Kurt's plan was to stay out of sight. He would just stand in the corners of the room just watching. Blaine didn't need to have him around ruining this night. Still, after watching him standing some feet away as girl after girl came up to him and made conversation, that burning feeling in his chest grew and grew. He wanted to just get up and try his luck with the Prince, see if Blaine would like him even with a mask on. It was too tempting.

Kurt was so focused on Blaine and watching him as he was actually coerced into dancing, that he didn't realize someone had approached him.

"Would you like to dance?"

She was very short despite the heels she wore and dressed in a pretty pink dress that seemed to have been made with care. Kurt for a moment thought to wonder if the dress had been made by the girl in front of him. He didn’t ask.

She took his silence as a yes. "I just know that the Prince won't want to dance with me, you know," she said with a sigh, "not that I'm interested in the Prince, mind you."

Kurt gaped at her as she led him to a spot across the dance floor and placed one of his hands on her waist and took the free one in her own. A part of Kurt was impressed by the forwardness of the girl in front of him.

"There are rumors he doesn't even like girls," the girl continued as she led them in the dance, when Kurt stiffened she added quickly, "not that there's anything wrong with that, but all these poor girls vying for his attention…I feel bad for them, they all think they’ll ensnare the prince when he might not want to marry at all."

After that she was silent and Kurt took the moment to look around and try to locate Blaine again. And there he was, dancing again with a tall blond girl that he had to crane his neck to look up at. He looked happy talking to the girl in his arms.

"I don't even know your name," he said to the girl as he lost sight of Blaine.

"Rachel Berry, and I do hope you'll remember that, because I plan to become a star in the near future."

He grinned at her. "Is that why you're not interested in the Prince?"

She nodded and then added giddily, "and I have my eye on someone else." She sighed dreamily, "he is the most amazing person in the world."

The song came to an end and Rachel let him go. "Thank you for the dance," she said, "you were very good."

Kurt nodded. "Good luck," he added and bowed to her as was custom. He almost laughed after she’d gone on her way and couldn’t believe that Rachel had gotten to come to the ball. But he didn’t give Rachel Berry much more thought.

He began walking back to where he'd been standing before, fixing his mask to make sure it covered most of his face and continued on back to his spot. He didn't try to find the Prince again in the crowd. Blaine deserved this. He couldn't be held back by Kurt, even if it meant that Kurt would live the rest of his life alone. This was the cause of his curse and Kurt would not endanger the kingdom and Blaine no matter how hard it was to stay away.

He had just made it back to his spot, when it happened.

One of the servers tripped and bumped into Kurt who was not only sent flying straight into Blaine himself, but felt some of the wine hit the back of his trousers and most of his white shirt. Kurt hadn't seen the prince, so he didn’t expect for him of all people to grab onto his arm, pressing him back into his chest so that Kurt wouldn’t fall.

Kurt pulled himself out of his arms as soon as he could when the familiar scent of Blaine hit him. "Sorry," he grunted, making his voice lower.

Blaine looked at his curiously, "Wasn't your fault. My mother’s got all the servers a bit nervous tonight, it was bound to happen."

"Still." Kurt bowed, "Your Highness."

He turned to make his escape, to walk in any direction that put space between them. The Prince followed. "Have we met?" he asked.

"No."

"Well, you look very familiar. Are you sure I haven't seen you before?"

Kurt thought fast. "I'm not from around here." He continued walking, this time trying to head towards the washroom, hoping that Blaine would stop following him.

"Your accent would say otherwise," Blaine said and then added, "at least let me find you something to change into. I’ve plenty of…"

"I'll be fine." Kurt tried to move faster through the crowd but there were too many people.

Blaine grabbed his arm. "At least…can I know your name?"

Kurt fixed his mask and turned to face him. He couldn’t understand why Blaine was so persistent. He wasn’t supposed to be interested in Kurt in any way. Everything was going wrong.

"The reason for these balls is for you to find yourself a wife, you are not doing so by talking to me,” he told Blaine and tried to keep his voice steady even while every part of him was shouting that it was exactly what he didn’t want Blaine to do – find himself a wife that is – “I am no one."

"There's just something about you…and I…you remind me of someone I knew once. Please. I just, you have the wrong impression of me, I can tell, but…but you must know. I do not intend to take a wife."

Kurt stared at him for a while and then pulled himself away. "You will disappoint many a maiden, then," he said and walked away before he could do something foolish like reveal his identity.

It didn't matter that Blaine didn't want to get married. It didn't matter that Blaine could still be interested in him even though Kurt had broken his heart. Nothing mattered. Kurt needed to stay away from him. It was the only way he could secure the Prince's safety as well as that of the Kingdom’s.

When Kurt looked back he was glad to see that Blaine had stopped following him. Instead of ducking into the washroom though, he continued on out to the balcony. He ignored how the cool air hit his damp clothes and made him colder.

It was a clear night and the stars shone bright. Kurt could spot Orion, the three stars that formed the belt twinkled. He looked for other constellations all while ignoring the cold. He walked right to the edge of the rounded off balcony, dropping his face from looking at the sky instead to look out at what he could make out of the village. Looking at what he was saving, what his sacrifice would ultimately keep from crumbling down made his decision better – easier.”

"It's so nice to get away, isn't it?"

Kurt jumped.

Blaine laughed and reached for his hand. Kurt pulled it away and started to retreat back inside.

"You don't have to leave. I promise I don't bite." There was a look in Blaine’s eyes that told Kurt Blaine would not remain behind if he did leave. He paused, still trying to ascertain the best way to get away again.

"I like to come out here," Blaine continued, "and just look at my kingdom, out of a reminder that all those people living in the houses I can see and the houses that I can’t will someday be my responsibility."

"And you think you are ready to become King?" Kurt asked, keeping his voice as steady as he could and in the same low tone as before. If there was one thing that would give him away it was his voice.

Blaine walked closer. "I like to think so. I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to have all of that on my shoulders."

"But you do not plan to have the support of a spouse?" Kurt asked and didn't dare look at him.

Blaine leaned his arms on the balcony. "You must have heard the rumors," he said with a laugh, "and I might as well confirm them. I will not marry unless it is for love. My father excused me from an arranged marriage and I’ve always been grateful for that, but I won’t also marry for duty."

Kurt tried not to turn to stare at him. He hadn’t expected Blaine to be so adamant about it.

“They know,” Blaine said, “that I am not particular to women. They know I won’t have a real blood heir – and I don’t have siblings, but I intend to take an orphan as my ward.”

"And if you met the right man?" Kurt couldn't stop the words from leaving.

Blaine regarded him. "I…" he paused and cleared his throat, "I don't know if I ever will again."

Kurt's breath caught in his throat, but he stopped himself from saying anything, instead basking the warm feeling that crawled up to his chest. The moment was broken only when he heard the toll of a bell.

"I…I have to go," he whispered and added, "curfew."

Blaine frowned at him. "Curfew?"

Kurt nodded and began to walk back inside.

"Please. Wait. What is your name? You still haven’t told me your name?"

Kurt didn't answer, but he did pause to look back at Blaine.

“Will you be here tomorrow?”

He hadn’t planned on it. One night, he’d told Carole and Terry, but Blaine was staring at him with those pleading eyes. He nodded. Then, he ran back inside and through a side door out of the ballroom and through a familiar hallway until he reached a set of doors that would lead outside. His carriage was still there, orange and standing out in front of all the others. He ran to it and got in. Before the door had even closed it began to move and Kurt collapsed onto the cushioned chair and began to cry. He cried for himself, and he cried for Blaine, and he remembered different tears that had begun everything.