The ballroom was a moving kaleidoscope of swirling dresses and vibrantly coloured outfits. The candles and chandeliers twinkled, shedding soft light on the scene below.

The crown prince and heir, Ryuunosuke Akutagawa stood in the corner, a glass of chilled water in his hand. He wore a simple formal outfit, with a white dress shirt with gold embroidery, long, dark pants and a black corset pulled (just a little) too tight. He’d have to have the servants notified of that.

However, what the young royal was unaware of was that this event had been infiltrated.

Atsushi, better known as the ‘Dreaded White Reaper’ and his crew had been terrorising the kingdom’s port for months now. No one had seen his face, but everyone knew his name

``The pirate and his crew crept through the scene, positioning themselves near the people most worthy of ransom, who could be easily dragged away, disguised as nobles`

Atsushi’s eye, however, caught on someone, standing alone. A dark-haired man, about the same age as him, with smooth pale skin and dark eyes like pools of ink.

But his striking appearance wasn’t what had caught the pirate’s attention. It was the golden ring with the royal insignia he was wearing. That man was a member of the royal family.

Atsushi smiled, strolling up to Akutagawa, and holding out a hand.

“ …Care to dance, your highness? “