Ngl this idea was born when I kept seeing videos with the Kingdom Dance song from Tangled.
Quick content warning for Emetophobia, it's a quick mention and doesn't go into detail.
Arthur walked around the ballroom, greeting guests and flustering women. It was the day of one of his father's many parties. His father was notorious for these parties but Arthur was never too fond of them, but he never said a thing.
Eventually, Arthur sat at the table at the front of the room, his eyes scanning through the crowd. He had wished his manservant could be there but he had fallen ill earlier in the day. Arthur would normally make him work anyways but he didn't want any of his guests catching whatever Merlin had. A bunch of old men Arthur was all too familiar with and their beautiful, yet boring, daughters. These parties were never truly parties. They were business deals and a competition to see which women Arthur would choose.
Arthur sighed as his eyes traveled from one of the women to a young man, around his age. Something was different about this man. Arthur had never seen him before and even now he could hardly see him. The man was wearing a face covering, you could really only see the top half of his face.
This man had brown hair and brown eyes, wearing thin, rounded glasses. He wore a dark purple suit and tie. Even with the face covering, you could still tell he was smiling.
That's when Arthur saw it. The man talked with his hands. At first, Arthur thought this was to get his point across without using that many facial expressions until Arthur saw him slip something off the wrist of the man he was talking to.
He was a thief.
Arthur quickly stood up, making his way towards the man but before he knew it, a new dance was beginning. He saw the man step into the dance floor and before he knew it, he stepped in after him.
He made sure the two were paired. "Oh! Prince Arthur! What a pleasure to meet you." The man said, an Irish accent in his voice. Why the hell was he Irish? Arthur didn't have enough time to wonder.
Arthur only nodded his head before he stared into the man's eyes intensely. "What is your name?"
The man stared at him for a moment before his eyes crinkled in what Arthur assumed was a smile. "Gilroy."
Arthur nodded, putting on a fake smile. His voice lowered as he said, "I saw what you did, Gilroy."
Gilroy's eyebrow raised, confused. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, sire."
"Don't bullshit me. You are going to give everything back and then never return, understood?"
Gilroy chuckled, amused, but did not respond. His eyes met with Arthur's. The two danced, fake smiles plastered on their faces until the song ended. Arthur made sure nobody was watching as he dragged Gilroy out of the room.
They walked down a few halls until Arthur was sure they had gone far enough. Arthur slammed Gilroy against the wall, pinning him. "I don't think you understood me, Gilroy. But you will return everything and you will leave this kingdom and never return. Understood?"
"No, I'd rather prefer not to. Thank you for the suggestion though." Arthur stared at the man before reaching for the face covering. "I do, however, wonder what daddy dearest would say if he saw you like this with a man."
Arthur's movement stopped as he stared at the man. "Wha- What do yo- No! It's not like that! You- You're a thief!" Arthur let go of him, his face turning red. He stepped away, embarrassment heating up his body.
