Upon A Red Rose Thorn

Asking For A Kiss At A Ball

Setting: A ball for Red's 15th birthday

"I'm born rich, life's not fair. Silver spoon and all that. But, my family is going to the church in Thieram for the wedding of their royal family. Some commoners are upset they can't attend because my family is taking their seats." Some courtiers' son bragged. The princess's eyes rolled behind her red and black glittering mask, which is required by royal tradition in public events. Her fingers had gone numb from holding the delicate thing in place since the ball started hours ago and she faced her first guests. Taking it off or lowering it would get her lectured for hours by her tutors in manners and courtly edicite so she clinched her aching fingers tighter around the masks' rose covered stem.

"The royals of Thieram aren't getting married in a church, just so you know. It's a tulip field near the castle. The princess doesn't care for the church, too much candle smoke." A voice interrupted, making the princess's eyes snap to him. It was a clear insult to correct a son of a lord, let alone butt in mid-sentence. He was tall but with a soft face. He bowed, noting the princess's gaze on him. "I apologize for the interruption, your Highness."

The Courtier's son let out a scoff, his cheeks still colored red from being corrected by someone in front of the princess. But she ignored the brat and focused her attention on the boy in front of her, who kept his gaze on her. "No apology necessary, I was getting rather bored anyway." She said with a wave of her hand, dismissing the others she found herself surrounded by daily. They left unhappily but dispersed nonetheless. "Join me for a walk outside? It's rather stuffy in here."

"Of course, Princess." The boy held out his arm and Red took it, holding her mask in its rightful place with her other hand, and let him lead her outside of the ballroom into the open air. She dropped his arm casually and took in a deep breath of the cool air.

"Are you not afraid to catch a chill?" The boy asked walking up beside where the princess stood against a marble railing.

"If I'm going to catch any kind of illness, it would most likely be insanity from the court." The princess told him. "The pretenses and expectations are enough to break anyone's mind."

"Is that why you're still wearing the mask?" He asked her as she watched the sky.

"I suppose." She replied. "But I've been wearing it since I was a young child. Playing the role I was given. Courtly rules. Although I do wish I had some peanut butter and a spoon from the kitchens about now and that isn't part of the role of princess." She said laughing slightly.

"No, I guess it isn't. But it is part of being human." He told her. Red lowered the mask from her eyes and met his.

"Come with me." She said leaving her mask on the marble.

"Where are we going, princess?" he asked her as he followed her.

"To the kitchens. We're going to steal some peanut butter." She paused, turning to the boy. "I don't know your name."

"It's Darrum, Your Highness."

"Darrum... a commoner's name, isn't it?"

"It is."

"That's rather interesting. It's been a while since commoners have been at a palace ball."

"I wouldn't know, Princess, I don't hang around the palace," Darrum said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't. Darrum, call me Red instead of Princess. You need not be so formal and I don't care for Rose." The young princess stepped into a mud puddle that hadn't been cleaned from the hallway, muddying her expensive shoes. Red kicked them off her feet, sinking closer to the ground a few inches.

"Allow me, princess," Darrum said getting a pocket cloth out of his jacket and kneeling to wipe the mud away carefully from the discarded shoes. He noted how gracefully Red moved, how delicate she showed herself to be as she waited while he cleaned them carefully. Until he saw the knife hidden near the cinch in her dress around her waist. Delicate indeed.

"I'm not going to be putting those back on, you know. And it's Red, remember," Red told him when he straightened finally.

"It is completely your choice, your Highness," Darrum said casually, placing the forgotten shoes onto a hallway railing. "Although I don't suppose I could get a kiss for the efforts?"

Red let out a joyous laugh. "You are bold, I will give you that. But you are unfortunately not my type. I'm not allowed to kiss boys."

Darrum shrugged his shoulders with a grin. "I had to try at the very least."

Red smiled back at him, her second real smile of the evening was once again to the commoner boy. "I think it is time to steal a snack, don't you?"