ellie had never been interested in royal balls. this one wasn’t any different, even if it was the most important ball of the year for each of the royal families.

this ball, the ball of pinefall, brought each of the royal families in the northern region together to keep them united in peace. it had been a long journey to get to this point of peace, and this ball was to further reinstate that harmony between the eight nations over the world. but ellie didn’t care.

ellie never cared for these balls—all the eating, the socialising, the dancing… she hated it. she hated that she had to represent her kingdom of winlow, hated that she had to mingle with these rich pricks because her king father said so, and she hated that she didn’t have any friends to talk to while she was there. she’d rather be tucked in bed instead of standing alone on the marble castle balcony, sipping on only the finest of wine as she people-watched the guests in the courtyard. the garden was beautiful tonight, with twinkling fairy lights hanging above and gentle strings of the orchestra playing in the background as people danced and chatted below.

but then ellie’s eyes caught on a girl. a princess, easily the most breathtaking one she’d seen of the night. she was so elegant, so beautiful—down to her modest but flattering dress, the way her hair framed her gorgeous face, her pretty smile. she put ellie’s simple suit and tie to shame.

ellie had to meet her.