~LEVI~

The moment I stepped into the ballroom, I wanted to leave.

Too many people, too much noise, too many glittery dresses, and way too many pretentious snobs. Too many ladies shamelessly batting their overly made up eyes every man who passed. Too many perverted men checking out ladies half their age. Too many crowns, too many maids, too many tuxedos. Too many princes and princesses who would undoubtably think that they're better than me.

Definitely not my scene.

It was easy to find the princes. They were all dressed similarly, wearing royal uniforms similar to mine. I was clad in an all-black ceremonial royal military style suit and black dress shoes, a scabbard hanging at my side. I really didn't understand the deal with princes and swords—it's the twenty first century, nobody fights with a sword anymore.

The princesses were a bit harder to spot. I'd expect the fanciest dresses to belong to the heirs of the throne, but it seems that some of the noblewomen really wanted to look like a princess for the night. Their dresses were just as flashy, if not more so. Some of the women who tried too hard look like a mix between Cinderella and Lady Gaga.

Yikes.

All that stated, this place was just too much. Though, that might be coming from my usual hatred of balls. I've just never liked them, honestly. They're too stuffy and pretentious. There are too many noblemen and women trying so hard to suck up to the royal households that their lips may get permanently stuck to our asses. 

In my opinion, balls are just unnecessary. They're just excuses for women to get all dressed up and for men to cheat on their wives. They're reasons for princes and princesses from all over come just to stick their noses in the air and act better than everyone. They're loud, confusing, and incredibly boring. The only things to do are dance and talk to these people, two activities that I'd rather not engage in.

Don't get me wrong, I like a good conversation. Unfortunately, there's no such thing when it comes to balls like this. Conversation with noblemen and noblewomen, Dukes and Duchesses, just consists of them trying to elevate their status by kissing up to me. Conversation with princes and princesses is worse. They brag and brag about how nice their kingdom is. They act like they're so much better than you, like they're superior. That is, until you tell them that you're the prince of Arthur Island. Then suddenly their bowing at your feet and showering you with unwanted kisses. I'd much rather talk to common folk—at least they keep it real.

You see, the princes and princesses attending this ball aren't from anywhere big like England or anything. All of the kingdoms in attendance come from very small, unknown islands. Most people wouldn't know any of them existed. Even Arthur island, which is quite famous within the small islands, is unheard of to most of the world.

You see, Arthur is relatively small. Yet compared to most of the kingdoms in attendance, it's quite big in size and popularity. If you asked someone in America, for instance, about it, they'd look at you funny. On the contrary, if you asked someone from Happerton, one of the smaller islands, they'd act as if my mother were the queen of England or something.

Author is a small island off of the coast of England. There are several small islands in the area, but Author is one of the biggest. The other is Elizabeth Island, AKA the real reason we're having this stupid ball.

Author and Elizabeth islands have had some... conflict in the past. Those conflicts were over a hundred years ago, yet the tension is still alive. Why? Don't ask me. It's all idiotic in my opinion. Ok, we fought a war last century, get over it. I can't understand why our people still don't get along, when none of them were even alive when the wars were going on. I bet half of them don't even know what the war was about—heck, I don't even know!

The entire purpose of this ball is to ease some of the tension between our nations. The King of Elizabeth Island invited us so that our people could form bonds. Why they had to invite every nearby island is beyond me. Couldn't we just sit down and have a meeting with them or something? Did they have to invite us to this tedious event? Why was any of this necessary?

Without a doubt, if the King and Queen of Elizabeth have a daughter, they're going to force me to marry her. Being the youngest of six sons, and the only one that wasn't married by the age of 15, my parents have been on my case about finding myself a decent bride. Plus, what better way would there be to 'unite the kingdoms'?

Ugh.

It's pretty unfair, honestly. My parents never put this kind of pressure on my twin sister, Amelia. She's not married, yet they don't get on her ass about it.

"Levi, stop frowning, you look like you have a death wish for everyone here."

Speak of the devil.

Amelia elbowed me in the side playfully. Her eyes still held the same mischievous glint they had when we were kids. I'd like to think she got it from me.

"Maybe I do," I grumbled. "Remind me why we have to be here, again?"

"If I knew, I'd tell you. Although I must admit, you do look dashing, little brother," she smirked.

"Little brother? I was born 6 minutes after you!" I argued. "However I must agree, I do look rather stunning, don't I?"

