Years ago, in a nice urban neighborhood lived a young boy by the name of Seth. Seth was the son of a baker and was an expert in baking himself. But sometimes he got caught up in habit of dancing. He was quite nervous in performing in public, so he secluded himself from dancing at gatherings. But in private he felt so at peace.

A blue bird perched herself at a window and saw the boy humming to himself while spinning around with a tray of unbaked cookies. The bird began to dance too...

Before falling into a batch of flour.

Seth heard the commotion and giggled, "Here. Let me help you." He went over and lifted the bird out of the flour, which shook off the flour before flying away. Seth smiled as he watched the avian fly away. The boy went back to twirling around to his heart's content.

He soon bumped into his dad, who came out with a fresh pan of cookies. "Dancing again?" His dad joked. Seth become flustered after hearing that. He loved to dance and was so great at it. But whenever other people saw him dance, he become embarrassed with all the eyes on him.

"No," Seth muttered before taking the pan from his dad's hands. His father just frowned, "Look, Seth. I know you can get embarrassed whenever you see other people watch you dance, but you cannot let that stop you from doing what you are great at."

The son mentally rolled his eyes. He had this talk so many times at this point. Sometimes he felt like it was nagging at this point. "I know dad," was allow he replied.

"You should really go to the summer festival," his dad suggested, "Lots of teenagers your age will be there."

Seth let out an "eh" to that suggestion. "Yeah, and I bet they're all going to be staring at me to the point where I could potentially burst into flames," Seth over-exaggerated, "Fat chance."

"Alright then, suite yourself," his dad replied before returning to oven.

Seth went to a nearby window and sighed as he looked at the sky. The summer festival was a huge event in their neighborhood. The town square was decorated to its finest with lanterns, streamers, and some hangable paper crafts. Fireworks would go off in towards the end. Everyone usually went to mingle and chat. There were some activities like face paint or tie-dye. And food trucks were parked for everyone's enjoyment.

Seth sighed again, thinking of him dancing to the music and pictured him with all the eyes on him. They weren't booing but cheering him on as he danced. If only that was reality and not his own imagination.

Next to the neighborhood was a large mansion. The mansion was near a lake, with a bridge extending from the courtyard to the gate. On the far side of the castle was an exquisite garden, with a hedge maze and green topiaries in the form of various animals...

Along with a stack of hay near an apple tree with an archery target propped up against it.

FLUNK!

An arrow was fired and struck the center of the target.

"Bullseye!" the archer exclaimed as he managed to score that shot. The archer is none other than Prince Stefan. He is a young man with curly brown hair and eyes. He was currently in a white dress shirt, blue jeans, white socks, and brown boat shoes. "Booyah! Eat it, Amar!" the prince pumped his fist in air.

Amar rolled his eyes at his friend's boasting. Amar is a Southeast Asian young man with black hair and eyes. He had on a purple dress shirt, blue jeans, white socks, and black converse. "Oh-ho-ho-kay. But can you make it four for four?" Amar challenged.

Stefan grinned, "What do you say I hit that top sack over there?" The prince gestured to the sacks of grains on a cart across the grounds of them.

"All the way over there?" Amar said before laughing, "You must have be joking. It's impossible!"

"Oh, Amar," Stefan sighed before grinning, "You know impossible, isn't my thing." The prince draws an arrow to his bow before straighten his posture. He lines up the shot before releasing. The arrow whizzes through the gaps on a topiary before landing in the topmost sack.

Amar's jaw drops before giving an applause, "It appears I have underestimated you... again."

"Sorry, what was that?" Stefan held his ear out like he was listening to nature.

"I underestimated your skill," Amar repeated in a louder tone.

"That's what I thought," the brunette said before dancing around.

Meanwhile, the arrow silts the bag of grain, causing it to pour...

onto Stefan's mom who just entered the grounds. "Stefan!" she shouted.

The prince and his friend flinch at the tone before her son runs over. "Mom!... Sorry."

The queen just dusts herself off, "More target practice, I presume?" she pulls out a few letters, "I came to give you these. They're all responses from princesses coming to the Royal Ball!"

Stefan mentally groaned at the mention of the ball. He was soon to be king and knew he had to pick someone to rule alongside him. But he hadn't found someone that he loved back. Half of the princesses he had met were all about their complexions while the other half didn't appease him at all. This was perhaps one of the most uninterested things he wanted to do.

"Eligible princesses. You need someone to be wedded to you," the queen reaffirmed.

"But mom-" Stefan was interrupted as his mom began the speech he had heard a dozen times.

"Stefan," the queen began, "I'm growing tired. Soon, you'll have take over the throne. I want to spend my golden years spoiling my grandchildren!"

"Mom, you know I'll marry someday, but first I want to do some much!" Stefan told her, running his hands through his hair as he did, "This ball feels like it's coming too fast. I don't even know any of these princesses. What if I never find the one?"

"Oh honey," his mom said in her motherly tone, "I know you will find the one soon. Hopefully, before you take to the throne."

Stefan rolled his eyes as the queen headed back inside.

"Relax, man," Amar chimed in, "You'll find someone. Who knows maybe the one your looking for is just around the corner!"

Stefan gave a small smile at the claim, but still couldn't shake the approaching ball. How would he even find the right woman for him to love?

Perhaps Amar is right. He would get lucky and find someone who loves him for who he is and not what he is.

But alas, only time could tell.