Winter felt her heart race and her breath shorten. She wasn't used to the attention and the sheer number of people in the courtyard overwhelmed her.

She took refuge inside, away from them all. Clutching her shoes, she was somehow able to walk through the ballroom and into the gardens barefoot. A fountain dead center of the garden was unoccupied and collapsed at its base, trying to breathing. She clutched into the edge as the fear, panic and anxiety rolled over.

Gingerly, she lay her head upon the edge of the fountain. The cold stone soothed her flushed cheeks. Winter couldn't help it as her tears slid down her face and into the basin.

"Excuse me, miss but are you alright?"

Hastily, Winter wipped her tears away before answering: "I'm fine. Thank you," she felt her cheeks flood with red as she looking into the water. She gripped the material of her lilac dress as she tried her best to calm her nerves.

"You don't look fine to me, miss." This time the voice was much and sounded much, much younger.

Winter looked through the loose strands of hair at a young boy kneeling besides her. She was greeted by his light blue eyes and his curly blonde hair. She estimatesd his age to be around ten, maybe younger.

He held out a white hankie to her and she took in her hand. His hat barely contained his curls, perhaps when he would be older they would grow out.

"Did a boy break your heart, miss?" He asked innocently, looking down at his stained shirt. He sat down next to her in the grass, picking out stray stings from his trousers. Winter noticed that he didn't have shoes on.

"W-what?" She stuttered, "Oh! No, no, no. It's nothing like that. I just needed air." She

"Is this your first ball?" The boy asked.

"Yes, it is," she sighed, "However, It's not what I expected."

"What's it like?" He asked excitedly.

Winter didn't have the heart ruin his perceptions of a ball so she omitted the darker parts. She included the dancing, the music and the clothes. She talked about the types of food and drinks that were served. 

Her experience at the ball hadn't been pleasant but that didn't mean she could ruin it for him, even if he was a stable hand and would most likely never see a ball. It didn't mean that he couldn't dream.

He bombarded her with more questions.

What types of dances were there? Did she meet other royalty? Do they serve crab or lobster? What did caviar taste like? Did she kiss a prince?

The last question she turned red but for the rest, she answered to the best of her ability.

"I've never caught your name," Winter said, still blushing.

"Raul, milady. What might yours be?"

"Winter," she whispered.

"Winter?" He stayed silent for a bit before he exclaimed loudly, "Winter?! As in the Winter? Princess Winter?" Raul got up.

"Not so loudly!" She hissed and pulled him down, "Yes, I'm Winter."

"Wow!" He hushed whispered, "I've heard so much about you but I never thought I would meet royalty. It's an honor."

"Please don't be formal," she begged.

"But-"

"Look, I'm not really comfortable yet with being considered royalty. If you don't mind, could you treat me normally?"

Raul grinned, "Your wish is my command, milady!"

And so she met a little boy and she become his friend. Little Raul was unusually wise and Winter found it odd. She didn't know him but she felt comfortable as a bird in its nest with him. Perhaps it was his innocence or his smile, he was easier to talk to.

Maybe the real reason was that Winter could be a child and forget the issues of the court.

Forget her faction. Forget her sister. Forget the ball. Forget them all and be a child once more.