Mr Handsome and the Midnight Angel (boyxboy)

I'm Not a Girl - Not Yet

"You're going to meet your future bride soon, just imagine her, beautiful and lovely and rich!"

5

"So Will, I had a brilliant idea yesterday."

4

"I was thinking, with your 18th birthday coming up and all, we could celebrate it a little."

3

"Or maybe more than little. Quite a lot more."

2

"We hope you'll be as excited about this as we are."

1

"It's been decided that three masquerades will be held, the final one on your birthday, and all the lords and ladies of the land will be invited - along with their daughters! You'll have chosen a beautiful wife by then of course!"

There it was, the surprise that Will had been expecting. Exactly as he had expected. He plastered a grin onto his face and thanked his father for the wonderful surprise birthday party.

His father, looking very pleased with himself, soon had his messengers send the invitations to every worthy person in the land. After he'd left the room, the smile dropped from Will's face and he grabbed his sword, feeling a need to release the pressure that had been building up inside him. He arced it through the air.

Meet a girl and make her my wife? And three days is all I have? Three days isn't enough to fall in love!

☆☆☆☆☆ ☆

When did we get pigs? The squealing continued. Oh wait, it's just Pommie. Nico sighed as he tried to block out her irritating noise. She went on mercilessly.

"What is it?" He grumbled out through his gritted teeth.

"PRINCE WILLIAM IS HOLDING A BIRTHDAY MASQUERADE IN THREE DAYS!" She immediately flung the letter in the air and barrelled up the staircase like a hyperactive gerbil in a flouncy dress, no doubt to irritate her next victim.

Nico walked over to pick up the paper, looking at the gilded golden corners warily. Of course, his father being the wealthiest and most important Lord of all, they would be invited.

Dear Lords and Ladies of the Land,

On the occasion of Prince William Solace's 18th Anniversary Masquerade, all the lovely young ladies of the land have been invited. On the last of the three days of festivities, Prince William's bride shall be chosen.

Royally,

The Royal Palace

Young ladies... Nico certainly was young at 17, but not quite a lady. Bianca, now she would have been perfect for this ball. Nico glanced at the ring hanging around his neck, a sour lemon lodged in his heart. Bianca could have gone, but she wasn't here; Nico was here, but he couldn't go.

Or could he?

Bianca would want him to go, to enjoy his youthful life. Nico - a young lady? No, to be that he would need to make a few changes.

A devilish grin bloomed.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

Prince William's home had turned from a palace into a sparkling, glowing palace. Chandeliers lit up every corner, candles glowed around the room, the staircase brightly illuminated. He stood at the top of the sweeping staircase, inspecting the grand ballroom below him.

"Absolutely brilliant, isn't it?" King Apollo clapped his hand on Prince William's shoulder. His son nodded silently in reply, nerves strung up too tightly inside - he'd been nervous ever since he'd woken up and realised it was the day.

In a few hours, hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of people would be flooding down these staircases, flickering their luminous colours and mystical masks.

Prince William looked around one last time before slipping his own mask on his face, hoping that tonight would be the night he fell in love.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

After hours of pruning hair, layering dresses and coating on make up, Nico was finally free from the claws of the Three Old Hags. He'd sent them off on the carriage with a waving handkerchief in the pretense that he would be home all night. Alas, that was not to be true.

The second the carriage disappeared into the mist, he slammed the door shut and rushed up to his room. He yanked open his closet and - for the first time in forever - reached to the right side of it. It was Bianca's side, the half he'd never dared to disturb before. But he knew in his heart that she would want him to do this, that he would regret not seizing this chance.

He slipped on a flowing black dress, a silky trail rippling behind him. The elbow length gloves fit his elegant fingers perfectly. Luckily, his slender form was quite similar to a girl's, and the cascading front of the dress would disguise his lack of femininity. He placed a silver, elaborate flower in his curly hair and placed the sleek black death mask over his face.

He glanced in the mirror - and dropped the accessories in shock. Certainly, he was stunning, but the thing that made his eyes widen was not himself. It was the figure of a girl clad in the exact same black dress behind him. It was Bianca.

"B-Bianca?" Nico stammered out through his pale lips.

I missed you, baby bro.

"What... How? How can you even be here?"

I'm always with you, Nico. She reached out to touch his shoulder, and he whipped around. There she was, translucent and insubstantial, yet undeniably there.

"A-Am I dreaming?"

No, silly. I'm a ghost.

"You must be joking! I'm going crazy, aren't I?"

Do I look like I'm joking? Nico, I'm here because I realised you're finally moving on. And that's what I want you to do. I promise I'm real, I'm here, and I love you.

"Pinky promise?" Hesitantly, Nico held out his pinky to her. She hooked her own pinky in his, her cold but soft and gentle hands soothing him.

Pinky promise.

For the first time since Bianca's death, he truly smiled. A crooked grin split his face up, his glimmering eyes lighting up like all the stars in the universe had awoken at once.

Nico, come here for a moment. She gestured to him and he complied. She unclasped the chain around his neck and slipped the skull ring onto his right ring finger.

Go charm that prince right out of his socks, okay? Who knows, he might be the Mr Handsome you've been waiting for all along.

Nico blushed, embarrassed to realise that Bianca must have heard every single one of his thoughts, but when he looked into Bianca's warm brown eyes, he knew she'd keep him safe no matter what. He didn't want to leave.

You're supposed to move on, silly. Here, the masquerade has already started! You wouldn't want to be late to meet your future husband now, would you?

She leant forwards and placed a gentle kiss onto his forehead, and then the shadows pulled him in.

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