Aurelia sighed in response to him, her fingers itching to thread through his messy dark hair again even in her annoyance. "They won't come back for you. Anyone else they will, but many of these lesser fae have never encountered enough unseelie fae to not be afraid. They are meek creatures, Lox..." she mumbled, her words just loud enough for him to hear as she rested against him. She was hoping to let her mask fall for a moment and to ease the tension she felt, and for a moment, as he rested his hand against her hair, she did feel at ease. She might've even whined at the loss, but she didn't. She was steadily reminding herself that it was all a ruse, that she couldn't get used to the affections no matter how easily he was making her want to melt. He was too good at his games, and it was rather dangerous for her.

How long would they be able to play pretend before it came too real for her? How far would they go before not being able to take steps back? How was she going to feel after sitting his lap all evening, only to go back to solitude after they went back home? Would she cling? Would she despise him all the same? Would it be enough to fool her family into satisfaction? The questions came in her mind too quickly to even answer, increasing the rate of her heart as she failed to even realize that her husband was munching quietly on his next treat. Her hand with her wine glass rested on her thigh, the stem of the glass situated between her fingers as her nails dug at her skin. She was growing too anxious being there, growing too tired of saving face for other people's happiness when it was hers that she should be worried about. But still, she couldn't speak on it. She wouldn't.

The King lifted his chin as he held eye contact with Loxley, a look of pure disdain on his face at the sight before him and supposed disrespect. The sun outside the windows seemed to briefly flare a little brighter with his irritation as he finally dared to accept the silent challenge and speak first. "Common thieves and game players are still common amongst your kind, I see," he began nonchalantly, clearly aiming to get under their skins. "Tell me, how much longer will this pitiful attempt at a ruse continue before I actually believe you could actually be interested in my daughter? You don't seem the affectionate type at all. It's almost a bit... much." His tone was biting, jabbing in a way that made Aurelia stiffen as her head finally lifted, whipping around to glare daggers at her father once she had masked the shock.

Loxley continued to enjoy his treat. He was in no rush, even if the rays of annoyance wanted him to crumble. As much as he wanted to look away due to the subtle, or not so, sunlight burning his eyes.. He wouldn’t be backing down so easily. He didn’t bother to track the lesser fae worker, although it could have been useful down the line to really check if Aurelia was correct about them not coming back. Plus, he could be a little mean and find out their name to specifically ask for them. But for now he shoved that idea away while the King spoke.

“Admittedly, no. I’m not very affectionate, you’d be correct.” Lux purred. He finished the last remains of his caramel fudge just as his eyes dropped down towards his wife for a split second. Weirdly enough, he was starting to think she wasn’t… the worst. He didn’t let himself dwell on the idea of possibly having feelings for a Seelie, of all women. “But feelings can change, and you must be going blind if you can’t see it’s real.”

Loxley wrapped his other arm around her now, sitting comfortably where he was. He lied all too smoothly, but everyone knows the best lies come with a sprinkle of truth. He rested his head back against the chair. He would love any excuse to leave and get home, this wretchedly bright place was only serving to shred his soul slowly the longer he stayed. A small smile spread across his lips when the King called him a common thief.

“Common thieves? The only thing I’ve stolen is this lovely lady's heart. But call us what you want.”

Aurelia was more or less ignored by her father, who's sole intention seemed focused on pissing off her husband, rather than her. He'd already succeeded, of course, but that didn't mean she took kindly to such rude treatment. She knew Loxley could handle himself, but still for whatever reason she despised hearing her father attempt to talk down to him. He was the one who orchestrated the arrangement between the pair, so the least he could do was be happy about it. They hadn't killed each other, and that was all that truly mattered. They lived, perhaps not harmoniously, but they lived and, well... She was rather comfortable right where she was, even if her thoughts and the tension in the air made her want to simmer into nothingness.

Even if Loxley was not an affectionate man, he did a damn good job at pretending that he was. His touch was so gentle, his body relaxed, and his entire demeanor screamed of his comfort. Yet.. it was all a ruse and her romantic mind did not know how to feel. Having the demeanor of a lover did not make one such, but Aurelia was finding herself more and more partial to this softer version of her husband. Even his genuine behavior wasn't that bad, in truthfulness... and there was something about the way he spoke of feelings changing that made her flinch just enough, and perhaps even her ears reddened at the idea that fantasy might become reality. It wouldn't, but what if it did?

Her hands slid to rest against his cradling arms after a servant had came and took away her wine glass, her thumbs smoothing idly across her skin. There was a hint of unrest in her, her bones itching to return to the privacy of their home so that she could work through the infuriatingly confusing bloom of emotion in her chest. Emotion that nearly stole her breath away when he claimed to have only stolen her heart.. Her gaze turned from glaring at her father to resting oh-so softly on her husband's stupidly handsome face. "Yes... I'm truly afraid your eyesight must be failing. My heart is no longer my own to hold," she spoke, her tone almost far too convincing even for her own ears. Heavens above, it's all too much.

Slowly she broke her gaze from Loxley and returned it to her parents. "This has felt far too much like an interrogation than a party, and I'm afraid the time for pokes and jabs has ended. I think it is time we go home and enjoy our relationship away from prying eyes," she added after a moment, tone sharper. She was far too troubled to remain there, and she feared that if she didn't find herself away from prying eyes soon, she'd combust right there.

“Ah well. No fun, farewell. Have a lovely night.” Loxley nodded towards the royals on his way out with his wife. The way he spoke was polite enough, though it was also clear he didn’t really care what the King and Queen had to talk about after they left. Internally, he was happy to leave this godforsaken kingdom of light and ‘beauty’. He could rant about it all night long but the stance Unseelie had against Seelie Courts were spoken of daily. Everyone knew, no point repeating it.

Lux followed Aurelia out into the white and gold hallway again. His long legs allowed him to move faster than the smaller Seelie woman, so he slowed himself to keep pace with her. He glanced down at her a few times, pleased with himself for not messing anything up.. Too bad, at least. A fistfight didn’t break out between him and the King, that had to count for something even if the words were the equivalent. The architecture of the building was pretty even though he would never admit such out loud. God forbid he compliment them.

“Same way back?” Loxley murmured as they approached the end of the hallway right where they had arrived. He was asking if they were doing the shadow travel again, and at least this time would be a little more comfortable for Loxley. Not practiced with her just yet, but not as awkward as the first time. He was excited to get back to his lake in their own home, but he had taken a small amount of amusement from the way Aurelia reacted during this little get together.

He grabbed her hand, suddenly plunging them into darkness again. This time was quicker than last because he was done with the Seelie Court’s palace. His tolerance ran out as much as he may say and act otherwise. The shadows seemed to swallow them downwards, just like last time. There was no creeping shade or fog to make the transition easier. This was more similar to how he travelled by himself. He put concentration into not dropping her along the way, landing them safely in the living room of their shared space in half the time it would have taken if they had ridden horseback between locations.