Dance of a Thousand

If you told Noel Gruber that there were over a thousand stars littering the night sky, and each one stood for a different universe where his heart was left in the grasp of a certain Ukrainian waiting to sweep him off of his feet, he would never believe you. What kind of sick, twisted fantasy would that exist in? Certainly none of his, he hoped.

In fact, he would bet you a million dollars that every single one of those stars would burn out in five seconds flat. The Noel Gruber in some universes at least. After all, if there was one person that Noel hated most in some worlds, it was Mischa Bachinski. He would rather die than claim to be in love with such a cringe worthy face. Rap? Autotune? Gangsta? Eugh!

In this universe however, Noel didn’t even recognize such an outlandish name. Mischa Bachinski? Weird.

“Noelan E. Gruber the Third!” a familiar voice barked, arms crossed as she appeared in the doorway. “You’d better have a good reason for missing breakfast this morning, young man!” she spat, the hair on her own neck practically standing up while her cheeks burned red.

“Good morning to you too, Mother,” Noel rolled his eyes from where he sat on his bed. He made sure to sneak a glance towards his friend Penny to showcase just how enthusiastic he was.

Penny did her best not to snicker back in her own way, eyes casted down and breath hitched before she took one final inhale and cleared her throat to speak. “Good morning, your highness..” the girl with messy, chestnut braids mumbled quietly when she finally glanced up.

“Noel,” the queen glared back, doing her best not to grit her teeth when she turned to spare a glance at Penny.

Why was Claudia even in here?! The only reason Noel and Penny were even up was because Noel was restless and couldn’t sleep to save his life, so Penny stayed awake with him. Who the actual fuck schedules breakfast at two in the morning and then barges into someone’s room at three?! Sure, Claudia had mentioned important plans and leaving ungodly early, but honestly, this early made absolutely no sense. That’s not even breakfast! It was the dead center of the night!

“Oh, Penny dear! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. Please, you know that Claudia is just fine,” she smiled faintly. How fake, thought Noel.

“Queen Claudia,” she spoke out with a soft, closed eye smile and a nod. Claudia just shook her head and chuckled.

“Is this really necessary, mother?” the dark haired boy finally chimed back in, wishing she would just leave the room and leave his friend alone.

“Yes!” she finally snapped back, her long, dark brown hair brushing against her shoulders as she turned to stare at him through unforgiving eyes. She finally took another step inside, closing the large, wooden castle door that had stood behind her and moving to let her hands rest delicately clasped together in front of her.

“You promised you would make a better effort to spend time with me, and you know that I had something important planned to tell you!” she spoke desperately, just wishing that the young prince would finally grasp her point.

“What?” Noel butted in again, refusing to bite his tongue despite the anxious Penny beside him. “That you found another nice girl you just think I’ll love, and suddenly I’ll follow in the steps of you and dad? Yeah, no. News flash,” he spoke out harshly, “not happening!”

“Noel, please, just listen to me dear!” Claudia pleaded out helplessly. “No, mother! I don’t wanna go through the same old routine as always! Things have been so hard since your father left, and having no king here just makes things so odd. I want what’s best for this kingdom as a strong, independent female leader, and that includes setting up the future king and his own future queen in their own stable environment and making good ties! Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve heard it all a million times before!”

“Noel-“ Penny went to speak, reaching out a hand towards his shoulder before flinching away when he twisted around and shook his head. “No, Penny! I can’t this time! I’m so sick of it!”

“Listen!” Claudia finally snapped, screaming over the two, mostly Noel. It caused Penny to gasp and pull away. She let out a final sigh, shaking her head and continuing after firmly clearing her throat.

“I’ve made arrangements with another kingdom at the last minute. They have a son who they’re looking to move to another kingdom for some extra profit. Their oldest is to be engaged, but they claim to need an escape for their middle child as well. They wouldn’t disclose much information, but apparently he just got out of a relationship with a princess from another kingdom that ended poorly, and they need to heal their reputation.”

“I’ve been trying to make amends in order to better do my best to find you a prince. I’ve been working behind the scenes to change the laws on marriage and legalize same-sex engagement, especially for royalty. It’s hard enough for the citizens though, and no one wants to pawn off their heirs into an arranged marriage that’s not only illegal, but heavily frowned upon.”

“However, they claimed that their kingdom has had decent approvals of it for the last few decades, and they’re willing to do that if it means a little more of our money given to them and their son officially arranged out. It doesn’t really mean you’ll walk out with a prince to marry, it’s just a ball that we’ve been kindly invited to, but it’s all for you nonetheless. Maybe you can meet some new people and make some friends,” she bit her tongue when she was finally finished. Her deep, gray gaze was heavy, but those eyes pleaded with Noel to give it a chance and listen. To forgive her for any past disagreement.

The room was silent for a moment, only the sound of the queen flattening out her large, burgundy ball gown in any way heard. Penny fiddled with her own simple, plain white dress, but on the inside she was ecstatic. So many possibilities! This could mean the start of a new era, and certainly a turn of events for her best friend Noel!

Noel wasn’t even sure where to begin. His expression was written over with pure shock, mouth gaped open and lips just barely drawn up into a tight little smile. “Mother, I- I-“ Claudia hesitated slightly, but her face lit up when he finally broke. “Thank you so much!” he smiled widely as he finally stood and ran over to grab her in a tight hug. For the first time in years, might she note.

“Of course, Noelie,” she smiled gently as she squeezed him back.

“The party is tonight at six o’clock, Constance will bring you some food, and I expect Penny to do her job as your lady-in-waiting and prepare you for the dance when the time comes. We leave in an hour and a half,” she nodded briefly before turning and leaving just as she entered. She gently closed the door behind herself.

She didn’t need to spiel the whole ‘door stays open’ message anymore. She’d finally accepted that she knew nothing would happen between the two and fully settled with the fact that Noel was strictly attracted to men. He had Penny because he didn’t feel as comfortable with a gentleman-in-waiting, and Claudia could only beg so much of him before it became unfair. She’d even recently allowed for the freedom of Penny sleeping over and staying in Noel’s room some nights as well. They’d be fine.

