Chapter 6

The Masquerade

The room blasted with people laughing, talking and dancing in the great ball room of the palace. Every single one of them wore pompous and unique clothes matching to the theme of the masquerade: The evergreen world. Arthur's costume was simple. Dark blue undertones weaving in with lighter blue waves. His ruffled shirt looked out from his sleeves and his neck, resembling the sea and their waves. His mask shimmered and pearls covered half of it above his face.

"I am so excited, I can't wait to meet all the candidates!" Arthur's cousin Duchess Dylan said and clinged to his arm.

"I won't be able to dance with everyone tonight, ergo you won't meet everyone," Arthur said to him.

"As your chaperone for tonight, I need to calculate who'll make the best match for you." He nudged Arthur with his elbow in his orange-brown autumn themed costume.

"I would like to have one chaperone in my life who just stands by."

"What do you mean? It's my first time being your chaperone and I'll take my job very seriously," he said and looked around, nudging Arthur again when an alpha approached.

"Good evening Your Highness," the alpha said and bowed. "And Your Grace."

Arthur quickly got out of Dylan's grip and greeted him as well. "Good evening Alexander. I reckon you are here for a dance?"

"Just as agreed," Alexander said in his mask with black glitter.

Normally the alphas would ask him for a dance at the ball and he would write it down on his dance card but today some alphas had already the great idea to ask him for a dance after breakfast to reserve a dance on the ball, very clever.

"Before you take my dear cousin for a dance, I'd have a question for you," Dylan said and Alexander smiled politely while Arthur tried to stop the urge to roll his eyes, instead, he touched a small black brooch with a blue rose hanging on his sleeve. "I have informed myself about you, and your family is quite rich and has a big name. You are an only child, do you really want to give up your family industry and become King?"

"I just want to make the right decision," he said simply.

"And you think-"

Arthur cut him off. "I think I want to dance." He swooped his arm around Alexander's and led him to the dance floor while Dylan followed them up until the dance floor irritated. Arthur knew it was impolite but his mother and her questions to the alphas were enough for him.

-

Meanwhile Alfred and Jake stood at the buffet, mesmerized by the food and how good it looked. Alfred told the servant behind the buffet the sweets they wanted and before Alfred could take his plate another servant grabbed it for him.

"Don't worry sir, I will carry it for you," he said.

"There's no need for it, Benedict, I can carry it myself," Alfred told him and stretched his hand out to take it but the servant moved the plate away from him.

"I insist on carrying your plate, sir Taylor, you could accidentally drop it."

"Don't talk so loud," Alfred shushed him and he apologized.

"Isn't that hilarious," Anthony came up to them laughing. "Poor number 5 needs a babysitter for the party."

"He's not a babysitter," Alfred said.

"What is he, if not a babysitter? Your personal plate carrier?"

"A personal servant, sir," replied Benedict himself, a little too proud for Alfred's taste.

"Ah, a personal servant, because the King doesn't trust you." Anthony smiled sheepishly.

Alfred looked around with his eyes in case someone had heard their conversation. "Can you talk more quietly please."

"Are you embarrassed, oh." He grinned. "A pity, Alan needs a personal nanny to guide him through the ball because of the accident at the banquet," he said loudly on purpose.

Alfred couldn't believe it. This man was the most annoying alpha he had ever met. Anthony grinned before going away and Alfred watched him only to spot Arthur and Alexander dancing.

"Will they ever stop addressing the incident at the banquet?" Alfred asked Jake while watching Arthur.

"They won't stop unless something even more interesting happens."

-

Arthur bowed to Alexander and came back to Dylan when their dance was over, and looked through his dance card.

"Francis was here," Dylan said in a whisper. "He wants to talk to you."

The Prince looked around, hoping he wasn't close by. "If he comes again, tell him I don't want to speak with him."

He turned around to find his new dance partner but got stopped by a reporter. "Such a wonderful masquerade, Your Highness, such a delight!"

"Indeed, now if you'll excuse me," Arthur said and wanted to go past her but she stopped him again.

"I am very excited for the fireworks tonight, I heard there will be a new explosive with more colors, very exciting." The female alpha came closer and Arthur backed away politely. "Hopefully everything will go smoothly tonight."

"Ms. Belle, the report you wrote about Alan Taylor was quite indiscreet," he told her and saw behind her his dance partner slowly approaching.

"My apologies, Your Highness. I just like drama and it's my job," she said and winked. "By the way, I've heard the King of Diamonds might be here. You wouldn't know why?"

"That's a rumor. He wasn't invited," he said and walked past. "Now, excuse me." Of course she wanted to know more about Francis but Arthur wouldn't say a single thing about that.

