Royal 5 Seconds of Summer Imagines

#4 Prince!Ashton: Royal Ball

http://abundance-of-casualties.tumblr.com/post/113057790719/4-prince5sos-royal-ball

Preparations for the royal ball have been done since early morning. This was going to be a simple party that allowed you to get to know the nobles of the kingdom that you have not met and for them to see Ashton's potential queen. You met with Ashton at the breakfast table who had a tired expression on his face. "Did you not sleep well Prince Ashton?" you asked with a slight smile. "A bit...I do not look forward to parties. They can go on for hours and hours, and it wares me out. I miss those days when I was young and I was given a curfew, but now I have to stay up till the party ends," he says. "O-Oh..." "However, I do look forward to one thing, I get to dance with you later that evening," he says before finishing his breakfast and rubbing the top of your head before leaving. You felt the blush on your face grow, and you covered your face with your hands. After you ate, you went to the ball room to practice the etiquette for the night. "Princess? Princess (Y/N) are you listening?" your personal caretaker asked. "I-I'm sorry," you stuttered. She smiles at you, "Did the prince do something again?" she asked. "H-he says that he looks forward to dancing with me tonight..." you said looking at the ballroom and imagining the two of you dancing at the center. "He's been very sweet with you lately. I am happy for you Princess. I remember when you were only this small and how you would always talk about how you wanted to be his bride and how you hoped he liked you back," she says reminiscing. "He always had this mindset that we shouldn't be so committed right away...But he has changed recently, so do you think he...?" you said with your words fading. "I am not the Prince so I cannot give you an answer Princess, but he treats you well, so...maybe," she says smiling at you. "Now, back to the lesson, do you remember how to dance? No? Well, we can't have you stepping on the Prince's feet," she says before instructing you again. Later that evening your caretaker helped prepare you for the night, she tightened your corset, prepared your dress, and did your hair and make up. You made your way to Ashton's room and knocked on his door. A servant let you in, and you saw Ashton put his jacket on and face you. "So?" he asks. "You are very handsome Prince Ashton," you said before adjusting his collar and letting your hands slip to your side. You looked at his hands and saw the scroll of paper, "What is that?" "Oh...Just the guest list, I just wanted to check on something," he says looking a little uneasy. "Are you really not looking forward to staying up such long hours for the ball?" you wondered and smiled. He smiles back, "Maybe. Come, let's walk to the ballroom together," he says putting his arm around you and guiding you to where the rest of his family was waiting. One by one families with noble names started to file in and greet you and the royal family. You would glance at Ashton from time to time, and he seemed to tense up as the names of the nobles before them would be called as they enter. The next family had a daughter who was a duchess, and when she entered, Ashton clenched his hand into a fist. You admitted to yourself that she was beautiful, and somehow, she seemed to affect Ashton when she introduced herself and left with her family to talk to other guests. "Prince Ashton?" you questioned, and he forced a smile at you, "Yes?" "Oh...Uh, nothing," you said looking down. The music started to play from the hired performers, and Ashton held out his hand, "Princess, may I have the first dance?" he asks. "I'd love to," you said shaking away your worries. Dancing with Ashton was how you imagined it to be, the two of you in the center of the room and everyone wanting to join in one by one. His gaze will trail off to the side, but his eyes would go right back to you, he would twirl you and hold you close to the very end of the song. When it ended, he slowed the pace a bit and smiled down at you, "You didn't step on my foot, I'm impressed (Y/N)," he says before letting you go. "I've practiced a lot Prince Ashton," you said smiling. "Ah, excuse me, Prince Ashton, may I have permission to dance with Princess (Y/N)?" a noble asked. "Of course, if that is okay with you?" Ashton says looking at you. "I-I'll accept this dance," you said to be polite, and Ashton let you go. The two of you danced with different people, and even if Ashton would act the same with every partner and keep eye contact, you couldn't help but let your eyes follow him around the room as your partners switched and you continued to dance. Eventually you stopped taking offers and went to the side for refreshments. You heard a group of ladies gossiping on the side as they watched that same girl ask Ashton for a dance. "Duchess huh? The prince was quite smitten with her when they were younger right?" "She is beautiful, I wonder why she wasn't chosen to be the prince's fiance," another says. "Mind your mouth, the princess is just a few feet away," the other says between her teeth. You quietly sipped from your glass and tried to look away from Ashton and his rumored crush. The song ended, and he cupped her cheek with his hand smiling fondly. You felt your stomach churn, and you set the glass down on the table before excusing yourself to the garden. The memory of Ashton telling you about his thoughts on the arrangement played before you, the same spot in the garden. "I guess, that's why you were so unsure about it when we were younger," you said to yourself. "But then why treat me so..." you said, but your words faded. "There you are, I got a little worried when I couldn't see you," Ashton called from behind. You took a moment to breathe before turning to him as if everything was fine. "I'm sorry Prince Ashton, I just wanted a little air," you said but couldn't look at him in the face. "Are you okay?" he says observing your expressions. "I'm fine, how about you? You seemed tense before the party," you pointed out. "A-ah...Yes, I was, but I'm fine now," he says. "Is it because of the duchess?" you asked before walking pass him. He stutters with his answer. "It's fine...The women were gossiping so I know," you said smiling reassuringly. "I-I guess I see why you were unsure about the arrangement from the start," you said. "(Y/N)-" Ashton calls out and tries to hold your hand. "I understand okay? Please, don't be so kind to me like this anymore. It's okay," you said looking at him forcing a smile and heading back to the ball room leaving him in the garden, and the pieces finally fitting together.