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She was a bit taken back when he started to speak. Of course she gave him her attention but she put some distance between them. Niiemh didn't like the first option. The fact that he was okay with it at all made her take another step away from him. He was getting far too close. When she could go no further and he was right there she turned her head away from him. "I will not perform the way my stepmother suggested." Her voice was soft but was very firm in her decision.

Nii took a side step to put distance between them. "Please keep a respectful distance. I do not wish for someone to get the wrong idea with you being so close." With that said she cleared her throat and finally looked at him again.

"I'll answer what I can without harming my family's reputation so long as you dont touch me. "

With him no longer in her space and eventually looking at the ceiling she took the time to study him. Devereux wanted her to be truthful. Not such a bad thing but some truths could be hurtful. "I won't lie but I reserve the right to refuse to answer." Silence was better in some cases.

Niiemh moved a bit farther away, though that was more for her own comfort than necessity. When she was comfortable she stopped and clasped her hands in front of her, standing properly for a dancer. His question about what her stepmother wanted had her pause for a moment, considering her words. After a few seconds she answered. "I cannot claim to know her mind but if one had to guess then they might assume she wants to ensure our families are tied together and unable to back out of business dealings." Devereux and herself being caught in a scandal would more or less demand honor from Salvatore.

"I have no intentions of being in a scandal at all." Nii wanted that to be clear. She still worried about his acceptance of the first option.

He had half a point about them being in the room together but made it a point to motion to the door. It was still open. And with her putting space between them it would be hard for anyone to say something inappropriate had taken place. "My stepmother has tried before, I can usually get out of things. You present a bigger challenge since you would likely be able to catch me if you felt the urge to." Niiemh looked away after letting that slip out. She hadn't meant to say something harmful.

Hearing that he wasn't so inclined to go down without a fight caused her to peek toward him. If he didn't wish to be a pawn then surely that was in her favor. Still didn't explain why he'd even agree to allow her to perform as Merle had suggested. Perhaps a mystery she would not get answered.

"My stepmother is the schemer. My father doesn't notice. She will use his Illegitimate children as her pawns first." Which would explain why she was sent to entertain Devereux in private. "She will try with either me or my younger sister Aylen. So be cautious with those interactions. My brothers are typically safe. Those would be more legit dealings." But of course she might try to catch Devereux in something underhanded and lord that over Salvatore. Nii pressed her lips together tightly as she thought about that. Perhaps she should write to Viltre to ask him to help the young man out?

"And don't worry about my refusing to participate, I am used to that punishment." Niiemh didn't need to worry about scars just bruises and sore muscles.

He did have a valid question there. If she knew what Merle was doing then why come at all? Niiemh glanced down at her hands in front of her and resisted the urge to pick at her well maintained nails. "Refusing in front of your parents could have been seen as offensive. I would have gotten a public reprimand or worse." This time her voice was softer so no one would hear beyond Devereux. Refusing Salvatore's heir could have caused an issue. She might not be privy to business dealings but she did know how to avoid offending a noble or wealthy family. And since she didn't know Devereux's temperament, or how prone he was to tantrums for being denied something, publicly saying she did not wish to perform for him could have gone badly.

His mention of preference for men only made her smile and hide a giggle behind the back of her right hand. "Then she might try with my brother Viltre. He's the only Illegitimate son." Though that would have been entertaining. "You wouldn't need to worry about anything from him. Viltre isn't fond of her... ideas."

When asked how to handle things she glanced at the door. Knowing Merle she would either send a servant to catch them and report to her and Salvatore that something inappropriate was witnessed, or come herself in the hopes that Devereux had taken the bait. The safer bet would be the servant so that it would be a rumor easily spread. "I will leave you here and when someone comes to check on us they will find you alone. I shall claim I ate too much and went to see the healer." Niiemh would get in trouble for that but it would prevent a scandal at least. So long as she could leave without being seen.

A soft frown showed on her face as she looked down at the floor, shame creeping into her cheeks. Merle really didn't care about any foreigner.. "I didn't want to offend your mother by making her think I was rejecting her handsome son." There was nothing wrong with Devereux's looks. Niiemh actually thought he seemed rather exotic. His mother was pretty too.

The plan she'd come up with would land her in trouble with Merle but she didn't tell Devereux that. Nii had gotten used to taking punishments to save others from them. Though his question about her dancing had her nodding softly with another smile. "I can. I'm actually learning how to sword dance." Nii had been excited about that one in particular.