His new dance partner, Martin, waited for him behind her, and greeted him and Dylan in an appropriate manner.

"I've heard you come from a rich family, sir Martin?" Dylan mustered him and his suit of light blue-orange feathers with the number 8 on the neck. "And that your family has a financial crisis."

"That is correct," he answered, a big smile crossed his face and beaming eyes looked through his orange mask, contrasting to his blue eyes. "And my family will soon get their wealth back. It's not a big issue."

"I hope you're right. Oh, well, I guess I can allow you to dance with Prince Arthur." Dylan looked over at Arthur and Arthur held back the urge to roll his eyes once again.

"Thank you very much." Martin took Arthur's hand and led him to the dance floor.

Arthur felt watched in the big crowd. There were people everywhere but this was another feeling, making him unwell and he reckoned to know why. When he turned with Martin in their dance he spotted someone staring at him with a golden mask covering the whole face and white feathers standing up above the mask, he knew it must be Francis.

-

"How is it to live under the rich and the noble?" Ms. Belle asked when she reached Alfred and Jake just standing there.

"It's great," Alfred lied. "We are on good terms." He swung his glass in his hand and his servant took it from him swiftly.

"Let me hold this for you, sir."

Alfred wanted to die right then and there, it was awkward enough to have a personal servant following him but even worse when a reporter noticed this. Ms. Belle noted it but just smiled, not commenting on that.

"I know that the interview with Mr. Dandelion had covered a lot of topics about you and your stay here but I am curious about a question that wasn't asked yet." She smacked her lips and held her pen and notebook ready. "Aren't you repulsed by the Prince's scandal?"

Alfred scratched his face, he had no idea what to say and had not heard anything about a scandal and so he just smiled. "No, not all. I've met the Prince and he's a great omega."

"Oh. You don't care about that?"

"I don't think it's important."

Ms. Belle wanted to ask more but Julia stepped in with a glass of wine in her hand and a little tipsy. "Ms. Reporter, amazing! You are working day and night but did you know this is a ball and not your working place?" She smiled at her but her eyes told the alpha to get out.

The reporter smiled politely. "We only had a small talk."

"Of course you do," Julia replied. "I am glad this small talk is over."

Ms . Belle bowed to them and wished them a good evening before going away.

"Fancy suit, Alan," Julia commented and Alfred thanked her, grazing over his red suit with rose patterns on his waistcoat and rose petals on his mask. Feliks built glasses into his mask which had surprised Alfred a lot.

Julia's suit also had a lot of red in it but mixed with black and gold. She had small black wings on her back and Alfred thought it was a great touch. Her mask was a blood red and two sharp horns in black grew on top of her mask. And her hair was for once clean and neatly styled.

"I don't know anything about a scandal, what happened?" Alfred asked into their little group.

"There was a scandal some years ago about the Prince and the King of Diamonds. It was said they mated without being married, very scandalous." Julia waved with her hand dismissively. "But that doesn't matter anymore, the only thing that matters is for you to dance with His Royal Highness."

"I don't know how to dance and why me?"

"Because Jake over here doesn't have a personal servant. He knows what he does." She mentioned at Jake with her hand and he shrugged looking at Alfred confused.

"Can I just talk to the Prince instead?"

"Sure. Figure something out." She looped her arm around Alfred's, then turned around to the servant. "I'll take care of him, you can go."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that," Benedict said.

"Run," she told Alfred and pulled him with her through the crowd.

-

Dylan catched up to Arthur who stood on the other side of the dance floor and tried to steady his breath. "If you're done with a dance, please come back to me. I don't want to run after you."

"Francis stood close to you."

"Ah, of course," Dylan breathed out. "That's tiring."

"Your Highness?"

Both omegas turned around and saw Joao standing there in a dark green suit. Arthur didn't hold back a smile when the handsome alpha talked to him.

"I wanted to ask you if you have one dance open for me?" He smiled charmingly.

Arthur looked at his dance card that dangled from his wrist before turning his attention back to him. "You're in luck. The last dance is open."

Dylan squinted his eyes at him before realizing where he's seen him before. "I remember you. You are the soldier who tried to court Arthur some years ago."

Arthur nudged Dylan in his arm to be quiet about it.

Joao chuckled. "That's true and I came back to do that again."

"Charming," Dylan said and Arthur noticed in the corner of his eye a figure coming close to him.

"I have to meet my new dance partner," he told Joao. "I'll see you later."

Arthur walked past him through the crowd and Dylan followed him. His eyes scanned the people and found his next dance partner, Kabir, but he stood on the other side of the dance floor. He looked back and saw Francis coming closer, which led him to run into someone.

