Over the next few days Kurt got even busier. His Dad had failed to mention that this was his ball, and so he had to make lots of decisions. Whenever he complained about it he was told that it was good practice for when he became King and so he spent most of his time tasting the food that would be served and picking out table settings, which wasn't exactly bad, but on top of all the dance lessons he was just exhausted all the time. And he'd be lying if he said it wasn't putting any strain on his and Blaine's relationship.

"Ugh, Kurt please can't you just stay awake for like half an hour? It's nine thirty," Blaine complained as Kurt melted into bed and his eyes slipped closed immediately.

Kurt mumbled, forcing his eyes open to look at Blaine, "M' sorry, just so-, he yawned, "Tired, Mm."

Blaine sighed loudly, "It's...it's fine," he grumbled. But it wasn't, not in the slightest. He'd hardly seen Kurt at all recently, the only time he'd had contact with the Prince was hugging him after Kurt had fallen asleep. He missed him.

Blaine rolled away from Kurt and closed his eyes. He knew it wasn't Kurt's fault, but he couldn't help but kind of feel that Kurt wasn't making that much of an effort. He was tired, Blaine understood that, but couldn't he just stay up for thirty minutes so they could talk and cuddle? Blaine was fed up of fighting it.

The bed beside Blaine shifted and he felt a light hand on his hip, "Hey, what are you do-," Kurt yawned, "doing? Come here."

"I thought you were tired?" Blaine asked, struggling not to feel like a stroppy toddler.

"I'm exhausted," Kurt conformed, "But why did you turn away from me? Are you mad?"

Blaine sighed, still not turning around, "No. M' not mad."

"What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing. Kurt you're tired, just got to sleep," Blaine ordered, feeling Kurt lie down and press his chest against the Slave's back.

Kurt's arm held on tightly to Blaine's waist, "What's wrong beautiful?"

"It's nothing. Go to sleep."

"No," Kurt stated, pressing kisses to the back of Blaine's neck.

"You have important things to do tomorrow," Blaine protested, shivering slightly as Kurt's lips dragged over the skin oh his neck, "You need to rest."

"Nothing is as important as you, if something's making you unhappy it comes before anything else," Kurt mumbled against the warm skin.

Blaine bit his lip, "I'm fine, Kurt."

"No you're not, and I'm not sleeping until you tell me," Kurt's voice was firm but loving all at the same time.

Blaine let out a little sigh, "Why are you so stubborn?"

Kurt smirked against Blaine's neck, nipping gently at the skin and grinning when Blaine took in a sharp breath.

"I miss you. We don't spend anytime together anymore," Blaine replied, "And I know you're busy...But I just get really selfish when it comes to you."

Kurt nuzzled his nose against the back of Blaine's neck gently, "I know. I know I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault. I'm just being clingy."

"No you're not," Kurt disagreed, "Please turn around and cuddle with me?"

Blaine did as Kurt asked, moving to curl into the Prince's chest but instead Kurt gripped his chin gently in his soft palm and tilted the Slave's head and gazed into his eyes.

"I love you."

Blaine felt his cheeks heat up at the intensity of Kurt's stare, "I love you too."

"I miss you too you know," Kurt whispered, "I'm sorry I'm so tired all the time."

"It's not your fault," Blaine repeated, "It's okay."

"No it's not. It really sucks," Kurt pouted, making Blaine laugh lightly.

"I can't disagree there," Blaine sighed as Kurt dropped his chin, taking the opportunity to bury his face in Kurt's chest and inhaling deeply.

Kurt yawned above him, his eyes slipping closed for a second before he forced them open again, "Talk to me."

"What?"

"Talk to me so I don't fall asleep."

Blaine sighed, "It's fine, go to sleep sweetheart."

"No," Kurt grumbled, "I wanna be with you."

"We're still together. And you're always in my dreams anyway," Blaine bargained, "I'm happy to just be in your arms."

Kurt pulled Blaine closer to him, entangling their legs together, "Okay," He agreed reluctantly, "I love you."

oxoxoxo

Before Kurt knew it he only had one day left before the ball and everything was rushing past in a blur. He had fifty things to do all at the same time and his head was spinning as he was lead around the Palace by a huge guard that moaned at him whenever he took too long to do a task. Everything was scary and hectic and Kurt had never felt more sorry for his father having to do this everyday. After a final okay on all the decisions that he'd previously made, two hours of a final dance lessons, he went up stairs and snuck into his room. He found Blaine just as he expected, hunched over his desk with the large book open. Blaine's hair was messy as though he'd run his fingers together a few times as he was reading and scanning the many pages. He was so engrossed in the book that he didn't notice when Kurt entered the room, or when he crept quietly so he was standing directly behind the slave and peering over his shoulder at the book that was being so seriously studied.

"Hey you."

Blaine jumped, spinning around in his chair in alarm and letting out a sigh when he saw who it was, "Kurt, you scared me."

"I know," Kurt smirked proudly, "That was kind of the point."

Blaine pouted, "You're mean."

Kurt giggled quietly, "Aw, baby. I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you, wanna come make-out with me?

Blaine eyes turned a wider as Kurt walked backwards and sat at the edge of his bed, his legs hanging over the side, "I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Please? We've barley touched in daaays," Kurt stated, "And you look so cute today."

Blaine's cheeks heated to an impossible temperature, "I still have to...the book," He mumbled, "And last time when Kate walked in...it was so close."

Kurt sighed, "You've done nothing but read. Come back to the real world for a while."

"Anyone could walk in..." Blaine glanced towards the door and then back to Kurt, not convincing anyone as he stared at the Prince's lips.

