This my romance story for the prom 2024, enjoy!

TW: Cursing

*Knock, Knock*

(Silence)

*KNOCK, KNOCK*

"I know that you're awake, Rylee. So, you better open this before I bust it open!", claimed my best friend Yor, youngest princess of Nesenthaldria. I shout back at her from the comfort of my cozy bed, "I already know what you are going to say. The answer is a definite N-O."

I hear her groan. "Come on.", she says, more like complains, "It's the first nebula ball in a millennia and you'd rather be all alone, feeling sad and leaving your stunning bestie to dance all by her lonesome. When you could be having the time of your life at a once and a lifetime ball!?!"

"You know, being all alone in my cozy and quiet room does not sound all that bad to me.", I answer teasingly. Yor wants me to go with her to this "once in a lifetime ball" that her fiancé Devon is hosting to celebrate the grand nebula star's return for one only night before it disappears again for another millennia or some shit. I do not see the fun in trying to be social with the other bourgeoisie and I am assuming they will have lots of men attempting to take my hand in marriage there, so no thank you.

Suddenly I hear Yor shout, "Finally!!" The next thing I know, Yor is in my suite doing a little victory dance. "Ha! Take that Rylee, me one and your door none!", pronounces Yor as she punches through the air. Looking stupid in her puffy gown.

She already looks dressed for her fiancé's ball. Her long deep brown hair is all curled up, flowing effortlessly down her shoulders, she's got on a long shimmery gown that just shouts, I'm a disco ball, with no sleeves, the dress the color of the shining sea, and she's rocking a pair of three-inch heels. The outfit goes well with her tanned skin tone.

"You are a dork, you know that right?", I say, "But a hella hot dork at that.", stifling a laugh. She replies, with dramatic puppy dog eyes, saying, "You bet your sorry ass that I'm hella hot! Though, a lass, I can't truly be a hot dork forever if my dork apprentice refuses to go to a ball with her master.", a smirk painted across her face.

My face going red, I give her a half-hearted glare. God, she can be so dorky sometimes. Actually, that is an understatement, she is most definitely a full-time dork.

Sighing I declare sarcastically, "Fine. I will go... with you, the walking disco ball."

"Hey!" she shouts, though her face lights up and she starts to say something again, but I cut her off adding, "Only if I get something out of this experience that I will actually enjoy." I emphasize actually, knowing all too well that we both have two very different ideas on what a fun time is.

"Well," she says, full of confidence, "Number one is that I, your dork master, will be with you. Number two is that there will only be about, uh, four of the nine kingdoms, maybe five of them there. Number three is that you are the daughter of the most influential of the nine kingdoms, Essencesoka! Number four is that you might meet a cute boy, your soulmate, while dancing about. I mean, you can't pass up a chance like that!"

I sigh knowing that I could easily argue that her reasonings for me going are absolutely pointless, minus the third one, but once Yor puts her mind to something then there is no winning that battle. Even if men do not interest me. Plus, I still don't get her new obsession with soul mates, from what I've seen it just sounds like a load of crap. But anyway, naturally I tell her, "Fine. You win, I will go to this stupid party. But you better uphold those reasonings."

"Of course I'll uphold them!", she says with a hint of hehe, I probably cannot and will not. I know for a fact that she probably will not though but oh well. Can not always hide in my kingdom forever.

While she is beaming with pride, I am sitting here contemplating what the hell I have gotten myself into. I'm broken out of thought when Yor shouts, "See you at nine! Don't be late!", as she wizzes out of my suite.

Now...the question of the day. What the hell am I supposed to wear to the damn party???

After getting breakfast and contemplating over what to wear tonight for a couple of hours I finally came to a decision. I asked my maids for help and was able to put my outfit on. Taking a break to eat a light lunch.

I chose to wear a silky long flowing deep royal blue dress. With a chart of the stars laying across the skirt of the dress and laced sleeves. My maids put my hair up into Viking braids on the sides of my hair and then pinned it all back with a star broach. Hidden well enough under my dress I'm wearing comfy shoes for dancing so my feet don't soar from dancing in heels.

I head down from my bedroom suite and call for a butler to retrieve a carriage. It is about an hour before nine and the ride by carriage is around thirty-six minutes. I will end up being early to the ball, but being early is by far better than being late.

The butler came around the front with the carriage and I carefully situated myself inside of it. Then I was off on my merry way to the ball.

When we arrived, I carefully climbed out of the carriage then showed my respects to the King and Queen of the kingdom, Lestradia.

Inside the castle it was a marvelous sight to behold. The ceiling was sky high with beautiful mural art paintings on it. There was a world-renowned orchestra playing, and the ballroom was decorated beautifully to fit the theme for the viewing of the nebula star. I was almost completely excited for the ball, but I quickly realized that not five of the nine kingdoms were attending, but in fact all of them were. Just great. So great. I wonder why I had my doubts about Yor's reasoning in the first place. Nevertheless, I can't leave the ball now, since I already put hours into my day to make myself look really nice for tonight.

I wander aimlessly around the ballroom, carefully avoiding any gentleman that tries to attempt to ask me for a dance. Hoping that I waltz into Yor sooner rather than later.

After failing to see Yor anywhere around I decided to take residence outside in the viewing area for the nebula star tonight, a glass of champagne in hand even though I myself do not partake in drinking for I am only seventeen after all. The nebula star has not appeared yet though, I heard it will once the time has struck midnight. It was only a quarter past nine, so it was still a ways away.