Amelia narrowed her brown eyes at me. "Cocky bastard–"

"I'm kidding, Lia. You look beautiful, but I don't need to tell you that," Smiling, I pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

I was being honest—she looked incredible. Her gown was a two piece; the bodice was a pale gold sequined halter that showed off her midriff. The bottom half was a floor length white tulle skirt. The high waistline was a pale gold, matching the top. Her hair was done in a complex braid I couldn't even begin to describe—she's truly stunning. She gets all of the good genes from me, of course.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to be having a grand ole time," Amelia commented.

"What gave it away?" I retorted.

"It's been, like, 5 minutes," she rolled her eyes at my whining. "You can't be having that bad of a time. You haven't even talked to anybody yet."

"And I'd like to keep it that way," I remarked. "You know balls aren't my scene," she winked, raising her eyebrows suggestively. Flipping her the bird, I continued, "Suck my arse. Anyways, I'm not sure what it is... Maybe it's the suffocating amount of perfume in the air, maybe it's the fact that when I do talk to someone, chances are they just want an opportunity to get a share of my money. I'll give them this, though; the decorations are incredible."

Truthfully, the area was quite gorgeous. The people of Elizabeth sure knew how to set up a ballroom.

The ballroom was one giant room broken into a few floors. From where I stood on the bottom floor, I could see all the way up to the ceiling, which was at least 6 stories away. The white marble floors were spotless. The gold wallpaper had an intricate design that gave the entire ballroom a regal aura. Bouquets of white flowers lined the pristine walls.

The first story was dominated by a huge dance floor in the center, where ladies and gentlemen waltzed and socialized. All of the other floors were balconies, looking over the main floor. Men and women chatted casually as maids served platters of food, away from the commotion of the packed first floor. More white flowers were strung along the staircases and railings.

The thing that caught my attention, however, was the enormous crystal chandelier that hung from the high ceiling. It's crystalline detailing reflected across each of the floors, casting a glittery light over every surface.

The design of the ballroom was simple, yet stunning—the best kind.

"Yeah, it is pretty nice," Amelia agreed. "Now come on, time to socialize."

"Ugh, do I have to?" I whined. She responded by grabbing my arm and dragging me straight into the heart of the commotion—the dance floor.

"I'm not dancing with you," I deadpanned.

"Yes, you are," Amelia didn't wait for me to protest. She took one of my hands in hers and placed the other on my shoulder.

When I made no move to complete the form, she gave me her best puppy dog eyes. "Please?"

"Sorry sis, I became immune to that face when you used it to get me to dance around in a mermaid costume."

She humphed and grabbed my free hand, forcing it onto my waist. "Dance with me, Ariel," she demanded.

Sighing in defeat, I secured my grip around her waist and engaged in a simple waltz.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," I whined.

"It's better than just standing there like a loser," my sister retorted.

"Hey! It's not like I want to be here in the first place! How come Jeremy, Adam, Geoffrey, Lucas, and Edward don't have to come?"

"Jeremy, Adam, Geoffrey, Lucas, and Edward, are all m-a-r-r-i-e-d," Amelia spelled out. "We are not. Coincidence? I think not."

"Well in that case, see any noblemen who catch your eye?" I winked, smirking suggestively.

"You know there's only one man who can ever catch my eye," a dreamy look crossed her pretty face.

"Ah, the craftsboy. I forgot about him."

"Adrian is an artist," Amelia corrected sternly. "How about you, smart alec. Any noblemen catch your eye?"

I laughed sarcastically, scanning the crowd around me. "As if I'd ever go for one of these snobby, spoiled, egotistical bastards."

"You know, some people consider you to be a snobby, spoiled, egotistical bastard," my twin remarked.

"Well then they haven't met me yet—"

"Good evening, sir," I was cut off by a prince my age, maybe slightly older. He was very handsome, and he knew it. He stood so straight he looked as if he were about to snap his back. His hair was slicked back to expose his sharp jaw, which he stuck in the air. The chest of his royal blue ceremonial military shirt was puffed out so far that he could fit a D-cup, and his pants were suffocatingly tight. He just radiated Douchebag.

"Um, hi?" I greeted awkwardly.

His chest deflated slightly at my lame greeting, as if he'd expected me to start kissing his feet or something.

"My name is Prince Liam Jacob Alabaster the Fifth of Laurens Island," he declared.

"Hi, again."

He eyed me oddly, as if I were a strange specimen.

