Fairytale Love | Karlnap • Royal Au

Chapter 1

   It was almost to good to be true. Their Karl was, on his way to the Event of the Season, a Masquerade in King Techno's Palace.
 
One dance he said to himself, as the palace could be seen drawing nearer I just want one dance... even if it's by myself, I'd like to remember what it's like to be happy, to spin round and round under the moonlight.

  The palace was outstanding almost like a city within itself; Karl could have spent hours happily lost in the palace.

   But he was rather late so their was no time. Infact he was so late there was no one to even greet him at the entrance. The halls inside were empty except for the millions of unsmiling guards pressed against the walls. He wouldn't ask them for directions either as he had no invite. They might have asked him to leave.

  If it were not for the polite young man who had stumbled upon Karl, searching for the king's party. Karl might have spent the entire night looking around the grand palace.

  "The ballroom is this way, sir," He had said, gently tapping his shoulder.

   Flustered, Karl wipped around to face him. Expecting him to be a guard, but no, he was a guest - just like himself. "Oh, so it is, thank you"

   Cheeks, red - hot from climbing the endless stair case, grew hotter still. Why hadn't he followed the music. He could hear strains of it emitting from a door a few halls down. He must look very foolish.

   But the man next to him made no inclination that he look foolish. Perhaps it was just the formality he seemed to carry; that would explain the stiff posture and squared shoulders. But his eyes held nothing more than love and kindness in them. Something unfamiliar yet wonderful fluttered in his stomach.

   "Thank you," Karl said again, instinctively bowing.

   "Would- would you like to dance?"

   Karl blinked. "Did you read my mind?" He said with a soft laugh. "All I wanted was a dance tonight... But I'm afraid I've forgotten how"

   At that, the young man chuckled, and he seemed to relax, breaking the formality between the two. A smile as warm as his eyes spread across his face and he offered him his arm. "Then allow me to remind you.

   The next few minutes were a blur. A beautiful, rapturous blur, yet Karl knew he'd never forget the waltz that stirred the hall, its lilting melody singing its way deep into his heart.

   Nor would he forget the way his companion looked at him-as if there were no-one else in the ballroom. Every now and then, he parted his lips as if he wanted to speak to him, but the music was so overwhelming he must have thought better of it. It was a miracle they hadn't bumped with anyone else dancing, or were they the only ones on the floor? Karl hardly noticed.

   When the waltz ended. Karl braced himself to wake from the most beautiful dream. Murmurs of conver- stations replaced the orchestra's lush music, a mass of perfumes thickened the air, and the chandeliers seemed to glow dizzyingly brighter.

   He half expected his dance partner to make an excuse to leave, but instead he leaned in to whisper, "Do you want to walk outside for a short while? I'd love to show you the gardens."

   Again, he'd read his mind. Or were they simply of one mind? His father used to say that about himself and his mother, that from the moment they'd met it had felt like they'd known each other forever.

   Or maybe I feel that way because it's been so long since I've made a friend, he thought as they left the palace. A cool breeze tickled him, and he inhaled, inhaling the garden's freshness.

   "It's so peaceful," Karl said, brushing his fingers across the finely pruned hedges. "Would it be awful if I told you I preferred it out here to the ballroom?"