps powerful allies.
She watched as an amber liquid was poured into her glass and then handed to her directly. She took it with a smile then took a discrete sniff of the liquid inside. It was sweet smelling. She sipped it and withheld the urge to grimace.
She wasn't used to such cloying sweet drinks.
"How do you like the Smolth?"
She looked at the green skinned female next to her. Her maroon dress was sleeveless, revealing swirling black markings along her arms. A black stone draped along her forehead which was connected by several dark strands of dark metal.
"It's thick." Allura plastered a smile on. "Do you know what it's made of?"
"Did you see the purple bushes on the grounds?"
"Yes, along the courtyard."
"The bushes have tiny white berries with a yellow inside. It takes deca-pheebs of fermentation and rotation or else it becomes too potent." She took a long sip of her glass. "There are other ingredients but you'll have to ask a Tilipean."
"How intriguing." Allura put her glass down to gesture to herself. "I am Princess Allura of Altea."
"Princess Malti," she gave Allura a crooked smile. "It is no longer customary to say which planet you are from in social settings."
"Ah."
Allura put her hand down. Being frozen for 10,000 deca-pheebs hadn't really affected her way of interacting within these settings before...or no one had felt the need to point out the social changes.
"Then the rumors are true."
Allura tilted her head slightly. "Rumors?"
"You were found frozen for many deca-pheebs."
"In a cryo-pod."
Malti lifted her empty glass. A servant stepped up with a pitcher to refill it.
"Your diadem is old fashioned as well." She lifted a hand up. The servant stopped pouring. "It does not match your modern gown."
Allura's fingers lightly touched her crown.
"Surely wearing heirlooms are not old fashioned," Allura said with slight tension.
"It's not." Malti's dark eyes slid over to the younger princess. "But I have seen you wear only that crown. That suggests something unpleasant for your resources."
Allura felt the glass in her hand about to give way.
"My resources are none of your concern."
Malti gave her an assessing look then sat back.
"As long as we're not negotiating an alliance."
Allura frowned. "I was unaware that you were -"
"I'm not interested," Malti boredly waved off. "I merely wished to warn you." She calmly sipped her glass. "Princess Ikoa is more demanding than I am." A part in the crowd made her shake her head. "If you wish to stay in her favor she may ask for something you are not willing to give up."
Allura followed Malti's pointed gaze.
She saw Shiro standing close to Princess Ikoa's raised table.
"Rise, Hero," came the Princess' airy voice. "And approach."
Shiro straightened from his bow and stepped closer. He was now getting a better look at the Princess of Tilipe.
Her skin was alabaster white and her snowy white hair was longer than even Allura's. With the white gown it was a little difficult to distinguish when hair and skin ended and cloth began. He would have labelled her looks as delicate if it weren't for the stark red on her lips to match the color of her irises.
"Princess Ikoa. On behalf of the Princess of Altea and the coalition we thank you for your support."
She ran a hand along the rim of her glass. "The pleasure is mine."
She gestured to a seat to the right of her. There was some murmuring behind him but he could not hear what it was. He lightly frowned. Inexperienced as he was, he was certain this was not a normal request.
"I understood my seat to be next to the table of guests over -"
"Your seat is where I tell you," she smiled widely.
"I'm honored." Pause. "But Princess Allura is not in this area."
"She can spare you for an evening," she demurred. "Or is your leash only so long?"
A couple of Tilipeans at the Princess' table chuckled behind their hands.
He withheld his tongue for a moment. With Kolivan's warning he was hesitant to let Allura out of his sight. But he couldn't disrespect their hostess, especially such a huge benefactor for the coalition. What he wouldn't give for Matt or Lance's smooth talking.
He was going to watch his wording.
Allura frowned as Shiro lingered in front of the Princess.
"You're not suggesting -"
"I do not suggest," Malti murmured lowly. "It is a well known fact why the princess gave her support to your ragtag team of rebels. Or rather who gained her support."
"...There are several admirers of the Black Paladin. His skills are rather formidable."
"He is an impressive figure," she agreed, "But have any of those admirers held the ranking that the Princess of Tilipe has?"
Allura relaxed. "Shiro wouldn't abandon his role as the leader of Voltron for a position as a mere guard."
Malti let out a high chipped laugh.
"Princess Ikoa does not show interest in that way, young princess."
Shiro put on a smile that was neither too big nor threatening.
"Of course Princess Allura could," he murmured good naturedly, "however, my duties to the Princess of Altea do not pause for a dinner, even with such a gracious hostess."
Princess Ikoa's eyes slowly blinked, making her white lashes brush her cheeks.
"Such loyalty," she praised.
She raised her hand, dismissing him. Relieved but not relaxing his shoulders he turned to go.
"Hero."
He paused. She smiled as he obeyed.
"We'll have the first dance."
"What do you mean?"
Malti arched a brow. "Do you truly not see it?" She leaned over to speak quieter. "Her eyes have not left his form since he appeared in front of her. Surely you understand what that means, princess. The actions of a huntress marking her hunt." She gave Allura a half smile. "You yourself exhibited a similar behavior."
"I have not -"
"You let him escort you into the ballroom as an equal but he is neither family, prince, or betrothed. Why else would you allow such a thing if not to ward others away?"
Allura could feel her cheeks heating up in anger and embarrassment.
"Your insinuations are inappropriate," she bit out in warning. "I suggest you refrain from speaking to me in this manner."
Shiro could feel his eye wanting to twitch.
"The second dance, I'm afraid." He smiled apologetically. "Princess Allura has already claimed the first." He was about to turn away but he felt unusually impulsive. "If I could request that her highness call me Shiro I would appreciate it."
There was a collective intake of breath around as he walked away.
No one said or did such a thing before.
Princess Ikoa merely kept her eyes on his broad back. Her long white nails lightly scratched the surface of her glass cup. Such pride. She wouldn't have expected anything less from the Paladin of the Black Lion, the very Head of Voltron.
She delicately sipped from her glass.
The night had just begun.
As Shiro walked towards her table Allura felt the need to divert her gaze.
He walked around to the back of her chair. Malti looked at him curiously as he offered a greeting before turning back to Allura.
"I'll be at the table behind you, Princess."
She merely nodded. He left her side.
Malti watched the exchange with slight interest. She honestly had not expected the Black Paladin to be able to escape Princess Ikoa's presence. She'd seen loyal guards before but this was clearly something else.
"Where does your paladin come from?"
"I thought it was not customary to say where you hail from," came Allura's terse response.
"Hm," Malti's lips quirked upwards. "So I did."
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AN: A lot of talking, I know. But I need to get this out of the way.
