Krystal feels eager as she prepares for the Ballroom Party. She has never felt so happy to go to a party before. Many of her birthday before this one can’t compare to the excitement she is feeling now. Looking out from her balcony she could see people gathering. She never thought such a scene would look so beautiful.

“What’s wrong princess.” Said one of the maids.

“Nothing. I’m just excited for the party.” Krystal said as she smiles shyly.

“It’s a big day for you princess. Hold your head up high because there will be many people watching you.”

“That’s what’s making me nervous.”

Victoria enters the room only hearing Krystal said she was nervous. “What’s making you nervous?”

“The party.” Krystal said.

“You should be happy. They are all bearing gifts for your birthday, all of them extravagant and beautiful. They are giving you nothing but the best money can buy.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to show my face in front of them.”

“You are the Princess, of course you are ready. Your whole life is set for you to embrace this very moment.”

Just outside of Krystal’s room stood Amber waiting for her. “I’m your for today.” Amber is wearing an all white outfit and a mask covering face and only exposing . Learning Amber is her surprises Krystal so much she became speechless. She never had a male before. Amber may be a woman, but in Krystal’s mind Amber is male. Amber lifts her arm as a signal for Krystal to hook her arm with hers. “Don’t be nervous princess. I won’t bite.”

“I’m not nervous.” Krystal said with confidence as she hooks one arm around Amber’s arm. She looks at Amber expecting a reaction but nothing. Seeing Amber but not her face made Krystal a little disappointed but it didn’t stop her from staring. Half of Amber’s face is cover with a white mask only exposing and jaw.

“Something wrong princess?” Amber said as she finds Krystal oddly resembling her troublesome knight in training, the duo JJ Project Jr. and JB.

“Nothing.” Krystal pouts. Glancing at Amber, Krystal could see Amber hiding her laughter, the sight of Amber’s smile made Krystal feel a swell of happiness growing in her heart. What is he smiling about? Is it me?

Their walk to the Grand Ballroom feels like it passes too quickly. Just before Krystal realizes it, they are already arrived. The entrance into the grand ballroom is breath taking. Two set of stars coming from the side to join into one, it takes you down into a spacious room full of aristocrats and royal guest from far and near. Eyes are drawn to the beautiful Ice Princess Krystal who is escorted by Amber on her walk down before handing her hand off to the King.  With so many eyes on Krystal, she strangely feels comfortable with so many eyes laying on her. Though Krystal is use to a lot of people staring at her, this is the first time she was seen by other royalties and aristocrats. She thought she would feel more nervous.

The King introduces his princess to the crowds. They cheer and people started introducing themselves to Krystal. She met kings and queens, princes and princesses. All of them adorn with the best money can buy. To her right she sees a long table with endless amount of food. Before she realizes Amber was at a distance watching her. Now she is left to explore the ballroom floor on her own. Amber and her knight crew are busy looking for anything unusual behavior along with the other castle knights, but Amber’s crew is mainly focus on the Ice Princess.

For the first time Krystal was greeted by a prince from a neighboring kingdom. He smiles and kissed Krystal hand greeting her. “Hello.”

Though she was nervous it didn’t show on her face, Krystal answers, “How do you do?”

“I’m Jonghyun.”

“I’m Krystal.”

“Shall we dance?” He said with a bow with his hand extended towards Krystal.

Krystal didn’t know how to answer but she silently places her hand in his. Jonghyun leads Krystal by the hand to the center of the ballroom and with the beat of the music they dance. He places one hand on her waist and the other holding her hand.

One, two, three, and repeat. One, two, three, and repeat. Krystal concentrates on her foot work and forgetting to focus on her partner. When she realizes it she said, “Ah, sorry.”

 “For what princess? This is your first ball. Everyone will often have trouble doing something for the first time.” He chuckles. “So I got the lucky change to give you your first dance.”

“It is not like I’m getting married.” Krystal realizes how rude she made it sound. “I mean, this isn’t a marriage.”

“Am I making you nervous?”

“I’m not answering that.”

