((if u guys have read my tmr prefs u will know that im such a slut for royal aus its ridiculous))

Finally, your parents let you choose the theme for this coming New Year's ball. They figured you were old enough now and wouldn't choose something ridiculous like warrior mermaids, which you had suggested when you were not even 7 years old. Admittedly, it still sounded like a pretty good idea to you.

And so you thought long and hard about this, walking up and down the long stone hallways of the castle. You hated how your shoes echoed against the walls, so you preferred to walk barefoot when you could. It tended to have your dress dragging along the carpet though, for which you were constantly chastised.

Suddenly it dawned on you, and you ran through the palace to get to the throne room where your parents surely were. Throwing open the door without knocking, you could barely keep your voice at a normal level. "I've got it! A masquerade ball!"

"Well alright Y/N, that sounds wonderful!" Your father, the king, grinned.

"We'll invite all the neighboring princes! How exciting if you were to find your husband there!" Your mother cheered.

Ignoring her constant search for your husband, you asked a question. "Can I invite Mark? I think he'd enjoy it too."

Mark was one of your best friends since childhood. Whenever your handmaid, Annabelle, would take you into town you would be sure to visit him. Your parents allowed you to play with the peasant boy when you both were young, but since you had grown older they gave you more duties to do within the confines of the castle.

"Y/N..." The queen sighed.

"Please! I haven't seen him in ages!" You begged.

"Alright. But only if he can find the proper attire and if you promise to at least consider some of the royalty that's going to be there."

"Ah! Thank you!" You kissed her on the cheek, then your father. "I must go tell him at once!"

"I'll go with you, m'lady." Annabelle offered, and you just about skipped out the door.

Putting on your shoes, you then tugged Annabelle out of the castle grounds down into the town. "Hello, Princess Y/N." Many greeted you, you were known to be very friendly with the people of the kingdom.

"While we're out, I'd like to do a bit of shopping as well." Annabelle said. "The kitchen is going to need some food for this ball. Preferably before you go wander into the woods or somewhere with Mark."

"Alright." You said glumly.

Mark had been the one to teach you how to climb trees, swordfight, and shoot a bow and arrow. His family were the local huntsman, bringing in a lot of the kingdom's meat and hides. Many of your fondest memories were with him in the clearing just behind his house, the smell of the forest surrounding you and him cracking one of his jokes.

After Annabelle had picked up some herbs and vegetables and fruit, she finally admitted to needing meat from the huntsman. There was a noticeable bounce in your step as you sped down the cobblestone street to Mark's house. His family sold the products right out of the bottom of their house, the top half was where they actually lived.

"Hello Mrs. Fischbach!" You cheerfully greeted his mom, then peered around the shop. "Is Mark home?"

"I'm afraid not right now, Princess Y/N, he and his brother have gone out hunting. They probably won't be back until close to sundown." She bowed to you, which you hated when they did that to you. You were nothing special.

"Okay, well when he does return, could please tell him that I am formally inviting him to the New Year's ball at the palace? It will be a masquerade ball."

"I-I absolutely will. He has missed you dearly in recent months."

"And I have missed him." A slight sadness pooled in your stomach when you realized you weren't going to be seeing Mark today.

Annabelle then ordered what the kitchen required from the store. When you two walked outside, a carriage was already there waiting for you. "Your parents must want you back immediately." She commented.

You rolled your eyes and got into the white carriage. This wasn't necessary, to have all the townspeople gawking at you. As the horses sprinted away from the Fischbach's home, you heard someone call out from behind the carriage.

"Y/N!" It was Mark.

Spinning around in your seat, you desperately tried to catch a glimpse of him but the crowd closed around the back of the carriage, swallowing him up. Settling back into the cushion, you crossed your arms in disappointment.