Chapter One

Our story began with a ball, which was typical for this kind of fairy tale. This ball was held to seal a business deal between two powerful kingdoms and successful families; the Ichinoses and the Hiragis.

Those who were lucky enough to attend the ball had brought their brightest smiles and most expensive outfits, those who didn't whispered among themselves about how it was the "dance of the decade" as they longed to join the guest list. Sealing a deal like this would create an alliance that would leave peace among the nation for centuries, but one final detail had to be dealt with before this alliance could be made.

To fully unite the Ichinoses and the Hiragis, the heirs, Yuichiro Ichinose and Shinoa Hiragi would join hands in marriage when they turned eighteen, and Shinoa would then become the Princess of Drelacia.

Just a few more months until I turn eighteen, Yuichiro thought, lost in his own thoughts as the party melted into background noise in his head. Who knows what will happen in that time.

The Ichinose ballroom sparkled with way too much crystal for Yuichiro's taste; whereas his mother loved the glittery diamonds that flaunted their wealth, Yuichiro found it tacky. Of course, he'd never tell his mother this. She'd be heartbroken, and his father would get angry that he spoke out of turn, and to be disrespectful, no less. Yuuchiro glanced longingly at the champagne on the refreshments table, desperately wanting another glass or two to help him get through the night.

The ballroom was massive, and even though almost a hundred people had been invited to the party, the room still felt empty with it's sky-high ceiling and enormous windows allowing the setting sun to cast in orange light.

Yuichiro watched the dancers for a while as he waited for his girlfriend to arrive on the scene. Shinoa was always fashionably late. She loved to make an entrance.

Five minutes after the clock struck seven, Yuichiro watched Shinoa stroll in. Her ruby-red strappy heels matched the blood-red carpet rolled out for the occasion. The carpet itself was a striking difference to the usual frosted-white furniture in the house.

She was striking. That would exactly be the word Yuichiro would use to describe Shinoa. Her breezy maroon evening dress swished against her ankles as she sashayed down the carpet, transforming it into a fashion runway. Her lilac hair was done up in an elegant braided updo. She wasn't nervous at all; Shinoa was the girl who truly belonged in this kind of world. She really did fit the mold for a princess.

When they approached each other, Yuichiro smiled warmly as he extended his hand out. She took his hand with her gloved one, and as their fingers intertwined for the billionth time, it felt normal, like they were born to be laced together. They immediately headed for the dance floor just as the musician began to play the waltz, dissolving into the crowd.

The music spun around them, sucking the gravity out of the room. The fluidity of the dancers melted into the steady melody of the piano, twirling like tops. The ladies' evening dresses unraveled in velvety colors. even with years of dance lessons, Yuichiro never felt like he belonged at these damn parties.

Shinoa's poised her body upright as they swirled around the room. She scoped out the other people, all adults in their late twenties, at least. Of course they'd be the only kids there, but Yuichiro subconsciously knew it wasn't her age that made Shinoa always stand out.

Uncomfortable as always, Yuichiro clenched his teeth but continued to dance. He nearly stepped on Shinoa's foot from time to time, and she would giggle and shake it off as he blushed and apologized.

When the song ended - finally, thought Yuichiro - one of the castle butlers approached them.

"Prince Yuichiro and Princess Shinoa, your fathers are requesting your immediate presence," He explained with a bow. Yuichiro and Shinoa exhanged a look before she thanked him and they headed towards the dining tables.

The one in the corner, the largest table and clearly the most exsquisite, was reserved for the immediate family of the royals. Yuichiro spotted the men at the heads of the table, with their wives to the chairs next to them. Two spots next to each other were reserved for the children.

Yuuichiro remembered to pull out Shinoa's chair and help her in her seat before sitting down himself. His mother smiled proudly at his gentlemanly manners as he put his cloth napkin in his lap.

"Are you kids enjoying the party?" Queen Kaori started, the smile never leaving her face. "I have never seen this place so lively before."

Yuichiro's eyes flitted back to the dance floor. Pairs were still waltzing around the marble floors, and the soft piano music rose and fell in waves, bouncing off the walls, soaring into the sky before submerging again. Lively, He thought with a scoff. Are you kidding me? I'm practically asleep right now!

"It has been very wonderful, madam," Shinoa answered for him, thankfully. "Thank you so much for hosting such a marvelous gathering. And the décor is just fantastic!"

"Oh, Shinoa, honey, thank you!" Queen Kaori gushed. "It makes me so happy to hear that from you."

Yuuichiro tried not to think of his girlfriend as a royal suckup, and instead became intently focused on having a large gulp of his water. The cool liquid rushed down his throat, and he swallowed nervously.