"Everyone's busy with the ball. They won't be worrying about me," Kurt smiled, "And you were saying we don't see each other anymore."

Blaine paused for a second, his brown eyes flickering between the door and his boyfriend waiting for him invitingly on the bed.

"Blaine?"

Blaine sighed and let the book fall closed, walking forward standing in front of Kurt; letting out a small squeal when Kurt's soft yet firm hands gripped his hips and guided him so Blaine ended up straddling Kurt's lap.

"That's better," Kurt approved, nuzzling his face into the side of Blaine's neck, "You really do look amazing today."

Blaine blushed, tangling his fingers in Kurt's hair, "T-Thanks."

Kurt giggled gently, his head still hid in the crook of Blaine neck, "Hmm," He sighed, his hands traveling down Blaine's light-blue shirt and untucking it from his jeans at the back.

"Kurt," Blaine bit his lip, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Kurt's fingers slid under Blaine's shirt and felt the warm skin underneath, "I promise. Everyone's thinking about the dance."

"Okay," Blaine agreed, relaxing into Kurt's hold and smiling when Kurt started pressing innocent kisses to his neck, "I've missed you."

"Me too," Kurt replied, his lips trailing up so they could join to Blaine's softly.

oxoxoxo

"You look handsome," Kate commented as Kurt was ushered up the steps that lead to the double doors where he would enter the ballroom.

"Thanks, you look beautiful," Kurt smiled at her sea-green dress, "Looking for someone special?"

Kate blushed, "No."

Kurt laughed slightly, "That's a shame."

Kate glared at him, but Kurt could tell she was being playful, "You need to worry about finding someone special for yourself. Not for me."

"I don't have a choice to marry someone I love. I don't want anyone who has that opportunity to waste it," Kurt shrugged.

"You make it sound like you have a hard life."

"I don't have a hard life. Simply an unhappy one," Kurt replied quietly as Kate started brushing off his shoulders.

Kate let out a sigh, "I know sometimes you have to do things you don't want to. But being royalty? It's kind of like a job. Do you think I like running around after people all day?"

"At least you get a brake from it," Kurt pointed out, "And well...You seem to like bossing people around."

Kate smirked, "I'm not going to argue with you there. But you have the opportunity to change the world we live in, that's amazing."

"It's also terrifying."

Kate nodded, "It is. But you're not alone, you have all the staff and your Dad and me."

Kurt smiled, "Thanks Kate."

"No problem. Now, are you ready to seduce every man in the room?" She smiled and held onto the handle.

"I don't know. Am I?"

"Looking like that I'd say you are. Good luck." Kate squeezed Kurt's hand with her free one before she gripped the other handle so she could pull open both of the doors at the same time.

"Having a double door entrance seems like such a cliché," Kurt screwed up his nose before he patted down his hair nervously.

Kate smiled, "Well, it's the kings orders. Ready? One. Two...Three."

She pulled the doors open and quickly stepped aside so she was out of view, giving Kurt a gentle shove so he was in the audiences full view. Kurt watched as hundreds of people turned to look at him, felt felt a blush rise up in his cheeks at the attention but forced himself to stand up straight and not hide away. Suddenly a round of applause was echoing around the hall and Kurt smiled and waved at the crowed below him.

He glanced around the ball room, able to take in the scene that had taken up so much of his time to plan. But it was worth it. The entire hall was carved out of white marble. It had a large, main section that was a perfect circle, with large extravagantly decorated beams running from the outside of the circular ceiling to the center where there was a large copy of the Hummel crest carved into the marble.

The crest was a shield with a large open Anemone flower blooming in the very center, the flower that symbolizes peace, beauty, calm, and the overcoming of adversity and anxiety. Underneath was the 'Hummel' name written in different languages of curving symbols and beautiful fonts. Kurt had made the theme of the ball gold and white, simple and elegant bits of gold at been added wherever possible.

The circular part of the room had a total of six balconies which all had their own set of stairs leading down into the room. All were filled with beautiful flowers that had been cast with a spell to make them glisten like Gold, apart from the one where Kurt stood now and the one that held the orchestra who performed traditional dancing music which had been played for hundreds of years.

Most of the floor acted as a dance-floor, and was filled with people, apart from where the table was situated at the left of where Kurt's entered. It was laid with a simple white, lace cloth and golden plates, cutlery and golden seats behind where the King and three of the governors sat. All three were old men with long gray hair and silver gowns. Two sat on the left side of Burt while the other sat on the right, leaving a place for Kurt to sit next to the King.

Joined on to the circular ballroom was a smaller rectangular space that was decorate much the same as the main section. There were many seats around the outside of the space and many of the normal townsfolk lingered there, gazing up at their future king with amazement.

"Kurt, go on."

The Prince heard Kate call lightly behind him.

"Come down with me?"

"Wh-? I'm just staff, Kurt. Don't be silly."

"You're the closet thing to a mother that I have," Kurt replied, "Please?"

"I...Okay," Kate walked out beside him, her cheeks blushing almost as red as her hair as the audience gave her around of applause.

"Are you ready to find a husband?" Kate asked, linking arms with Kurt as they started to move down the stairs with hundreds of eyes watching them.

Kurt took a deep breath, "Let them show me their worst."

Kate laughed quietly, "Remember to have fun too."

Kurt looked around again, noticing a small slave with black curly hair and brown eyes, standing next to Kathy, who was looking back at him with nothing but love as he held a tray filled with golden goblets of wine.

"I'll do my best," He replied, tearing his eyes away from the love of his life.