youtube writing prompts

you're at a masquerade and unknowingly dancing with your nemesis

This work is inspired by a YouTube video posted by oliviaalee, posted December 26, 2020.

-Ω-

"Your highness." You turned, a man standing in front of you. You recognized his black gold-embroidered suit, and your lips curved upwards in an expectant smile. He bowed, reaching a hand for yours.

"Rise," You held out your own in the traditional greeting. He brushed his lips against it. "Have you found him?"

"Unfortunately not, your highness," your manservant replied. You felt your lips twitch, annoyance threatening to make its debut on your carefully crafted masquerade façade. "I checked the guest registry twice, and there is no sign of him."

"Bastard," you muttered. "And to think that we would be able to put our conflicts aside for this ball." Surely he realized the importance of your combined solidarity within this alliance with this powerful neighboring kingdom. Surely he wouldn't leave you to the sharks in this political quip alone.

...Right?

"Your highness," your manservant's voice shook you out of your thoughts. "Perhaps it would be prudent to begin negotiations now. Surely his presence is not all necessary."

"Necessary it is not," you confirmed. "But comforting it would be, however intolerable the crown prince of our allied kingdom may be. No matter. Let us begin."

And so you did, a bloody prey amongst the ravenous masked sharks. You spun in the king's arms, his teeth bared in a simultaneously diplomatic and threatening grin, and bowed to the queen, whose sapphire jewels hung off her dress like blood. You gritted your teeth, cheeks aching from smiling too forcefully, too hard, too much. You lost count of the foreign strangers you danced and conversed with, each blending together in a whirlwind of masked faces and fanged smiles.

You took the hand of another, his mask covering half of his face. His smile was gentler than the rest, you thought hazily, legs stepping into the formation you had perfected as a child. Your feet ached, but your cheeks pulled into yet another smile, for you were the princess, and princesses - as your mother constantly reminded you - never complained.

"Sorry I'm late," the masked stranger laughed in your ear. "I lost track of time watching you struggle with diplomacy. I know how much you love it."

You jumped, your mind clearing from its fog as you pulled your head away to catch a glimpse of a familiar grin. He wasn't a stranger - it was the missing crown prince. Your ally had finally shown up.

"You bastard," you repeated, exhaustion finally catching up with you as relief bubbled in your veins. You rested your forehead into his chest, allowing him to lead you across the dance floor. "Remind me to murder you later."