"I still can't believe that you made me come here."

"Rikan, we've already gone over this. If we ever want to secure an alliance with Luna, we must be willing to act polite and civilized-that includes participating in important events. We were invited to this gala, and wether you like it or not, if we succeed in forging an alliance, these events will only increase."

Emperor Saito and Prince Rikan were walking down the lavish hallways of the Artemisia palace, on their way to the grand ballroom. They had arrived on Luna earlier that morning, spending the whole afternoon touring and admiring the palace, an architectural masterpiece.

"Don't you remember what father always told us? Keep an open mind. They're human too, you know."

Rikan rolled his eyes. "No they're not. They're Lunars."

Saito's frown deepened. "This night would be a lot more pleasant if you would just drop your unfair prejudices."

"You try saying that when they start controlling you like puppet masters."

"There's no way that all of them are like that."

"Yes way. Just go ahead and you'll see. If you don't watch your back, brother, you'll probably end up dying here-killed by one of them. Maybe even the royal family."

Saito grit his teeth. "I'll keep that in mind."

They followed their guards the rest of way-neither of them speaking to each other again.

Once they reached the grand regolith doors of the ballroom, some bystanding guards opened the doors for them, and they both let out gasps of bewilderment at the sight of the room.

The ballroom was like a human recreation of paradise.

For the richest and most powerful people in the world to gather for a party was no small occasion, and neither was their venue. The grand ballroom at the Artemisia palace was designed in the style of the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in ancient France, modernized with accents reflecting Luna's own distinctive culture.

Instead of mirrors, the walls of the ballroom were covered in the same non-reflective glass that made up the dome that housed the capital. Like its predecessor, the Artemisia Palace ballroom had seventeen grand arched windows separated by marble pilasters decorated in gilded sculptures. Seventeen large crystal chandeliers and twenty-six smaller ones made of solid silver hung from the ceiling; from these chandeliers, a thousand candles lit the room.

Saito shuddered a bit. It seemed like paradise, but it felt more like a prison. He wondered why.

(so pretty so gorgeous)

Beneath the over-the-top decorations and the overall glint of the room, Saito was wondering what secrets the palace really held.

What are you Lunars hiding?

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Guards dressed in platinum-coloured uniforms lined the corridor, directing guests away from the elevator dock and toward the ballroom in the south wing, as if the clinking glasses and orchestral music weren't clear enough. Emerging from the hallway, Levana raced down a grand staircase that cascaded into the ballroom. A row of guards and servants flanked the stairs, their faces as unreadable as those in the hall. They all eyed her as if she were one of her father's experiments that had somehow escaped from the lab. She didn't care, though. She was late and in a hurry.

Be graceful. Be graceful. Be graceful.

At last, she reached the door that led to behind the ballroom's awning, opening it as soon as she heard the courtier beginning the announcements. Good.

She wasn't too late.

She wouldn't make that much of a fool out of herself. She smiled. That night might not be so bad after all.

Maybe for once, luck was on her side.

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Channary sighed as she peered out form behind the velvet curtain to the awning facing the front of the ballroom. How she loved her birthday galas-all eyes on her, every one of her citizens paying her upmost respect and admiration. She was particularly pleased with that year's coming of the Earthen dignitaries, a chance to forge alliances with the Earthen union. She had her sights set on Emperor Saito, a fine young man with power over the largest and most influential of the Earthen kingdoms. He was a perfect match; young, inexperienced and naïve. Or so she thought.

(little emperor just wait until you meet me I'll make you fall to your knees)

The last of the guests were just arriving, and soon the royal family would be announced, the gala starting for real. She frowned a bit when she looked around, and saw her parents and a few guards, but no Levana.

Late, as usual.

What else could she expect from her failure of a sister, that sorry excuse for royalty?

"Channary?"

Channary turned her head to the sound of her mother's voice.

"It's time, dear."

She flashed her an angelic smile. "Of course, mother."

Ugh, Levana. Seriously. Hurry up.

Just outside the awning, a blare of trumpets rang overhead as the courtier walked out in pomp and splendour. "If I may have your attention," he announced, his voice deep and loud.

At once, most of the discussion clammed up. Everyone faced the front of the ballroom, eager. The courtier cleared his throat, and then gestured.

"Their Lunar Majesties, King Elann and Queen Rosalina!"

The king and the queen walked out onto the awning, their regal gaits making the rest of the crowd fall silent.

"Her most honoured Lunar Highness, Princess Channary!"

A few bewildered gasps, mostly from Earthen, emerged from the crowd as Channary walked out in the twinkling light. She truly did look like a divine goddess.

"Her Lunar Highness, Princess Levana!"

A few crashes and muttered curses could be heard from behind the awning. Channary hid her embarrassment behind her glamour, although inside, she was seething. Leave it to Levana to completely embarrass you at a formal event with her antics, she thought to herself.