She waited another minute before stepping toward the door but it seemed she'd waited too long, they had run out of time. Before she could exit a servant appeared in front of her, the woman looked at Nii then at Devereux then back. Niiemh froze for a second hoping they would simply stay quiet but the woman grabbed her by her shirt, whispered an apology then shoved her backward. Niiemh stumbled before losing her footing and falling down, too taken off guard to remain standing.

The servant made a loud noise, something between a gasp and a scream, then hurried off in the direction of Merle and Salvatore.

She had been more worried about her sore bottom than anything so when Devereux cursed she looked up at him. Niiemh almost laughed since it slightly reminded her of her brother's foul language. However, when he looked at her then away rather quickly she blinked before looking down at herself. Finding that her shirt had been ruined she moved to try and fix it or at least get things covered better.

As his coat was handed to her she hesitated. If she was seen wearing his clothing it would be bad, but having her ripped shirt on display for everyone was likely worse. So reluctantly she took it from him with a whispered thank you that almost sounded like she might cry. Once she had it on Nii got back to her feet. She was at a loss as to what to do. If she left then Devereux would be found shirtless. If she stayed she'd be found in his clothing.

There was little time for Niiemh to think because the voice of her stepmother could be heard down the hall. "What do you mean her shirt is ruined!? Is that how you raise your sons in yael!?" Merle was clearly directing the question to Devereux's mother.

The color drained from her face as she looked at her companion. Mayne if she ran she could make it to her room to change! Nii took a step toward the door. "Please let me through, I may be able to make it to my room." There was still time, right!?

When she heard what she assumed to be Nephele's voice she flinched. His mother wasn't wrong. It was a misunderstanding. One set up by Merle. And Niiemh felt bad that the poor woman even had to defend her son in such a way. When Devereux turned his attention to her and hissed the command at her to run she instantly took steps toward the door. "I'm sorry, Devereux. " Came her own whispered reply. She hadn't meant for either of them to be caught in the web of lies but she'd been careless.

Without another second to spare she ran from the room and down the hall away from where the voices were coming from. Nii knew the risk she faced since she was wearing his clothing but she needed to try something. At the end of the hall she took a sharp right and vanished around the corner.

When she made it to her room she removed Devereux's coat and examined her own shirt. At first the thought to change it did cross her mind but someone would notice. So she needed to fix it and fast.

Not a moment after Niiemh disappeared out of the hall and Merle was marching down it. "We'll see about that." She claimed. Vulir of course was behind her, though he didn't seem to be near as flustered as his wife. If anything the head of the family appeared to be curious about what was going on. Merle moved quickly with the intent to trap both young individuals in the room and prove a point. However, when she got there and only found Devereux she narrowed her eyes, anger at not seeing Nii evident for a second before being replaced with something else and she took note of the boy and his lack of clothing. When Vulir arrived some seconds behind her he immediately noticed Devereux and only lifted a brow at him in question. "Do you then raise your sons to parade around another's house half dressed? I'm beginning to wonder if something else was going on." Merle seemed a bit smug as she kept her beady eyes on Devereux.

Merle watched closely as Devereux acted oddly but her eyes narrowed as Nephele went over to him. She didn't want the woman to ruin her plan. Vulir's expression softened a bit. "I think the food might have been a bit much." The man's suspicions confirmed by the boys own words shortly after.

When Salvatore accused them of poisoning Vulir only looked at the man with furrowed brows. A simple misunderstanding for sure. However Merle was offended by the statement. "Poison!? What good would come from poisoning any of you if we want good business?" She shrieked. Her husband sighed and shook his head at her. "Merle calm down. I think you went overboard with dinner. It was quite flavorful even for me. I imagine the boy isn't used to such." Vulir looked to Salvatore for confirmation.

"He's accusing us of trying to harm his heir, Vulir! Yet his heir clearly had ill intentions on your eldest daughter! You heard the servant!" Merle wasn't going to let that go, even if the boy was getting sick. She knew her own son was capable of making himself feel unwell for attention so she did not fall for it so easily. Vulir shook his head gently. "If the boy did something bad then we'll demand he do right but as of now all I see is a boy getting sick." He tried to pacify his clearly angry wife.

Of course the interaction took some minutes, from the time Merle found him to then, so when Niiemh finally did reappear she had Devereux's coat over her arm with the other hand gently placed over it. A peek past the adults blocking the door gave her a bit of a clue as to what was going on. Not to mention the snipet of conversation she caught. She stayed silent for the time being, allowing the adults to hopefully sort it out before they noticed her, and it allowed her to subtly lick her thumb to create wet spots on Devereux's coat. Nii had fixed her shirt though one could still tell it had been ripped if they were looking but she hoped everyone would be more focused on the other issue on hand.