Taemin huffed and shuffled his feet nervously before peeking his head into the crowded ballroom. Though he was a bit uneasy, the Prince couldn't help but crack a smile when he saw that all of the preparations put into this ball had payed off. People were elegantly dancing across the polished floors, the heels of their shoes clicking against the tile and their dresses lightly sweeping the hall. Guests were mingling and chatting with one another, an occasional laugh coming from here and there. Overall, everyone seemed to be having fun.

So why the Prince was so nervous? He didn't know exactly.

Perhaps it was the fact that it was the first time he was in a highy occupied area without any guards or knights to protect him. Or maybe it was that Taemin had the strongest feeling that the one he was seeking for was in the area, waiting for him to come and claim her.

With one last deep breath, the Prince entered the ballroom with long, confident strides. He politely bowed to passing guests as he walked, including a few attractive looking girls, but one had yet to catch the Prince's eye.

Finally, a girl with long, black hair that walked towards him had captured his attention.

"Hello." Taemin bowed to her. "Would you like to--"

"Do you think  that one is Prince Taemin?" she squealed to her group of friends, pointing towards another direction and completely ignoring the Prince's prescence.

"I don't think so! Prince Taemin is much more muscular and tall! Let's keep looking."

Disappointed, the Prince walked away from the group of girls and moved closer to the king's throne. He spotted his mother chatting with a guard as she searched the crowd for her kids. Father must still be on his way.

Taemin noticed that he was getting in the way of dancing couples and decided to move over to the side. He sighed when he saw that most of the guests, save the crazy fangirls, all had a partner that they seemed to like, leaving him by himself.

"Perhaps my theory was correct. I'm only someone when I'm a Prince." he mumbled to himself. Depressed, the boy stayed in the corner quietly by himself, fiddling with his fingers and staring at the floor until the next song played.

Why did I think it would be this easy? This isn't one of those fairytale books mother used to read to me when I was young...this is reality. And reality is, people don't like me for who I am. They like me because I'm a--

"Excuse me?"

Taemin's head instinctively shot up when someone had tapped his shoulder, interrupting his negative thoughts. A tall, dark haired male stood before him.

And a handsome one at that.

The Prince could feel himself getting lost in the stranger's alluring gaze; his eyes were full of lust and confidence.

"Y-yes?" he managed to say.

"Would you like to dance?" he bowed and held his hand out for the Prince, his eyes never leaving the boy's.

Taemin didn't exactly know how to respond. He wasn't interested in men, and he certainly didn't want anyone thinking that he was. Though he wasn't closeminded enough to think that those kind of people were uncivilized. Taemin's philosophy was that all people should be free to make their own choices and be happy, despite judgements from others.

The Prince knew he couldn't lead the man on and let him think that he was interested.

"Thank you....but no. I'm fine." he kindly rejected the stranger.

Before he could turn around and walk away, someone had grabbed his arm and swifly spun him around, causing him to land on said person's chest. Taemin slowly looked up and saw that it was the same man from before, who was currently intwining his hands with his as they swayed back and forth with the classical music.

"Are you sure about that?" he whispered into his ear.

Taemin gulped as the man's deep tone sent shivers down his spine. He could sense a smirk forming on the man's lips as he saw how helpless he looked practically clinging to him. Knowing he couldn't escape, the Prince continued dancing with his head still on the stranger's chest.

"W-what is your name?" he promptly asked him.

"Now, now what's the rush? We just started dancing. And besides, if you ask me such a question I would feel inclined to ask you the same. You wouldn't want that would you?"

Taemin gasped and tensed a bit in the man's hold. Does he know who I am?

The stranger smirked as he felt the boy's discomfort. I guess Key was right.

~Flashback~

Using their fake invitations, courtesy of Key, SHINee e