Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize.

Part 1

All I ask is that you don't struggle.

The party was beyond boring. But then again, every one is. As usual there was a light, cheery atmosphere with spoiled women in frilly dresses and proud men with starched tuxedos apiece. The men were on the prowl for young pretty girls, while the women humored the men while discretely seeking out their own choices.

I sigh and delicately grabbed another champagne glass from a tray a nearby butler was carrying around. It was the same game over and over again. Not that I would know. I'm not actually a frequent guest to these sorts of parties. I personally resist attending them for I have no taste for this sort of superficial behavior. True my parents were Lords and well known members of Meltokio, but I was pretty much a mystery to the public, and I would have preferred to keep it that way.

Unfortunately this party was apparently special. I could tell from the look on my mother's face that if I'd uttered a single syllable of protest I would have been smacked. This party was his royal highness the Prince's welcome back party. The prince has been on a pilgrimage for the church of Martel for the past three months. He isn't exactly a big mystery to the public. Everyone knows he's a very charming, gregarious person along with a rumored handsome appearance. Plus he was a frequent visitor to any party that had any female whatsoever. So his return wasn't really a big deal, but apparently people just needed a reason to throw a party. Yay for me.

It still amazes people when I tell them that I personally have never laid eyes on the Prince. As I stated before, I don't really get out much. Plus I'm really not really the most attractive girl in Meltokio. So it wasn't a big deal to me. But it was a very frustrating fact to my mother. My reason behind this fact is because I suspect she is trying to set me up with the Prince. This of course would only happen when Efreet freezes over with Celsius's ice. But unfortunately, my mother is very stubborn.

Tonight my mother had ordered a horrible custom made dress for me to wear. It is a strapless, crimson gown that is pulled taut over my torso and flows down to my feet from my hips. The deep red accentuates my dark hair color and adds spice to almost dull dark eyes. I am told that I look absolutely stunning and desirable with the low cut dress that perfectly shows my curves… okay it was the butler opinion, but I still blushed like mad. I despise it. My parents had to threaten to disown me if I did not wear it. They of course were probably bluffing but I could still sense the seriousness in their gaze. So my father is also in on the plan, darn.

Its not that I don't like to associate with people, I do have my own little clique of the children of Dukes and Duchesses that I talk with, though our chats are usually the same old routine prattle of the weather, newest fads, or the latest high class gossip. But at the moment I am hiding in a corner out of embarrassment of my dress. I am usually prone to wear a more modest choice of fashion.

I sigh again, the men are starting to become tipsy with the finest cognac, and the women are becoming aggravated that the prince has not yet made an appearance. Actually, I thought frowning; I too was a little frustrated that the prince could not even show up to his own party (though I would never admit it).

Oh well, my back is starting to ache from my stiff corset and my legs are falling asleep. I was hoping to remain here until my parents got drunk and decided to make a quick exit, which would be my cue to disappear as well. But it looked as if they were trying to stick it out and besides, there were too many high status people around.

The urge to move is becoming overwhelming. I attempt to gracefully stand but instead wince at the cracks in my spine and instead stiffly straighten myself. I walk almost briskly toward the inner hallways of the castle. Since I apparently can't leave without creating a scene and did not feel like mingling, I pretend to be being tipsy myself while making a quick exit. If anyone noticed, hopefully they would assume I was heading for a restroom. I left the party through the huge cherry wood double doors and made my way into the interior of the castle.

After a couple of twist and turns through the corridors I stop to admire the castle. The long marble hallways are empty and eerily quiet. I almost feel like tip-toeing on the plush carpet to avoid disturbing the silence. The walls contain numerous paintings and intricate tapestries of people and places that I do not know. It is indeed very beautiful. I almost feel like a princess walking through these hallways. I can almost imagine wearing the finest silk gowns and a crystal crown on my head. I stop in thought. How do those crowns stay balanced on their heads? Do they practice with books? I giggle. Perhaps I really did have one too many drinks in there.

I soon notice that being lost in my own thoughts (plus never being inside the castle before) had gotten me quite lost. I back-track my steps but do not recognize anything. I lazily consider simply wandering around since I want nothing to do with the party, but I knew I my mother would throw a fit when I got home.

After walking down some more aisles and corridors I start to get bored and I realize that I actually have to use the rest room. I continue to walk until I came across a servant. He looks a bit different from all the others since he is better dressed; I assume he works for some local lord. "Excuse me," I call to him. He turned to look at me and a suspicious glint lit his eyes. "I was wondering if you knew where the ladies rest room is." A light smile appeared on his face as he answered, "of course ma'am, it's down this hall and to your right, the very last door." "Thank you" I replied quickly walking in the indicated direction. I did not like that last smirk on his face as I walked away.

When I had almost reached the last door I noticed that the entire castle was silent. I must be far away from the party. "I must have gotten more lost than I thought," I mumbled. Once I reached the door I took a glance back the way I had come. "Strange for a rest room to be so far from the main activity of the castle," I said to myself. The fact that I was speaking out loud startled me, and I realized that I was trying to break the dead silence. Remembering the smirk on the servants face, my face heated with indignity. "If he dared send me to a servant's rest room…" Swearing a silent oath to seek revenge if that was the case, I knocked and opened the door.

The room was dim and definitely not a rest room of any sort. The poor fool must have thought he was funny, or maybe had mistaken me for a courtesan for this looked like an unused guest room. I blame the dress.

The room was of a decent size mostly filled with a gigantic bed with four ceiling tall bedposts and a canopy in the center. The bedding was of a deep indigo color and looked quite comfortable indeed. To the right of the bed against the wall was a large, cozy looking fireplace with an enchanting fire burning within. And on the left was a door of which I assumed led to a restroom. I headed straight for that room to relieve myself.

Afterwards I started to leave to find that confounded man when I noticed something glinting on the bed. I walked over and tried to make out the object. With only the fire as my light I guessed it was a sword of some kind. What on Tethe 'alla was a sword doing in here? As I reached down to pick it up by the hilt I heard the door slam shut behind me.

My stomach in my throat I whirled around to see a man leaning in the shadows against the door, blocking my exit.

"Can I help you?" I asked, my voice high and broken. I then realized that sounded a little too indecent for a lady in a room deep within the castle, wearing a presumptuous gown, with a bed located directly behind her. I blushed at my thoughts.

Trembling slightly, I flinch when he pushes himself away from the door and takes three solid steps toward me. What was the matter with me? I should be firm and demand he stay at a fair distance. Perhaps it was the fact that I was far from any help (besides that stupid servant) and I was quite lacking in power to physically restrain him. By the time I had finally pulled myself together and prepared a fierce argument I saw that his shoes were merely three feet distanced from me.

Starting from his leather shoes and traveling up his black dress pants my eyes slowly found his. I gasp. He was…angelic. Elegant hair of the deepest red flowed to his waist and accentuated his strong face that contained the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I had ever seen. These very same eyes that were meant to hold innocence and laughter captured mine in a gaze that held mystery and desire. Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze to his white shirt and blushed when I saw the contours of muscles showing through.

He chuckled and lightly said "yes I do think you can assist me miss, all I ask for is that you don't struggle." My eyes widened, imagining what this could imply and I feared the worst. Frozen stiff with fear I didn't notice that he had walked over and with a single finger under my chin, lifted my face to look directly at him. The look in his eyes confirmed my fears, for there was only pure lust in those eyes.

This first chapter is boring I know. The next ones are a lot better. I just had to set up the situation and explain junk. Thanks for reading!