"That, nah I'm not going to be wearing that come on grandpa, no..."

"But grandson, believe me you will look terribly good in this..."

"No way, I'm not going to wear that at any cost you can beat me but nah, I'm not wearing that."

"But Zhan, Green looks good on you, dear."

"I hate Green... I can wear formal suits."

"But..."

"What about this Zhan...." Fei finally  commented after this never ending bickering of Grandfather and grandson.

"Ah, that's far far better..." Zhan breathed a sigh of relief at Fei's choice of clothes. Finally something of his taste.

"Uh huh, something is cooking huh, obviously I'm old and don't know about your taste of clothes only your soulmate knows -"

"We're not soulmates." Both said in unison. How tiring it would be for them to always being unnecessarily shipped by old men. ugh!

"okay okay you two... Zhan you can wear as you wish, but wear something decent remember it's not foreign country, it's our kingdom and you are the future king..."

"Okay grandpa, I understand. Now please leave and don't worry I will wear something decent, at least I won't go there naked." Zhan said pushing the king while at that everyone giggled.

After securing his fussy grandfather outside, Zhan finally got a chance to look at the dresses. Each of them looked beautiful especially what Fei chose, no doubt they are the best friends.

Among all the clothes what mostly took his interest was the one crimson red suit with delicately silver bordered. The gold beads on the each line ending made it more gorgeous. On the collar, there were thin lines followed by pearls and in the neck there sat a beautiful  heart shaped emerald.

"I will take this for the masquerade. But after that  I will change into something less gorgeous and more comfortable."

"Just don't wear hoodie..." Fei said rolling her eyes which made Zhan smile.

" I can't wear a hoodie in masquerade obviously, ugh ..." Yibo said frustrated.  He never needed a dress to wear in masquerade as honestly he was never invited to any. He had some expensive dresses but that wasn't appropriate for that.

He was searching his closet upside down, just then a suitcase rolled down. At first he didn't recognize it and curiously  looked over to open it and there he saw a rose pink suit with some other stuffs . Seeing them  a rush of memory flashed in his mind. Those were happy memories but at that moment those were the most painful one. They weren't vivid, but  he knew they were none other than his parents.

A tall man standing in suits with a beautiful woman in his arms, he couldn't see their faces clearly but he knew they were beautiful. There was a feast happening probably but they were not the only one as another couple was also there, the faces were so vague. They were dancing, singing, eating foods, drinking happily. Little Yibo was watching all these with a huge smile on his face, just then he felt a touch on his shoulder, and a kid with blurry face but a toothy smile whispered, 

"Yiyi, when we will be big like them, we will maiiy ( marry) each other okay? Then we too be able to dance and sing like them. We will be the happiest in this wald (world) , come on give me your hand, say pinky pomise (promise) ?"

"pomise." Yibo said smiling.

Yibo didn't realize that he was crying restlessly all this time. Ten years passed after that horrible incident, and after that he luckily or unluckily forgot it all. The doctor said it was due post traumatic stress disorder. But Yibo felt lucky though. After one year since the accident, when he physically recovered, he tried to to report the accident to the police. But they didn't give him any decent answer rather dumped the case. First why will they bother to answer a thirteen years old boy and the second reason- Yibo didn't know about that. But one thing he realized this world envies  good and worships evil. 

And now here he is, the best spy and assassin of the decade from the most cruel infamous organization of all time with no strings attached.

 Yibo wiped his tears and took the rose pink suit of his father and the black scarf of his mother stood up to face the mirror,

" Dad, mom wherever you're be happy. . ."

" pa, ma wherever you're be happy. . . " said Zhan sadly looking at the picture of his parents. He was alone in his room, wearing the dress all prepared for the masquerade ball.  Today is his birthday and he continued,

"Another year passed by ma, pa and it's my birthday again today. Hmm, I miss you two dearly. . . you know grandpa arranged a masquerade ball and I'll be revealed to Hearthhill. And *sigh* four months later, I'll be inaugurated as the king of Hearthhill, can you imagine? because I can't. I completed my further studies earlier, as you know I majored in Art. Fei is doing good we both graduated at the same year. She majored in physics as you know. Grandpa again were telling us to get married but *snort* how can I? how can I? When he died - I don't believe he died but they said that!  *laugh * how cruel of them! I can still remember that day, I, I..."

The knocking on the door made Zhan come to his senses. It was hard, hard for him to forget and act like nothing happened it was just...

"Zhan, you there? It's  Fei, umm I know you need space when you come to this room but umm I think we should get going now, it's almost two people are here just waiting for you to come..."

"Yeah... I was just.... you go, I'm coming. Zhan said letting go an awkward laugh.