“You’re going to meet a prince!” Penny squealed eagerly, finally jumping up from where she sat in a chair beside the bed and clapping her hands giddily. “Oh my gods!” Noel gasped, almost too good to be true. He’d already walked back to the bed and sat down where he clutched the green comforter as though to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, and his eyes watered with gratefulness and relief. “Pinch me!” he smiled blissfully.

…So Penny did. “Ouch! What the hell?!” he snapped suddenly, turning to look over at Penny with a glare that spoke so many words with so little sound, but there was no actual anger behind it. Penny giggled, shrugging. “Sorry your highness… you asked, so I delivered!”

Noel just rolled his eyes and shifted to move how he was sitting in the bed, but his thoughts kept moving at a steady pace. “I wonder what he’s like…” he finally spoke aloud. “I mean, it’s not like I’m going to fall in love or get married, he might call me a freak. It won’t be any different… but they’re supportive? What if something does happen? A boy can act delusional, right?” he rambled excitedly.

Penny paused, thinking, but coming to a halt and shrugging when she drew a blank conclusion. “I don’t know. I guess you’ll just have to find out tonight… I don’t even think she gave you his name,” she recalled rather oddly.

Noel paused, nodding slowly in agreement and cocking a darkened brow. “Y’know, you’re right… Hopefully it’s not so bad. He can’t be like… that bad if he’s willing to invite a gay guy, right?” Noel shrugged pitifully.

Penny just brushed it off with a diffident hum. She hardly ever got to see Noel excited or hopeful for something that his mother of all people planned, so this was nice.

────────

“Knock knock!” a sudden voice called through the thick, heavy door, knocking gently and beaming when Penny moved to open it. “Hiya!” she sang as she moved to walk in with two silver trays in her hands, placing one in front of Noel and the other in Penny’s chair before opening them. “Ta-da!”

She was short and plump, with a beautiful brown complexion, curly hair pulled back in two tight buns with indigo-dyed tips, and a smile that could melt honey into more sugar. It was all topped off by loving brown eyes being adorned by slightly large, black, rectangular glasses that she had to reach up and adjust.

“A croissant with butter and jam, and a coffee made just as always! And Penny, I made your croissant with ham and cheese and brought you an orange juice,” she smiled sweetly as Noel’s face lit up.

Penny simply licked her lips and sat down on the floor to unapologetically dig in. “Ish isth so good!” she remarked curtly through a mouth full of scrambled eggs before swallowing it and brightly smiling at Constance.

Constance was Noel’s second best friend and the one who completed the castle’s infamous trio. Not only was she the daughter of the town’s former best bakers and head chefs, but she was currently stealing their spot as best bakers and easily holding the title of ‘head chef to-be’.

“Shucks,” Constance giggled bashfully as she played with the bottom hem of her skirt and twisted her foot around against the rug at the foot of the bed. “Thank you,” she smiled.

“So,” she began suddenly, smirking and looking at Noel. “I heard everything!” she smiled, moving to grab his hands and squeal just as Penny did.

“And by the way, Misha Bachynskyi is supposedly super good looking,” she muttered as that smile only grew brighter… but Noel came to a halt.

“Misha… Bachynskyi? What kind of name is that? I’ve never heard of a kingdom with such vocabulary, at least not here,” he mumbled awkwardly.

Constance’s face fell, and her eyes widened. “Your mother didn’t tell you?” she treaded lightly, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise.

“Tell him what?” Penny spoke for the two, her own features painted with a new distrustfulness for the whole situation. She’d just swallowed the final bite of her croissant, and she was licking off her fingers and reaching for a napkin to better clean them. When Penny got hungry, she could be a monster, so Constance had a habit of making sure to feed her before the hanger got too bad.

“Oh…” Constance muttered curtly, adjusting her glasses again and fiddling with her fingers. “Well, he’s from the Aurora Kingdom, and-“

“The Aurora Kingdom?!” Noel finally butted in. “As in, Francis and Catherine Peters? That Aurora Kingdom?!”

“Yes! That Aurora Kingdom!” Constance sighed, just trying to keep Noel’s panic at bay. She knew that he had bad anxiety.

“But they’re one of the richest kingdoms- Constance you have to be mistaken! They’d never form an alliance with a kingdom as small and pitiful as us! To them we’re insignificant! And besides, their king and queen really don’t seem all too fond of same-sex marriage, even if the kingdom is! And for royalty too? I had no idea they even have more than one son. I thought that it was just Hank, Princess Astrid, and little Princess Olivia.”

Constance just shook her head, starting to clutch at the bottom of her magenta dress nervously like some leverage to cling to. She often fiddled and messed around, being deathly anxious in her own tendencies and ways. The dress suited her nicely, complementing her complexion and still in a way an accompaniment towards her purple-tipped curls.

“No Noel, I promise. I overheard the whole conversation between her and my parents by accident. You know that they’re supportive, and she needed someone to discuss the matters with,” she shrugged humbly as she noticed that Noel started to nervously pick at his food, rolling around a blackberry as though he was struggling to eat.

She took a deep breath in, sighing once more before continuing. “No one has really heard of him because he’s their adopted son, hence the odd name and different last name. They try to keep him on the down low.”

“He’s from a Kingdom in Eastern Europe, but no one really knows or remembers where. The king and queen won’t disclose. All we do know is that they used to be large patrons of the Aurora Kingdom before falling into pieces and shambles when sent into war.”

“The king and queen refused to help them or aid them in battle, and with no king due to having fallen gravely ill, and a dying kingdom, Mischa’s mother ended up having to beg Francis and Catherine to take him in as a final duty to the agreement their kingdoms had held for several centuries. And so, now he’s just… here. Possibly the only remaining piece to any of their bloodline or history.”

“The war was so quick and the kingdom was so minuscule with no help at all that it was more of just a takeover, it was finished in practically three days time. No one really even heard the news.”

She finished it off with a bow of her head, guilt wrapping around her heart and her simple black heels clicking awkwardly against the floor. “Oh my… that’s- that’s awful,” Noel finally spoke up, Penny staying silent as she took it all in with pure astonishment.

