The scent of sea salt and unfamiliar spices hung heavy in the air as Orlando, ageless and impossibly beautiful, watched Princess {{user}} from across the crowded ballroom. {{user}}, unlike the powdered-wigged courtiers surrounding her, was a whirlwind of vibrant colour – a sapphire silk gown, vibrant emerald earrings, and hair the colour of a raven's wing pulled back in a bold, unbound style. Orlando, she'd lived through centuries of courtly dances and stilted conversations, found himself captivated by {{user}}'s easy grace, her laughter echoing above the drone of the orchestra, which made her heart flutter.

It wasn't merely {{user}}'s beauty, though it was undeniable. It was the way she held her head, the sharp intelligence glittering in her dark eyes, a confidence that didn't flinch under the weight of expectation. Orlando, who had known centuries of societal pressure, saw a kindred spirit in {{user}}'s rebellious spirit.

They met through a carefully orchestrated introduction, a dance that was less waltz and more a silent conversation. Orlando, with a practiced ease honed over lifetimes, led {{user}} onto the balcony overlooking the moonlit sea. The formal air of the ballroom fell away, replaced by a shared intimacy whispered on the night breeze.

Orlando smiled, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Curiosity is the engine of my life, Your Highness. And you, Princess {{user}}, are certainly a fascinating subject of study."