Enid's head whipped around to see dazzling bright brown eyes. Under the light of the ball room, to her, they looked like the earth after rain, the perfect shade of brown. Deep and entrenching with a wonder of who they belonged to.
"M-me?" She asked, pointing at herself. The young boy looked around her age, but seemed unhappy to be there.
"I uh... my parents wanted me to ask you to dance. If not, it's ok." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck while still keeping a hand outstretched to her. "I'm not a very good dancer."
Enid paused for a moment, looking out to the dance floor as everyone enjoyed themselves. She looked back to the young man before curtseying and taking his hand. "I'm not a good dancer either. Let's be awful together," she grinned ear to ear.
Red tinted the boy's tan skin as he was subsequently dragged to the dance floor by the princess. Unsure hands grasped each other while the other hands found their place. The music began and so did they, albeit, stepping on each other's feet.
"We really are terrible dancers." The boy muttered wincing as Enid stepped on his foot for what seemed like the hundredth time in a minute.
"I know I'm about to be put through more dance lessons." She replied before shaking her head. "I forgot! What's your name?" She asked as they spun around another pair of dancers.
"Mateo Noin. I know who you are though." He murmured, a bit embarrassed.
"Noin?" It took a moment for the name to register in her head but she put a face to the name. "Oh! Your father works in the palace as an advisor right?" She asked as he nodded.
"That's right... I um... would you mind if I visit you? I don't have many friends so-."
"Yes!" She squeaked out before immediately shutting her mouth. "I mean... yes, that would be nice." Attempting to sound proper while they kept stepping on each other's feet.
As the music died down, they walked off the dance floor, laughing as if they had been friends their whole lives. Enid stopped one of the maids and gestured for her ear. With a smile, the maid bent down and waited for the request. "Is there any of the desserts left in the kitchen? I want to get my friend some."
"I will check, Princess. If there are, I'll bring them out for you two." She laughed before stepping off to the kitchen. Enid turned to Mateo before dragging him to the side.
"So that we are in the way of the adults. I'm sure they want to dance."
"You pinched my feet enough for me tonight." Mateo teased as Enid pouted next to him.
"Says the one that kept bumping into people. Don't you know the lead has to be more coordinated?" She asked as he turned bright red before looking away. "Anyways... have you seen the royal gardens before?" She asked as he shook his head.
"No, my father rarely takes me to work. And if he does, I'm stuck in his office."
"Then that is where we have our first playdate!" She proclaimed as the maid came back with two parfaits in hand.
"I managed to snag these for you two. Blueberries for the miss, strawberry for the young lord." Quickly handing them off, the maid went back to attend to other guests in the room.
"Oh... I'm allergic to strawberries..." He muttered looking at the treat with a slight frown. Enid looked at her favorite treat, then back at the one he had. With a sigh, she held hers out to him, causing him to look at her shocked. "Your highness?" He asked surprised.
"Just this once I'll let you have my favorite snack." She grinned as they traded treats. "You're lucky I like strawberries too." She boasted with a spoonful of the parfait passing through her lips. Mateo smiled before taking a bite of the blueberry parfait. "And... please let me know what you're allergic to... I would hate for my friend to get hurt." She muttered before taking another bite of the parfait.
With a smile, Mateo nodded, "Ok." And with that, they ate their parfaits in silence.
After finishing, Enid stood and turned to Mateo. "Do you have any other friends here? Maybe we can make it a small party!" She asked folding her hands behind her back with an eager smile.
Mateo's eyes turned downcast, finding his feet more interesting than the question. "W...well..."
"He doesn't have any friends." Another voice called out causing Enid to whip around, seeing a group of boys sneering at Mateo. "Isn't that right, Noin?" The supposed leader asked with a mocking smirk on his face. Mateo didn't answer as Enid grew angrier. "Princess Enid, surely you'd prefer the company of the top students in the academy to... that."
With that last comment, Enid cemented in her mind one thing. With a hard point of her finger towards the group, she snippily replied, "Why would I be friends with obvious bullies? Mateo seems much nicer than you jerks."
The group looked shocked at her reply. Mateo's eyes shined at her words, but was quick to realized many eyes had landed on them. Before he could do anything, another voice pierced through the argument.
"Oh wow, even the second princess herself knows that you aren't worth her time." A sing-song voice laughed. Enid looked over to see a young boy with strawberry blonde hair and eyes of summer grass sauntering up. He stopped and looked over at Mateo. "Are you ok?" He asked as the boy nodded, standing next to him. With that short confirmation, the two walked up to the group of boys and in front of Enid. "Now, why don't you leave the princess alone?"
The boys spat some more insults before storming off. Mateo and the mystery boy turned back to Enid as she sighed. "I could've handled that better, right?" She asked as they nodded almost in sync.
"Yes, but it's no matter. It seems that the party is still going strong." Mateo sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't stand up for myself. I must seem like a coward."
"What have I told you Mateo, you need to grow a spine." The boy sighed smacking Mateo's back a few times. Then he opened his eyes as if he realized that Enid didn't know who he was. "Oh! My apologies, Princess Enid. My name is Nolan Moore. Mateo's one and only friend... well, I suppose besides you, now."
"Then what they said...?" She asked pointing to the group of boys who seemed to be harassing other kids now.
"It wasn't entirely true. We just attend different academies. Mateo goes to the magic one, I go to the knight's academy." He grinned as Enid placed a hand on her chest before breathing a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad... you two seem very nice." She smiled as both boys faces turned red.
"W-well..." Nolan laughed rubbing the back of his neck.
"Therefore, I will tell my parents to invite you and your families over! I'm excited to have new friends!" She grinned as the two looked at each other before nodding.
They took a bow towards the princess, taking her invitation in stride as the queen and king themselves walked up.
"There you are Enid!" King Valen laughed picking her up in his arms. "You danced beautifully!"
"Although we'll have to straighten up your skills a bit before your debut in a few years." Queen Ira laughed before turning to the boys. "Oh, I see you made friends!" The boys became nervous in the presence of the king and queen, especially with the king glowering at them.
"Yes! Nolan and Mateo are very nice. Can we have them and their families over for a playdate next week? I'll be so lonely without Mira." She pleaded with large puppy dog eyes to her father. The man almost immediately gave in but Ira wasn't so quick to agree.
"I suppose... but you'll have to finish your studies for the week. You can't slack because you want to play with friends. If you can't then we can't have them over." She overruled before turning to the boys. "And I'm sure you also have studies in your homes as well, correct?" She asked with a smile.
"Y-yes, your highness!" Mateo squeaked out as Nolan silently nodded.
"Well, then I suppose we have a deal. Studies done, then we'll have a small gathering. Can you show us to your parents?" She asked as they guided them across the ballroom.
But Enid wasn't paying attention. Instead, she was looking at the ballroom with the dazzling gowns, immaculate food, and the glimpse of her sister and new brother-in-law with the biggest smiles on their faces.
'When I get married... I want something like this. No... I want an even better fairy tale wedding.' she thought as her eyes drifted to a close. Dreaming of her own wedding in the future, surrounded by friends and family.