The princess was missing at her own ball.

It had been a while since she excused herself to freshen up, causing her father and older brother to start worrying. This was not unusual for King Regis, as his daughter had always been a bit of a rebel when it came to fancy parties like this, often disappearing and leaving Noctis, her older brother, to find her.

She was hiding in a random drawing room, concealed beneath a table while playing on her phone. Suddenly, someone entered the room, breathing heavily. Through the lace of the tablecloth, she saw a man in dapper clothing calming himself from whatever situation he had been in, groaning and talking to himself.

Then she made the mistake of dropping her phone.

The man stopped in his tracks and looked around cautiously. "Hello? Is anyone there? Show yourself," he called out, walking around the room nervously. She covered her mouth to stifle any sound, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. The footsteps stopped, and she risked taking a peek outside in a hunched position.

"Princess?" Her blood ran cold as the voice was nearer than expected. She turned and saw the familiar blue eyes of the prince of Niflheim— Prompto Besithia Argentum.