By the time the carriage arrived in Ariadne, the royal city was lit up so decorative for the ball it reminded the young prince of fireflies over a lake on a calm summer's night. Carriages trailed in front and behind them as women and men of all ages were dropped off at the castle in the distance to be escorted inside. Alois could feel excitement start to grow inside of him as their own carriage finally halted at the gates. The door suddenly opened and a butler in a crisp black uniform took his hand and helped the boy step out of the carriage and onto the smoothly paved road.

Awe struck the boy almost instantly as he stared up at the grand castle in front of him. Unlike the Victorian style castle he grew up in, the Ariadne royal castle was strikingly tall, built with a small hint of gothic architecture that was unlike anything he had ever seen before. A sudden light touch on his back caught his attention and he looked back to see Hannah by his side.

"A lot different from home no?" She said with a small smile. "Let's follow the other insides. Don't forget where we are, Your Highness. Please try and behave."

X-X

Incoming groups were guided into the ballroom and it truly was a sight to behold. Couples danced to the melodious sounds of the musicians' instruments, the harmonious tones breezing with such a fluidity that it gave the event a certain ambiance of elegance. Waiters traveled around with silver trays holding varieties of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Ladies conversed with one another when not dancing; their dresses in a wide assortment of colors and designs. While he had been to plenty of balls before, the experience of being somewhere new out of his parents' supervision provided a new air of wonder to the boy.

Alois didn't notice as he lost Hannah in the crowd; he was too caught up in the moment to pay it any attention. A waiter offered him a drink from a tray which he gladly accepted. As he sipped the sweet citrus beverage he overheard a few ladies in matching turquoise dresses talking about how beautiful the palace garden was. 'I don't remember passing a garden on the way in... I wonder where it is...' The blonde thought as he looked passed the musicians at a set of closed doors. Letting his curiosity take over, Alois made his way through the mass of people before reaching the doors. With a simple push the doors easily parted enough space for him to squeeze out.

The door did in fact lead out to the garden. The pathway was made of thin white stones and bushes lined the side of it, topped with beautifully bloomed red roses and curled leaves. In the middle there was a large fountain and Alois could still hear the trickle of the water over the music from indoors. Unlike the extravaganza going on in the ballroom, the dimly lit garden held a peaceful and delicate atmosphere that enhanced the beauty of the surrounding flowers. He passed the fountain, his dress ruffling from the slight breeze, and came to a dead end of more red roses. At the other side of the wall of roses, a statuesquely built man stood with his back facing Alois. The light raining down from the full moon appeared to glisten on his marble pale skin.

The sound of his heels against the pathway caught the man's attention and he turned around and stared straight at the blonde. Alois suddenly found a sharp, honey-dripping golden gaze focused on him. A moment of silence stretched between them and the boy felt his heart start to race in an usually quick pace.

"I didn't think anyone else would be out here." The man with black hair as dark as night said, finally breaking the silence. There was something in his emotionless voice that pulled him in and captivated him unlike anyone he had ever met before.

"Disappointed?" The blonde retorted childishly with a saucy little smirk. A ghost of a smile barely played on the man's lips from his response.

"Can't say I am." He responded, his intense gaze never leaving Alois's face.

"It's awfully pretty out here... Though there's not enough types of flowers for my taste." Alois paused for a moment before fixing him with an annoyed expression. "Well? Are you going to introduce yourself or just leave me waiting?"

"Claude. Enchanted, my lady." The black haired man said, his interest growing in the blonde by every fiery word he spoke.

"Claude? My, what an awfully cute name." Alois smiled in amusement as the man adjusted his black-framed glasses. Claude plucked a single red rose off its bush before presenting it to Alois.

"Are you heading back to the ball? Could I bother you for a dance?" The man asked.

Alois accepted the rose with a smile. "Since you asked so nicely... I suppose I can humor you."

He followed the man back into the ballroom while still holding onto the beautiful flower. Alois found it a bit odd as the crowd parted for them but decided to pay it no mind. They soon made it to the middle of the ballroom and he felt Claude's arm wrap securely around his waist. A new song began to play and he was suddenly whisked around in sync with the music. Other couples soon began to dance around them but Alois was completely transfixed on Claude. He found himself staring at his perfectly sculpted face, never thinking he could forget the deep, dreamy color of his eyes no matter how hard he tried. The song ended more quickly then he would have liked and Claude pulled back the slightest bit, a spark racing through Alois's body as their hands brushed up against one another.

Before either one of them had a chance to speak, Hannah rushed up to his side and grabbed his hand. She pulled the young prince along with her through the crowd and hurriedly exited the ballroom.

"What is going on!?" He asked briskly, startled from her sudden actions.

"I just bumped into one of the maids. Her husband works in maintenance in the royal court. The scheduled meeting was canceled for tonight! We have to get you back home before your father notices." Hannah said in a rush. Their long gowns flowed behind them as they ran over to the parked carriage. She quickly spoke to the driver before they hurried inside. The white horses whinnied loudly in the night before taking off by the driver's orders.

"Out of all the people at the ball... The king? But I guess I'm not surprised with you..." Hannah said with sigh as the carriage raced over the bridge of the royal city.

"King?" He blinked back at her with a confused expression.

"You didn't know? Well I suppose you wouldn't would you... You were dancing with king Claude Faustus. He seemed pretty interested in you to say the least." Another sigh fell from her lips.

'Claude was the king?' Alois thought with awe. 'Interested in me huh...' He felt a small smile start to tug on his lips and he stared at the red rose in his hand, the perfectly bloomed flower seeming even more beautiful then before.