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You don't know why you believed Satoru when he promised he would sit still at tonight's ball. Maybe it was because you were genuinely looking forward to it. Maybe you wanted to believe that you would have fun with your friends without having to worry about the troublesome crown prince.
But... he was your brother, and as it always was in times like these, you're sent away to find him.
Because he does listen to you.
...
To an extent.
...
When he feels like it.
Running your hands through your hair, you turn towards yet another empty corridor.
“Just where is that annoying—” Your grumbling is interrupted when you spot a head of white hair flit by the corner of your eye.
‘Aha!’ You rush immediately to follow the figure.
It quickly becomes clear that he's very good at dodging you and leading you in circles. However, you know this castle better than anyone, and you trap him into a corner soon enough.
“I'm surprised you fell for that. You aren't usually this easy to... catch...”
A beautiful stained glass window is fixed at the end of the corridor you led him to. The moonlight shines through it and paints the stranger in breathtaking colors.
‘Who is he?’, you wonder. You don't think you've ever seen someone so handsome... Despite an extended collar covering half of his face.
He meets your eyes and frowns. Though you only stand in front of him in confusion.
“You're not... Satoru.” You start slowly, trying to grasp the situation. “Why did you run from me?”
You hear several scuffling feet in the distance, and suddenly you're alarmed.
‘Shit, is this an ambush?’
The stranger seems to be distracted by the noise as well. Taking the opportunity, you sprint and tackle him, pinning him to the wall. This hallway is secluded enough that you're confident whoever's following you won't be able to find you if you keep quiet.
He looks like he's about to say something, but you don't let him.
“Shush!” You say. He looks bewildered.
A moment passes, and you realize that the noise was only from the knights rushing to look for Satoru as well.
You find yourself staying still despite having nothing to hide from the knights. ‘Why do I feel like I've done something wrong?!’
You take the time to analyze the man in front of you while waiting for the knights to depart. Though you can feel his strong build, he doesn't resist you. Perhaps he isn't particularly dangerous, or maybe he doesn't see you as enough of a threat to put up a fight.
The latter irks you more than you thought it would.
The noises fade, and you're about to loosen your grip on the stranger when you hear more sounds. This time, it's the boisterous laughter of those annoying, pompous delegates.
Annoyance paints your face just thinking about the ridiculous rumors they spread. If only they'd properly do their jobs instead of gossiping and pestering you to get married. Imagine if they saw you now, pinning this man to the wall. Why, they would probably chatter about it for years and—
You suddenly realize how... delicate your current situation is.
You panic, and the stranger tilts his head as if asking you, ‘What?’
“Shhhhh!!!” Before you could help it, you shush the man with urgency, using your hands to cover his mouth. You couldn't even begin to comprehend the international scandal that would unfold should you be discovered in this very compromising position—with a noble you've never met, no less!
“Did you hear that the crown prince disappeared again?” One of the delegates cackled.
“Oh my, again? Then was the princess sent to fetch him?”
“It seems so! But I hear she has been gone for some time as well! Ho ho!”
“Perhaps she has gotten tired playing her brother's keeper. I can't believe the future of the empire lies on the shoulders of someone so happy-go-lucky. Tsk.”
The voices fade. Holding your breath, you crane your neck every which way to see if the delegates have truly left. You finally spare the stranger a glance once you're only met with a noiseless hallway. You sigh deeply.
‘This man would probably be angry’, you think to yourself...
You expected him to be mad, or to throw a tantrum. You waited for him to shove you off despite you being a princess—to demand an explanation and god forbid, compensation for the stress they endured the entire ordeal. That's how most, if not all, nobles were these days. Entitled beyond repair.
But to your surprise, you find him smiling. The corners of his eyes pinch as if he finds the situation very amusing. His shoulders shake due to laughter, and that's when you notice the color of his coat—a deep bluish purple... The color reminds you of the Inumaki clan, of the flag on the carriage you saw arriving this morning.
...
Ah. You let go of him.
His eyes glow with mischief as he watches you take in his appearance. The coat. The color of his hair. The purple eyes...
...The markings he reveals after he pulls down his collar.
You've played yourself a fool.
You back away from him immediately, clearing your throat and smoothing your hands over your skirt. “I deeply apologize, prince Toge.” You bow deeply.
Toge bows to you as well. Afterwards, he begins to sign a response. ‘You have a strong grip, princess.’
Your cheeks grow warm. Of course he decides to make fun of you. But then again, it was very rude of you to have literally cornered and restrained him.
“Again, I'm sorry.” You take a deep breath. “As you may have heard, I was looking for my brother. I only followed you because I thought you were him.”
