The kingdom of Winstow was humming with glee. People on the street chatted excitedly and rushed through the streets trying to reach their homes early to get ready for the event they've been waiting for weeks, the Princes' Ball.

It was the night when men and women from all across the lands would come to try and woo the princes of Winstow, Kurt and Finn.

Prince Kurt and Prince Finn were not related by blood but the bond they shared was as strong as two brothers that come from the same mother's womb. Their paths had crossed when they were eleven years old. Kurt's father and king of Winstow, Burt, had lost his wife, Queen Elizabeth, when Kurt was eight years old. It had been a painful experience for both of them, tearing their hearts open and leaving scars that would take quite a while to heal. The people felt their pain also. King Burt and Queen Elizabeth were loved dearly and respected profoundly, so losing their beloved queen had been a sad event that was forever engraved in their memories. The entire village spent two full years in deep mourning.

Kurt had missed his mother terribly but wished for his father to move on and be happy once again. His prayers were heard and answered a year later in the form of Countess Carole of Selshire, a small province located on the northern frontier of the kingdom. She and her son were passing through on their way back home when their carriage broke down and they had to stay at a local inn.

It had been fate, Kurt firmly believed, for his father rarely left the castle to walk through the streets of the kingdom ever since his mother had died, but that day, Kurt had convinced him to accompany him to buy a new tea set. Kurt had never been keen to the idea of having others do things for him if he was perfectly able to do them himself. So father and son set out to find the tea set together.

Since it was a rare occurrence to see the king walking among them like he used to when the queen was still alive, people soon started to approach them in an attempt to greet and touch their king. King Burt did his best to pay attention to every person that tried to talk to him. He was walking backwards, hearing an old lady's speech when he bumped into someone. Turning around he came face to face with the beautiful Countess. His mouth hanged open as he stared into her bright blue eyes. He blushed deeply and apologized for bumping into her. She quickly accepted the apology and looked quite flustered as well. Her son was staring at them with a confused expression on his young face but Kurt could see, even as a young eleven year old, that his father was in love.

He wasn't wrong. Two years of courtship later, they were married. Happiness filled the castle again and Kurt gained a big brother and best friend. Finn was only a couple of months older, but he protected and took care of Kurt like he truly was a baby brother. They both grew out to be two wonderful, handsome young men. But even if they were extremely close, they couldn't be more different. Kurt loved balls and singing songs and creating beautiful gowns for his step-mother and her company ladies. Finn loved sword fights and riding horses and going hunting.

He and Finn had two knights-in-training with them at all times. They were their personal guards but they quickly became their friends as well. Their names were Sam and Noah, otherwise known as Puck. They were barely two years older than them.

They all got along but Kurt always felt better whenever he was with Carole's company ladies. They were really young, around Kurt's age and he was really close to them. Their names were Mercedes and Quinn. Carole let them be with him more than her since she noticed how great they got along.

Kurt was fourteen when he realized he wasn't romantically interested in girls.

At first he'd been afraid and confused and decided to talk to his father about it. Burt wasn't surprised when Kurt told him and he explained to his son that his preference was not something to be embarrassed or scared of. Almost every kingdom was perfectly fine with the matter and marriage and affairs between two men or two women was not something strange.

Kurt had calmed down after that and embraced his sexual preference. He had his eye on one or two boys while growing up but it wasn't a big thing. When he and Finn turned eighteen, his father had told them that as tradition dictated, a ball was to be held for both of them to find a suitable partner. Invitations were sent for every man or woman who thought themselves to be worthy of the princes' hearts. The day was set and so, the planning began. Kurt was deeply involved in every decision made, since he loved those kinds of things. Finn just agreed with anything his brother said, not really caring. And after weeks of planning the day had finally arrive.

Which was what people were excitedly getting ready for.

Kurt was excited as well. Being the hopeless romantic he was, he could only hope the love of his life would turn up tonight and take his breath away, just like his mother had done with his father before he was born and just like Carole had done years later, right in front of Kurt.

He sighed dreamily and rested his face on his hand, leaning in the balcony of his bedroom.

