I stepped out of the dressing room and looked out of the window. The ball was about to begin, because the sun was starting to set. I peered below at the entrance and saw many what I suspected to be royals entering the castle.

"Wow, you look..." said a quiet voice behind me, "beautiful..."

I turned around to see Giles standing there, gaping at me. I smiled sweetly at his reaction.

"Thank you Giles. Are you heading to the ballroom? I believe the party has just started." I asked him.

Giles looked at me with a sad expression.

"I am not allowed to go, because I'm the youngest of my brothers. I would only make a fool of myself and Arcania."
"Maybe you can go tonight." I said smiling mischievously and taking his hand, "Come with me. We're going to have a splendid time."

We both raced down to the ballroom, where all the officials, dukes, princes, princesses, and even some servants from other palaces showed up for the occasion. Their conversations were mostly about kingdom affairs and war plans, nothing that I knew much about myself. There was a whole side of the room dedicated to beverages, sweets, and snacks from all over the world. In the center of the room lords and ladies danced with their partner to the beautiful tunes by the small orchestra near the stairs. Giles was fascinated by all the splendor, and he smiled shyly at the spectacle.

"It is...amazing...I've never seen anything like it." he said softly.

That night we laughed and joked so much that Giles came out of his shell. It was like I was meeting him for the very first time. Giles was very charming, smart, and creative, and his love for art amazed me when he showed me many of his detailed works. Hours passed, until we both stood next to each other on the balcony.

"I had a grand time, Lilliana." Giles said looking out at the stars in the sky, "That was the most I have smiled in years."

"I had a great time too, you really are quite fun just like Oliver said." I said to him.

I heard the chime of a bell. It was midnight which meant it was time for the last waltz of the night. I started back towards the ballroom, and made my way to the center. I was waiting for someone to ask em to dance, because it was a tradition in Arcania that the last waltz the gentleman had to ask the mistress. Someone behind me tapped my shoulder, and I spun around to see who it was.

"May I have this dance?"

It was a blonde haired man who I had never met before. He was dressed all in bright gold and had a sly grin on his face. I accepted his offer and as we began to waltz he asked me all sorts of mysterious questions about myself. It was all fine until one caught my undivided attention.

" What are you doing here in this palace?" he asked.

I began to shake with fear. Surely he had not seen through me and figured out that I was not royalty, and I did not think anyone would notice.

"Do not be afraid of me, Lilliana. I'm only here to take you where you belong."

"A-and where is that?" I stuttered, scared out of my mind.

"In Stein..." he whispered in my ear.

I gasped as the man forcefully gripped my arm and pushed me to walk. i then screamed at the top of my lungs and the crowd of people fell silent.

"Lilliana!" yelled a voice from the crowd.

"Lilliana!" yelled another from the entrance.