“What do you do in your spare time princess?”

“Read, dance, relax, and all the things expected of a princess. Why, what do you do in your spare time?”

“Good question. I like horseback riding, fencing, archery, you know, all the things expected of a prince.”

Krystal found herself enjoying her talk with Jonghyun. Their dance was interrupted by one of the butler informing him that there is someone who wants to talk to him. When he left he kept looking back at Krystal. It surprise Krystal how good it feel to dance with a man and how much different a man is compare to a woman.

Behind Krystal stood Amber asking, “Did you enjoy your dance?”

Hearing Amber voice, Krystal couldn’t help but be happy only to be disappointed that Amber was still wearing her mask covering half her face. “You’re still wearing that mask.”

“It is protocol. Plus I don’t like people staring at my face. Why? Does it look bad?”

“No, it makes you look more mysterious.”

“Oh, is that so.” Amber said not reading into Krystal’s words as Amber continues to observe their surrounding seeing that her fellow knights signaling her that all is well. “Princess I’ll be on my way. I just want to know if you’re having fun.”

“Wait.” Krystal musters the courage to say. “While you are here, won’t you dance with me one time?”

 “Are you sure you won’t be disappointed dancing with me?”

“It would be a good time to chat with the knight that will be serving me from this day forward.”

“Very well princess, as you please.”

Krystal couldn’t help but be happy to dance with Amber. Time seems to slow down as they take each step. Her eyes would observe Amber when she is looking away. Amber is taller than Krystal but is shorter than most of the men in the room, that fact didn’t bother Krystal at all. The only thing that bother’s Krystal is the lack of attention Amber is spending on her.

“Is there anything wrong princess?” Amber asks when she realizes Krystal pouting.

“Just keep dancing. Entertain me.”

“Ah, yes princess.” Amber said as she thinks of a good story to tell. “I remember one time I was training with JB and Jr. Both of them keep pestering me to teach them some fighting techniques.” Amber laughs.

“And?”

“I refuse. They’re both so disobedient. Do you know what they decided to do when I told them no?”

“What happen next?” Krystal said as she attentively listens to Amber’s story realizing how much happiness in Amber voice as she tells her story.

“That’s when everything went wrong. They decided to start pulling pranks on me to get my attention. The first one was them filling a bucket full of mud and pouring it over my head. I can’t believe I fell for such a simple prank.”

“How did it happen?”

Amber smiles as she said, “First of all JB was asking me for advice to grab my attention and keeping me from paying attention to Jr. He sneaks into the building to hold the bucket over my head. Unknowingly I walk with JB only to find a bucket over my head and mud all over my clothes.” Amber’s laughs happily.

“I’m surprise how you didn’t get angry at them.”

“I did get angry, but remembering it makes me happy. After all that, we got closer.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Don’t worry princess. I’m sure you have time like those too. Pulling pranks on your closet friends.”

“Yeah I did something like that once too. It was fun.”

“But don’t pull pranks like that too much. If you do it too much it can ruin friendships too.”

“I understand.”

After a long day of the Ice Princess’s birthday celebration Krystal was finally able to rest in her bedroom.  Exhausted Krystal sat outside on her balcony on her sofa to stare at the night sky. She couldn’t help but be happy for her wonderful day. She has met many new people and have dance with Amber.

“Jonghyun is handsome but I like Amber better.” Krystal said as she got up to replay the dance she had with Amber and the music that they dance to. Nothing can be more perfect than this. I wonder if he accepted this job because he knew he would be serving me? The thought being with Amber makes Krystal giggle happily as she jumps into her bed. She happily hugs her pillow with a smile. “Today was the best birthday I ever had, especially the gifts.” Remembering when she saw Amber when opening her birthday gift makes Krystal feel warm with happiness.

_ _ _

From the Author: Sorry for the late update. This was suppose to be a weekly update but I fell behind on my writing for this one. I've been feeling a little unmotivated but I don't want to give up on this story. The drawing I'm working on for this story is still incomplete, a drawing of Amber and Krystal.