"Your Highness? Your father is asking for you."

Kurt turned to see Mercedes standing by the door. He smiled at his friend and approached her.

"Mercedes please don't call me that, you know how much I hate it. I'm Kurt, just Kurt."

She gave him a little smile. "Yes, Kurt."

Kurt didn't like the noble titles. They made him feel like he was supposed to be superior to the rest when he knew he wasn't. He was a human being just like everyone else. He was a man just like every other person in the kingdom. He was flawed and far from perfect, so to him the title of superiority was foolish. He had asked people around him to never call him by his noble titles.

He stepped out of his room and went to see his father at his office. He knocked gently before opening the door.

"You wanted to see me, father?"

Burt lifted his gaze from the documents on his desk.

"Kurt! Yes, come and sit down."

He did as he was told.

"So," his father began, "are you excited for tonight's ball?"

Kurt nodded excitedly and Burt smiled.

"You know, there are some interesting guests tonight. There's Prince David…" he trailed off, searching his son's face for some sort of reaction.

The reaction he got was not the one he was expecting. Kurt shuddered slightly and frowned.

"I-I, um, I don't think I like Prince David," he murmured as he twisted his hands nervously on his lap.

Prince David was the heir to the throne of Helstod, the kingdom bordering theirs. Even though both kings were on amiable terms, Kurt had never been able to get along with David. Ever since they were all little boys, Kurt would hide behind Finn whenever David tried to play with him. There was just something in his eyes that scared Kurt.

"Why not?" his father asked, seriously confused.

"He's just… I-I just feel uncomfortable when I'm with him. I don't like him like – like that."

Burt nodded slowly.

"Okay, let's not talk about him anymore then. Anyways, there will be some other interesting prospects tonight."

"Really? Like who?"

"Well, I'm hoping the prince of Davon will show up."

"The prince of Davon?" The name sounded familiar to Kurt but he couldn't remember why. His father laughed lightly.

"Of course you no longer remember, it was such a long time ago. You two used to be playmates when you were younger. You must have been three years old at the most and he was four, if I recall correctly. You were very close."

Kurt frowned. He didn't remember anything about a playmate but he wasn't shocked. He didn't remember much before his seventh birthday. Many memories of his childhood were forgotten after his mother's death. He supposed it was his brain's way of coping with the pain.

"What happened? Why did we – why don't we see each other anymore?"

"The King's brother was killed in an attempt to carry out a coup d'etat. Many problems arose because of this and we lost contact, since we were the ones that used to visit them and when their internal war started, it was dangerous to get close. Now things are well and in order in the kingdom which is why I'm optimistic about the Prince's presence tonight."

Kurt stood up and smiled at his father.

"Well, perhaps if he does show up, I'll be able to recognize him."

"Let's hope you will."

Kurt left the room. Now he was intrigued, he wanted to remember this Prince of Davon that had apparently been his close friend when they were little.

Would the Prince recognize him tonight? Did he even remember him or had he forgotten him like Kurt unfortunately had?

Kurt hoped he would soon find out.

"Blaine, would you please hurry up? We're already running late!"

Blaine groaned and opened the door that was currently being knocked incessantly by his very impatient cousin, Rachel.

"I'm almost done, okay?"

Before she could answer him, he closed the door again and leaned into it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He really didn't want to go to that stupid Ball but his father and Rachel had insisted. He was sure it was going to be the same as always, an elegantly decorated ball room filled with shallow, annoying princes and princesses that thought they were the masters of the universe. Blaine himself had been like that when he was younger, believing he could do or say anything simply because he was a prince. His cousin Rachel had been like that too.

But life can be such an eye-opener. When his uncle, and Rachel's father, had been brutally killed in a hateful crime, he realized they weren't untouchable. With that terrible event and the war that followed it, Blaine lost the innocence and shallowness of his youth. He grew up too fast, for he could not afford to be a little boy anymore. He had to be strong for Rachel when she lost everything. They were forever changed after that; the painful realization that the world was cruel was enough to make them see that there was more to life than the number of servants they had or how big the castle they lived in was.

