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The blinding lights were finally dimmed down just enough for their eyes to see. Just as the man clad in royal hues of robes, a white mantle hanging loosely around his shoulder with his crown sitting lackadaisically on top of his head.
His hair wasn't in its usual bun, surprisingly as it is. It was in a neat ponytail. With loose bangs curtaining his handsome face, strands of hair being stubborn enough that it wouldn't stay where it's supposed to be in. He walks with grace and elegance. A beautiful ascension through the stairs toward his throne.
He emits an air of authority. An air of a true royalty as people halts and stares. Stares at their beloved prince stride in utmost confidence.
"Royal Crown Prince, His Highness Feng Xin of Xuan Han!"
Everyone applauds. Cheering on their prince that finally sat atop his throne. Half his features unseen, hidden beneath the mask. They could only hope he was not frowning. His lips were pressed in a thin line, an indication he is not enjoying the moment as of now.
They could only hope his highness would be able to be have a relaxation of a sprinkle of joy as the night goes on.
Now, it was the waiting game.
Noblemen and noblewomen alike gather about. Conversing with each other, walking mindlessly around, doing nonsense, being modest, all in front of the crown prince. In hopes his golden eyes would be interested in anyone of them and if he is, he'd descend from the staircase he had just ascended from to dance the person he found compelling.
If not, they could only wait for longer.
The dance night will only start if the prince had stepped onto the dance floor. There have been occasions where he needed to order to just begin with the music when he never walked back down from his throne, finding no one of his taste that the musicians did with disappointment none of the people was able to impress their beloved prince.
Those nights weren't as enjoyable as the nights the crown prince danced someone. As that was almost always a sign the prince has reveled on the things they prepared for the night. That he liked the night.
They wait. Some even re-touching the appearance of the nobles when they see the prince rest his head on his knuckles, elbow leaning on the arm rest of the throne. Boredom leaving his person, and they begin to get nervous. Some already panicking as they dress the women with more sparkles and shimmers, with a hint of more fragrance. Whereas they fix the hair of the men, fixing their hair pieces and most especially their mask. The more pleasing their masks are to the eye, the better it was.
It is, after all, a masquerade ball.
"I don't think he'll dance anyone this night." One of the members of the kingdom's court, Zhi Wu Shi, says with despondency. "The older he gets, the harder he is to impress. Ai, we cannot even decipher what standards he is now. He's become closed off."
"Don't worry, Zhi'xiansheng." Another member, Wuli Pei, pats his back. "I'm sure there's at least someone here. We brought even those from neighbouring kingdoms."
"As we do in every ball we hold." Zhi Wu Shi mutters, rubbing the bridge of his nose despairingly. He's now only waiting for the order of the prince for the music to begin. "At this state of his, do you think he'll even bat an eye at any normal person he sees? I swear this child was never this picky."
"You've said it already, Ol'Shi." Zian Xi nudges his side with her elbow. She's another member of the court, one of the youngest and newest that had helped many people in the kingdom with the laws she had successfully passed through the royals' permission. "The older our dear prince gets, the harder he is to impress. It's a miracle if he sees someone that he has not seen already around here. It's always the same, isn't? There's almost no inventiveness and centrality here."
"But is there really no one?" Wuli Pei puts a hand on his chin, "How about you Zian Xi? Why don't you try?"
"Oh goodness, me?" Quickly, Zian Xi shakes her head. Even waving both her hands dismissively as though the mere thought of even going in front of all those nobles was vomit-inducing in itself. It was a repulsive idea, she was not even from a family of nobles. "No, no. Wuli'xiong, have you out of your mind?"
"It was a mere suggestion, Young Zian." Zhi Wu Shi says, "Don't be aggreived."
"Ah? I'm not! Of course, I'm not-"
"Look!" Hushed, hurried and panicked whispers erupt. A man adorned in nothing but black of robes with a silver mask strides with pride in front of the nobles. Surprised gasps were heard, as they stare horrified at the man as though he had just committed such an abominable sin. "What is he doing?!"
"Someone!" Zhi Wu Shi gestures frantically around, uncertain what to even order. "Do something!"
The man, heedless of the attention he pulled, lowers the hood of his mantle. Revealing pure, jet black, long hair. Tied in the same way the prince had worn his. With loose locks on each sides of his head. There was a long saber hanging loosely on his belt, as though he had just come from a supposed war and was informed of the ball at a nearby kingdom, he decided to come and visit.
Zhi Wu Shi almost yells when neither of the guards even do something. They stood their like statues, stiff and unmoving.
He ought to pull the man away from the attention himself when Wuli Pei grabs his elbow.
"Look at his highness." Zian Xi says, nudging her chin toward the throne.
The prince in question was now sitting curiously. In surprise and in wonder, his lips parted slightly as though he wanted to speak. The air was thick and dense. People waits with bated breath as their eyes flickers between the two men. One in royal gold, and another in obsidian black.
Then, the man lowers his head down. One hand on his back, another reaching up toward the baffled prince. His mask does its tremendously frustrating work by hiding what face has the audacity to do such absurd thing.
