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Royal Functions are, in my opinion, the worst way to celebrate.
Tonight is my 18th birthday, and hence it is officially my entrance to adulthood, an elaborate ball was supposedly held in my honor. If my mother had actually wished to honor me, she would have thrown me a small party. Just my family, Emilia, and I, eating sweets and talking about my childhood with smiles and laughter.
But alas, I stand in the corner of the palace's grand ballroom, a glass of wine in my hand, untouched. The music playing is joyful and boisterous as people all around me laugh and send charming smiles in my direction. I hate it here.
Hundreds of people have waltzed up to me and kissed my hand, hoping to possibly get to dance with me. Suitors from all over the world have come to fight for my hand in marriage, and yet, here I am, in a corner, hiding from all of my responsibilities.
“Y/NNNNN” Emilia squealed as she ran up to me, her soft yellow gown splaying around her. She jumped up and down excitedly, her short brown heels clicking against the ground ungracefully. “Did you see?! Lord Eren and Lady Mikasa just arrived!! He looks dashing tonight! you should come and see him!! Maybe he’ll even ask you to dance!”
I looked up at my childhood best friend and smiled softly. I would hate to ruin her evening but I absolutely did not wish to dance with that trigger happy idiot of a noble. I’d hoped to stay in my own little area for the entire night, but Emilia had a different plan.
Emilia tugged off the sleeve of my gown, attempting to drag me over to the dance floor.
“Emi! Wait!” I urge as I pull my arm back from the bouncing girl. “I don't want to even see Eren tonight, let alone dance with him!” I scowl lightly. Emilia deflated slightly before letting my sleeve go and frowning dramatically.
“But Y/nnn, you’re never going to get a husband by acting like this. It's your 18th birthday for christ’s sake!! Live a little!!” Emilia whined. Her light brown curls bounced as she pleaded with me.
“I’m sorry Emi, but I’m not looking for a husband! I just want to live my life for a few more years before being subjected to marriage. We’ve been over this” I say as I cup her rosy cheeks with my gloved hands. Her blue eyes looked up at me with one last begging look before they returned to their natural joyus state.
“I understand!! You're in love!” Emi squealed as she jumped out of my grasp. I look at her, exasperated, before grabbing ahold of her shoulders and looking her in the eyes.
“Emilia, If I was in love, I would have told you, dummy!” I giggle slightly before continuing. “Though, you're not too far off the mark. I hope to someday find romance in someone, I don't want to end up like mother and father..” I trail off.
“Well, who doesn't want to find love. I hope that someday, I'll be swept off my feet by a charming young lady that'll treat me right and love me until we’re old and pruny!” Emilia announced loudly. A couple onlookers around us stared at her outburst, but she didn't notice through her excitement. “I just hope you find that too Y/n.” She smiled sweetly at me. “But you’re never going to find a lover if you’re standing in a corner all night!”
Just then, an announcer's voice rose up above the crowd. Everyone looked around confused by someone's sudden entrance. The night was almost over, who would be joining in on the festivities so late?
“INTRODUCING HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCE ARMIN ARLERT OF THE KINGDOM OF SHIGANSHINA” The announcer yelled over the overbearing crowd.
I looked over to the front entrance to see a tall boy. His hair was a dusty blond, and even from such a distance I could recognize his blue eyes anywhere.
Armin’s eyes surfed over the crowd until they landed directly on I. He smirked slightly before continuing down the steps from the entrance. Once he melded into the crowd, he became out of sight. I however, still stood there, staring at where he once stood, in awe of his appearance.
I’d had been awhile since I had seen Prince Arlert and he has since grown into a fine young gentleman. As a kid, he and his family would come for political visits to our kingdom every so often, leaving us children to entertain each other. Over time we had grown fond of eachother, slowly becoming best friends. It was about when we were 11 however, that his parents sent him away to Knightswood Academy For Boys, a preparatory school to prepare young boys to become established nobels.
I hadn't seen him since.
Until now.
He looked different. The last time I'd seen him, he was shorter than me, with short blond hair that was always a mess. Now, he looked tall and had a strong build. His hair had been cut. He used to always be bundled up in jumpers to keep warm, but now he doesn't seem affected by my kingdom's much cooler climate. He’s grown so much from when we were children, I can tell by the way he walks that he no longer has an anxious air around him. It’s quite frankly, alarming.
“Y/n? Earth to Y/n!”
I jump, startled by the voice suddenly in my ear. I turned away from where I was looking to see Emi looking at me, an exasperated expression plastered on her face.
“Jeez, I didn't know anyone could be so lovestruck. Y/n it looked as though you had hearts for eyes. Who was that boy, and how do you know him?” Emilia asked, her arms crossed over her breast indignantly. I felt my cheeks go a bit hot, but I plastered an annoyed expression on my face, in hopes to hide it.
“I’m not lovestruck! I just haven't seen Armin in a very long time, that's all!” I blush, my face playing on an angered look. Emi rolled her eyes and shot me a mhmm sure, I totally believe you look. “It’s true! The last time I saw him was when we were children, way before you even became my lady in waiting!!”
Emilia smirked before grabbing my hand and pulling me through the crowd. Desperate to find where Armin had gone. I tried to pull away, but her grip was like iron on my sleeve.
“I’m going to get you out of you’re stupid shell before the night is over if its the last thing I do!!” Emi yelled to me through the crowd as she navigated the outskirts of the dance floor. People cleared a path for the two of us as she dragged me along, eager to meet with the lady of honor.