In all his years, Blaine had met only one boy that wasn't like the rest. That had always been aware of the fact that he wasn't better than his people simply because he wore a crown on his head, but Blaine had long forgotten his face and his name. The terrors of war and the pain of losing someone dear could do that to one's mind.

He knew the vague memory of that boy had been the thing that made him realize he loved boys instead of girls, which was something that had excited Rachel to no end ever since he came out and made her want to attend the Winstow Ball even more. She firmly believed that she could conquer Prince Finn's heart and Blaine would be able to make Prince Kurt fall in love with him, since everyone knew he also was attracted to boys.

When she had told Blaine's father her theory, he had turned to look at Blaine, his eyes shining with excitement at something Blaine could not understand. It was like if his father knew something Blaine didn't that involved the Winstow princes. After that, his father had been even more invested in making Blaine attend that ball.

He had finally agreed because Rachel had asked him with tears in her eyes – the way she always managed to get him to do what she wanted – and Blaine could no longer refuse. Which was why he now had to get ready for that very event he didn't even wanted to go to.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror one more time.

"You can do this, Blaine," he said to himself.

He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically as he adjusted his clothes before getting out of his room and joining his cousin in the carriage that was waiting outside the castle. When she noticed his bitter expression, Rachel frowned.

"Why aren't you jumping up and down with excitement like I am?" she asked him as he stepped into the carriage and sat next to her.

"Oh, but I am! I am delighted to go on this long trip to a far away kingdom to attend a ball which sole purpose is to sell ourselves to the princes to see if we're worthy enough to marry them. Oh, and let's not forget how thrilled I am to be stuck in that castle that will only provide me hours of torment surrounded by a bunch of arrogant airheads," he answered sarcastically.

Rachel just rolled her eyes.

"Well, I intend to have a good time and if I happen to run into Prince Finn and he happens to want to dance with me, I'll be more than happy to oblige. You can just spend the entire evening hiding in the gardens for all I care but promise me one thing. If you run into Prince Kurt and he wants to dance with you, please don't be a jerk. I wouldn't want my chances with his brother to be ruined because of you."

"Hey, I intend to be a perfect gentleman if the situation arises but if we get there after the official presentations are over, which I'm sure will be the way it goes, I am definitely not even entering the ball room. I'll take your word and hide in the gardens until it's time to go."

"Fine, I guess that's the best I'll get from you so I'll take it."

Blaine smiled at her and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close and kissing her cheek. She rested her head on his shoulder and he placed his head above hers.

"By the way, you look beautiful," he whispered as he lifted his head to lock eyes with her, "Even if I was a jerk, which I won't be, I'm sure Prince Finn would find it impossible to resist you."

She laughed and turned to look at her gorgeous light pink dress.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

They smiled at each other and Blaine turned his head to look outside the window. He really hoped the castle's gardens were big enough to hide without being found.

After a small nap and hours of traveling, they arrived at the kingdom of Winstow. Rachel could barely conceal his excitement but Blaine was already bored and they hadn't even reached the castle.

When the carriage stopped at the grand doors, Rachel practically pushed Blaine out of it and dragged him to the entrance. He'd been right about arriving past the point of official presentations. It appeared they were the last ones to arrive. There were already people dancing and chatting happily. As soon as they stepped inside, Blaine located the doors that led to the gardens. Unfortunately, he had to cross the entire room to reach them. He took a deep breath and let Rachel lead the way. She found several people they knew and went to greet them. When Blaine was left alone, he made a run for it and tried to reach the gardens, stopping every now and them to say hello to an acquaintance, keeping his comments quick but polite. Finally, he stepped into the cold night air and took a deep breath, taking in the smell of grass and flowers. He had to admit, the gardens were beautiful. He smiled to himself; he had managed to get in an out without being stopped for too long or being noticed by either of the princes hosting the event.

Or so he thought.

For a certain prince with chestnut hair and deep blue eyes had laid eyes on him the minute he stepped into the room.