He shook his head and said, "why  is my heart  beating so fast? Am I nervous?"

"You must be kidding ... No way I'm nervous, phew." Yibo said as he made his way towards the royal palace.

He never actually came here before but everything felt like a deja vu. that's why you shouldn't read too many stories.

For some unknown reason Yibo was having goosebumps  as he took each steps. It never happened before. He used to be cautious and sensitive  to  any attacking enemy but that happened after the mission got done. This time, the mission hadn't started yet here he was, sweating profusely.

"Gather up Yibo, wasn't it just few weeks ago you killed a goddamn Mafia leader? what's with you now... this time you even got longer period to be with your target then what's bothering you huh... gather up, gather up." he mumbled to himself.

The royal palace was beautiful. It was the pure definition of elegance and luxury. The setting sun glorified the art in a more exquisite way. Even expressionless Yibo felt an awe growing inside him.

He made his way to enter the palace. There were two entrance with ten guards at each door with special security . They were just checking people if they had any weapon or explosives and after they were passed as harmless, they will be shown to the mask closet from where they can choose and take their mask for the masquerade ball.

As Yibo was proved safe, he made his way towards the mask closet. Instead of choosing men's masks, he chose the one that caught his eye at the very beginning from the women's section. He wore  the one with silvery outlined followed by a net veil;  the top ponytail of his blue and black hair, locks behind his ears, and the stupid tiny diamond stud earrings- he literally looked like a fallen angel who fell  only to seduce the whole worldly living beings, be it a man or a woman.

When he went into the ballroom, the masquerade had already started. People were dancing with their partners, some were drinking  while some were just spectators. But in all these, Yibo's eyes were looking for only one person... the prince of Hearthhill.

"How can I find the prince now? I think the announcement was done already... damn it." Yibo mumbled. The dance were on peak now, all of the dancers clapped at the same time harmoniously in order to change their partner.

Yibo was a bit startled and flinched as a hand held his waist and almost swayed him  in air.

https://youtu.be/5mk9f8QTdI0

The hand rotated him with the rhythm, then grabbed Yibo's hand only to press him to the unknown one's chest. These were happening so fast and  Yibo was clueless as hell. His chin was now pressed onto the other's shoulder though Yibo was taller than... him. 

"How gallant of you to choose a silver and black veil  and how presumptuous of you to pull it off so nicely and beautifully, young man." He said as his breath brushed Yibo's cheeks endearingly.

"Is this an insult or a complement?"

"The way you see..."

" I think you're in need of a thanks huh?"

"Watch your steps..." the boy in crimson red suit said and smirked as he held Yibo elegantly and cautiously to not let him fall.

"Your voice seems familiar."

"and your blue and black tied hair too..."

"Don't tell me you're that fuddy- buddy..."

" haha , I'm afraid I am... the person you showed the way..."

The man opened his mask a bit and Yibo at instance realized who it was. That damned man from the other day at the lake. Why him? Just why did it have to be him?

Again the moment came of another clap to change the partners, but weirdly this man didn't change his partner that is Yibo. Here Yibo was wondering where he could find the prince and this guy over here messing with him, and making him busy in this stupid dance.

"You don't want to change your partner?"

"why ? you want to?"

"I would like to but you need to let me go first..."

"And that's not going to happen since I have no intention to let go my present dance partner..."

"Ugh, boring."

After the music ended, Yibo's hand once again thrown away by that man but this time he left. The light turned on  and he was nowhere to be seen. To his dismay, Yibo felt an emptiness in his heart. Now the lights were fully turned on, the ballroom was clearly seen. The whole area was decorated with roses, just then, The present King, King Xiao Cheng came for announcement:

"To all the respectable citizens of Hearthhill, first of all I would like show how grateful and happy I am to have you here attend prince's birthday. To  have your blessings on his very birthday, is more  than being fortunate I suppose. As so you know, for some certain reasons and due to it's confidentiality we couldn't reveal prince's identity. But today is the day, when the prince will be with you, he was always with you just without a face. Okay then without further ado, please welcome, Zhan Sean Xiao, the prince of Heathhill."

And then came the man from the gate of roses as he if rose from the flower. 

"Greetings, I am Zhan Sean Xiao, the prince of Hearthhill. I will look forward to take care of you and to protect you all with all my heart. Thank you for attending this ceremony, I'm  truly grateful to you all. Please enjoy the dinner."

Yibo couldn't take all this, only sentence he could say at that time,

" no way , Fuddy- buddy is the prince I am going to kill... and pretend to  fall in love? What the-"

It was always there, the answer he was searching for but even though he thought he was omniscient, he was the most ignorant among all.