(A/N: Aaand the moment you've all been waiting for...the ball! I wrote more than I expected so I think they'll be a part three today or tomorrow. Here's a few things to know before you start reading:
-You can probably guess from context, but when a character is referred to as the 'First Prince' this means that they're the older sibling of the 'Second Prince' (Got this from Akagami no Shirayukihime because I'm trash-)
-I try to make as much detail as I write historically accurate, but sometimes I literally just can't write really fancy dialogue so please don't hate >.<
-Since the medieval era only remained in Europe, I found a way to incorporate the countries that either weren't in Europe (China, Japan) or didn't even exist at the time into the story in their own little way.)
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"I hate dresses."
I stared into a mirror, examining my transformation. Elizabeta stood beside me, giving a small chuckle.
"I'd have to agree, they aren't the most comfortable to clean in, but rules are rules." She remarked with a small sigh. "Everytime one of those daft princes come to visit, they actually have the nerve to try and look under my dress while I bend down to dust. Sometimes I just want to punch them right in their arrogant faces."
Elizabeta is a maid working at my castle. Though every noble has given me the speech about how 'If you spend too much time with a girl of low ranking, her bad habits will rub off on you' and whatever, but I didn't care. She's seems like an innocent, polite girl like me, but is armed with a feisty attitude and a hardworking, optimistic spirit. She also has a good sense of fashion. She was forced into marrying an aristocrat. She loved him at first, but she slowly grew bored of being just a housewife. She pretended to be a male and enlisted in the army, but she was caught by her husband. When he grew angry at her, she divorced him and is working at my palace for now until she can earn enough money to live and travel around the world on her own. I admire her.
I laughed and beamed at her. "And that's why I do so with my own fists. No one would suspect that a tiny little princess threw the first punch. I say that those walking lampposts attacked me first and I'm off the hook."
"Yes, yes. I recall the poor man. But seeing him whine like a little child was quite amusing." Lucille bluntly stated. The woman had her knees bent at my feet, working on some finishing touches on the ends of my dress. She stood up and tucked her needle and thread into her pocket.
Lucille was a friend of Elizabeta's and a talented tailor. Along with Elizabeta's help, she created a beautiful gown for me.
But at the cost of beauty, I suffered greatly. The amount of layers that went into the complicated outfit made me feel cramped and sweaty. The corset I wore practically choked the area around my stomach. All the frills and ruffles looked pretty on the dress from afar, but it didn't fit me.
"Hm. It doesn't look like it works with her..." Elizabeta tapped her chin as she looked at me through the mirror, voicing my thoughts exactly. "But that's the type of fashion going around these days."
"Huh. Fashion stinks."
"Princess, that mouth of ours isn't going to find you a prince to marry."
"I don't really want a prince to marry," I retorted to Lucille's comment and dramatically raised my hands, speaking in an exaggerated, snobby voice, "but if you insist. I daresay, this type of fashion does not appeal to my impeccable taste, but if it is what's popular then I shall pray for the poor souls that have to suffer in dresses like these-"
Lucille smacked me in the back of my head.
I grinned mischievously. Lucille opened her mouth to say something when there was a door at the door.
"(Name), are you ready?"
"Yes, you can come in Kiku."
The door opened and Kiku stood on the other end, Yao right behind him. They looked me over and burst into smiles of approval.
"You look exquisite, princess."
"You finally at least look like the princess you're supposed to be. We have to work on that potty mouth, though." Yao scolded me playfully.
"Ouch. I am offended."
Yao chuckled and offered me his arm, which was bent in an 'L' shape. "Shall we?"
"We shall." I looped my arm around his and waved to Elizabeta and Lucille. "Thank you again, you two."
Yao respectfully tipped his head. "Ladies."
"Have fun!"
"...I hope I will." I gave a nervous smile and followed Yao and Kiku out the door.
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You would've expected that since a ball was being hosted in my own kingdom, a lot of the nobility would be swarming me.
I stood awkwardly at the banquet table and sipped a glass of punch. That wasn't happening.
When I was announced, I had to do the princess wave and stuff as everyone clapped. Then everything went back to normal. The musicians played flawlessly on their instruments, creating upbeat yet calm music suited for a perfectly paced ballroom dance. The nobles simply greeted me when I walked past and some of the usual annoying aristocrats introduced me to their sons, but none of the bachelors my parents had picked out had arrived.
I was savoring my freedom for now.
Trumpets blared into my eardrums. I blew out an irritated sigh through my gritted teeth. Welp, there goes my freedom.
I emptied the glass and set it on the tray of a waiter that passed by. I wove my way toward the entrance of the ballroom. I took a place beside Yao and Kiku, getting as far away from my parents as possible. They provided me with smiles of support that read, 'Good luck', which I certainly needed.
"Presenting Prince Arthur Kirkland of England."
'Hm, Arthur Kirkland. I like the sound of that name.'
His footsteps graced the marble tiled floors, barely making a single sound as he practically glided over to me.
"Hello, Princess (Name). It's a pleasure to meet you, love."
There was a bit of a British accent tinted within every precise word he spoke. The amount of poise in his posture, allure in his smile, and the attractiveness of his overall appearance was a little intimidating, I must admit.
It didn't help that he tipped his head in a neat bow and proceeded to kiss the back of my hand with his lips.
I immediately grew nervous, blurting out, "S-Same here." I caught my parents' piercing gaze in peripheral view and cleared my throat. "Um, I mean the pleasure's mine. It's nice to meet you, Prince Arthur."
