Fiyero frowned at his reflection. His mother had stuffed him into one of his fancy suits. He hated wearing the stuffy clothes, but it was his duty as the heir to the Vinkun throne. He didn't know why his duty included dressing up to go down to the servants' quarters. As a prince, he had no business being down there.

"It's their Lurlinemas Ball, Yero," his mother explained calmly.

"But the ball is next week."

"The servants have their own ball before our royal one."

"Then why do we have to go? They don't come to ours."

"Because it's a tradition. We go every year. It's our way of showing our appreciation. Tonight is about them." And that was the end of their discussion.

The eleven-year-old prince wrinkled his nose. At least this was better than his official uniform, which he would have to wear for the royal ball. He swallowed the lesser of the two poisons and marched out. He turned the corner right when his younger sister barreled into him, looking like a little cream puff in her dandelion ball gown.

"Yero!" Hannalyn giggled. "You don't look like an ogre!"

"And you don't look like a rotten potato."

The eight-year-old princess made a face. "You'll pay for that one. But we get to eat all the food we want tonight. And Chef Marqo made peanut butter chocolate buns."

The prince brightened at the mention of his favorite dessert. "Okay. Maybe it won't be so bad."

The two heirs greeted their parents at the staircase and all walked down to the servants' quarters together. They were met with soft lights and soft music, with the scent of the sweet-smelling desserts. All their staff genuflected as they passed, dressed in their best dresses and suits, and Fiyero didn't recognize most of them without their uniforms. The servants' ball didn't have the grandiose of their royal ball, but everything was still elegant and charming.

"Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, welcome to the servants' ball," the steward smiled with a deep bow.

"Thank you, Hennge. Everything looks beautiful," Amalie smiled.

He offered her the first dance, which she accepted, and the music started. The room filled with the general din of conversation, with all the servants enjoying themselves, drinking wine and dancing. The king offered his first dance to his wife's dresser, and Yuene gladly accepted. Fiyero and Hannalyn stayed near the dessert table, stuffing their faces with the delicious pastries.

"Mrs. Skarrot, where's Elphaba?" the princess asked, tugging on the dresser's skirt.

"She's here, Your Highness. She might be trying to hide, since this is her first party here," Yuene smiled. "She's still a bit shy." She thought of the little green girl she and her husband had adopted. She worked in the library, which meant they rarely saw her during the day, but they'd promised to be in her line of vision the entire night. But that was hard to do when they didn't know where she was.

The princess went to work, searching all the nooks and crannies for the newest arrival. She was so excited when she learned that there was another girl the same age as her. She found her hiding beneath the stairs, curled in the corner with her nose in a book. She was wearing a black, long-sleeved swing dress, and her hair was braided in a neat bun.

"Are you hiding?"

Elphaba looked up at the new voice and stood, tucking the book under her arm as she dipped into a curtsy. "Your Highness."

"What are you reading? Is that from the library? Are you working during the party?"

"N-No. It's mine… from home."

"Oh." She didn't know anything about the green girl's past, and she was refused an answer every time she asked. Eventually, she had given up, seeing how much asking upset her. "What's it about?"

"… Nothing."

"Well, if you're reading nothing, you can get pastries with me. Come." She reached for her hand, but Elphaba pulled away, staring at her with wide, fearful eyes.

"I'd… rather stay here."

"Why?"

"Too many people."

"You're just going with me." She tilted her head. "I'm gonna be your friend. We're gonna spend lots of time together."

"I'm working."

"Not now, you're not. Come with me. Please, Elphaba?"

The green girl looked at the princess's outstretched hand, wondering what her punishment would be if she refused. She ended up taking her hand and allowing her to lead her to the dessert table.

"Which is your favorite?"

"The chocolate raspberry cheesecake."

Hannalyn grabbed two plates of the dessert, handing her companion one before digging into hers. "Ooh! I love this dance!" she giggled when the music started. "Come dance with me!"

She looked over as the group dance started. "I don't know this dance. I'll watch."

Not wanting to miss the start, the princess hurried to join the dance. Elphaba sat in the corner, silently observing the merriment around her.

