Chapter Text
One year later.
The Moonlight Ball returned.
Same day. Same hour.
Held in the crescent-glass ballroom at the heart of Solestra Palace.
This time—there were still masks,
still glittering gowns and clinking glasses.
But no one was required to hide anymore.
—
And among all the unveiled faces,
two people stepped in with nothing left to conceal.
—
Joss wore deep blue formalwear, a silver medal at his collar.
Moonlight caught his hair just right—
and the palace staff whispered:
“The prince… has been smiling more lately, hasn’t he?”
“Since the ‘princess’ recovered, probably.”
“There was no princess.
That’s Prince Gawin.
And the two of them—
they’re what the word ‘perfect’ was waiting for.”
—
Gawin walked in with a silver-white silk cloak.
He moved slowly, careful not to step on the hem.
No mask.
Just a silver ring on his left hand—
moonstone glowing faintly like dew on midnight.
—
When the bell struck twelve,
Joss held out his hand.
“Last year, I asked you to dance even when I didn’t know your name.
This year, I’m asking again—
not because I don’t know you,
but because I want to dance with someone
I’ve come to know better than anyone else.”
Gawin took his hand.
“Last year, I ran away.
This year, I’m not going anywhere.”
—
They stepped onto the ballroom floor.
No one cut in.
No whispers.
Just music—
soft as wind through silk.
Each step, each turn,
fit like they had never been apart—
as if the past year had been a rehearsal for this moment.
—
Gawin leaned his chin on Joss’s shoulder.
“Still stepping on your toes.”
“Still in love.”
—
Joss pulled him a little closer.
“And this time…
I won’t let you go.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.
Because the one I’m dancing with tonight…
is my wife.
The one I didn’t recognize at first.
The one I fell for—
and will keep loving—
from the ball last year,
to every quiet hallway step since,
and far beyond.”
—
When the waltz ended, they didn’t let go.
They didn’t bow like every other couple.
They didn’t move.
They just held hands.
Like they’d walked a long circle—
just to stop exactly where they were meant to.
—
Applause followed.
But in the air, one truth was clear:
Love—
if it’s the right one—
will find its way back.
Even through masks,
through roles, through curses,
even through arranged marriage.
—
THE END.