An unwanted encounter

With a look of disbelief, Valerian decidedly makes himself over the the top of the stair well, beckoning me alone with him as he begins to descend the flight of stairs and into the light below us.

"By you, my beauty is undone, Princess. Believe me, you are far more gracious than you give yourself credit for," is all he says with a gracious bow, disappearing at last into the room below as he sweeps up the shadows around him. Squeaking furiously, some of the dilopuffs whiz after them, darting through the air like fuzzy, oversized bumble bees after their Queen. I however, stand motionless for a second, swaying and dazed as I run through that comment several times over in my mind.

Of course, he is only messing with me, naturally. My beauty is sub par at best compared to his, and yet for some reason it seems to remain stuck in my brain, whirring around like a record on loop.

Valerian thinks I am pretty?

Shortly after, I smack myself.