Rin was in high spirits the day of the ball. She spent most of her day with Luka and Miku, who guided her to and from the bathhouse in the morning, to her meals (which she ate alone), and back to her chambers to choose her dress, style her hair, and dab her cheeks with makeup.

Throughout the palace, the servants spoke with excitement and laughter, the King and Queen practiced their dancing in their chambers with smiles and kisses, the Kagamine girls giggled as they pulled each others hair and swirled in their fancy dresses, and even the prince, studying alone in his room, was looking forward to the night.

But down in the village, while the royals prepared themselves for their dinner, the party had already begun. Lanterns hung over town square, lit but unseen until dusk. Music rang out from traveling troupes, villagers sat on wooden stools while waiting for the first of several plays to start, the tavern was full of roaring laughter and the shuffling of cards, and even for the citizens of Acacia Bay, the war seemed like nothing but a far off nightmare.

"Which one would you like, princess?" Luka asked with a smile.

Rin had the choice of five dresses today. She looked over them with a grin, her hair still wet from her bath, as she spoke to her maids. "You two will be enjoying the night, too. Right?"

"We have work to do," Miku answered. Then, with a smile, "But after it is done, yes."

"I want to see the village," Luka told her. "I bet the townsfolk have decorated it beautifully."

"It will be a sight indeed," Miku agreed, smiling at her partner.

"I want you two to enjoy yourselves, as well," Rin added. She ran her fingers over the smooth silk skirts of the fourth dress. "I think I like this one."

Both of her maids widened their eyes in surprise at her choice.

"What?" Rin asked, suddenly self-conscious. "Do you not like it?"

Miku opened her mouth to speak, hesitating before finding her words. "W-we like it very much, princess. Or else we wouldn't have chosen it for you. B-but-"

"It's a lot more… noticeable than your average choice," Luka finished.

Rin turned back to it, looking it over from top to bottom. It was a deep blue ballgown, lined with white flowers sprouting at the tight bodice and branching down to the skirts, which puffed out only slightly at the hips and fell to the floor in gentle blue waves. Of the five dresses, it was the only one with bare shoulders and no sleeves. She imagined herself walking into the entrance hall, filled with two long tables littered with endless amounts of food for the nobles of the city, sitting before the royal table in the place of her father's throne, which would seat her parents, the Kagamine sisters, their parents, and Len.

"Perhaps I want to be seen tonight," she added with a smile.

But her maids were not sure. They exchanged glances, communicating something that Rin could not hear.

"What?" She asked again. Sometimes, it felt like her maids could read each other's minds, leaving Rin completely out of the loop. "What is it?"

It was Luka who spoke. "...By whom?"

"What?"

"Who is it that you wish to dress up for?" Miku asked. Both of the maids stood tall with their hands politely clasped behind their backs, speaking cautiously.

Rin narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Lady Kokone told us yesterday that you were teaching the prince how to read," Luka blurted out, earning a stern glance from Miku. "And we fear…"

"So what?" Rin cut her off, feeling that unfamiliar annoyance that made itself known anytime someone talked about her and the prince. "What does it matter? He needs to learn."

"We have maesters who can teach him," Miku pointed out.

"I can do it just fine."

"We fear you are getting too close, princess," Miku admitted, shutting her eyes tight at the accusation. "It is not appropriate-"

"I am already being scolded by father. I don't want to hear it from you two as well."

"We just want what is best for you," Luka continued. "And he is not-"

Rin whirled around from her position in front of the dress. "I find it odd that everyone who tells me what kind of a person he is has not spent more than five minutes with him." Attacks on him felt like attacks on herself, and she was determined to defend them. "He is not what they say he is."

The venom dripping from her voice was something that neither of her friends had ever heard before, and only reinforced their beliefs.

Rin took a deep breath, instantly regretting snapping at them. "I-I'm sorry," she apologized.

"You don't think he is changing you?" Luka asked, gently. "You don't think you are getting angry because of him? And how he acts?"

"No," she answered honestly, turning back to the dress. "I am getting angry because everyone seems to know what is best for me, and nobody will listen to my point of view."

It was Luka's turn to feel guilty. "Then tell us, princess. What is he like?"

Miku stayed silent, still unconvinced.

Rin took a deep breath, running her finger along the vines on her dress. "He cares deeply for his sisters. He is funny, adventurous. Smart."

The maids exchanged glances. It seemed they were too late.

"He tells me stories of Acacia Falls," Rin continued. "Where he used to play as a child. The things he would get into."

"What about Casbury Bay?" Miku suddenly asked.

Rin stiffened at the name.

"What about their prince?"

"I don't want to speak of him."