As I stared up at the clear starry sky, I was all of a sudden disturbed when I was bumped into by a mysterious man, knocking my drink from my hand luckily not soiling my dress. "Pardon me madam, my deepest apologies," said the man, bowing rapidly to me. "Er– You are quite alright sir," I say, attempting to be polite. He straightens himself up and I can finally get a good look at him. He looks like your average nobleman, but young, around my age. His hair is a short choppy brown and his eyes are hazel colored.

He looks at me and he has a twinkle to them as he asks, "May I be so bold as to ask your name madam?" I contemplate telling him my name, but I find no harm in telling him it. "My name is Rylee of Essencesoka," I say, "Now tell me your's sir."

He gives me a look that is the equivalent to what one would look like if I stepped on a cat's tail. "My name is Arthur of Pintonesha. I feel terribly awful for disturbing such a woman of high status as yourself!" I roll my eyes at such a stupid notion. "If you do not mind me bothering you further... Could I possibly escort you inside for a dance?"

Ah, there it is... "I'm terribly sorry, but I will be accepting no offers from any man tonight for a dance," I tell him in response. His face droops down into a sad expression, but surprisingly accepts that he will not get a dance from me. I glance over his shoulder and see the one person I have been searching for, Yor. Not a good time at all.

"Rylee! I was wondering where you were! You look gorgeous," she shouts to me, carefully making way over to the both of us. "I could say the same to you, Yor," I say, my demeanor brightening and a smile appearing upon my face. Her fiancé thankfully nowhere in sight.

She comes over and hugs me, but then notices the man, Arthur. "Oh. Who may this fine gentleman with you be?" she asks, giving a teasing smirk. My smile immediately droops back to a frown. "This man is Arthur of Pintonesha," I say pointing to him, "And he was just about to leave. Isn't that right sir Arthur?"

Arthur looks about to retort what I said but quickly stops himself when he notices me glaring at him. Instead, he draws his attention to Yor and gives her a puzzled look as if he just was realizing something about her.

"You are lady Yor of Nesenthaldria! Soon to be the bride of Devon of Lestradia!!" he proclaimed, almost bursting with excitement.

"Haha, yes that is me," she said stifling a giggle, "Though I feel as though I have heard your name spoken among whispers in my dear friends' court." I'm puzzled by this as I have heard no mention of him ever before. Was she feeling alright?

"This is the first I'm hearing of this," I say. Yor looks at me confused, but it is the man Arthurs look that bothers. He goes, "Oh. I thought you had already been informed..." his voice trails off, looking worriedly at me. "What should I have been informed about?" pushing further for an answer. "Our parents... have decided that when you come of the age of eighteen... you shall be married to me..."

A blanket of silence shrouded the three of them as I tried to make sense of what he just said, then shrieked, "WHAT!" I felt like spewing my guts up. This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening. It would mean I would no longer have rule of my kingdom as the eldest child. I'd be a slave to a meager prince! I didn't want this. Why, why, why, why....

I was released from my thoughts when I finally took notice that Yor had been shaking my shoulders for some time. I saw that, that prince was standing still, full of shock at my response.

"Rylee? Sweetheart? Are you alright? Would you like to go inside and grab a glass of water?" she asks, her voice laced with concern. All I could muster was a nod in response. "Ok then." She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and led me inside. My face turned a deep red, but even this touching moment could not lift my mood.

She sat me down on a chair then left me for a brief moment, coming back with a glass of water. "Here," she said, handing me the glass, her voice sweet as honey. I graciously took the glass and took a sip of it.

She pulls a chair up next to mine and takes a seat. "I'm sorry that I brought that up. I truly had no idea what it was about when I had overheard," she says, laying her hand on my free one, "I hope you know that I'm sorry. I know marriage and princes are not your two favorite things."

"I don't blame you for anything as you were just curious and I was to find out eventually anyway," I say solemnly. We sat and chatted for a little while. Before we even knew it, it was already half past eleven! We decided to leave our seats and got outside again to find a good viewing for the nebula star. I'm so glad I am going to share this moment with her! Instead of her having to share it with her fiancé.

Just as we were about to exit, I heard the most agitating and annoyingly high octave voice, "Yor! My love, I was looking for you everywhere!" The voice of Devon piercing sharply through the air. "Devon!" Yor shouts, turning around and runs up to him. He grabs a hold of her waist, and she takes a hold of his head, pulling it down, leading him into a light kiss.

That was the final straw. My eyes started to immediately well with tears and I made a mad dash out before I could cause a scene. Darting out to my carriage in a lot where they all sat.

Once the couple separated from their kiss, checking their breath, Yor said, "Sorry for leaving you earlier. I just had to find Rylee! Then once I did, I had completely forgotten to come for you," she paused then spoke again, "Speaking of which, would you care to join us in watching–" she halted her sentence once she noticed Rylee's absences.

"Where did she run too? We must go find her!" proclaimed Yor. Then she dragged him around the ball. Not aware that I was in my carriage, pathetically sobbing silently to myself. Tonight was just too much.

About ten minutes later the nebula star appeared. It was a sight to behold. It was a beautiful mix of color that reminded me of an aura borealis, but different in a way. Also not looking like I'd imagine a star would at all.

I wondered if it was like a shooting star that I could wish upon. It probably wasn't, but nevertheless I wished that 'Yor and I were two different people, that fate was not so cruel'.

Then I read off into the night back to my castle, accepting this cruel fate that I have been dealt. As Yor and her fiancé still run amok looking for Rylee. 

Word Count: 2425

If you all enjoy this then I will write a second part with a much happier and less open-ended ending! Love y'all <33333

Have a good morning/night/evening/afternoon/noon/dawn/or dusk!!