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The ballroom was filled to the brim with nobles, countesses, dukes, duchesses, and all those alike. Today, a grand ball was being held at the castle. Rapunzel decided to host this event to get to know those of higher status with her coronation coming up.
After a lot of begging and pleading, Varian caved to Rapunzel’s request and took a break from his experiments so he could support her. Now, he was leaning against a pillar by the dessert table, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched everyone dance the night away.
Varian wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of parties. Or crowds. Or, really, people in general. So, although he was willing to get out of his comfort zone to support his friend, he was not going to be happy about it. Here he was in a too-tight suit and munching on little desserts while he hid in a corner where he hoped nobody would bother him.
That plan went out the window right away when Rapunzel came up to him with a great big smile.
“Varian! I’m glad you came. Are you having fun?” she asked.
Varian put on what he hoped looked like a convincing smile. “Oh yeah, tons of fun over here.”
Rapunzel’s smile dimmed for a second before she looked out at the crowd. After clearly spotting something or someone, she looked back at Varian with a newfound enthusiasm.
“Hey, look, there are people your age over there. You should go introduce yourself!” Rapunzel smiled.
Varian raised an eyebrow and glanced behind her. He noticed there were a few boys and girls around his age standing around and talking to some of the other guests. Varian narrowed his eyes and looked back at Rapunzel, who was trying to feign innocence.
“What did you do?” Varian asked, suspicion lacing his tone.
Rapunzel gave a half-hearted shrug. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Rapunzel,” Varian said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Why do you want me to talk to them? Or, better question, why are there so many people my age in the first place? Wasn’t this so you could get to know people before your coronation?”
Rapunzel let out a defeated sigh. “Yes, it’s supposed to be for me to get to know everyone better, but it’s also for you to do the same thing.”
Varian gave her a puzzled look. “Okay, now I’m confused,” he admitted.
“So I may or may not have sent out some extra invitations to people your age to act as suitors for you,” Rapunzel said.
Varian’s mouth fell open and his eyes widened. “What?!” Varian blurted.
A few of the guests looked over at Varian who was looking frazzled. Some of the nobles whispered to each other before turning back to their conversations.
“Why would—what made you think I—why!” Varian groaned as he covered his face with his hands.
Rapunzel let out a sigh and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Varian removed his hands from his face and looked at her.
“Varian, I know you’re happy doing experiments and making inventions, but don't you get lonely?” Rapunzel asked.
Varian huffed and crossed his arms as he pouted. “No, because I have Ruddiger.”
“You’re only proving my point further,” Rapunzel deadpanned. “Look, just try to talk to them for a bit. If you don’t like them, then you don’t have to stay and talk. But if you do, then that’s better for you, isn’t it? I just wanted you to be happy.”
Varian stared at her with furrowed brows. “I am happy,” Varian said, but it seemed to lack conviction.
“Are you?” she asked.
He looked down at the floor and closed his eyes. I am happy. I have my inventions and alchemy. What more could I need? But she really seems like she wants me to do this.
Varian groaned and opened his eyes to look at her. “Fine, I’ll try and talk to them,” Varian said reluctantly.
Rapunzel’s smile widened and her eyes sparkled in excitement. “Great! Now go have some fun!” she said as she moved Varian away from the pillar and toward the suitors.
He walked near the wall with Rapunzel to avoid the crowd on the dance floor. Once he felt the hands leave his shoulders, he glanced back to see Rapunzel walking away to greet some new arrivals. With his attention focused elsewhere, he ended up walking straight into someone who let out an oof at the impact.
Varian whipped his head around to see who he just walked into. He prayed it wasn’t some snotty noble, or he would have to run to his lab right then and there. When he looked at the person’s face, the first thing he noticed was those emerald-colored eyes hidden behind glasses with a circular frame. The guy looked around his age, maybe a year or two older, but he had pale blonde hair that was pulled back into a ponytail with an undercut beneath it. He was wearing a green suit with some brown boots. Varian’s gaze briefly caught on the silver ring the blonde wore, a small green stone glinting in the center. Wow, he looked good.
Wait, what?
Varian was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a forced cough in front of him. When his eyes focused, he realized he’d been staring. His face flushed with embarrassment.
“Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going. Are you okay?” Varian asked as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
The blonde brushed off his suit and looked at Varian with curious eyes. Then a little grin formed on his face.
“Yeah, I am. And don’t mention it. The bright side is that I got to meet someone as beautiful as you.”
Varian blushed at the compliment. “Oh! I—um—thank you?”
“Of course. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?” the blonde asked.
Varian’s eyes widened a bit at the question. “It’s Varian.”
Hugo gave him a soft smile. “Well, Varian, I’m Hugo. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
Varian groaned as he leaned back until he was flush against the wall. “My friend wants me to talk to some suitors because she wants me to get out there and ‘be happy’,” Varian said, making finger quotes. “But I don’t see the point. What’s talking to some random suitors for ten minutes supposed to do? It’s not like I’m going to fall head over heels for them.”