Once his warm lips retracted from my hand, he didn't let go. Arthur gazed at the pairs of people dancing in the middle of the ballroom. "Shall we, milady?"
"I'd love to." I replied and let him guide me into the crowd.
We found a spot on the dance floor. The anxiety flittering in my stomach blossomed.
"Princess? You're shaking, is something troubling you?"
I inhaled deeply and bobbed my head as I put a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"My apologies. A lot is on my mind. One of them is that it's been a while since my last ball. I'm a tad bit rusty on ballroom dancing."
"There's no need to worry, princess. Don't you fret your pretty head about it." My cheeks bursted with a sudden wave of heat. He gave me a reassuring squeeze of my hand and lightly placed a hand on my hip. "Follow my lead."
He did a wonderful job of leading me. He hummed the song under his breath and used his pointer finger to tap the beat against my waist.
"You're a wonderful dancer, my dear."
"Thank you, Arthur." I smiled. His glimmering, emerald eyes shone brilliantly when he glanced down at me. The gentle look he gave me was so entrancing that I almost didn't hear the trumpets sound.
"Presenting Francis Bonnefoy of France."
"Please excuse me." I said, about to slip out of his grip when he squeezed my wrist.
"A-Ah, how about we keep dancing for a moment longer?"
"But-"
"Excusez-moi? I believe I've yet to introduce myself. S'il-vous plâit move aside, Black Sheep of Europe."
"Why, I'm in the middle of dancing with her, so maybe, Frog, you can-"
"Oops, look like I've taken her. Sorry, Franny, Artie~" A strong grasp slipped my hand from Arthur's and pulled me away from the two.
"Wha-" I looked at Arthur and the other blond man beside him as they faded into the crowd. My eyes narrowed and I glanced at the person dragging me from them. "Hey! What are you...Do...ing..."
I stared, completely wide eyed at the man in front of me. "Sorry for taking you captive princess, but allow me to introduce myself." He bent his back and lifted my hand, giving it a kiss. While Arthur was more of a mix of cold and warm, he radiated energy and liveliness. He raised his head and flashed me this dazzling grin that blinded me. His eyes were all the more astonishing: A galaxy filled with an endless sky of big, blue, bright stars. "Call me Alfred, Alfred Jones."
I couldn't even find the breath to speak for a second there.
"I-I'm (Name). Princess (Name)."
"Hm. That's a nice name!"
I chuckled. "Thank you, Alfred. Where do you hail from?"
"England, actually. I serve Arthur as his right hand man, of sorts." He proudly smiled. "I'm a marshal."
"Wow...that's an amazing honor." I breathed out in surprise. Being a marshal for him meant that he commanded the entire British army. The mere thought was simply appalling. Now that the reality of leading so many people to victory or to death had hit me, I wasn't surprised that Kiku didn't want to be promoted.
"May I ask why you dragged me away from those two?"
"Sometimes they can get too...competitive and worked up. It's almost impressive how they can argue from hours about the most trivial, foolish things." Alfred sighed exasperatedly. "I decided to spare you from the process. My brother is calming them, he's surprisingly talented about it. They must be done now. Let's go."
I followed behind him. I spotted a waitress heading in my direction, looking to be in quite the rush. I stood in place to grant her the way. When she walked off, I found myself lost. I stumbled blindly through the dancers. When the music picked up, I got rapped in the mass of nimble-footed people.
I was suddenly given a rough shove, sending me flying to the floor. "O-Ouch..." I muttered. I glanced up at a man dancing wildly, most likely drunk. I pursed my lips, about to give him a piece of my mind, but a figure stepped in front of me before I could do so.
"Hello! Excuse me, sir! Yes, you. You rudely knocked over this lovely lady." He crouched down and offered me a hand. I gratefully accepted it and hoisted myself from off the ground. "I think you owe the mademoiselle an apology. Treating her as if she's invisible is unacceptable." He added this last bit quietly, "I would know it first-hand."
After earning an apology from the man, he led me off to the side where there were less people. "Thank you very much...er...?"
"Matthew Williams. A marshal, commander of the French army. Nice to meet you."
"Pleasure to meet you, Matthew. My name is (Name). Princess."
"Ah, yes. The belle of the ball." He said with a warm smile. "The reason I've been invited to such a marvelous ball. Have you had the chance to meet the prince I serve? His name is-"
"Oh, Matthieu, Mattheiu. If you would've told me you'd be taking all the beautiful ladies, I wouldn't have invited you."
"Well, speak of the devil. I bid you goodbye, (Name)." I quickly nodded in reply when he walked off.
"It's a pleasure to make you acquaintance, mon cher. I'm known as Francis Bonnefoy, prince of France." He gave off an elegant, suave air. Charisma emitted from his sly smile. He bowed and took my hand in his. His lips pecked tenderly at my skin. His crystal clear blue eyes whisked up at me. I could see a combination of mischief and flirt glimmering in those eyes of his when he winked.
I decided to meet his challenge head on, a smirk playing on my mouth.
"Words won't be enough to woo me. I'm sorry if it's been able to suffice other princesses, but your little tactics cannot and will not work."
I grinned fiercely and curtsied, purposely displaying an act of respect directly after downright insulting his flirting skills to tease him.
"Just then, the trumpets were blown."
"Farewell, Francis." I spun around on my heel, strolling into the crowd with newfound confidence.
'Huh, this is entertaining. Being rebellious is rather amusing, after all. Bring it on.' I marched through the crowd.
A desolate feel smacked me in the face. Only then did I notice the hushed whispers. Curious, I headed to the entrance to figure out why that was.