The Ball

No matter how many balls he attended, his eyes always wandered to the large chandeliers. Tonight's was luxurious of course, lights reflecting on the golden walls of the ballroom. He couldn't even count the crystals, even if he tried. Behind the chandelier, however, was a sight that caught his attention much more. Translucent glass with a gold outline, allowing mere mortals gaze upon clusters of stars.

It was the wonder in his eyes that caught someone's attention. The way he looked at the moon with affirmation and tenderness, that a certain someone couldn't look away. They couldn't stop their feet from moving forward as they did.

"Hello, I'm... Uhm." He snapped his gaze towards the person beside him, and the opposite's heart could only feel themselves jump. Heavens, how he shined in the light of the moon. Their introduction quickly left their mind, with it only being replaced with one question: How was he not a paragon to those stars he admired just moments ago?

He let out a chuckle. "Why hello, Uhm. Enjoying the night's festivities?" His words snap the other back into reality. The delicacy of his gaze made the opposite realize he was only joking. They returned the smile the male had given them. "I apologize for my lack of introduction."

He laughed again, the stranger already getting used to its sound. "It's quite alright, besides there's no need for one, Prince Saito."

The Prince lets out a chuckle of his own, "And you are?"

"Mori. Hiroyuki Mori your highness." He said with a stylized grace, proceeding to bow right after. The prince follows up with a bow, then, and extension of his hand. "May I have this dance, Mori?"

The way his name had rolled off the Prince's tongue sent a shiver down his spine, along with setting his own heart to melt. Hesitant in thought, but pursued by curiosity, he took the Prince's hand. The two men made their way through the parted sea of guests side by side, where he takes Mori to the center of the ballroom. "I do hope you can keep with me." The prince whispered with a small smile on his face. With a small nervous smirk from Mori, he whispers back, "Sir Saito, it's you that should be keeping up with me."

Saito's smile only widened as he placed his hand on Mori's hip. Hands that were only connected by palms, were now dissolved into each other's forms. Mori placed his hand on the Prince's shoulder and gave him a nod. It was then he began feeling the world stop spinning on its axis. Multiple songs felt like one continuous one as they danced the night away. Mori felt weightless with each step, and butterflies with every twirl. Time slowed, the setting seemed to blur around, putting all of the two's focus, simply on each other. Saito couldn't take his eyes off of Mori, and Mori was stuck in the stardust among the Prince's eyes. Mori hadn't noticed the Prince's hand travel to the small of his back, because it felt like they were already that close.

A loud chime of the castle bell had made the two men jump out of their skin. Both of their eyes were vibrant and wild, looking to each other for an answer on why the world began to spin again. Mori was the first to notice the softness of the Prince's breath against his face, then the opposites to his. The Prince retracted his hold, looking over his shoulder then back at Mori, his gaze quick to tell him that he didn't want to go. Mori's had told the same.

And yet, he reached for Mori's hand, and he gave it to the Prince. "I hope one day you'll call me Shin for our next dance." Words said in a plush tone that was meant for Mori and him alone, he held eye contact as he kissed the top of Mori's hand. Mori never left the Prince's golden eyes, almost in fear that he'd never see them again. The prince leaves, but Mori's hand still lingered with the touch. His lips parted for words that were never spoken. Mori retracted his hand to his side, frows burrowed as his thoughts were replaced with one question:

How could such a delicate creature, ever be considered the enemy.?