I thought about the servant boy as I danced. I couldn't get him off my mind which was odd because he was nothing to me. He was just someone mother and father hired to clean up, not that he did a good job going off his pathetic attempt at cleaning the counter earlier.
Still, he appealed to me more than all the woman here...
Deep down I knew I was gay but a gay king is something that is more than frowned upon. It would be so easy if I had siblings, they could run the kingdom whilst I dated who ever I wanted. But the truth was I was to be king and to be king I need a queen. I need to find a wife and shake off the ridiculous thought of me ever being able to have a husband. We need to keep the family line going, continue the royal family. Adopting is not something that us royals can do since their blood will not be 'royal blood'. Whatever the hell royal blood is and how it can possibly differ to everyone else's.

I guess this was why I was delaying my search. Dancing with girls was one thing but actually settling down with a girl and starting a family was another. It didn't sound very appealing.

I continued to dance. I thought about what it would be like to hold the servant this close, my hands against his waist and his around my neck.
I shook the thought away and stared into the eyes of the girl in front of me.

"I've had a lovely evening," I told her as the music stopped and people began to exit the ball.
She looked up from her glass slippers, "it truly has been."
She smiled at me and I smiled back, if I had to pick one person to be my wife it would probably be her. However, I will not tell my parents this until I have no other choice.
"Will you be attending the next ball Ella?"
"Certainly!" She blushed, which was actually pretty cute but not in the way she would've hoped.
"I'll call you soon."
"I'll be awaiting your call," she told me. "Make it no later than midnight because my family are truly impatient and I must have some news by morning." She explained, I nodded in understanding. My parents were just the same, as soon as I woke they bombarded me with questions about my plans for the kingdom and family arrangements. They never let up and I grew easily tired, some news was better than nothing to them.
"I will," I agreed.
"Thank you." There was a awkward pause where neither of us knew what to do. The guests had almost all left which just left me and her in the grand hall. As any gentleman would I reached for her hand and planted a shy kiss on it.
"Until next time."
"Farewell fair prince," she replied sweetly.
"Please call me Philip," I told her. My preferred name is Phil but my family have told me a number of times that it is top informal for a prince.
"Philip," Ella repeated and bowed before she left. Her shoes tapping against the marble tiles of the floor. Then only I was in the room.

In the palace I was never alone for long. A moment later cleaners came piling in to clear away the left over food and clean the hall from top to bottom. I sighed as I saw them, they all stopped in their tracks, glancing nervously from one another before one stood forward shakily.
"Sorry to disturb you Prince Philip," he began and bowed. "Would you like us to come back later?"
"No, I was just leaving," I told them and quickly left. They stood aside from the doors and one held it open for me. I ignored them as I made my way to my room, the only place where I am actually alone.
My room is on the top floor. Servants rooms are on the second floor and they all have individual staircases, whilst I have a private one.
I looked up the corridor and saw staircase 4, I wondered whether or not to take up the servants offer and see him. He was infuriatingly annoying but it would be nice to get away for a little while. If I were to go to my room I would only sleep and wake up to my parents asking me questions over breakfast. If I went to his room I could talk to someone different about non royal agendas.

I sighed and walked up my private staircase. I flopped onto my bed. I had only opted out of seeing him because I wanted to talk to someone and his offer seemed to be for much more than just talking.