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There was a masquerade ball being held in the castle celebrating the crown prince's 21st birthday. Nobles and other royalties from all around the realm are going to attend, for this will also be the time that the Crown Prince will choose the person he will be betrothed with as his future spouse. Everyone right now will be busy preparing for the celebration, a perfect way for him to enter the palace without suspicion. He was hired by a secret society to assassinate Prince Roman, the crown prince of the kingdom. Janus had been studying Prince Roman's every move for months, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Janus stepped out of the carriage on the royal driveway. The palace doors were wide open and the people were milling about the area, getting ready for the evening festivities. He was disguising himself as a duke from a faraway kingdom so that everyone would assume he was just one of the guests attending the ball. He adjusts his mask slightly and then walked towards the castle entrance. He walked into the palace gates and felt a slight sense of unease. He had never before attempted assassination in such a high-profile event and the risks were at an all-time high. Despite this, he ignored his anxieties and reminded himself that he must carry on with his mission.
The palace was more magnificent than he had envisioned, with stunning chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling and golden ornaments embellishing every wall. Janus had to focus on his objective and not let himself get distracted by the grandeur of his surroundings.
He walked through the crowded halls, carefully observing the guests as he passed by. Eventually, he spotted the crown prince, Roman, socializing with the other guests from a distance. He spotted the crown prince, Roman, in the distance, mingling with the other guests. Now all Janus needs to do is formulate a plan to approach the crown prince and distract him away. His mind flashed through various scenarios and it appeared like one would have the most success. He must charm the crown prince and keep him occupied enough until midnight.
Janus took a deep breath and approached the prince with a calm and confident demeanor. As he drew near, he saw Roman's eyes flicker over to him with curiosity. Janus put on his best smile and introduced himself as a foreign duke attending the ball.
"Salutations, your Highness. I am Janus Cassidy, Duke of Delvor. It is a pleasure finally meeting you face to face." Janus purred as he bowed slightly. "Prince Roman Goldenberg. And likewise," Roman replied with a grin. Roman seemed intrigued by the newcomer, and Janus knew he had to keep up his act to maintain the prince's attention.
Janus straightened his posture as he spoke once again, " I wish you a happy birthday, Prince Roman. Though I apologize, I have not brought any gifts with me.".
"That's quite alright, Lord Janus. Material things are unnecessary, your presence here is enough," Roman said sincerely with a bright smile. Janus couldn't help but feel a little taken aback by the prince's kind words. He had expected the crown prince to be arrogant and entitled, like many of the other royals he had encountered. But there is more than meets the eye.
Their conversation was cut short when the announcer announced, "Let us begin the dance!". Immediately, everyone started clapping and cheering and music filled the grand hall while servants carried around trays filled with liquor. Roman raised his glass in acknowledgment of the cheers, but his gaze quickly went back down to the duke. He sets his glass down on the nearest table and offered his hand to Janus, " May I have this dance with you, Lord Janus?" Roman asked.
Janus grinned, " Of course, the pleasure is mine, Your Highness.".
As they danced, Janus continued to keep up his charming facade, making small talk and complimenting the prince on the grandeur of the ball. Roman seemed to enjoy his company, and Janus was starting to, as well. But he must not stray away from the mission he was tasked with, tonight, he shall kill the crown prince. He can't afford distraction.
As the night wore on, he and the prince were now on the balcony. The prince was trying to escape the many princes, princesses, and other nobles trying to court him that night. Roman was telling Janus his woes of having to choose a spouse.
"They simply do not understand that I take no interest in them! I am not ready for marriage, yet they persist. How annoying!" Roman exclaimed dramatically as he leaned on the railing of the balcony. He looked out to the grounds below them, "Being a crown prince is a hassle, there are too many responsibilities to keep up with.". He sighed and turned back to Janus. "How about you, Lord Janus? Tell me about yourself. I've been talking too much of myself, I might've looked quite egotistical to you.".
"I don't think so, your Highness. It's nice hearing you talk." Janus replied nonchalantly. Roman chuckled and smiled softly, "Thank you, I'm glad to hear that". Janus notices a small blush tinting on the prince's cheek, his plan is working well. A few minutes later, Roman speaks up again. "So uh, tell me about yourself. I'd like to know you more, Duke Janus.". There was a hint of curiosity lingering in the prince's voice.
Janus quickly concocted a believable story at the prince's question, "I come from a small kingdom far from here, Your Highness. Our land is rich in natural resources, particularly in precious stones and minerals. As a duke, I oversee the mining operations and the trade of these valuable resources. It's a modest life, but one that I find fulfilling." Janus answered with a smile.
Roman seemed fascinated by Janus' story and asked more questions about his kingdom and his life as a duke. Janus answered them all with ease, never faltering in his made-up story. However, he was constantly reminded of his true purpose for being there. The clock was ticking, and he had to make his move soon.
As the night grew late, the guests started to leave one by one. Janus saw this as his opportunity to make his move. He had noticed that the crown prince was already enamored by him, how naive. While the crown prince was babbling on and on about something Janus did not bother to listen to, Janus slowly drew out the dagger that he hid and leaned close to Roman as if trying to kiss him.
Roman notices the duke leaning closer to him and his face grew redder and redder. "May I kiss you, your Highness? I've been wanting to do this all night," Janus whispered in Roman's ear. Roman's heart raced as he felt the duke's warm breath on his ear. He was taken aback by the sudden question, but the look in Janus' eyes was so intense that he couldn't resist. So, he nodded his head and leaned closer. His lips were so soft against his own...
Janus felt a foreign feeling in his heart, one that he had never experienced before. A tingle spread throughout his body that caused him to drop his dagger below the balcony and wrapped his arms around the prince's neck loosely. Everything else faded to white noise, nothing else mattered except for this kiss. Maybe Janus can put his mission aside for just one night and indulge himself a bit at this moment.
Janus continued with his façade as a duke and still tried to assassinate the prince he always end up failing at his mission because he found himself conflicted between his mission and his growing feelings for Roman. He couldn't deny the strong attraction he had towards the prince, and the guilt of betraying his trust weighed heavily on his conscience. Eventually he had to admit all of this.