Narrator's POV

Things came to a standstill.

Sooyeon stood, gaping at the boy - or man - before her. Her royal blue renaissance dress complimented her fair skin tone and her hair was done in a flawless updo - the only thing that spoiled the whole princess looked was her blank expression. 

She blinked in confusion and looked around, catching a glimpse of a few very familiar faces.

Jessica was among the crowd, looking at her, lips hinting at a genuine smile. Her sisters smiled at her encouragingly, knowingly, giggling like teenage schoolgirls.

And then there was Key, lounging at the back of the crowd with a glass of wine in his hand, smirking.

What is the meaning of this?!

A sound of someone clearing his throat pulled her out of her state of bewilderment, and she looked to the front again, seeing Daehyun clad in a tuxedo decorated with beautiful embellishments. He eyed her and gestured subtly to his hand and repeated, "May I have this dance, milady?"

Jeon Sooyeon mental breakdown mode: ACTIVATED.

Sooyeon swallowed and gave him a look as if to say what-the-hell-is-going-on and he replied it with a charming smile, which no doubt put her on edge. Nevertheless, she took his arm (rather ungracefully) and the crowd looking them on immediately fell into the starting positions.

The music begun, and they waltzed - how were you supposed to dance in the Middle Ages, anyway?

"Daehyun. I think we're doing it wrong," Sooyeon's eyes narrowed and tried to copy the 'party-goers' dance moves, and failed quite terribly. He had to hold back a laugh at her notable lack of grace on her part. 

"Just follow my lead." Daehyun murmured and he cleverly manouvered them out of the main crowd, to a place more isolated from the crowd.

"That went well," Sooyeon rolled her eyes and then got straight to the point. "Care to tell me what exactly is going on?"

"We're in the Prince's Ball."

"I know that, obviously," Sooyeon sighed, wrinking her nose. "Why are you suddenly looking like a Prince? And why were there pigeons circling me, getting me and-"

"Too much information, Sooyeon." Daehyun smiled in amusement and muttered, "Wouldn't that be a sight to see."

"I heard that." 

"Off topic. Anyway, let's get down to business." Daehyun took a deep breath, "I think we actually are playing as the characters here. I'm the Handsome Prince-"

Sooyeon snorted.

"-Thank you, and you're Cinderella, the beautiful potential princess," he added for good measure, which made Sooyeon smile in mock appreciation.

"But aren't we supposed to help the characters, not play as them?" Sooyeon brought up, her eyes roaming the crowd for Key. He had a lot of explaining to do.

"That's why I'm confused." Daehyun sighed. Sooyeon looked around in concentration, to find anyone she recognized.

There. Infinite was at the ball, hiding their faces beneath masks - 'Robin Hood' and his 'Merry Men' were thieves, after all. Princess Bomi was engaged in conversation with other commoners, her expression that of a happy one.

And then her eyes caught something. Jessica was alone, but then approached by a handsome young man, who held out his hand to her tentatively. Sooyeon studied her expression, Jessica was contemplating it.

Jessica bit her lip and tried to avoid the man's eyes, when her eyes found Sooyeon's.

"Sooyeon-" Daehyun started, but she cut him off. 

Still focusing her attention to Jessica, she nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. 'Take his hand,' she mouthed, making huge dorky gestures (of what seemed to be her imitation of a hand) 'and dance.'

Jessica smiled and followed suit, her hand fitting comfortably into the man's ones. She relaxed and smiled, introduced herself, and he did the same.

"My name is Donghae, milady." Sooyeon heard him say before he whisked Jessica away out of earshot.

----

"I think I know now." Sooyeon tapped her chin in