"You cannot run away from this arrangement, princess." Miku spoke with conviction, raising her voice so the princess would have to listen. "You are promised to him already, and your father is not going to go back on his word. Falling for someone else will only make your marriage more difficult for you-"

"I said I don't wish to talk about it!" Rin nearly yelled, balling her hands into fists.

Luka watched the two with horrified silence.

"I just want was is best for you!"

"What is best for me," Rin snapped, turning around once more. "Is to never speak of that horrid place, or that horrid prince ever again!"

Miku glared at her, knowing it was impossible to make the girl see her side. "You will live there in a year," she spat. "You better get used to it."

With that, the maid turned, without being dismissed, and exited the room.

Rin felt the sudden urge to cry. She hung her head, blinking away the tears forming in her eyes. Before she knew it, Luka's hands were on her shoulders.

"Hush," she said comfortingly, pulling the princess into a hug. "It's alright. She didn't mean it."

Rin buried her face into the soft fabric of Luka's shirt, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Now is no time for tears," Luka pointed out, staring at the door with anger. Even if that was how Miku felt, how dare she upset the girl so close to the festival. "Tonight is a night for joy, princess."

Rin nodded, standing tall only when she was certain she would not cry.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Luka asked her.

She nodded her head wordlessly.

"I think that, from the way you talk about the prince," she began, still resting her hands on her shoulders. "That he must be a wonderful person. And he seems to make you very happy."

Rin couldn't help but smile slightly.

"And whatever happens, I just want you to be happy," she finished.

The princess nodded.

"We will have fun tonight, dancing and singing and stuffing our faces, and tomorrow, you and Miku will apologize to each other, and everything will be alright."

"Everything will be alright," Rin repeated.

"Everything." Luke pulled her arms back to her sides, creating some space between her and the princess. "Now, let's doll you up. For the prince," she added with a glint in her eye.

Rin rubbed her eyes, allowing herself a few laughs. "For the prince."

Across the palace, the prince slammed his quill down in annoyance at the sound of knocking from his door. His focus had been unbroken, studying a hunting guide when his sister's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"Len!" she called, opening the door. "Are you almost ready?" She was already dressed in the ballgown she had picked out days ago, orange, yellow, and white adorning the different layers of ruffled silk falling to her heels.

"What? Is it time?"

Her mouth dropped at the sight of him. "Have you gotten ready at all? You look like you just crawled out of bed!"

"I've been studying," he defended.

"Where is your suit?" She searched frantically around the room for it, finding it laid neatly on his bed. "Put it on, Len! We have to be at the table in thirty minutes! And… do something with your hair!"

"It only takes me a few minutes to dress. I'm not a girl," he joked.

She frowned. "Put. It. On."

"Okay! Okay. I'm getting up. Jeez." He set the quill in the bottle of ink, pushing himself away from the desk and standing. "I'll meet you in the hall."

"If you're not out here in twenty minutes-"

"I will be. Calm down. I want to go, too."

This seemed to appease her enough to at least leave the room, waiting in front of his door with their sisters, all impatient.

It was only once Len finished buttoning his suit jacket over his white undershirt did he realize that he was just as antsy as his sisters. He had not had the chance to escape the castle unattended once, and he was starving for some feast-worthy food. Despite his rebellious attitude, he still quite enjoyed dancing as well.

And, of course, there was the princess. Who he would surely see tonight.

He tried not to think about that, pulling at the cuffs of his jacket to straighten them.

"Len!" Kokone yelled from the hall. "Finished?"

"I'm coming!" He yelled back, more out of nerves than anger this time. What was there to be nervous about? It was just another stupid ball in this stupid castle that wasn't home.

He opened his door, looking into his room one last time make sure he hadn't left the fire burning, before guiding his sisters towards the grand hall.

The gates to the palace were open, and the well-dressed nobles of the city were already beginning to stream in through the doors. When Len and his sisters arrived, both his parents and Rin's sat at the head table, facing the rest of the guests as they found seats. It had been a while since Len had heard this many voices in one room. The idea made his heartbeat even faster.

King Brighton sat in the middle of the table, his wife on one side of him and Len's father on the other. Next to his father was Kaori, and past her were several open seats for the children.

Without even thinking, Len set his eyes on one of the seats to the right of the King, where Rin would surely sit, but Kokone caught his arm.

"You get to sit with mother," she smiled evilly.

He was disappointed before he even knew why. But he didn't argue, pulling out the chair next to Kaori and casting his eyes towards the crowds.

The princess was not here yet. She had a flair for dramatic entrances.

"I want to go dance!" Lenka cried in protest as her mother motioned for her to take a seat next to her brother.