"Having fun, Elphaba?" Yuene asked, kneeling next to the chair.

Elphaba glanced at her before returning her gaze to the party. "Yeah."

"You can go to bed now, if you want. You have a busy day in the library tomorrow."

She shrugged.

Yuene bit back a sigh. She knew it would take the child longer to open up. Yes, she had been with them for a few months, and didn't know the full extent of her troubled past, but she was trying. They were all trying. And she knew that would have to continue to try and be patient. "Find me or Marqo when you decided what you want."

"Okay."

Yuene patted her hand and went to join the next dance.

"Yero, you should offer Elphaba a dance!" Hanna squealed.

The prince glanced over at the green girl and wrinkled his nose. "Her? The green girl?"

"Yes! Look at how lonely she is over there. It's her very first party ever!"

"Then you go talk to her."

"I did. We got dessert together."

"Dears, it's time for bed now," the Queen said, coming up behind her children and placing a hand on their shoulders.

"Mama, one more dance, please!" Hanna begged.

"Alright. One more dance, then you two must be off to bed."

"Now's your chance!" Hanna said, pushing her brother towards the recluse girl.

The prince stumbled forward, and honestly considered ditching and going back to his room. But there was something about the new girl that intrigued him. It was beyond her green skin. Maybe it was how he knew more about their ancient language than he did, despite being from a different province. Maybe it was that he didn't know much about her past, but his parents had accepted her into their home anyway. Maybe it was because his sister had taken an immediate liking to her. Regardless, he found himself approaching her.

"Dance?"

Her gaze slowly oriented on him and she quickly stood. "Your Highness," she curtsied, keeping her gaze on the floor.

"Do you want to dance?"

"I… don't know how."

Perfect! An excuse for him to leave. He should have left. "I can show you."

Then why didn't he?

She glanced up at him. "Really?"

"Yeah." He offered her his hand.

She stared at the offered limb before slowly sliding her hand into his, and Fiyero immediately noted how soft her hands were. He didn't know what he was expecting from someone working in the library, surrounded by all those old books all day, but it definitely wasn't 'soft hands'.

The new song started and he guided her hands to where they were supposed to rest on his body. She stiffened when he placed his hands on her waist, and he gave her a weird look.

"What?"

"N-Nothing."

"This is where the hands go. My father showed me."

"O-Okay."

"Then you step to the side like this… No, the other way… Then back… With your right foot… Then you… No, you're doing it all wrong!"

Elphaba instantly pulled away, wrapping her arms around herself and bowing her head as she quickly sat back down.

The prince crossed his arms, angry that the green girl had ruined his final dance of the evening, and angry at Hanna for pushing him to do this, but slowly softened when he noticed the distressed look on her face.

"Hey… you wanna try again?"

She shook her head. "No."

"I'll be nicer this time. I promise."

"I don't want to."

Being a prince, he was rarely told 'no', except by his parents. He could have stomped and pouted and cried that he didn't get his way, but saw how much the green girl curled into herself. "I get one last dance tonight, and I want to share it with you. Please?"

She glared at his outstretched hand, but slowly softened, uncurled, and allowed him to help her back up. The song was almost over, and he calmly explained the steps to her. She caught on, for the most part, and Fiyero felt her relax in his arms. He smiled at her, but she didn't return it. At least she wasn't stiffening or frowning, but he wanted to know why she wasn't smiling. She was living every girls' dream; she was dancing with him.

The song ended and he bowed to her. She stared at him for a moment before dipping into a curtsy.

"Thank you… Your Highness," she said softly, twirling a loose strand of her hair around her finger.

"Elphaba," he nodded, seeing his nanny out of the corner of his eye, waiting for him with his sister. He hurried away before she could see the blush creeping onto his face.

"You look like a tomato," Hanna teased, wrinkling her nose. "Why's your face red? Are you constamated?"

"Shh!" the nanny hissed, gently squeezing her arm, leading the two heirs away. "It's constipated, sweetie," she corrected once they were out of earshot. "Are you alright, dear?"

"Yeah," he said absentmindedly. "I'm okay."

But he had no idea how to articulate the feeling that had started in his stomach, and slowly rose to his heart.