A murmur rippled through the crowd as Levana emerged-a few pieces of broken porcelain trailing behind her-and made her way to her spot next to Channary, trying not to fall over.

Again.

Women whispered behind their hands. Men craned their necks to catch the hushed gossip. Levana's cheeks burned. Although she hated to do it, she reached out to the minds of the crowd and willed them to look away. Look away. Look away. They looked away, the murmurs ceasing instantly. Levana smiled timidly, as if she hadn't just brainwashed thousands of people.

Never in her life had she been so glad she could hide her blush.

"Let the festivities begin!" King Elann's booming voice echoed through the immense ballroom, earning a round of applause from the crowd.

The orchestra picked up where they left off, and suitor after suitor began lining up for the customary first dance with the lady of honour-Princess Channary.

Levana let out a sigh. It was going to be a long night.

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Honestly, Saito didn't really know what to expect of the royal family.

He certainly knew that he would've never expected the second princess to be such a captivating, intriguing beauty.

Princess Levana.

Saito looked in awe at her, her timid face and demeanour small and shy in contrast to her family's regal and pompous stances. Her auburn hair was pinned up in a simple ponytail, not very intricate at all, and yet, she still managed to look elegant and alluring. Her golden tiara inlaid with three blue opals seemed plain next to her sister's more intricate crown of platinum and diamonds. She had a sweet-heart shaped face, with an ocean of freckles standing out against her pale skin. Her high cheekbones had a tinge of pink, and her sweet lips were curled into a nonchalant smile.

He shook his head. Was it a glamour?

It could've been, but she just looked so natural, so innocent. Where her parents and sister seemed too overly beautiful, too unnatural, she had just the right amount of beauty to render him speechless. She reminded him of a young maiden straight out of a fairytale.

(sweet maiden beautiful princess of the moon shunned and hated and feared but why)

His fascination was shallow, he knew, but he couldn't look away. The urge to talk to her came suddenly and unbidden. Maybe he could allow himself one dance...

Staring at her like that, he probably looked like an idiot.

Rikan confirmed that suspicion by discreetly elbowing him in the ribs. "Don't get any ideas, Saito," he muttered under his breath. The emperor sighed, his jaw clenching ever so slightly.

His gaze snapped away from the girl as he heard approaching footsteps. He looked up to see none other than Princess Channary walking up to him, a mob of at least thirty princes, dukes and dignitaries trailing behind her, all begging for the first dance. She stopped, her glittering skirt settling around her feet. The princess gave him a glowing smile, flashing her pearl-white teeth. He could feel Rikan bristling next to him.

She bowed. "Your Majesty," she cooed, "It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you to my home and planet. I thank you so very much for coming." Her voice made the hair prickle on the back of his neck.

He bowed in return. "It is my greatest honour to be thus welcomed, and thank you for inviting us. May I also wish you a very happy birthday."

"Why, thank you! These galas are always the best birthday gift that I receive."

"It is easy to see why. The ballroom and reception are splendid. Don't you agree, Rikan?"

No answer.

Saito cleared his throat. "Rikan?"

"Absolutely marvellous," the prince grumbled.

Channary smiled at him with only the slightest trace of contempt before turning her gaze back to the emperor.

"Although it is my birthday, dear emperor, I feel that I should give you the honour of having your first dance with me."

His jaw dropped at the sudden bold proposal, and Rikan barely bit back howling laughter.

"I do beg your pardon?"

Channary batted her eyelashes. "Come on now, you should be honoured that I would request a dance from you, out of all these other men just dying to be with me!"

He turned to look at Rikan, who had a smug grin on his face. Saito's stomach flipped, the momentary awe turning to revulsion. He was offset by Channary's boldness, and frankly, he was tempted to refuse the divine princess' offer. However, he knew that he had to make an effort if he ever wanted to form a peaceable alliance with Luna-not to mention keeping Rikan from proving him wrong-so he grit his teeth and took her hand, leading her into a waltz.

She followed his movements exactly, copying them with such grace that it made him look like a clumsy duck in comparison-nearly missing a step every time. He looked over at her perfect face, her pink lips curled into a serene smile, her lashes dipped coquettishly. She was like an angel.

Tears pricked the back of eyes, and he felt the urge, no, the need, to kiss her.

Wait, what?

Channary's lips curved some more and her brown eyes flashed in the ballroom light. Saito frowned. The desire dissipated instantly, leaving him confused, irritated and angry. He grit his teeth. So that was the lunar glamour. He knew that she was aware of the effect she'd had on him as he struggled to soothe his ragged breathing, and though he wanted to detect cold haughtiness in her eyes, he saw nothing. Nothing at all.

As they continued to waltz across the ballroom floor, Saito tried to keep as much distance between himself and Channary as he possibly could, without the princess suspecting anything.

He felt like he was suffocating.

Since when is a dance supposed to feel like a death trap?