"Later, dear," Kaori promised. "First we must listen to King Bruno's welcome speech and eat."

Lenka pouted, sitting next to her brother with her arms crossed.

Len leaned towards her, whispering in her ear. "I think the servants are bringing sweetcakes over to that table," he said, pointing to the long mess table on the right. "I bet we can sneak a few tonight before bed."

Her frown instantly turned into a mischievous smile that made her look so much like her brother. "Can Rinny come with us?"

Len let out a laugh. "Rinny?"

"The princess," the little girl clarified.

"Yeah, I know who you're talking about." He looked to his right, towards the door leading to the west wing. "When did you start calling her that?"

"When she started playing the violin for us," Lenka answered a bit too loudly.

"The princess has been playing for you?" Their mother, completely clueless of the situation, asked with a grin. "I hear she is a very talented musician."

"She plays for us every- OW!"

"She plays for us every time we catch her at her lessons," Len finished, jabbing his little sister in the leg to keep her from revealing too much. Just to add to the realism, he shrugged. "She's alright."

That was a grand understatement.

Even though the feast had not yet started, the crowd in front of the royal families had already had their fill of dancing, laughing, and drinking for the day. They were at the peak of their excitement, waiting anxiously for the princess to arrive. They were not the only ones.

At the end of one of the tables, closest to the royal families, sat a quartet of string players, some standing and some sitting on stools, all with their instruments in hand. They were not playing yet, but it would not be long.

Len saw the door to the west wing open only slightly. His gaze flinched to the figure sneaking in the room, letting out a quick breath of frustration that it was not the princess. Instead, it was her pink-haired maid, sneaking into the room as inconspicuous as possible. She crept over to the head table, leaning down behind the king and whispering something in his ear.

He grinned, waving her back off to the door, and began to stand.

Len took in a deep breath.

"Citizens of Khaesea," he bellowed, his kingly voice echoing throughout the room. It was powerful enough to silence the sea of people, knowing exactly what was coming next. He held out his hand towards the west wing door. Beside him, Lily stood as well.

"Princess Rin," he finished.

Len's parent's stood, as well as his siblings, so he stood as well. Sure, her arrival had always been a big deal. But never deserving of a standing ovation.

But he didn't mind much.

Every person sitting on the long benches of the mess tables stood as well, whispering excitedly to one another.

All eyes were on the door, and a silence unnatural for the number of people in the room crept over.

Rin's maid swung both doors open, finally revealing her to the crowd.

She stepped into the room, the echoes of her shoes against the floor the only sound to be heard over the gentle notes played by the string quartet. Like always, an air of grace and elegance surrounded her as she smiled at the crowd, many watching back with their mouths open in awe. It was unlike her to dress so elaborately, with her deep blue dress reflecting the light of the candles with it's sparkling white gemstones, tracing the white stitched patterns of flowers sprouting from her bodice and wrapping around her. Not to mention the shining diamond necklace she wore, along with matching earrings that were just barely covered by her short, wavy hair. The jewelry called more attention to her bare shoulders and arms, another striking difference to what she usually wore.

Just before she turned to walk behind the table, she glanced over at Len with a smile. A split second later, she looked away again.

Lenka pulled at the sleeve of her brother. "She's so pretty!" She whispered in wonder.

He nodded, unable to take his eyes off of her while she stepped up to their table. "I know," he replied quietly.

She stood behind her chair, hands folded in front of her, and smiled. "Thank you," she said, loud enough for all to hear.

The second word barely escaped her lips before the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, louder than Len had ever heard. It bounced off the walls, as well as the ceiling overhead, and was so loud at one point that the prince wondered if he'd go deaf by the end of the night.

And yet, somehow, the king managed to yell louder than all of them. "Welcome to Khaesea Palace! Let us feast in celebration of our brothers from Acacia Falls!"

Servants began to flow into the room carrying dish after dish of every food Len had ever seen. Even delicacies from his home were prepared on platters, likely thanks to the servants from his home that had survived the attack with them.

Len was sitting on the opposite side of the table from the princess. To his dismay, it was nearly impossible for him to even catch a glimpse of her without leaning far against the table. And yet his sister was sitting right next to her.

He cursed Kokone under his breath.

"I'm starving!" Lenka exclaimed, eyeing the food greedily as the servants placed each dish on the table one by one.

"Well dig in, girl!" The king called to her, laughing.

She began to pile meat, vegetables, and fruit dishes onto her plate. Len followed suit.

Rin got her "slow-motion entrance scene" and it was an absolute joy to write. Ah. Can't spell princess without Rin.

Thanks for reading :)