Constance nodded. “It’s not easy, I suppose… and I heard that the king and queen have had a lot of trouble pawning him off, but they’re getting desperate. Besides all of that too, he’s freshly eighteen. That will cause lots more problems with the court and laws and such. He has to be married by his half birthday… and you’re not far off yourself. I guess it’s a meeting for people all similar in age to us.”

“He can’t be that bad, right?” Noel added in quickly, practically repeating himself from earlier as he finally took a berry and popped it into his mouth to start chewing slowly, noting how the juice ran smoothly down his throat and helped to release any tension that had built up in the fog of his worrying. It was nice, in all actuality. A bite-sized refresher.

Constance shrugged once more, being all she could really do, but Penny had just finished her breakfast, and she was back onto her feet in seconds. “You can’t be so sure,” she added wearily. “No one ever meets the eye at first,” she nodded firmly with a quick cross of the arms.

“Penny, relax! You don’t always have to be my guardian too!” Noel huffed lightly with a playful flick of his tongue. Penny was formerly an assassin hunter herself, coming from a long line of dangerous business and serious family, but a few years ago her parents and younger brother were killed and she scampered to the castle begging for a job. Feeling bad, Claudia gave her one and basically cared for her as her own daughter. Noel and her were like siblings, mostly inseparable. She just had to keep an eye out for him and become his lady-in-waiting. Neither were a problem. The two had almost instantly hit it off, quickly becoming best friends and bonding over shared problems and similar jokes and concerns, and Penny made sure to always carry a small bag of her most precious gifts and weapons from her family around. Mostly her lucky pocket knife.

She was highly skilled and trained, though just a girl. Not all responsibility could be rested on the shoulders of her, but Noel was surely safe with what she could do.

“Yeah yeah, whatever you say little brother,” she teased happily. “I’m not even younge- y’know what, never-mind,” Noel sighed in defeat with a small smile that crept up.

“Now!” Penny finally beamed, stretching some and moving to put her plate on Noel’s dresser and move her chair back against the wall. “We need to see if we can get you dressed! This might be your future husband, you have to look good! If you didn’t already,” she giggled, teasing the last part slyly.

Constance’s face instantly lit up, but Noel couldn’t be so sure. I mean, who knew if he would even like this guy? He hardly wanted to be royalty, and he certainly wasn’t too fond of the idea of a marriage, especially not an arranged one. It was never for him. Maybe if his kingdom actually had stability and wealth, but the palace was left as the most valuable thing… a heap of gray bricks and on the inside some nice art, knight armor, and silver lining… and their crimson and yellow banners and flags which quite frankly to Noel, were ugly thanks to the yellow, an eye sore at best, but it couldn’t be argued.

Not that this was an arranged marriage, and the Aurora Prince was surely straight, but if they somehow did hit it off… at least in Penny and Constances’ somehow hopeful eyes.

“Is it really worth it, I mean what if I just don’t go? I’m glad he’s a guy, but is that really all I get? Someone his own empire doesn’t even want? Would mom really care otherwise?” he huffed dismissively. Penny’s brows immediately furrowed, and Constance’s once excited expression dimmed into a pitiful frown, doing her best to try and stay positive.

Couldn’t Noel just give it a try at least? Was that so much to beg for? He’d always wanted to meet a hot prince, and this might be the closest thing that he’d ever get!

“Yes!” Penny cut through the thick bout of heavy, silent air. “It will be so worth it once you just get there! It’s not because Claudia doesn’t carefor you, per se, but because that was the first and closest opportunity that she saw and got, and she just wants to give you a good life that you finally might be able to better enjoy..” she tried to reason firmly, but her body shifted and her voice softened towards the end. An airy sigh escaped her lips, and she finally shook her head, shrugging her shoulders in an effortless way. “Just think about it,” she stated once more, looking to Constance for any sort of help.

She just stood there, still fiddling with her long, darkened gown and shying away beneath her glasses, unsure of what to say. When she finally did look up to speak, Noel spoke up instead, sighing in defeat and nodding.

“Alright fine, if that’s what you suggest… I’ll try, at least just this once,” he gave in, causing the girls’ faces to light up once more.

“Yes!” Penny cheered, and Constance smiled shyly and walked over to join the two.

“Come on! We’ve only got four hours! You processed it, now let’s get to work!” she smiled excitedly, moving to run towards Noel’s closet.

────────

“Now I’m thinking Red, and maybe some black, since those are your favorite colors- I mean, on you they absolutely pop! Or maybe a shade of blue? I’m not sure, I-“

“Penny!” Noel cut her off quickly, standing up and fixing the sheets to his bed before walking over to stand behind her. “Breathe!”

“I’m not sure what I want to wear…” he mumbled softly, a bit anxious still but looking up at his best friend and smiling nonetheless. “Right! Sorry, Noelie!” she giggled gently before drawing in a long breath of air in order to quince her burning lungs and finally take a moment to just think after so much overwhelming rambling.

“This should be your decision,” she smiled.

“Thanks, Penny,” he grinned warmly, a giant blush lining his cheeks as he finally stopped to think about just how tonight might go and the mystery man that he would meet.

“Well I know that I’m going to wear my long, Ruby dress… Claudia always says that it looks wonderful on me, and I’ve been waiting for a real, good party to wear it to for ages now!” Penny enraptured euphorically, humming as she shuffled through their large shared closet and rummaged around passively.

Constance nodded, walking over to join them as well and simpering with eyes that twinkled like a million suns flickering against a cloudy blue sky. “I’m gonna wear my short, midnight purple dress with the cut off shoulders and the sleeves that get bigger as they go down! It will be just lovely, I think…” she quickly shied, stretching up onto her tip toes and rocking back and forth slightly to give herself a moment of grace.

“Of course it will Con,” Noel confirmed comfortingly with the softest, genuine smile you might ever witness the sassy boy muster. “And you too, sis. Those dresses are more than beautiful on you too, really,” he reassured gently.