Hugo burst out laughing at that. Varian laughed along with him before he stopped. His eyes widened in panic as he glanced at Hugo. “You’re not a suitor, are you? If you are, I am so sorry! I didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a joke, I swear!” Varian said as he fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve.
He looked at Varian with an amused look before wiping a tear of mirth from his eye. “I’m honored you would think that, but unfortunately I’m not a suitor.”
Varian let out a relieved breath as he closed his eyes for a moment. “Oh thank, Demanitus.”
“But…” Hugo dragged out the word, “I wouldn’t mind pretending to be one if I got to spend more time with you,” he grinned.
Varian’s eyes snapped open, meeting Hugo’s gaze. His mouth fell open in shock before he caught himself. He forced a cough and looked away as a blush formed on his face. Once his face felt like it wasn’t on fire, he looked back at Hugo with a sheepish grin.
“We can, if you want to, that is,” Varian asked.
Hugo chuckled and gave him an amused smile. “I’d like that.”
Varian smiled back. Suddenly, the music shifted into a softer beat. The guests started to make their way over to the dance floor with the new song.
Hugo smirked at Varian and held out a hand to him. “Varian?” Hugo asked as Varian raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to dance with me?”
Varian stared at the hand outstretched to him and then looked at the dance floor. When his gaze returned to Hugo, his shoulders relaxed. He took the hand and gave Hugo a soft smile.
“I’d like that,” Varian said as he repeated Hugo’s own words from moments ago.
Hugo grinned and led them toward the dance floor. Once they wove themselves through the crowd, Hugo raised one of Varian’s hands to his shoulder, while he took Varian’s free hand into his own. Hugo wrapped an arm around Varian’s waist to bring them a bit closer.
Varian chuckled. “I’m just letting you know I don’t really know how to dance.”
Hugo smirked at him. “Well, I guess I get to teach you.”
Varian’s eyes softened as he let Hugo take the lead. They swayed to the beat of the music. Occasionally, Varian would stumble over his feet. He looked down at the floor as he bit his lip.
“Hey,” Hugo called, causing Varian to look up. “Just keep your eyes on me.”
Varian nodded and locked eyes with Hugo. They found a rhythm and began moving elegantly across the dance floor. With their new groove, it looked like they had been dance partners for quite some time. The two didn’t realize the song had ended because they were so focused on each other.
When some couple bumped into them now that the song had switched to a more upbeat tune, they both broke out of their trance. They walked off the dance floor together and made their way to the dessert table where it was less crowded.
“Not bad for a beginner,” Hugo said with an amused look.
Varian giggled before a smirk spread across his face. “It helped that I have a great teacher. You weren’t too bad yourself, pretty boy.”
He thought it might have been a trick of the light, because he could have sworn he saw Hugo’s face go a little red at the compliment. Hugo coughed and looked away at the door leading to the castle’s hallways with furrowed brows.
“Hey, you okay?” Varian asked.
Hugo turned his head to look at him, and his gaze softened. “Yeah, I just have to do something real quick.” Hugo’s eyes flickered toward the hallway again before he forced a smile.
“Oh! Yeah, no, go ahead. I’ll, uh, see you later?” Varian asked.
Hugo hesitated before shaking the thought away. “Yeah, totally.”
Just as Hugo was about to disappear into the crowd, he stopped when he heard Varian call out to him.
“Hey, Hugo?”
Hugo glanced over his shoulder to look at Varian.
“Thank you for the dance and keeping me company tonight. I had a good time,” Varian said softly.
Hugo’s expression softened at the sincerity in his tone. He could feel his shoulders relax a bit as he offered Varian a smile of his own. “Me too, Varian. I had fun,” Hugo admitted.
Hugo turned around and disappeared into the crowd of people. Varian turned around to grab some desserts from the table behind him, a smile still lingering on his face. As he was picking out desserts, he heard the doors slam open and saw a guard pushing through the crowd toward Rapunzel.
Varian rushed over to them to try and figure out what was going on.
“What happened?” Varian asked Rapunzel, who had just given the guard a few orders.
“Someone broke into the Royal Vault,” she said.
Varian’s brows furrowed. How could anyone have broken in? Sure, it was crowded, so it wouldn’t be hard to sneak away, but I didn’t see anyone heading in that direction.
“Do you have any suspects yet?” Varian asked.
Rapunzel sighed and shook her head. “No. All the guards found was this.” She held up a small silver ring with a familiar green stone.
Varian’s stomach dropped as he thought back to a few minutes ago. No, it couldn’t be him. Could it? But he was the only one I saw walking over there, and he said he had to do something.
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. His eyes dimmed at the realization.
“Oh.”