The majority however were pushed out of the way by a screeching Emilia, yelling “MAKE WAY!! THE PRINCESS MUST GET TO HER TRUE LOVE!!”
My face went red hot with shame and embarrassment as a crowd started to form, awiting to see who my alleged “true love” is. I hid my face behind my free hand before continuing to be pulled along by Emilia.
We walked around the ballroom for a little longer before Emilia finally found Armin’s whereabouts. It was only then did she let go of my arm. She then looked at me smuggly, joyously taking in my flustered expression before walking up to the prince.
“Um excuse me, Prince Arlert?” She asked, grabbing his attention away from a taller gentleman who’s face looked curiously horse-like. “I do apologize, however, the Princess wishes to speak with you.” I stepped forward nervously as Emilia fell in step behind me.
Armin looked slightly shocked by the abruptness of my meeting but as soon as he saw me his shocked expression melted into a familiarly sweet smile.
“Why hello again, Princess?” He said as he bowed to I. “It's been so very long.” He sighed as he took my hand and kissed it gently. Though my hand had been kissed by many young gentlemen all evening, no gentleman was able to send a flutter to my stomach except the prince.
“When did you get back, Your Highness?” I ask, confused by his appearance at my party in the first place.
“A couple months ago. I regret coming to see you sooner, but I needed to settle back into royal life before making any further trips.” Armin said softly, his tone calmer than I remembered it. “And how are I doing, my darling? I've missed you terribly since I was away.”
I blush slightly at this, and I could hear Emilia giggle slightly behind me.
“I've been well. Much has happened since we were children, I haven't a clue where to start telling you about it all.” I laugh sweetly. In all honesty, life without the prince's visits has been so terribly dull. Soon after the prince left, I too was thrown into my studies. There was suddenly no more time for foolish childrens games.
“Well, I would rather speak to you than pesky nobels, so would you care to join me in a dance? Then you can tell me all about it.” Armin asked kindly. I smiled slightly, about to turn him down, when I heard Emi’s voice whisper in my ear.
“If you don't dance with him, you’ll never forgive yourself.”
As much as I wanted to spin around and tell her differently, Emilia was right. I couldn't walk away from this opportunity without feeling guilty.
Smiling, I look up at Armin and nod my head. My cheeks dusted with pink. Armin then held out his arm for me to take, and I held onto graciously as he whisked me onto the dance floor. The music suddenly became very slow and soft. It turned into a sweet waltz rather than traditional celebratory music. I knew this was on purpose considering Armin was the first person I’d agreed to dance with.
(The song is, Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals: XIII, The Swan)
Armin’s hand wrapped around my bodaise, his other grabbing a hold of mine. He pulled me close to him slowly before starting to dance. We stayed silent for a while, taking in each other's appearances, our bodies swaying gently together in time with the music.
Armin’s deep blue eyes stayed on me the entire time we danced. Sometimes my eyes, other times my hair, even my lips. He ate up my appearance silently and unapologetically, and I stepped together.
After a few moments I decided to break the silence between us.
“If I had known I were coming, I would have dressed nicer.” I say, taking notice of his staring. He down up at me for a moment before smiling and saying,
“No - you're perfect. If I could capture this moment and bottle it up forever, I would. I look absolutely exquisite this evening, Princess.” He whispered sweetly. I felt my face heat up as my eyes snapped up to his. I searched for a hint of humor or tease in his eyes, but his expression stayed serious.
“Please, call me Y/n.” I ask. Not knowing what else to say in response to his statement.
“Only if you address me as Armin.” He gambled, his smile growing wider at my words. I nodded, a smile rising to my face as well. Armin let out a breathy laugh at my reaction. “I’ve missed you so much Y/n, it's so nice to finally be back.” Armin whispered in your ear, pulling my body closer to him.
“I missed you too Armin.” I whispered back. I blushed at our closeness. His chest was pressed against mine, my face so very close to the crook of his neck. Here I could take in his familiar scent. I got a breath of nostalgia as the light woody scent invaded my lungs. Oh how I missed it. “Please don't leave me again.” I pleaded with him, my grip on his shoulder tightening slightly.
Armin looked down at me shocked by my blunt request. His gaze softened immensely as I lifted my head from his chest and looked him in the eye. I never realised how much I had missed him. Those days when we were children had been the happiest I could remember. I cling onto Armin as if he can somehow bring them back.
“I won't.” Armin said into my ear. “From here on out, I will stay by your side. I love you Y/n. I have since we were children. It's been so very long since then, but I hope to rekindle the joy we brought each other someday.”
A lone tear fell from my eye as I looked up to see his face. His eyes were pricked with tears as well as he looked down into my eyes, then to my cheeks, then up to my eyebrow, and finally his gaze landed on my lips. He looked into my eyes one last time as the music began to slow to a halt, before encapturing my lips in a soft kiss.
The kiss was gentle. It was as though he had waited his entire life for this moment. I froze. That was my first kiss, taken by the one I loved the most. Scared but hopelessly in love, I kissed him back, and although the kiss only lasted mere seconds, the crowd that had formed around the two of us while we danced, cheered and applauded the two of us.
When the two of us parted from the kiss you looked around to see your mother and Emilia silently fist bump as they stared at the two of us in awe. I blushed furiously before looking back up at Armin, his ears now bright red with embarrassment. I laugh softly at the cute sight before hugging the prince and whispering into his chest,
I love you too
I guess birthday celebrations aren't that bad after all.