The two melted as they smiled and blinked gratefully towards him, at least right before the subject shifted again and the brown-haired girl was right back on Noel’s pitiful trail.

“So? Any ideas hitting you, Noel? Maybe your nice crimson and black doublet and cloak? To match your mom?” She suggested whilst pressing the matter on. It wasn’t to be annoying or rude, but they didn’t have much time and they had barely even started yet!

“Well… I was thinking… I can’t really reveal what I have in mind yet, but I need the prince to know me and who he’ll be meeting, possibly for the rest of his life if we hit it off and find our kingdoms on good terms. I need to know if he’ll really like me or not. I won’t have some depressing, loveless marriage if that’s the little bit of leverage and choice that I have,” he instantly out his foot down, bringing a hand up to wave the thought about dismissively.

“I don’t know if I want him forcing me into much else without some of my own demands,” Noel pushed on further, just trying to make a point. “I mean!!! Not that we’re getting married by any means! Just theoretically speaking!” he added suddenly in a frenzy of panic that made Constance giggle. Penny was nodding along eagerly, just listening to every word and taking it in carefully in order to analyze her options.

“…Alright,” she finally concluded with a nod, smiling and turning to walk towards the silver and white vanity with the large, ovular mirror sitting right against the wall on the other side of the room.

“Does this call for makeup by chance?” she smirked deviously, giggling when Noel’s face lit up and he immediately followed her over and took a seat on his stool.

“Are you going to eat your breakfast, Noel?” Constance inquired out of the blue, picking at her fingers while pausing her rocking to float towards the bed and pick up the silver platter, finally putting the lid back on top of it instead of where it had rested atop the night stand.

“No, I’m sorry, Constance. I’m just not hungry, I can’t stomach it,” he frowned, but she nodded knowingly in return and smiled back none the wiser. “I figured as much,” she giggled happily. “But that’s okay!” She started over towards the white nightstand that rested right up against the head of his king-sized bed, adjacent to the gray and brown brickery of wall. On it rested a still steaming, white mug of dark, brown liquid. She carefully carried it back over, handing it to Noel and pivoting on her toes.

“At least drink this, I know that you like it. It’ll be a miserable day if you don’t!” she snickered gleefully, watching as Noel shot her a careful, light-hearted look and reached out to grasp the mug from her, pulling it back to his chest blowing on it like a prize possession. “Thanks,” he remarked back gently.

“I have to go help out in the kitchen and better figure out what I’m planning to wear, so I should probably go. I’ll leave you two to it,” she assured gently, waving before picking up Penny’s empty platter and turning to shuffle out of the door. “Oh- and by the way,” she paused to turn back around and face them, “the party will be at their kingdom, and it’s a masquerade. Bye guys!” she called back calmly, noticing how they waved her out and watched as she faded into the same old look of the castle after having turned around and left..

“Now it’s just us,” Penny narrowed her gaze and smirked fondly, chuckling and messing with Noel. “And a masquerade! Oh my, Noel! Just imagine! How romantic for someone like you!”

Noel laughed back, feeling a little more excited than before. He slowly drew up the coffee to his lips, once again blowing on it with all of the patience in the world. One of the only things that he ever really found solace in anymore, and Constance brewed it just the way he liked it. Black. It was like a palette cleanser, satisfying and enough to wake him up. It would be just enough on his stomach to better keep him at bay for the rest of the evening until after the dance, but not enough to make him sick.

Sick was all he could manage to bring out as he pestered himself with the thought of how many expectant eyes would be staring him down at the party. To the Aurora Kingdom? An unknown adopted son? Why was it all so much and so little all at once? Almost painful to take in.

“Noel,” Penny breathed out once more, growing worried as she reached a hand down towards him where he sat on the small green stool (which matched his bed), eyes unbarred and expression full of prudence and concern.

“Huh?” He finally staggered again, drawing the cup away from his lips and taking a breath of fresh air to keep from burning himself if the liquid splashed with his reaction of shock.

How many times had she said his name? She looked confused, like she was speculating his behaviors, but anytime that happened she often ended up Ungodly worried about him because he showed too much anxiety or looked like he saw a ghost. He was grateful, honest, but he wasn’t really a toddler that needed looking after either. Still, nothing could make him mad about it either. He felt the love showering off of her in waves and encompassing him, and he could never forget that.

“Sorry, sorry! I’m alright, really. Now what did you first say?” he spoke calmly, choosing his words wisely in order to not scare her further. He swiftly moved to place his cup on top of the vanity in one quick motion, turning around with his upper-half to gaze at her reassuringly.

“I asked how you’d like me to do your makeup. I know that you’ll have a mask, but when the grand reveal happens, he’ll be so shocked that he won’t know what to do with himself!” she smiled brightly, her affection like the sun. Too bright for Noel, but still openly received and adored nonetheless.

“I’m thinking of a smokey look… y’know? Simple. Maybe some blush, maybe some eye shadow, but mostly just lipstick and mascara,” he spoke gently, the honesty finally rolling off of his tongue in swarms of relief.

“You really are going all out for this one, oh my gosh! The Noel I met would never! What did you do with him?!” she loudly bickered, just teasing the dark haired boy to push him on further. He looked away shyly, rubbing one arm with a hand and shrugging. “Putting me with a girl would never last. They either talk about me, laugh at me.. if I’m lucky we exchange like two words at best and go our separate ways. Maybe I just want someone to really see me! Someone I can laugh with and talk to. Like you guys. And maybe… if I’m extra lucky, I can meet another Prince… not that snobby Bachinski guy from the rich house, but someone else!” he spoke fondly, eyes sparkling and heart pounding.

Penny chuckled, in awe that Noel was finally showing a truer side of himself that she’d never really seen before. Sure, she’d heard some of his stories and dreams of being the belle of the ball and silly things like that… but to really see him dream and believe and just let out his true intentions and colors? This was new. For anyone, really… but especially her.

