Rainier always admired grace, even off the dance floor. He paused to watch the delicate lift of Surreal's shoulder. And then there was concern. She thought she was tainited?

But the look in her eyes warned him off.

"If I have given ou the impression that I am someone that is overly concerned with pointless frivolities, I'm sorry."

And he wanted her to know that. Society had a place, but not every place. Protocol however? Mattered. The deep-seated need to serve? Called.

He had promised that he wouldn't snarl.

But, tainted?