"I'm sorry Your Highness," Alfred said. "I thought you saw me." He chuckled.

The Prince looked back again, and the golden mask still moved towards him.

"I wanted to ask you-"

Arthur took his arm. "Of course you can dance with me," he said and led him to the edge of the dance floor.

"Uh, actually I wanted to ask something else," Alfred said.

"Don't worry it's not for long," Arthur said and placed his hand on his shoulder and took his arm.

"I can't dance."

"I'll lead you." Arthur started to dance away in Kabir's direction, over the dancefloor passing the people.

Indeed, Alfred couldn't dance, his feet would stumble over his own and his hand laid awkwardly on Arthur's shoulder as well. Sometimes Arthur wondered if he knew anything about etiquette. During their dance, Arthur would glance back to Dylan and saw Francis stand beside him.

When they crossed the dance floor, Arthur apologized for this inconvenience but also thanked him.

"It's alright, I just wanted to ask you if you'd like to watch the fireworks with me?"

"You're the first one to ask me that." Arthur smiled at him. "I'll watch them with you."

"Thank you," Alfred said and grinned.

He watched Arthur go to the dance floor again, this time with Kabir and spotted Benedict looking for him. Jake had successfully held Benedict away from him and now it looked like Benedict was scolding Julia for letting him get away. Before he could spot him as well, he slipped through the crowd and decided to go out on the balcony for a quick rest.

On the balcony stood another man, leaning against the white railing and his mask in gold with white feathers laid on top of it. He turned around when he heard Alfred come in and Alfred's first thoughts were how incredibly handsome that man was with his wavy blonde hair laying on his shoulders and his soft but yet manly face features.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you," Alfred said.

"Of course not." He mentioned his hand to the railing and Alfred went up to it, only looking outside into the garden and taking down his mask for a moment to clean the glasses. The trees were still bare and Alfred shivered from the cold and decided not to stay too long outside.

"I haven't had the chance to talk to any of the candidates yet," the alpha said with a foreign accent. "I remember you from the newspaper."

"That's all what people talk about." He chuckled and the man joined in.

"Why did the Prince let you stay? It seems rather unusual for him to do that after such an incident."

"Um." Alfred put his mask on again. "He gave me a second chance, that's it."

"A second chance?"

Alfred hummed, he wasn't the only one surprised by that. Alexander had also asked him how that happened but all he could say was that the Prince was a kind person. Now that he thought about it, it was quite strange that the Prince would keep an illiterate person as a candidate. Alfred shook his head, he shouldn't be delusional and think the Prince might like him but somehow he wanted to think that.

The alpha took his mask and straightened his gold-white costume. "I'm glad the Prince gave you another chance." He smiled at him and put his mask on. "Have a pleasant evening."

Alfred wished him the same and stayed a couple of moments before going back inside as well. The moment he went inside, he was spotted by Benedict and Alfred sighed annoyed.

-

After the dance with Kabir, he stood at the side and talked to him about his life on the southern islands. He was a smart alpha and Arthur valued that a lot. While talking to him he felt someone brush against him and when he looked back he saw the white feathers and the gold-white suit walk past him. Arthur hoped he didn't see him but then again he would not have brushed that close to him.

He reached his hand to touch his brooch but it was gone and realized Francis had taken it. His eyes shifted over to Dylan before he bid his farewell to Kabir and walked in Francis' direction. Francis had done that on purpose, he knew that brooch was his omega mother's and all he had left of her.

He didn't want to follow him but did it anyway for the brooch. Dylan stayed close to Arthur when they carefully walked up the stairs and into the corridor. They spotted Francis standing and waiting for him by a wall and Dylan realized why Arthur went here. Their eyes met and Francis proceeded to turn around a corner.

"I need to do this alone," Arthur told Dylan.

Dylan said nothing and let Arthur follow Francis with worried eyes.

The corridors in the palace were dark, the lamps were dimmed and the moon was barely shining through the window. Arthur followed him, having no idea where Francis was going but at least far enough from the ball. He ended up following him into a room full of red furniture and Francis closed the door when Arthur walked in.

"Give me back what you took," Arthur said.

Francis showed him silently the brooch, coming closer to him and Arthur tried to snatch it but Francis moved his hand away. With his other hand, he put down his mask. "Why did you avoid me?"

Arthur didn't say anything and tried to grab the brooch once more but Francis moved his hand away again and grabbed his waist instead, pulling him closer and leaning in for a kiss. Arthur instantly pushed him away.

"Stop that and give me back the brooch."

"You're avoiding me and you make a Selection although I'm your mate," Francis said seriously.

"Do not call me your mate. You don't deserve to call me your mate," Arthur said with glaring eyes.

