Work Text:
The music was remarkably loud, this close to the raised platform that the musicians had set up on. The sound of the pair of violins accompanied by a talented cellist whined in his ears, overwhelming his senses. But that was what he wanted. The music drowned out every other sound coming from behind him, laughter and conversation, and dress shoes clacking against the marble below. He didn't want to be swarmed by the smartly dressed nobles wanting another dance and another and another. He just wanted peace, if only for a little bit. The prince from the other kingdom seemed to like all the attention anyway, xB could let him have his spotlight. He took a sip from his flute of champagne, just barely repressing a flinch when the sound of footsteps drew near enough to be heard over the music. They came to a halt right beside him. Ah. So he's been found again... He really didn't want to look up to see who it was.
The mysterious individual sighed before speaking. "I'm starting to understand why you retreated here. It can get quite... overwhelming up on the dance floor."
XB only hummed, still staring intently down at his drink.
"Not much of a talker, are you? Well. We haven't truly met, so I understand your concerns." A hand swam into xB's field of vision, held out for a handshake. "I'm Keralis!"
At that, xB's eyes finally snapped up, recognizing the name. He was greeted with the warm, smiling brown eyes that belonged to the visiting crown prince. "Uhm..." He cleared his throat before grasping Keralis' hand firmly, as he'd been taught. "I'm xB. Pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure's all mine," he replied, and that smile! XB felt like he could just melt right there, on the spot. He didn't know where his furious blush was coming from, but it only darkened, no matter how hard he willed it to go away.
"So, Keralis. What brings you here?"
"Your mother's invitation pretty clearly stated that the whole royal family was welcome to the ball." The smile was audible in his voice.
"You know what I meant! What brings you here, to... me." His voice trailed off by the end, his eyes once more finding the ground, tracing along the veins in the marble. Anything but to look into his eyes.
"Should I not have? Would Princess xB like to be left alone?"
"No, no! I just-- You looked very much in your element up there, dancing, you know."
"Ah, but who cares about some nobles when there's a beautiful princess standing all alone in the corner?" XB hadn't thought it was possible for his face to get any redder, but it appeared he had been wrong. He couldn't come up with any reply to that, tongue tied up in knots.
"So, what do you say, Princess? Will you take this dance?"
This time xB didn't hesitate for even a second to take Keralis' outstretched hand.