After meeting with the handsome Slaine, he was in no rush to get back home. But with his departure, Inaho found the marketplace more boring. So home, he went. Just as it was easy to sneak out, it was child's play getting back inside. They really had to do something about castle security.

"Nao!", his sister called out.

Did she have some sort of a super sense? How could she be calling for him the moment he arrived? He got dressed quickly in clothes more fitting of a prince and less so of a village peasant. His sister entered just as he finished.

"Where have you been? You left while we were planning."

"You don't really need me for that, do you?", Inaho asked. He wasn't the crown prince. One day his sister would be inheriting the throne, not him. So why should he be around for any sort of planning? He just had to do whatever task was assigned to him.

"In most cases, we don't. But we most certainly need you to be there when it is your ball we're planning."

"I already told you that the details don't matter to me." Inaho went over to his desk. "I have no intention of even choosing a betrothed."

Yuki pinched the bridge of her nose. She had done this all before. It was like talking to a brick wall. However, despite Inaho not being directly in line for the throne he had to get married some day. The council smiled on that show of stability and having options for heirs. Yuki just wanted her baby brother to experience love.

"Calm!", Yuki shouted.

"Yes, Your Highness?", he sped into the room, giving her a bow.

"Please talk some sense into him", Yuki said.

Inaho looked at Calm, his expression barely giving anything away. Calm stared back at the young prince. After a moment, he turned to Yuki and shrugged. With a groan, Yuki stomped out, followed by Calm.

"He's getting a ball whether he likes it or not. Calm, take this down", Yuki ordered as they entered her study.

Calm got to the desk and prepared himself for taking down her diction, readying his writing materials just as she began to start.

"Proclamation from the prince, His Royal Highness Kaizuka Inaho Jugemu Jugemu Gokō-no surikire Kaijarisuigyo-no Suigyōmatsu Unraimatsu Fūraimatsu Kuunerutokoro-ni Sumutokoro Yaburakōji-no burakōji Paipopaipo Paipo-no-shūringan Shūringan-no Gūrindai Gūrindai-no Ponpokopī-no Ponpokonā-no-"

"Ponpokonā-no?", Calm interrupted.

"Ponpokonā-no", Yuki repeated before continuing. "Chōkyūmei-no Chōsuke...is having a ball!"

Calm wrote all that down, plus the rest of the proclamation before heading into the town square to give the announcement to the peoples so that they could hear their "prince's" words.

"His Royal Highness Kaizuka Inaho, brother of Her Majesty Princess Kaizuka Yuki Kimiko Akie Airi Shiori Rinne Yoshiho Chihoko Ayano Fumika Chitose Sanae Mikiko Ichika Yukino Reina-"

"Reina?!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"Reina", Calm repeated. "Eri is giving a ball!"

At that, the whole town began to bustle in order to prepare. Of course all the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes had to dress their best. It was up to Calm to oversee the catering and decor to the biggest event of the year. As he scrambled all around to do just that, everyone was a twitter with the news and it traveled quickly.

It took no time at all for the Cruhteo household to learn about it, Slaine included. For a moment he indulged in the fantasy that he might go and that the prince might choose to dance with him. It was too much to even dare to dream that the prince would marry him. The night of the ball approached them fast and the count lectured Klancain on proper behavior during courtship while Slaine helped him prepare for the ball.

"Remember son, hide your flaws, as few as they are..."

"Until after the wedding", Klancain finished his father's sentence, having been told that many times.

"But shouldn't the prince love you for who you are?", Slaine asked.

Slaine imagined a romantic first meeting where he and the prince hit it off right away, and the prince was the perfect gentleman. And they would talk and dance all night. Klancain smiled at the dreamy look Slaine got in his eyes. It was dimmed as soon as Cruhteo scoffed.

"You have no need to worry about anything pertaining to this. The prince would never look on you and see anything more than a useful tool, if that."

Slaine hung his head, his dreamed broken as easily as glass while Cruhteo turned his attention back to his son.

"Don't let Slaine's words distract you. Falling in love with love is playing the fool."

Slaine assisted the both of them with getting dressed and ready for the ball, all the while feeling envious of the fine materials that passed through his hands. Clothes that he would never get to wear, stuck in the rags as he was. His unbrushed hair would never be done up and look beautiful. All he could do was wave them off as they got in the carriage and ride off into the night towards the castle.

And then he was alone.

Which happened often, so he was mostly used to it. This time was different though. This time, Slaine wanted to be a part of it; to be able to go to the ball. Even if the prince didn't choose him as a dancing partner, he thought it would at least be nice to enjoy the festivities and celebrate someone else finding love. He went to the kitchen and sat in a chair, hands clasped together.

"I wish I could go to the ball."

"You did this behind my back", Inaho said with a frown. It was such a small thing, just the barest downturn of his lips and yet it broke his sister's heart. But she remained firm.

"I did not. I told you what I was doing."

"Was it necessary to invite the whole kingdom?" Inaho looked out from his window where he could see all the guests arriving.

"It increases your chances of finding someone. Aren't you all about probability?", Yuki grinned.

"Fine. But if I can't find someone tonight, then you must accept it. And let me find a spouse on my own in my own time."

Yuki grumbled and crossed her arms but submitted to the deal. "Fine. But you have to seriously look Nao. You might find someone."

"I doubt it", Inaho said, watching the procession of strangers filing into his home, all hoping to catch his eyes for one reason or another. He really, truly doubted the odds of finding anyone tonight.