She looked at him briefly, taking in that soft smile and those gentle eyes, and she just smiled back herself and nodded. “I’ll do my best, anything for you. This will be the night you’ll never forget,” she promised heavily, no lie ever escaping the breath that filled her lungs. She immediately shuffled around to get her makeup out, going through her different natural oils for the scalp, and some snail sputum moisturizer, different things like that. This was the fourteen hundreds! No one was using as nice of products as they would in the twenty-first century!

Still yet, Penny had enough to make do. In about twenty minutes, she was done. “Hold still!” she snapped delicately, grabbing Noel’s chin to keep his head straight when he flinched away. “But Penny!” he wailed dramatically, causing her to furrow her brows in frustration at how uncooperative he’d gotten. “I’m almost done!” she huffed, holding the shaved charcoal stick firmly in her palm.

“Well hurry up then!” he scowled bitterly, getting more restless as he waited for the dance. “Okay, almost… got it!” Penny smiled triumphantly as she stood back to admire her work, green eyes shimmering and smile growing wider. A perfect cat eye that made Noel seem delicate yet mysterious, like a rose. “Now one last touch!”

She opened the small, secluded vanity drawer once more to put her eyeliner back and then reached back into it to feel around and pull out a small glass vial with some pinkish-peach powder freely flowing around inside of it every time she moved it. “Aha!” Her eyes wandered instantly to Noel, watching as his confused expression shifted towards a momentary state of realization, then of utter fascination.

“Is that Safflower?! Penny, that stuff is extremely sought after and even more expensive! How in the world did you manage to pull such a thing off?”

As a special herb and flower, it was extremely difficult to obtain. Chefs wanted it to taste, women wanted it for a face, and beggars wanted it for its worth. Even Constance had never really tasted it. That would be more of a fever dream. Of course Penny would let her try it, never one to deny her closest friends of such wonderful access, especially like now… but she had to find the right time. She’d feel it when it mattered most, surely.

Penny slipped around to grab a small, white cloth off the top of the long, furniture-matching dresser, adorned with silver swirls and accents pressed against pale streaks of gold and white; just as everything else in the room, something that Noel had been given since before he had even made it to the nursery. He didn’t particularly care for it, but it also wasn’t bad. It was just there, staring at him and watching him like a distant old friend.

When she returned, she curtly flipped the small container over onto the cloth to pour some damp dust onto it and pat it together. Noel flipped himself around to gaze up at her, noticing the soft, warm flicker of a calming, lavender scented candle on the vanity right next to him. Penny had lit it earlier, and it was certainly a lifesaver. The comforting smell of a gentle field breeze was enveloping his senses, especially his nostrils. If he wasn’t careful, it would lull him right off to sleep.

Some stipples of mesmerizing blush and a mixture of saffron against his temples and cheeks, then some saffron mixed with crushed cherries and some of Penny’s orange juice brushed gently against his soft, never-chapped lips, and Noel’s look was complete. Penny stepped back once more and brought her fingers up thoughtfully to her chin, tapping them lightly and smiling before she hobbled back some.

“Take a look!” she squealed ecstatically, viewing Noel when he finally turned around, rather hesitantly, to gaze at himself in the mirror. What he saw staring back at him left him jaw-dropped, just taking it all in. Adoration. For himself. It felt like the first time ever… but Penny’s work was flawless, and he looked amazing in his own right.

“Pen-“

“Save it, you need your voice for other things. You look amazing,” she spoke sweetly.

Noel smiled back shyly, standing up and admiring himself one last time. He walked around to push the stool back in and looked towards Penny one more time, debating if he was going to ask or not.

Penny eyed him right back, looking at his makeup, and then right back down at the rest of his silly look. He was still in his pajamas, barefoot with a low cut, black-jumpsuit. It had spaghetti straps and a torso that cut in slightly before going back out for the pants. What made it all funnier and tied it together was the fact that it was all topped off by bare feet and messy bed-head.

“You might want to change,” she commented briefly with one last smirk, seeing Noel react awkwardly and walk to his closet to fish something out.

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he spoke back in admission, shuffling through some empty hangers and finally settling in something that was oddly stuffed away in the back.

“Oh, really now?” Penny said half-unexpectedly, narrowing her eyes as she waited to see what he might pull out.

He nodded, digging around a bit more and grasping at the delicate hanger before pulling it out to reveal an extremely large, puffy ball gown. Penny’s eyes went wide, wild and dumbfounded as she just stared at it.

It only took seconds before she was rushing forwards to help squeeze Noel into it, assisting in what he was comfortable with and making sure everything was fluffed out and looked right.

When she finally stepped back she was in utter stupefaction, just gazing at what she saw before her. The silver, blue, and black eyeshadow was hardly a statement compared to the dress he showed off so effortlessly. “Here-“ she scampered to the closet immediately, digging through some crates on the floor before pulling a mask out and standing to face Noel again.

“Wear this,” Penny spoke firmly, sighing as she stared at the boy who was practically her brother, feeling so suddenly different and grown up. She handed him a deep, navy blue mask with silver lining the edges as well as adding some accents and fluffy, black feathers sticking out from the top.

Noel took the mask gratefully and nodded, smiling down at it. He was taking in just how well the color and style actually appeared with the dress.

He clasped his hands together nervously, squeezing each of them to relieve some tension. Pretty soon he was just staring at that same reflection again and holding the mask near his face, baffled. How could someone like him suddenly look and feel so much better just from some makeup and dress? He could hardly believe it. He was dressed so nicely in his eyes, and for once he just wanted to love and admire himself… something that had never really happened.

He reached back down with one hand to carefully smooth out the dress, feeling its soft, fluffy petticoat rustle beneath the delicate tips of his fingers. He took a deep breath, eyes casting backup to stare at himself one final time before letting it out in a long-faced sigh.

“Okay. I’m ready,” he said at last, turning to look at Penny and nodding.

He safely lifted the dress to walk over towards his bed and sit down, allowing Penny her own time to get ready and put on her bright red slip dress. He happily helped her when she came out of the room’s attached bathroom to ask him to tighten the thin little spaghetti straps that stood out so briefly when compared to the whole entire look.