"I am your mate. Why are you acting like that? Why did you announce the Selection?"

"You didn't want to marry me!" Arthur yelled. "I had no other choice!"

Francis tried to calm Arthur down by placing his hands gently on his shoulders but Arthur stepped away from him pushing his hands away. "Arthur, it's complicated to marry another heir, and we were on a break."

"It doesn't explain why you weren't there! My brother had died and I grieved but you weren't there for me! I had to become the Crown Prince and take on a responsibility I knew nothing about but you weren't there! I was so miserable and as my lover and my mate you should've been here. Especially when my mother tried to force me to marry some old alphas which she saw as fitting!"

"I apologize about that but I had my own problems!" he yelled back and calmed down. "If you still want to marry me, we can do that."

"How can you think that I still want to marry you?"

"7 years ago you would've said yes."

"7 years ago is not now! And back then I didn't understand what kind of person you are and that you make me angry!" Arthur breathed out and turned around from him and took a couple of steps towards the window to calm down his trembling hands before turning back again. "You are much too late to come back to me and you know that our relationship was never good. I'm so tired of fighting with you all the time. We should just let go of each other"

"This is going to be difficult because I still love you," Francis said and came closer to Arthur and put his hands against his shoulders again. "I am very sorry for coming late and for the fighting." One hand took Arhur's hand and the other took Arhur's face, gently caressing with his thumb over his cheek. "I want you to know that I care for you and love you."

Arthur grabbed his brooch out of Francis' hand and backed away. "Don't come to a ball uninvited again."

There was hurt in Francis' eyes and he turned around and walked out of the door without turning back. Arthur loved him for far too long and he knew he made the right decision of leaving him but it hurt him too much, even more than it would hurt to stay with him. All the memories they shared and everything that had happened, it stopped being the same a long time ago and would never change to what it has been.

Arthur's vision blurred when tears began to form in his eyes and fall down. He didn't want to cry about him, about an alpha who hurt him too many times and he refused to admit having feelings for him, for his first love. He started to sob in the red room, feeling his heart tighten in pain.

-

It got late and Alfred was looking for Arthur. The fireworks would soon begin but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you looking for the Prince?" Juila asked.

Alfred hummed and kept looking in the crowd when people started to go outside in the garden.

"His chaperone is here," she noted. "I think he hasn't returned yet. You should look for him in the other rooms."

"Maybe." Something told Alfred that he shouldn't go and that the Prince might want to be alone.

"Come on." She nudged him. "Look for His Highness or he's gonna miss the fireworks."

Alfred nodded and went upstairs and through the corridor.

Meanwhile Arthur had been walking down the corridors, his mask in his hand, sniffing and letting his tears roll, only wanting to go to his room until he heard a voice behind him.

"Your Highness, I've been looking for you."

Arthur turned around and looked straight at Joao coming closer to him. He seemed shocked to see his red puffy eyes and gently caressed his face with his thumb. "Your Highness what happened?"

Arthur shook his head and sniffed. "Nothing. Why were you looking for me?" he said with a broken voice.

"You have promised me the last dance." Joao smiled fondly at him and Arthur remembered their time together. The time when Joao had shown him just as much affection as Francis.

Suddenly Arthur grabbed Joao's collar and kissed him. Joao was surprised at first but took Arthur by his waist and pulled him closer. Joao had once succeeded to make Arthur forget about Francis when he came to court him and he wanted him to do the same thing again, hopefully this time for a much longer time. They deepened the kiss with Arthur's hands tight on his shirt pushing the thoughts of Francis out of his mind. Shortly after, the fireworks began.

Alfred on the other hand walked through the corridors realizing that he was lost until he heard noises coming from a room. When he walked in he recognized this room as the library where he was with the Prince. A loud bang sounded from the outside of the window and colorful lights appeared in the sky, Alfred figured these might be the fireworks. They were beautiful but Alfred felt his chest tighten because Arthur wasn't here with him to look at them.

Another noise sounded but not from the outside but from the inside. It was a dull sound, like something falling on the floor. He went around the shelves and there was a big book lying on the ground. He went to pick it up and mustered it confused. He had not seen this book in here the last time and he was sure he'd looked through every book in this library. The book was thick and covered in a beautiful blue with golden trimming.

He opened the book and came to the window for more light and was mesmerized by the amount of artwork in it. The writing was by hand and the pictures showed all kinds of fairytale creatures. He turned the page and stopped, a round item looking like a stone with various writings on it was drawn on it and beside it a Dragon that looked like the Dragons in the foyer. Whatever this book was, with the mystical drawings and texts, Alfred knew deep down that this was the clue he had been looking for.