His eyes glint wickedly. ‘And the pinning?’
“I-I was flustered.” You still are, but you curtsy to him and look to the floor to hide your expression. “Please excuse me. I must go.”
Toge watches you leave, and a smile blooms on his face when he sees your ears turning red.
He looks back to the stunning window at the end of the hall, and engraves into his memory how beautiful you had looked under the iridescent moonlight.
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After trying (and failing) to find your dearest brother, you decide to return to the ballroom. You spot your trio of best friends conversing near the buffet table. Prince Megumi catches your sight first, and walks briskly to meet you.
“Where have you been?” He asks, and you think this is the most frazzled you've seen of the dark haired prince.
“I was looking for my brother, where else?” Your thoughts wander to prince Toge, and you subconsciously look around to see if he has returned as well. Your eyes find prince Yuji and princess Nobara approaching.
“When we thought you were taking too long, we left to find you.” Nobara explains. “But we ended up finding your brother instead.” She gestures to the end of the ballroom, where Satoru is sprawled on his seat next to the emperor's.
“Serves him right to look so bored. He's so much more trouble than he's worth.” You tsk.
Yuji catches your attention. “But I don't understand what took you so long, princess. You usually find him quickly, did something happen?”
Once again, your mind is brought back to Toge, and how he looked when you first saw him.
You must have taken a beat longer to reply. The three of them suddenly lean closer to try and read your expression.
“Are you alright?”
“Don't you dare try to keep whatever this is a secret from us!”
“So something did happen!”
They bombard you with questions, and you're suddenly overwhelmed. “I'll explain if you all let me, now will you?”
You pull them towards the wall, where there are less people, before explaining what happened.
...
You immediately regret doing so.
Your friends fail to compose themselves as they laugh. You're baffled as even Megumi laughs at you. He tries to cover his mouth, but it's too late. You glare at all of them.
“I can't believe you told prince Toge, of all people, to shush!” Nobara wipes her eyes with a handkerchief.
Yuji is still keeled over as he nods. “I would have paid to see that!”
“Now I understand what Maki and Panda were laughing about earlier, and why they kept looking over at us.” Megumi smirks at you teasingly.
“No!” You gasp. “They didn't!”
“Oh yes they did!” Yuji counters. “It all makes sense now!”
The trio seems to have regained their composure, but you're still a bit miffed. You refuse their offer to dance with you.
“I don't want to dance with any of you right now.”
“Oh shush, princess!” Nobara says, and they're caught in a fit of laughter once again.
But then their eyes shift to something behind you, and their next words get stuck in their throat.
You hear footsteps before you look over your shoulder. Prince Toge advances towards you.
He bows in a graceful motion, just as he did before. ‘I greet the princess of the empire. May I have this dance?’ He asks before holding out his hand.
You expected to be too embarrassed to dance with him well. But you're learning that your expectations are often wrong tonight.
Words fail to describe how wonderful it was to dance with him.
For someone who held him against a wall, the prince looks at you fondly. More fondly than you expected, and more fondly than anyone else has ever regarded you. His movements are confident and smooth as he leads you along to the music.
You want to apologize again, and possibly say that you're enjoying your time with him; but you have the strangest feeling that he already knows.
And thus, you stay silent, and let yourself be swept off your feet. The gentle melody plays on and contrasts with the erratic beating of your heart.
When the dance ends, he leans down to bring his face closer to yours. He takes your hands and brings your fingers up to cover his lips—reminiscent of how you had done earlier when you were hiding. You blush as he kisses your fingers while holding your hands firmly.
You find yourself unable to think of anything else even when the ball draws to a close.
You're unable to properly greet him goodbye, but you meet his eye when he looks over before entering his carriage. He nods, and smiles sweetly at you, the kind that reaches his eyes.
Your attention snaps away from him when Nobara demands you make her your maid of honor at your wedding, and you're left flustered once again.
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A letter from him arrived the next day.
Dearest princess,
I realize I left you last night without apologizing to you. Please accept my apology now, though it may be late. You said you were flustered, and that was what led you to your actions last night. I'm afraid it was the same for me.
I don't know why I ran from you, or why I didn't bother to turn around sooner to confirm the identity of my pursuer. But now I'm certainly glad I didn't, for it has left me with memories I will surely cherish.
I will be frank. I am unable to stop my thoughts of you, and would like to get to know you more. Allow me to be the one to pursue you, this time.
In two months, during the crown prince's birthday banquet, please let me steal you away for a while. I hope to meet you there again, by the window under the moonlight. I look forward to your reply.
Thinking of you,
- Toge
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