Penny had her own little section in Noel’s large walk-in closet, so she kept a few of her dresses and outfits in there. Beyond that, they had a nice little shared shoe rack, which is where she wandered to next.

She briefly picked up two different sets of shoes. Some black-heeled boots, and a larger, shiny, black pair of rounded toe, six-inch heels. Within seconds she’d pivoted to turn around and stride towards the bed, a sly smirk on her face and twinkling eyes. Noel gasped, scooting further back on the bed and maneuvering the dress so that he could reach his own feet better. Penny sat on the right side of him and sat the shoes between them so that they could each put them on.

The knee highs were Penny’s, and they looked perfect beneath the small, visible slit of skin that the dress carefully exposed. Noel, however, had the tall heels. He happily plucked them up and maneuvered a leg up to slip the heel over his fish-next stocking and onto his foot. It fit perfectly and stayed firmly placed.

When they finished, both of them stood giggling and made their way towards the door with a stop to fix Noel’s hair. The boy sighed blissfully, so awed he couldn’t help it. “Eleven hours,” he sighed pitifully, thinking of the long carriage ride that they had ahead. “It will take eleven hours to get there,” he groaned pitifully in complaint.

“Oh please Noel, honestly. You’ve been taken further just to be the guest of honor and random womens’ balls and crush their hopes. This will be nothing!”

“Objection! There was never most definitely a supposedly extremely super hotprince involved!” Noel argued firmly, over-exaggerating the situation to the point of a child’s attempts to talk. He scoffed when Penny simply rolled her eyes.

────────

From that point on, it was all about officially getting to the ball. The two friends made their way to find Constance, then found Claudia in hopes of leaving – but of course things would never be that simple.

“Noel! What in the Great Heavens are you wearing?!” Claudia shrieked unexpectedly, jaw practically dragging the ground and eyes casted towards him coldly.

Despite the growing need and desire to shrink back, this caused Noel to walk closer to the queen, earth-colored eyes narrowed through his broken-up offense. “What did you say?” he snapped harshly.

“Noel, I just don’t think-” Claudia immediately tried to turn the situation back around, eyes growing wide in surprise and feet moving to shuffle back from the now even taller boy. Noel shook his head, his brows now furrowed and face growing heated with frustration. “No, mother! I’m not going to ‘try and fit in’ or ‘tone it back’ or ‘act normal’ this time! I’m me, and I need everyone to finally know it! I’m not going to put an act on this time. They invited me, didn’t they? They need to know what to expect, and I finally feel comfortable enough to do it.”

Claudia certainly didn’t appreciate being cut-off, and quite frankly she was a bit embarrassed, both by Noel’s outfit and how he’d started to yell at her and she simply gave in, but it wasn’t worth the fight. They didn’t have the time and she felt like a workhorse with how little energy she had. She knew that her son was just a ticking bomb, and she’d finally set him off.

Besides, he had a point. No need to fake it or hide, they were supposed to be a supportive kingdom, so nothing bad should really occur.

She quietly dipped her head and pivoted around to lead the way out of the castle, head high, yet thoughts and gaze low.

Was it wrong to be so pathetic and submissive when her own son yelled at her? Probably. Yet, she’d given him so much trouble when he was growing up, and this was just his way of gaining leverage and control back. She couldn’t find herself actively engaged enough to even try and end such behavior. Not only had she felt that way all day, but rather for the past year. Every small, wrong comment she makes finally comes galloping back and veers to kick her right in the chest and stop her heart with words of promised distaste for the woman from the only family she had.

────────

It was a mostly awkward, quiet ride. Five people, Noel, Penny, Constance, the queen, and her advisor. Constance and Penny played traveling games such as ‘I-Spy’ and eagerly shared a few of the cookies that Constance had baked and brought with them as a token of gratitude for the kingdom.

Noel simply slept, not really wishing to hear what his mother might say. Instead there were visions of what the prince may look like and a medley of dancing feet as the ball stole the thunder of the evening, lulling him into a deep space of security and comfort.

────────

When he finally awoke, the sun had risen and already began its course of setting once more. It scattered blinding orange and pink rays of warmth and interruption right into his vision, causing him to stir unhappily. What a way to start the evening, already setting him up for a disastrously sour mood to pressure his peers right through. Noel had always been like a delicate little thread of string tied to the eye of a needle and being pulled with no remorse. His emotions and frustrations each worked as a string of that thread that meticulously snapped one by one over a long course of time until it all came undone and the sewing job had to be restarted.

“Are we there yet?” Noel groaned bitterly, managing to turn his attention towards Penny and Constance. “Well yeah, almost, seeing how someone decided to sleep the whole trip!” Penny mocked back sternly. Constance cowered back, flinching when she saw the angry look that Noel shamelessly shot towards Penny.

“Well, if-” Noel opened his mouth to retort back, but Claudia was quicker in her attempt to cut him off. “Children,” she warned dangerously, “we’re here.”

The coach came to a halt in a matter of seconds, and Noel yelped as the force of gravity shifted him to jerk more and let out a shaky sigh. “Goodie,” he grumbled hoarsely, doing his best to bite his tongue when he glared at Penny who smirked defiantly. She was always just burning and itching to inveigh Noel when it came to their useless arguments.

“Welcome, to the Aurora Kingdom,” a booming voice called. Everyone turned to stare at the door, wide eyed and frightened. It was a butler, with an almost bald head and a long, thick, gray mustache. His monocle hung simply near his face, and his eyes were closed as a manner of respect for his job. Hardly did he ever directly face royals. “I’m Pugnut, the head butler. I’ve served this kingdom for many-a-years,” he spoke out kindly, staying in his spot where he held onto the door next to the carriage.

Noel stared at the situation blankly, not really listening when his mother thanked the man and shuffled to stand up and get out. He just waited, finally picking up the mask in his lap and examining it before he drew in a deep breath and moved to pick it up and place it against his flushed out skin.

