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14. Lee Daehwi | Enchanted

https://prettywordsyouleft.tumblr.com/

Summary: A masquerade would always be your favourite event, the mystery behind the masks allowed for all levels of society to mingle together. Although you held a high position in life, your goal was to find love, not status. Would you?

Characters: Lee Daehwi x reader

Genre: Royal AU, romance

Word count: 2504

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The ballroom was romantically decorated, the flickering of candles in their holders above dancing along the walls, much like those in the center of the room. You had been late, your large emerald gown causing you quite the troubles to get into. All the same, the ball had yet to truly be at the peak of its festivities and you were relieved, not wanting to miss out on anything tonight.

You had waited all year for this masquerade, wanting nothing more than to dance the night away, and hopefully find someone who you would take your mask off to. It had been a dream of yours ever since your older sister had done exactly the same three years ago. Now she was married, had a child and a large estate to call her own. You hadn't as high hopes as hers, but the romantic in you wanted nothing more than that fairytale moment where pulling off your mask would introduce you to someone special.

At first your hopes had been high, after all, this ball was held within the palace, and many eligible men were invited. However you felt no connection with anyone, your mood becoming sombre the longer you tried.

"Perhaps you should take a break, Y/N?" your friend suggested and you nodded softly, going over to the table of refreshments, picking up a champagne flute and taking a couple of sips.

"Have you seen him yet?" You glanced over at a small group of younger girls, taking another drink. The tallest grabbed the hand of her closest listener. "The prince from the neighbouring kingdom is here tonight! Surely he will stand out a mile away, and we'll dance with him!"

"As long as he doesn't find the princess, we shall have a wonderful shot, do you not think?"

The shortest let out a laugh. "He'd hardly take one look at her, why do you think she is still unmarried at her age?"

They all laughed together and you gulped back your drink, approaching them with your alcohol induced confidence. "Who is to say the princess is unmarried due to her own fault? Perhaps she chooses to wait for someone worthy of her time."

"She has many faults, have you not seen her? Unlike her sister she is far too quiet to gain any man's true attention. Had she been born more attractive, perhaps so, but she is the plainest princess I have ever seen in our kingdom."

"And you have seen the young princess up close?" you questioned with a rise of anger, the girls all looking around at each other.

"Why would we need to?"

You couldn't answer, knowing that it was only a mask aiding you in talking to them so openly. Sighing, you curtsied at them before moving off, stalking across the floor until you bumped into someone.

"Are you alright?" he asked and you apologised, blushing from behind your mask. He helped you stand upright, smiling down at you. "Please take care of yourself, Miss."

"Thank you." You held your large skirt in your hand and bowed, going to walk around him. His hand shot out however, and you turned to see why he stopped you. His warm eyes regarded you for a moment and then he held out his hand to you.

"May I? I don't have much time tonight, but since we met like this, perhaps a dance will be acceptable?"

"Of course," you told him, slipping your hand into his and stepping into the moves of a common dance that you knew all too well. He danced effortlessly with you, smiling down at you every so often, spinning you around with ease. As you continued to connect with him, your bodies moved closer to one another, his arm on your waist curled around your bodice, drawing you in. It made you smile; no one had made the effort so far tonight to hold you so tenderly.