"My island is full of riches beyond compare, you know," he boasted.

"Cool. Did you need something?"

He faltered, his shoulders dropping for a quick moment.

"Well, yes. I was wondering if I could steal this beautiful princess from you for a dance," the confidence in his voice had definitely lost it's momentum, but the cockiness in his eyes was still there.

I glanced at my sister. Her expression screamed 'No, god no'. As much as I love to see her suffer, I'm not cruel enough to place her in the hands of someone like this.

"Sorry, I'm gonna have to pass on that," I rejected. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, as if no one had ever denied him before.

"Excuse me? I am Prince Liam Jacob Alabaster the Fifth of Laurens Isl–"

"And I'm prince Levi Henry Williams of Author Island. Now, back off of my sister," I demanded, tired of this conversation.

His demeanor changed instantly. He dropped the superior act and bowed. As he rose, he looked at us apologetically.

"Terribly sorry, your highness. I never meant to offend you. You know, our nations were partners centuries ago. You still have our loyalties in times of need, and we're sure we still have yours. We're going through a bit of an economic crisis, and it would be splendid if your kingdom would–"

"And that," I started, breaking my stance with my sister and grabbing her arm, " is our cue to leave." I dragged her away from the two-faced prince, all the while muttering about how much I hated balls.

I climbed up the stairs to the second floor, making sure we were a safe distance from Prince Liam Jacob Alabaster the Fifth of Laurens Island and any other snobs on the dance floor. When I decided that we'd be free from anymore awkward confrontations, I leaned against the marble railing, looking down at the people below. I hadn't realized just how many people were on the first level alone; a view from above really puts it into perspective.

"Well," Amelia said, leaning on the rail beside me. "He was a douche."

"He was a prince," I corrected. "Princes are like that."

"You do realize that you're included in that category, right?"

"Yes, but I'm not an insufferable prick," I countered.

"Debatable," she mumbled under her breath.

"Heard that."

"That was the point."

"Whatever, sis, you know you love me. Now, where have mother and father disappeared to?"

Amelia shrugged. "Beats me. They're probably conversing with the King and Queen of Elizabeth. As a matter of fact, isn't that what we're here for? To talk to the people of Elizabeth and 'form bonds?'"

"Eh, they're probably just as stuck up as the rest of—"

My words died off as all of the air in my system escaped me.

"The rest of what?" My sister asked.

I didn't respond. I had no words. Standing a few feet away was a boy I'd never seen before, but I wish that I had.

He looked to be about 17, my age. He, too, wore a royal military uniform, so I figured that he was a prince. His white coat stopped at his waistline in the front and extended in the back like a cape, reaching his knees. His black pants were half hidden by black knee-high riding boots, and a scabbard hung from his waist. It was a very traditional outfit for a prince. He looked dashing.

However, it was his face that had gotten me hooked. It wasn't his dark hair or beautiful blue eyes. It wasn't his nice jawline or his soft features that drew me in.

It was his smile.

As cliche as that sounds, it's the truth.

There was something about his grin that made one forget that he was a prince. It wasn't confident, or cocky. It was kind, innocent...boyish?

His smile set him apart from the other princes, princesses, Kings, and Queens attending this ball. He wasn't forcing a grin to fool somebody or flashing a smile to charm someone. It was just genuine.

"He's cute."

I jumped. I'd forgotten that Amelia was there.

"You should go talk to him," she encouraged.

I shook my head. "There's no point in trying, Lia. He's probably straight."

"And do you know that for a fact?" She inquired. I shook my head and she flashed me a smirk scary similar to my own. "Then go talk to him. If you don't try something tonight, you may never get another chance. And if you try something tonight and it doesn't go well, you probably won't have to worry about ever crossing paths again. So just go for it," She urged, giving me a shove in his direction.

"I hate you," I glared daggers at her.

"You won't by the end of tonight!" She called after me as I strode not-so confidently towards the boy who had caught my eye. Luckily, the person he was talking to a moment before had left, so I wouldn't be awkwardly interrupting any conversations.

He looked up at me as I came towards him.

Well, there's no turning back now.

He flashed me a friendly smile, showing off his perfect teeth.

That was motivation enough to keep going.

"Hey," I greeted simply as I came to stand in front of him.

"Hello," he returned the greeting with a smile. His voice was purely melodic. "I take it balls aren't your thing?"

My jaw dropped. How could he tell so quickly? "Is it that obvious?"