It almost felt just as cowardice as the Noel who had attended parties before. Go. Cover yourself. Act. Leave. What was different here? Sure, he was finally wearing a dress, yes… but the mere idea was locked away behind a sheer mask, and all he seemed to feel now that he arrived was a simple shell of himself

His firm hands shook lightly when he finally pulled them away from his face and took the rear in stepping to stand up. He was the last one leaving. He only really tuned into the conversation when he stepped out of the chariot and felt his foot hit the firmness of the ground, then saw the butler open his eyes to examine them.

“And who might the lovely princess of this nice buggy be?” the man smiled kindly, looking at the three teenagers and examining them just so.

Noel cringed internally, normally wishing death upon himself before even thinking of being called a girl. But here he was, mind flickering to Monique and body deciding that it was best to just let it be. His stomach left him spun around in knots, feeling nervous and sick, and he just chuckled some, letting Claudia eye him and the others speak instead. It wasn’t worth it to blow his cover and get judged as soon as he stepped out.

“You two are gorgeous,” Pugnut gleamed sincerely to the two young girls before flickering back to Noel. “My! What a broad and fascinating woman you are! So muscular! You must be the princess, hm? You’re so unique!” he blinked questionably, but Noel just flinched back some and nodded, not sure of what to say.

Claduia stepped in instead, smiling. “Yes, yes. This is Noel. A very shy one indeed. I apologize! We really should be going before we end up late.”

She was just trying to usher the kids out, too tired to already deal with a shenanigan such as someone judging her son and how he presents himself. She wouldn’t disclose such information right away, especially to some possibly creepy butler. She wasn’t that ridiculous. Calling her baby a ‘unique, muscular woman?’ Gross! It was like he was fascinated just because he believed Noel was his own girl, if he even was a girl, which he wasn’t.

“Ah, very well. Enjoy the party! Let me know if you need any help whatsoever at all,” the man smiled humbly, waving as the party of people made their way out.

“What a weirdo,” Penny whispered uncomfortably towards Constance, face contorting. Constance nodded excessively in agreement, turning to find Noel for backup, but he was dragging behind the group instead, nervously fiddling with the silver gloves that covered his soft hands. A gentle look of sympathy immediately washed over Constance, and she couldn’t help but slow her pace to end up falling in time with Noel.

“Hey there…” she mumbled quietly, starting to claw at her own hands. Penny noticed the soft click of Constance’s heels and how they seemed to fade away into a quiet patter of silence.

“Constance, wha-“ Penny turned to look for her friend, a sad little frown making its way towards her face, but her face seemed to grow in surprise when she saw the two talking.

“Hey, Connie,” Noel breathed out gingerly, thinking of each word he spoke with great precision and care.

“Are you okay?” the shy girl spoke up once more, the eyes behind her glasses filled with all of the patience and comfort in the world.

Noel could only shake his head in reply, his words tumbling out feebly. “No, not really. We just got here, and I already had one person point me out and possibly even sexualize me- I’m worried that things will continue to be like this all night. Is this really how all of you feel?” Noel choked feebly.

Constance hesitated, thinking for a moment and smiling slightly. “I mean, maybe. Guys can be weird… but so can some girls. How many gushing, drunk women have you had run up to you, begging to rip your pants off?” she joked slightly, though she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Noel shivered, gagging. “Too many, unfortunately. You’re right. But men- they do it completely sober! I might be attracted to them too, but it’s still just so — so disgusting!” he spat grossly.

Constance chuckled awkwardly, nodding back some. “Yeah- I’m sorry. Hopefully no one else will be that bad,” she spoke with a guilty conscience.

“No, no! Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault that they’re weird!” he promised firmly as they approached the wide, open castle doors. They were huge, and there were four knights on either side. It was more like a palace, beautiful and pristine and white, the doors themselves somehow silver.

“Full name, age, kingdom, and invite number?” one of the knights demanded harshly and firmly as Claudia made it to the steps, long halberd extended hastily in front of her with little to know visible remorse. His polished, gray armour clinked loudly with every simple movement and thrust that he made, annoyingly so in Noel’s opinion. Another knight blocked her from the other side. Two hidden ones from somewhere else had appeared doing the same thing behind the kids, and suddenly it felt like they were closed in.

“Claudette Regine Gruber of the Courtesan Kingdom, Forty-three, number fifteen,” she sighed tiredly, eye bags showing and swooped bangs brushed back some against the rest of her hair that was pulled into a high ponytail. High security. Lovely.

Another knight nodded curtly, though he took his time going down the list rather slowly. “Yes, that seems to check out.”

“Very well,” the first knight to her right that was blocking her called, eyeing her for a second longer and pulling back. “They’re welcome,” his voice boomed viciously, making Noel wince. It made his already forming headache pound unforgivingly.

Every surrounding guard suddenly moved and disappeared right back where they had formerly been, letting the five people in.

“Holy stars!” Penny screeched suddenly, taking in everything when they entered the castle and gawking at the decorations and interior. “This is- wow-“

“What a palace,” Noel sighed dreamily, standing still for a moment to simply admire it and reflect on how pitiful everything they had was in comparison.

“Act professional,” Claudia scoffed towards them briefly, allowing herself to coldly brush past them in order to keep walking to the ballroom. Her advisor followed closely on her heels, mostly ignoring the kids that she didn’t care for anyways. She just needed the pay. She couldn’t be bothered to be entirely seen standing by such pathetic, immature behavior.

“How magnificent!” Constance chirped in shortly after, following when they walked towards the ballroom to approach the golden doors. They certainly weren’t the first people there, far from it.

The ball was to start in ten to twenty minutes, and lots of ladies wanted to get there early to see who or what exactly they could score… and a few princes wanted to mingle on their own terms. Meet women, form alliances… similar to what Noel was here for.

As soon as they made their way in, Claudia and her advisor were gone. They’d seemingly vanished, automatically leaving the kids to fend for themselves. That wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for Noel and how terrified that made him feel when he looked at himself and what he was wearing.

“Why don’t we just… stand off to the side for now?” Noel suggested briskly, already feeling himself start to sweat as he bit his tongue. “I think that I need some - some water,” he panted slightly, moving to stand off to the side against the wall while Constance took it upon herself to be the one to go get a chalice of water. “Here,” she dipped her head kindly.