"I only ask of the Royal Crown Prince, His Highness of Xuan Han, to honor this lowly one with one dance of the night." His voice was melodic and calm. With a hint of silver, of something authoritative. People around them were quiet, waiting for something bad to happen. Waiting for what the prince shall do as the man holds that position for a few moments. "If he wishes to do so."
And alas, the prince does something they had not expected.
He stands. Stands with hesitancy and uncertainty. As though he had an assumption of something but was not sure if it was true. He descends the stairs.
Slow and cautious.
"His highness...!" Zhi Wu Shi almost faints at seeing something so inevitable.
The prince, Feng Xin, seemed to have clarified whatever assumption he had when the man lifts his head again. More surprised whispers bursts throughout the room when they see the prince smile.
Smile at someone they have never seen before.
Feng Xin places his hand on top of the man's paler one. As the man tugs the royal hand toward his face, kissing it with the mask before slowly pulling the prince in the centre of the dance floor.
Zian Xi quickly claps for the starstruck musicians to begin.
In less than a second, there's a soft melody in the air. The man coils his arm around Feng Xin's waist, pulling him close. Feng Xin rounds his own around the man's neck, as their other hands intertwines in the air.
Then they began.
In the eyes of the people from different kingdoms. In the eyes of different and other royals. In the eyes of the majesties themselves, the crown prince of Xuan Han dances with a man so unfamiliar to them.
"I never thought I'd see you here." Feng Xin whispers so quietly he fears the other did not hear.
"Well, I heard my beloved rival has another masquerade ball." The man leans forward, murmuring directly in his ear.
"Didn't want to miss a beautiful opportunity to dance my beloved."
Feng Xin smiles wider. So wide he almost couldn't suppress a chuckle. "And I thought you're shy? I never thought you'd be bold enough to actually do such thing. Ask me for a dance in front of these people? I wouldn't have believed it."
The man purposely twists them around, dipping Feng Xin down as the prince helplessly chortles softly. The man shakes his head, pulling him up again as he twirls Feng Xin around until their arms were straight.
With a few steps, Feng Xin was back in the taller man's arms.
"Don't get mad." Feng Xin rests his head on the other's shoulder. "I'm... I'm just so happy. This is the first time we have actually danced on a dance floor. With people watching us."
He lifts his head again, leaning close until he was able to slightly push back the mask of the man until he could kiss his red, blushing cheek. "I'm so... so happy, Qing'er."
"Don't cry." Mu Qing warns. "I don't want the crown prince crying because he's being danced by someone they don't even know is the prince of Zhuliu."
"Imagine if they knew." Feng Xin's tone was teasing, as their steps slowed along with the rhythm of the song. "Imagine if they knew the one and only man that asked the crown prince of Xuan Han was none other than his opposing crown prince of Zhuliu as well. The chaos it will bring."
Mu Qing snorts, pulling his beloved closer until it was now physically impossible. "Imagine if they knew we've been seeing each other for years now."
"Oh, the king will have my head."
"Not if I have his, first."
"Said king is also my father, my love." Feng Xin murmurs with barely contained happiness despite the indirect threat. "However, I can run along with you, if you'd like."
"Don't speak about such things for now." Mu Qing truly does not wish to know what sort of chaos will break out once the news that he and the prince he held now were dating this early on. He wished to have a nice evening and a nice dance with his partner, and he intends to do just that.
Conversing with dark possibilities was not in his plate at this night, he doesn't desire to get full with informations like those when he's so starved for the prince in his arms.
"Enjoy the night, A'Xin." He says then, pressing their foreheads against each other. A soft smile playing on his lips knowing full well no one could see. "That's what your people wanted for you, right?"
"I was only able to enjoy this night because of you." Feng Xin responds just as quietly. Itching to be closer, itching to touch him, itching to kiss him. In front of these people. However forbidden their love may be. "I want to touch you."
"You're touching me already." Mu Qing says, squeezing the latter's hand tighter. Even tighter when Feng Xin shakes his head. "We can't." He says when he realizes, "You know we can't."
"I know." Feng Xin whispers painfully. "I know." He repeats, only being able to plaster a smile of despair on his face as Mu Qing looks at him with so many emotions. So much love and so much agony they weren't able to express and shout the love they have for each other to the world.
Where they cannot say they love one another without having to worry if someone hears and report to the authorities.
"Next time, I'll make sure." Mu Qing says, kissing the other's forehead and wishing for dear life that their masks weren't there as a barrier. "I'll make sure the next time I ask you for a dance, there will be no animosity between our kingdoms. We'll be able to dance freely, talk freely, touch freely, and kiss freely."
Feng Xin feels himself get lifted up by the waist. For a moment in the air, he could only see Mu Qing. The man of his life, the love of all his universe. His beloved, his prince, his beautiful soon to be husband.
None of the people around them. None of the curious gazes striking every part of their bodies. None of the suspense. None of the fear of being caught. None of those. Only them, only their love, only their world.
He grins, Mu Qing does as well.
Alas, after years of dancing in the wilderness under the dark moon,
They finally danced on a proper dance floor.