He chuckled, a sound that was like music to my ears. "Yeah, I'm afraid so."

"I just don't really see the point of them, to be honest," I said truthfully.

"What do you mean?" His head cocked to the side ever so slightly in curiosity.

God, he's cute.

"I don't know, it's just a bit fake to me. I mean, it's lovely and all, but everyone is so pretentious and snobby. It's practically impossible to have a normal conversation; they brag about their beautiful land and try to make you feel inferior. Then you tell them who you are and suddenly they're kissing your arse and asking for your money. Everyone is just so fake, you know? And the princes... They're the worst. One tried to make a move on my sister just a few minutes ago." I ended my rant with a humph.

"I'm not sure if I should be offended or not," The cute prince joked. I chuckled lightly.

"No more than I should, mate," I replied with a grin.

"I see what you're saying, though," the prince said. "The people here are a bit... What was the word you used? Snobby? Nevertheless, balls are part of tradition."

Ah, so he's a classy fellow.

"I just don't understand why this whole thing needed to be held in the first place. Everyone knows that the real reason behind this was to unite our kingdoms, so couldn't we just sit around and have a nice meeting or something? Instead of inviting every island in the Atlantic–"

"Wait, did you say our kingdoms?" The prince inquired. "You're from Author, then?"

"As a matter fact, I am. I apologize, I never really introduced myself. Prince Levi of Author Island, at your service," I said, bowing politely. "And you? Or should I just call you Prince Charming?" I added with a wink.

He chuckled lightly, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Prince Charles, Elizabeth island," the prince introduced, also bowing.

"Elizabeth?" I asked, taken aback. He nodded. "Then I guess we're doing the whole 'form bonds' thing without even trying! The way people are acting, you'd think it's impossible."

"What do you mean by that?" He cocked his head slightly again, an act that was becoming increasingly adorable.

"I mean, look around, Charles. You can literally see where the people of Author are interacting with people of Elizabeth. There are spots of tension in the crowds that I could see from a mile away. Look over there," I pointed to a spot of the dance floor below. "That's a nobleman from Author, his name is Martin Trelfen. Terribly annoying fellow. I bet everything I have that the gentleman he's talking to is from Elizabeth. Am I correct?"

Charles nodded. "Yes, that's Sir Conrad. How did you know?"

"Just look at their posture. They're stiff as logs. Look over there now," I nodded my head the the right, where a man and a woman were talking just a few feet away. The man's hands were awkwardly shoved in his pockets, his shoulders tense. The woman had a smile on her face so fake it made Barbies look realistic. "That's Sir Manuel, and the lady?"

"Duchess Petunia," Prince Charles' eyes were wide. He looked at me with a childlike fascination, as if I'd just done a magic trick. "How do you read people so well?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, I suppose it's just a skill you build up when you're cooped up inside a castle all your life."

"Cooped up? What, are you not allowed to leave?"

"Oh, I'm allowed to. But my parents definitely make it hard. It's no accident, you know. They fill up our schedules with so many classes and courses that we can't really go anywhere but to bed at the end of the day. I get to go out into the city maybe twice a month. Isn't it the same for you?"

Charles was silent for a moment as he thought it over. "I suppose so, but I've never really thought about it before. There's so much to do and see in the castle, I don't feel like I'm missing out on much."

"You see, that's the thing! There are so many things that I haven't gotten to explore! The castle has lakes, orchards, horse stables, and more. But it doesn't have beaches, or rainforests, or wildlife parks! There's so much to see and explore—there are cities, countrysides! For once, I'd like to just go to a supermarket or a mall, instead of having everything made at the castle. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what I have, but you must have thought at some point that you're being held back!"

Charles didn't respond.

"My apologies, I just kind of vented to you," I said, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly as I felt a blush rise up my neck. Great, I probably just scared off Prince Charming.

"No," he shook his head. "It's not that. Your perspective is actually quite fascinating. I suppose I never really thought of it like that... As a matter of fact, all of your points of view are quite thought provoking. You're quickly becoming one of the most interesting people I've ever met, Prince Levi of Author Island."

I couldn't hold back my smile; Prince Charming just complimented me... I think.

"You know," he started, glancing around the ballroom. "Since balls aren't really you scene, what do you say we leave? I can give you a tour of the castle, if you'd like," he offered. "I mean, what better way is there to 'form bonds'?"

"Sounds like fun."