"For exactly one hundred years, the Andromedus Empire has known unbroken peace," the Emperor's deep voice carried across the quiet room. "But let us never forget that this peace was hard-won. It was built on the ashes of old rivalries, and it survives only because every single person in this room plays a role in sustaining it."
He paused, his steady gaze sweeping over the next generation of nobles, generals, and diplomats.
"Our Empire thrives because of our unity. We rely on the unbreakable shields of Zephyr to protect our borders. We depend on the brilliant scientific innovations of Xenos to drive us forward. And we look to Isadora, the peaceful crossroads of our lands, to keep our knowledge flowing and our people connected."
The Emperor smiled, turning his attention to the young royals seated below him.
"However, peace is not a monument we simply build and leave behind. It is a living thing. It requires new bonds, new promises, and a new generation to carry the torch forward. That is why we are gathered here tonight."
The Emperor took a pause and looked around at the room.
"It is with immense pride that I announce the next great union of our Empire. Today, I am happy to announce the official betrothal of my daughter, Imperial Princess Shirin, and Prince Charles Ione Asterion of the Kingdom of Isadora."
The room erupted in applause.
"I was there when both of them were born," the Emperor continued, smiling. "First Charles, then Shirin. They have grown into magnificent leaders and role models for our people. I am pleased to announce that their engagement will officially take place in three months. Please raise your glasses, and let us toast to this historic union."
The guests cheered again, raising their glasses to the newly betrothed couple.
Palace staff quickly brought out a two-person chair with red cushions and a small table, placing it prominently in front of the platform. Charles and Shirin took their new seats. With the formalities concluded, the Emperor and Empress excused themselves, asking the guests to enjoy the rest of the evening.
Benjamin felt entirely sick to his stomach. Up at the front, Charles maintained a calm, composed expression for the crowd, but his eyes repeatedly darted toward Benjamin. Beside him, Shirin noticed his distraction. Her proud smile faded into quiet unhappiness.
Across the room, Bjorn sat with a scowl. Several people tried to converse with him, but he brushed them off. He was anxious about how his parents would react to the engagement, though he silently reminded himself that he had a plan to fix this.
With the Emperor gone, the strict formalities dissolved. Guests left their seats, music swelled, and the dancing began.
Prince Zaid was immediately approached by numerous women, but he rejected every single invitation, leaving a trail of hurt feelings.
Meanwhile, Ara finally navigated the crowd to reach Benjamin. She greeted Wren politely, though she couldn't shake a bad feeling about him. Turning to Benjamin, she asked for a dance.
As they moved slowly across the floor, Ara asked how he was finding the ball. "It's magnificent," Benjamin replied politely.
Their dance was cut short when Wren interrupted to ask Benjamin for a turn. Watching from the sidelines, Princess Liv looked surprised, but she patiently waited and asked Benjamin to dance next. Benjamin was caught completely off guard. Soon, a rotation started. One after another, men and women, even Princess Sofia, asked Benjamin for a dance. Benjamin tried to politely decline, but most of them were insistent.
Whispers spread through the ballroom. Everyone was talking about him. How handsome he looked, how intelligent his conversation was, how kind his demeanor seemed. Even when he returned to his seat, people flocked to him. Wren just observed, shaking his head in amusement. From his place of honor, Charles watched the crowd around Benjamin. He grew tense and unusually quiet.
"Are you okay?" Shirin asked, following his gaze. She saw him staring, but she wasn't sure if he was watching Benjamin or Ara.
Out on the floor, Zaid had finally decided to dance, but he only danced with the royal women. He danced with Ara, then Liv, then Sofia, leading the guests to whisper that he only had eyes for royalty. Then, breaking the tension, Zaid playfully pulled Charles onto the floor for a dance, making the entire room laugh. Bjorn simply sat there, refusing to dance with anyone, even when Liv tried tugging him to the dance floor.
Eventually, the performers changed and the music shifted, and the crowd parted to make way for the newly betrothed couple. Charles took Shirin's hand, and they stepped into the center of the room to dance.
Watching them together was too much. Benjamin couldn't take it anymore. He slipped quietly out of the ballroom, escaping into the cool air of the night and headed towards the back gardens. He walked until the music faded, finally collapsing onto a small bench hidden deep inside a maze of hedges.
From across the room, Wren watched Benjamin quietly and stealthily slip out of the ballroom.
Always hiding in the shadows, Wren thought, shaking his head. He thought that Benjamin was genuinely enjoying himself tonight, especially after meeting many different people and dancing with them.
His thoughts quickly turned to Charles and he felt anger surging through his body. The Prince of Isadora has no shame. Whoever called him an upright man clearly doesn't know the half of it. It's only a matter of time before Benjamin realizes this… and chooses me instead.
Wren thought back to earlier that morning. At 4:00 a.m., his phone rang. It was Benjamin. There was an urgency in his voice, and he asked if he could come over. Wren gave him the address, and half an hour later, Benjamin appeared at his door, escorted by one of Charles's guards.
Benjamin had looked incredibly rough. His hair was disheveled, his movements were clumsy, and his voice shook. He carried only a small bag. Wren immediately showed him to a guest room, where Benjamin hid for the entire day. Felix had brought him meals, but the food went untouched.
Just a few hours before the ball, Wren had knocked on the door to check on him. When he asked if Benjamin had anything to wear for the evening, Benjamin just shook his head and quietly asked to borrow some clothes. Instead, Wren rushed him to a high-end boutique and brought a professional barber back to the house.
When Benjamin finally stepped out, everyone, even Felix, was stunned. He looked breathtaking. And Wren knew everyone at the ball had admired Benjamin too.
Always ruined by that damned prince, Wren thought bitterly, stepping out to follow Benjamin.
Deep inside the maze of hedges, Benjamin sat alone in the dark. Suddenly, he heard light footsteps approaching. His eyes widened in panic, wondering who had found him. But when he saw Wren, Benjamin let out a sigh of relief and dropped his guard.
"You're a hard one to find," Wren said with a warm smile. "What are you doing out here of all places?"
Benjamin quickly tried to wipe his face, but Wren stepped forward and offered him a clean handkerchief. Wren took a seat next to him.
"Are you running away from the crowd of people waiting to dance with you?" Wren teased. "If you're tired, I'll gladly turn them down for you. Or I can take your place. It's a shame we only got to dance once tonight."
Benjamin let out a quiet laugh, but fresh tears still spilled from his eyes.
A long, comfortable silence fell between them. Finally, Wren's voice softened. "Is it… Prince Charles?"
Benjamin nodded, unable to speak.
Wren moved to sit right beside him. He reached out and pulled Benjamin into a warm, protective hug. Benjamin didn't pull away. He leaned in and accepted the embrace.
"Would you like to head back to where I'm staying?" Wren asked softly.
Benjamin nodded again.
Without another word, Wren took off his coat and draped it over Benjamin's shoulders. Together, they left the garden and slipped away into the night, leaving the ball entirely unnoticed.