Flattery (Herobrine x Reader)

Part 4

It was a slow next few days, but eventually, the evening of the ball was in full swing. Your cousins, even the young boy, bustled around the house like mad. You worried some of them might even fall off the balcony or roll down the stairs in their blur of colorful dresses and fancy shoes. 

You yourself had picked out a, not your favorite, but still beautiful dress nonetheless. Everything was planned out, and though you did your best to hide your excitement from Mother, you just couldn't wipe that smile off your face when the plan comes back to mind. You can't wait to see the beautiful decorations of the castle, the elegant dresses of the lady guests, and even, deep inside, you hope that nice man you met by the hidden pond will show up too. 

"See you later, Y/n! Make sure the dishes are washed and put away by the time we come back! Other than that, you get a night off!" Mother waves goodbye to you, faking that smile of hers, as she boards the carriage with a few other women her age and their daughters. They had decided on a late notice to ride with a few others, just to help push the idea that these were very social and caring people. Or at least that is what they had ranted on with you about. Finally gone, dissappearing behind the wall of trees, you smile brightly and run for your room. Up you go, up the tiny spiral entrance with excitement hard to contain. Hidden away in your room was where you had set your dress, all nicely cleaned and ironed. Barging in, you haul with a gasp when you see the shape it is in. Your dress is now in shreads. It looks as if a wild animal had tried to put it on and raged when their attempts failed. Heart chipped at, you hope it was just some accident. Not even taking a moment to see the thorough damage to it, you run back down, hoping your ride is at least alright. You and Polly had made sure to hook a small carriage to one of your horses just before they began getting dressed, so surely at least that should be fine! It wasn't. The carriage had both its wheels missing, and the horse was nowhere to be seen. Left fully heart broken, with the realization that all of that had just been a trick, you fall to your knees right there behind the stables. Out of all the lowest, dirtiest, self-pleasing, tricks those girls had pulled on you, this had to be the worst! 

You only step out from behind the barn to cry more as you watch the sun set through a few trees, in the only spot you knew that had a decent view, which was looking out far beyond the forest and over the distant hills. Branches blocked your full view of the sunset, but at least you had something to look painfully towards. In the final rays of the sunset, you lay down on the log you sat on, and close your eyes, just, taking a break from everything, even if just for a moment. 

No! This is not how your night will end! You sit up abruptly, piecing things together. You can't just lay around sulking, hoping some fairy god mother will magically show up to save you! That isn't how life works! 

A new look of determination replacing the tears that soak your face, you wobbily stand to your feet. The sun has just set, meaning it is now 7PM, so that gives you approximately three hours before you won't be allowed in. A plan resting in your mind, you hop your newly charged self up and get to working. First, you work on either finding or making new wheels to the "cart" of yours. You only find one of them in a bush, so you use the wood cutting skills you have gained over the years to craft a new one identical to that one. The horse returns after dark, and you hook it back up to your ride. Testing it, the newer of the two wheels gives out, and the whole thing collapses. Well, that's a problem. Well screw that, you'll just ride the horse. Instead of wasting more time on the little carriage, you saddle the horse and prepare it to be ridden as soon as possible. 

Next, the dress. With only two hours to spare, you rush back into the house and into your cousins' room. They have plenty of spare dresses in there. All the ones you find are pretty casual, so you take up a sewing kit and get to work. You pretty much take whatever you like, and would fit best with the design, and compile all of those into one dress. Pretty soon you have your dress before you. The sweat collected on your forehead, reminding you of how much of a mess you have become once again. 

Only 40 minutes until the front gates close. Your hair is fine, so you don't have to wash that, but you will have to put it up again. Quickly, you wash up, dry up, get dressed, double check everything, put all of your hair up, only needing too be held in place by one comb, somehow. Now that's magic! And, finally, you untie your horse and jump on. Only about ten minutes to spare. An imaginary clock ticks in your mind as you race your steed down the streets. The castle hadn't seemed that far away when you came by on your walk, so you hope you can make it in on time. 

Skidding to a stop at the front gates, you jump off your horse, thankfully not breaking an ankle with the high-heels you were wearing, and tied your horse up a little further away from all the others. You had it all planned out that you would leave early too so you hopefully wouldn't get caught by Mother. 

You pant as you finally make it to the front doors. You walk in slowly, just taking a moment to truly get a good look at the grand entrance, beautiful plants, and even a nice fountain not too far off. You hope the rest of the castle looks just as beautiful. Kindly, the two gentlemen at the entrance let you through before shutting the two massive doors, allowing no one in after you, not like there was a line anymore or anything. Everyone is already inside. And by everyone, I mean, everyone. Pretty much every face you remember seeing before, you see here. It is a little awkward when you first show up, just sliding into the madness of color. But awkward the same time, it is all just so beautiful. You examine the grand, pearl, halls which stretch up almost four stories tall. There are even a few balconies in the hallways alone, which hold small gatherings of people. 

After staring up so long your neck starts hurting, you look forward again to see the ball room is just ahead. You figure you will grab a few snacks, since you are starving, and then move on to the next part of your plan: talk with everyone who works here to see if and how you can apply for a job! 

There is settled commotion mostly around the center as, one after another, all the young lady guests get a chance at meeting the young king. You don't know exactly what is going on, but to you it just looks like a bunch of dancing: something you are definitely not interested in. 

Reaching the snacks, finally, you marvel at all the colors and even smells emitting from the still mounds of choices to munch. 

"Heh, looking for the best thing on the table?. Here, I would suggest you try these." A somewhat farmiliar, male voice suggests, sticking out a hand, holding a few colorful cookies before you, not giving you time to even look up to see his face. You take one politely, saying a quiet thank you. After you take a small bite, your eyes widen with a smile on your face. That cookie tastes gooood! 

"Oh, wow!" You almost choke on the surprise of the taste. It had been years since you had had any sweets, but even then, this was waaay better than anything you remembered. "These are delicious!" The man laughed softly at your un-called for joy. 

"Thanks! I wasn't actually sure if they would turn out any good, but it seems like everyone loves them!" He said. Almost dropping the remaining cookie, you began asking a question as you caught it, keeping eyes on it the whole time. 

"Wait, you made these?! Does that mean you are a chef or something?" 

"I guess you could say that. It it more of a hobby for me, though. I just made a few things for the ball specifically. Which, to be honest, took a lot of time!" 

"I bet! Your jaw would drop hearing all the hours spent remaking the same meal over and over again, just to make everyone happy!" You rant to a point that you wonder why it is suddenly so easy to talk, especially about something as sensitive as your personal life. Changing the subject... "Do you, by any chance, know how I can apply for a job here? I- I mean... I have been wanting to simply work here for years now, and am just wondering how that is possible?" You ask, security leaving as the words flood out. There is a little pause. 

"...I might be able to arrange something, but, this is a party, why not just enjoy it while you can?" He asks, offering you another cookie when he sees you have finished your last one. 

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to chill for a little bit, just, no dancing or anything." You agree, letting your shoulders relax. After some time, you realize you haven't even looked up aft this guy. Slowly, you turn a bit so you can look up at him, as you ever so carefully look up from the floor and table. "So, what is your name?" Taking note of the simple but stylish suit he wears comfortably, you finally catch sight of his face just above that; and you are astonished. Looking back at you, is that same guy from before! Same face, same eyes, and same gentle smile! No, way. It is almost as if all of your wildest dreams have just come true.