『Inside Your Heart』《Merlin x FEM!Reader》

|| Masquerade Pt. 12 ||

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【Merlin】

It takes us hours to get ready. Is this really how royalty does it all the time!? When we get done it's already noon. The guests will be here in an hour! Both Y/n and I are nervous as we grab hold of each other's hands, a totally different atmosphere from this morning! I sigh. "Merlin, are you doing okay?" She asks me. "No, you?" She laughs, "No not at all." We both burst in laughter over our nervousness.

This is the first time we'll be seen as royals in a long time... I hope it goes well. I remember when my parents made me go to these parties all the time when I was younger. All that is just blur though. I hold onto Y/n's hands. "As long as we're together this ball will turn out well!" She nods, "Yes!"

【Y/n】

An hour passes and the masquerade ball begins. We put on our masks and everyone comes in as their names are called out to the ballroom. Merlin and I are getting greeted continuously as they congratulate us. I don't think I can take much more of this... I glance over to Merlin. He notices and takes my hand. "Do you want to dance with me for a little, Y/n?" My complexion turns pink, "Yes. I'd love that." He then looks back at the line of people. "I'm sorry, is it okay if we hold off the greetings for now? We'd like to dance." Everyone nods as they separate from us.

I sigh, Merlin whispers in my ear, "We can go outside for a little if you don't like dancing."

"No I'm fine. I'd love to, Merlin." The musicians see us coming as they start to play a slow romantic song. Everyone gets out of the way as we walk, I start feeling uneasy. I feel Merlin touch my back, "It's okay, Y/n they're just happy to see us." I still can't believe it. People are really happy? To see us just dance together? I feel my heart clench as Merlin holds me close. "Yes," He answers me, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. We start dancing in the middle of the ballroom. I hold Merlin's back neck as he grabs my waist and we sway together closely. This is so embarrassing!! I bury my face in Merlin's chest, screaming internally.

...

Slowly, I get used to the staring. A few hours pass as we dance the night away, enjoying ourselves. But, we then remember about the promise Merlin had made to the guys. We head over to them.

"Finally! Hey! The lovey-dovey couple is here!" Arthur calls over Hans and Jack. "Actually... I don't need your help anymore." Prince Jack, all human, is holding his arms around a girl with an adorable fish head and human body.

"Are you a Mermaid!?" I question her, turning orange. "Yes," She states. "Wow, I've never seen you guys this close before! I've only heard of you in fairy tales!" I hold her fins as we become great friends. "I also don't need your help... Haha." Hans makes his appearance as a human as well. "So where is she?" Merlin questions. "By the food table." He points back to her as I see her continuously stuffs her face with food. Ahh, cute!! Both my new mermaid friend and I head over to greet ourselves.

【Merlin】

When Y/n and the one who cured Jack leave to Hans' girl we all look down to Arthur. "Merlin! Guys! You have to help me!!" He begs us. "Lets just go outside for some air right now." I look over to the guys as they all nod their heads. When we start to head outside we're stopped by Pino, Noki, and Kio. "We finished!" They're all holding the hands of the robotic girls I got a glimpse of when chasing Y/n this morning. Pino's and Noki's both looked human sized but Kio's was as small as him. They all still stayed in their dwarf forms. We sigh at them and tell them to follow us. We explained Arthur's situation.

When we reached outside it seems like all of us were holding in our breaths throughout the party because we all deeply breathed in and out. Exhausting. We feel much more calmer when it's just the Fearless 7... We need to arrange nights so I can just cool down with my boys, to get away from this stress. Of course I'm still very happy being with Y/n though.

I then see Arthur run out into the field of grass by the lake. He sees a girl in a red hood. Ah, he found someone. He looks back to us in worry, we all motion our hands telling him to go talk to her. He nods. I see a gleam in my eye as I look up and realize it's a full moon tonight. Beautiful. I look back down and see Arthur then chatting with a big wolf, but he doesn't seem scared by her. I look over to the other guys as they also continue to watch. Then I go back to Arthur and see him kissing the girl from before. What?? Then he turns back to human. I guess we helped him?? I'm confused but Arthur then brings the girl to us.

"Welp, thank you guys!" He smiles at us. Did we even do anything?? I question in my head. He looks happy so I guess it's fine? He motions the girl to come over as Y/n comes outside with both of the other girls. "Wow Arthur already!?" She's surprised but she kisses my cheek. "Thanks Merlin, and thanks guys! Congratulations you're all curse free! Well at least most of you..." She tells us. But- Ah, I'll just leave it then... Y/n and the other girls then talk to the werewolf girl as she makes friends. I'm glad she's finding good friends at this party! I smile to myself.

【Y/n】

After a little while I go off by myself. I whisper over to Merlin, "I'm going to go find Lunar." He nods as he continues talking to the guys. He's probably asleep in our room. I head to my room and see Jack laying on Lunar. "Jack?" I call out to him. The room is still dark as I enter. "Mhm? Y/n? Why aren't you enjoying the ball?" I go over to him, his mask is on the nightstand. "Why aren't you enjoying the ball?" I turn on the light finally getting a better look at him, he cuddles himself on Lunar's stomach.

I still can't see his face since his back is turned away from me. I go down and start to rub his back. "What's wrong?" This feeling in the air feels familiar... "Promise you won't laugh?" He asks me, turning around now. "What kind of friend would I be if I did?" I give him a serious response. We sort of have had a teasing relationship when we were children... But, I'm glad he's opening up to me now. "Well there's this girl... I met her overseas and I noticed she was at the ball tonight. I got scared so I decided to hide up here until she left." I stare blankly at him. "You like this girl?" He starts to hold his knees, trying to hide his face. "Yes." Giving me a clear answer.

Merlin then accidentally trips into the room, falling over. "Ow." Is all he says as he gets back up and rubs his back. "Haha... Hi?" He waves. "...Excuse me-" Before he can leave, "Merl," I start sternly and he flinches to a stop. "What are you doing here??" He turns back around to face me, "Haha... Well you left the party and had your mask on one of the food tables so I was-" He pauses. "Worried..."

"Or... were you excited? You think I left on purpose so you decided to look in our room??" He starts getting more nervous, his face turns a deep red in embarrassment. "W-well I thought... Haha..."

"We talked about that this morning! You agreed that we'd start on our wed-" Before we continue my whole body turns pink as I look back at Jack now listening in on our conversation. He probably understood the context- "Wow, you two..."

"Don't say anything!" I cough to calm myself down. "We're talking about you here. Continue." Please, continue!! He still looks embarrassed at what he just heard but doesn't say anything. "So this girl?" Merlin asks, "Which one?" He looks even more embarrassed before as he answers. "The one with white-blonde hair up and a blue slim dress made with ice." Made with ice!? "Does she have the same powers as you!?" My skin turns orange in excitement.

"I think so? At her coronation it seemed that she also froze her orb and scepter when she held onto it. You know, like how I was little and could never control my powers..." Coronation?? "She's a queen!?" His normal pale skin has now changed to a more pink one. "Yes. That's why I feel like I have no chance with her." I look over to Merlin and we both nod at each other knowing exactly what we both thought. "We'll help you," We both say in unison.

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