"Yes, Kaori-san, the diamonds are so exquisite. I knew this was your doing the moment I walked into the ballroom," King Hiragi's wife complimented. "No one can ever surpass you in terms of decoration."

"You both are too kind," Queen Kaori lit up with a light pink, and the party of five tittered with laughter. She looked at Yuichiro with an inquisitive look, as he was still silent. "Yuichiro, whatever is the matter? You are quite silent this evening."

"I'm fine. 'M just tired," Yuichiro responded a bit too quickly to sound truthful.

Queen Kaori cringed a bit at his not-so elevated language, and upon noticing this, King Ichonose took action.

"I am fine, madam," He corrected with a level voice. Slightly embarrassed but more annoyed than anything, Yuichiro repeated his words almost robotically, satisfying both royal parents.

Yuichiro's slip up was forgotten, and more pleasant conversation ensued, but Yuichiro remained silent, unless properly addressed to by an adult. This meant when one of Shinoa's parents asked him a question, he would be forced to answer. Any other time, he would busy himself by shoveling small bites of rotisserie or peas into his mouth.

"How are you studies at the Royal Academy coming along, Yuichiro?"

"I am making all A's, sir."

More like B's and C's, with countless hours trying to study and catch up.

"And your horse, Chi? How is she doing?"

"I have been taking riding lessons on Saturdays, madam."

Chi hates my guts. To show her hatred, she kicked my leg the other day when I tried to mount her and it still hurts to walk.

"And how are you and Shinoa doing, Yuichiro? Still in love as always?"

"Yes, of course, I love her very much, sir."

I wish I didn't have to marry her this spring because I'm pretty sure it's not love.

Shinoa smiled to herself and Yuichiro felt her hand rest softly on his leg. Biting his lip, he stood up abruptly, pushing himself up with his hands. "Please excuse me, everyone," He announced. "Thank you for the meal."

The kings continued a conversation they were having about a recent silver trade with an African country, and the mothers fell into talk about the newest royal gossip. Shinoa looked at him warily, but Yuichiro had already pushed in his chair and headed towards the exit. He walked on the edge of the ballroom to avoid the dancing guests in the center, and once he managed to get to the staircase in the foyer, he began to bolt towards the bathroom.

Yuichiro locked the door behind him and immediately turned on the cold water on the faucet. He cupped his hands under the cold stream of water and splashed it on his face, trying to wake himself up.

Water dripping off his face, Yuichiro reached for the cloth towel hanging on the rack and dried his face off. He stared at himself in the mirror, seeing his blank expression looking back at him.

Yuichiro just didn't understand his own incompetence. He had the perfect life, a life that he should be extremely grateful to have. He'd heard stories about the life of commonfolk, only having things like bread, margarine, and cheap liquor for dinners.

Yuichiro had barely left the castle, and when he did, it was to go to some foreign land to be in another castle for a business dinner with his dad. Yuichiro knew every nook and cranny of the gigantic place, traveled down all the secret passageways, and read all the books.

It was fun for a child, but after years of being cooped up in the same house, he got bored.

Yuichiro craved excitement, and he decided in that moment instead of waiting for it to come to him, he would go and find some.

He turned off the faucet, hung up the towel, and slowly exited from the bathroom. No one was to be found. He took a step forward, realizing he spoke too soon when Shinoa appeared arund the corner.

"Ah, Yuichiro... Is everything alright? You seemed like you were in another world at dinner this evening." Shinoa asked, sounding genuinely worried. She reached for his hand and Yuuichiro allowed her to take it.

"I'm fine, Shinoa," Yuichiro assured her monotonously. "Like I said before, I'm just tired. I'll see ya around soon, right?"

"Goodness, no wonder your mother is always on your case about your dialect. Your grammar is atrocious," Shinoa shook her head.

Yuichiro scowled, thinking that it wasn't her place to point that out. He would've called her out on it, but she had already changed the topic. "Have a good evening, Yuichiro. I hope you feel better," She said with a small smile. For a moment, Yuichiro wondered if she actually cared.

The thought dispersed just as quickly as it arrived, broken with Shinoa's tender kiss on his cheek. Her soft lips lingered for a moment, and Yuuichiro felt the heat of her skin and the stickiness of her lipstick, and when she pulled away, he resisted the urge to wipe his face. Her heels made a clacking sound as she walked away, every movement fluid and graceful.

Yuichiro shoved his fists in his coat pockets and allowed Shinoa to leave his mind as he quietly headed towards the front door. Almost fifteen feet tall, the wooden door extended into the sky and intimidated Yuichiro, just like everything else in this place did.

He yanked on the brass handle and pulled the heavy door open enough to where he could slip through. When he was outside, he immediately broke off into a run, running away from his family, his girlfriend, and his life.

If only it was this easy to leave it all behind.