The Prince's father was still wishes that the Prince had wanted the Lady Belle. She would have been level-headed, kind, and gentle Queen. There was still time for the Prince to change his mind...
Riku had been released at the sides of the dance area by the Lady Princess, and then somehow approached by three different young women all at once. Apparently they weren't too keen on how the royal family kept neatly passing him off before any other woman could get a chance.
For his part, Riku was trying to polietly decline and find someone to save him from their sharp little hands and prying questions about things he wasn't supposed to discuss.