“Thanks Connie,” he huffed gently as he managed to retrieve the silver cup from her grasp and take a large sip.

“No pr-“ Constance went to speak. “Hey there!” a different face cut her off, unfamiliar and oddly open as his somehow pearly whites shined kindly.

“Oh- hello!” Penny smiled briefly, moving a hand to wave as their first visitor approached. She was an extrovert, so naturally she was a bit too energized and enthused to remember to be wary when the curly haired boy approached.

He had freckles that someone could easily sit and count, and extremely pale skin. He was wearing a nice, royal esk, dark green and gold tuxedo, and his eyes were two dark pools of gray, like the sky before a storm…

“I’m Ricky Potts!” the boy greeted warmly with a giggle, his posture lively and expression nothing short of friendlier than all of the Courtesan Kingdom’s allies combined.

“Interesting,” Penny hummed softly. “Well I’m Penny, this here is Constance,” she said, taking a brief moment to show off her friend, “and that’s Noel. Are you a prince?” she inquired politely.

“Well, actual-“ Ricky was excitedly ready to respond, but he was just a little too late and short of time when a red-haired individual moved forward to hastily snatch him by his color, her face red with anger and eyes blazing with fury.

“Richard Gerard Potts, Jr!” the odd, high-pitched voice snapped, clearly livid thanks to her brows that were furrowed with frustration and the sweat that just barely lined her cheek. She was wearing a modest purple gown, maybe a bit pinker than Constance’s, and her ginger hair looked like it could borrow her personality to set fire to any of the villages in an empire, leaving them fully ablaze.

“Oh…” Ricky sighed gently, yelping as the girl snatched him up and turned him around to face her.

“What are you doing out here already?! Misha has been looking everywhere for you!” she snapped bitterly, eyes casted down harshly at him from where he pressed himself back some to better escape her.

“I missed you too, Ocean…” he gulped awkwardly, laughing nervously and turning to meet everyone else’s gazes one at a time.

“I’m actually Prince Mischa’s gentleman-in-waiting! And this here is Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg, his advisor!” He explained gleefully.

“And manager, and look-out, and spokesperson!” Ocean added back in hastily.

“I apologize for him,” Ocean hummed out as she released his collar and she finally smiled, like a sour version of a Cheshire Cat. “He’s normally not this irritating,” she shot him an evil-eye shamelessly.

“It’s all good!” Penny promised, winking at Ricky. “You are an awful way from Mischa though, he won’t be out until the start of the ball, will he?”

“Well, no,” Ricky hesitantly admitted once more. “I just wanted to socialize some, it’s not like he needs me right now anyways. You heard how many jobs Ocean took up! The man is already dressed!” he huffed as he folded his arms.

Ocean scowled, rolling her eyes at him and reaching for his collar again to drag him away. “You’re impossible,” she murmured quickly, her tone laced strategically with dripping venom and her sapphire gaze narrowed.

“Goodbye for now!” Constance waved after them pleasantly, just before she turned back to Noel.

“Look at this place!” she gawked so sweetly.

Noel could agree. It was magnificent, it would take an idiot not to stare. The walls were an untouched white, pure like the snow and so polished you could practically spot your own reflection. The sealing was the same way. The base boards and accents were pure gold, swirled and perfected just so in order to compliment the floor. The same was done along the roof and walls. Candles were connected to them, and along the ceiling, one extremely large, golden candle chandelier. The room was one tall, extremely large square.

The floor itself was glistening, and it proudly displayed a silver and white checkered pattern. Art work was perfectly displayed on each wall. One of the walls cut into a different room shaped like a dome, featuring stained glass windows of past royalty and relatives to catch the sun almost all the way around, much like the ballroom from something like Beauty and the Beast.

Back in the square room, a grande staircase that continued to lead to doors on the left and right of the main platform. However, the main platform level was the throne area with five small thrones. A large one on the left, a slightly smaller one on the right of it, and then two littler ones beside the slightly small one and one tiny one next to the large throne.

Behind them, beautiful velvet curtains draped right over the masterpiece of any art they had, a humongous stained glass of the current two rulers and their three biological children.

The staircase? Lined with rich red carpet, just like everything from where the carriages stopped, to the stairway in, to the main hall of the castle.

It was like a wonderland to take in, and the decorations for the ball were gorgeous. Not to mention the tables of astounding foods and cakes that left Constance lock-jawed.

A few more guests strolled in and automatically the room was almost packed to the brim. Noel really thought that he could hurl now, barely even keeping the liquids he’d earlier drank down.

“Attention everyone!” a glass was clicked with a spoon and a loud voice pierced through the once murmuring air.

“I’ll keep this short. I know that many of you are eager to mingle and meet Mischa, and quite frankly I don’t want to stand around all day dwelling or discussing such an event. Thank you everyone for coming! As always, we will be up here, as well as mingling around. Approach me or Catherine with any questions or concerns.”

“Good luck to everybody, and may the best bride walk away with his hand! Let the ball commence!” It was King Francis. Of course. Why did he seem so disinterested with his son?

“Oh yes, and here’s Misha,” the king called out blankly to quickly add as the boy awkwardly approached and stood adjacent to the thrones looking out upon the crowd of people. You’d think since he’s the main part of the ball that the man would remember.

The people had, luckily, remained quiet in that brief moment of his forgetfulness, but when Mischa appeared, they started to roar, cheering and clapping… and Ricky and Ocean appeared quickly beside him.

Noel stayed silent, eyes narrowed and curiosity prickling up at the sight of the curly haired boy. He was wearing a dark gray punk coat above a white button up with ruffles above the chest and matching gray dress pants.

His hands were quickly closed behind his back and he was walking down the stairs, eyes flickering around the party. Ricky and Ocean followed.

That’s when the band straightened up and suddenly…

the music started.

That’s also when Mischa’s eyes caught a hold of a mysterious, beautiful shadow off to the side, comfortingly wrapped in a gorgeous, midnight blue ball gown with floral patterns and uniquely cut sleeves.

Curiosity was immediately sparked.