Chapter Text
Prince Hastie Robert of the Lanyon Royal Family (though he preferred Robert) loathed royal balls. This particular one especially, because he was supposed to find a suitable individual to marry. The prince had many admirers, each more eager than the next to take their chance to become the spouse of the rather handsome young prince. And tonight, the line of people curved around the castle, which only made Robert roll his eyes. So much fuss over nonsensical dreams. There was no love of him as a person, just his title and power. But that’s how love worked, after all. Why should he suspect anything else?
The night was growing long. Robert must have danced with at least a hundred, no, two hundred of the guests and turned down each one of them. And yet, more of them continued to push their way to the front of the ballroom where Robert stood. It was getting ridiculous. He wished he could just call the whole thing off, send everyone home and forget the whole affair. But his father had given him an ultimatum: find someone to marry tonight, or the crown would be denied to him.
Just as another young woman attempted to pull Robert onto the ballroom floor, a new guest had arrived. He was dressed in a suit of red and black, with a long, sparkling, cape fastened onto the shoulders. His face was adorned with a matching mask and shoes that appeared to be made of glass. To Robert, the man looked as if he was made of starlight, practically glittering as he descended the stairs, ever so slightly nervous, but still moved with grace and dignity.
Robert, with his mouth opened wide in awe, ran over to meet the stranger, his feet moving on their own. The man was angelic, stunning, familiar even, and Robert found himself entranced in an instant. Little did he know that the mysterious gentleman was a poor young scientist from the Highlands. One that Robert had met just days before the ball, in the woods gathering plants for scientific experiments. He had given Robert his name, Henry, before a sharp voice called him away. He was a charming, sweet man, but the prince assumed he would never see him again.
Robert reached out and lightly tapped the stranger’s shoulder. “Pardon me sir, but would you do me the honor of sharing this next dance with me?” He asked, bowing ever so slightly.
Henry jumped at the question, but flashed a brilliant smile to the prince to hide his nervousness. “Of course, your highness.” He bowed, then placed a hand upon Robert's shoulder, and entwined the other into the prince’s hand. “Please, call me Robert.” The prince stated, and pulled Henry onto the ballroom floor in a dance. The music swelled into a waltz, Henry’s cloak fluttering with each step. The crowd stopped, turning to stare at the couple in the center, murmuring to themselves about the mysterious man.
“Everyone is watching you, your high-Robert.” Henry whispered, feelings of insecurity welling up inside of him. He wasn’t worthy of dancing with the prince. Whatever made him think he could be?
Robert smiled. “No darling, they are all watching you.”
Henry’s heart jumped into his throat at that, a red blush crawling across his cheeks. He spun across the ballroom with Robert, keeping his eyes up on the handsome brown eyes of his dance partner. Robert, in turn, stared into Henry’s red eyes, which looked like two stars shimmering in the light, taking the prince’s breath away.
Robert’s heart pounded, the sound reaching his ears. He, who didn’t believe in love, falling for a man he met not even ten minutes ago? It was preposterous, ridiculous, even, but here he was. And he didn’t mind in the slightest. Robert had found his love, an angelic man with stardust in his eyes.
After the dance, the two ended up on the terrace, away from the bustling crowds, at peace with each other. They walked in silence for a while, just taken in the night and the company of the other man. Their hands drifted closer together, fingertips brushing.
“It’s quite a lovely evening. I do hope you traveled safely here.” Robert said, eyes never drifting from Henry’s face.
Henry turned to face Robert and smiled. “Why, thank you. Yes, I did. And it truly is lovely.”
Robert plucked a red tulip from a small garden nearby, much to Henry’s shock. “Ah, don’t worry, darling. No one will care.” The prince gently slipped the flower into Henry’s hands, folding the young man’s fingers around the stem. Henry blushed at the sudden contact, the feeling of Robert’s warm hands over his.
Robert caught himself staring at Henry once again, and a thought dawned on him. “This might sound odd, but have I met you before?” He asked. “You look familiar, somehow.”
Henry froze for a split second, but shook his head. “You must be mistaken. I really am no one important.”
Robert frowned, then cupped Henry’s cheeks in his hands, much to the shock of the younger man. “And yet, you mean so much to me already, darling.” And with a nod from Henry, Robert kissed him, fingers tangling in Henry’s curls. Henry himself, after overcoming the initial shock, kissed back, the sound of his heart drumming in his ears. He had dreamed of this moment, but thought it to be a silly fantasy, never to come true. But he was here, and it was real. The feeling of the prince’s lips stayed on his even after the kiss broke.
Robert gently tucked his fingers under Henry’s mask and began to lift it, as if he were uncovering a precious treasure to be handled delicately. Henry, although nervous, allowed Robert to, holding his breath as he prayed that the prince wouldn’t judge him. Then the clock struck midnight, the chiming bells echoing across the land. Henry visibly panicked, a small, quiet “no” escaping his lips. Not now. It couldn’t be over now!
“I do apologize, but I must go. Thank you for this wonderful evening, Robert.” Henry placed a quick kiss on Robert's hand, then ran off. Robert was in shock, but managed to shake his head, taking off after the other man. “Can’t you stay a moment longer, darling? I don’t even know your name!”
The two ran through the palace, dodging guests and furniture and alerting the guards as they came across the stairs to the castle entrance. Robert reached his hand out and grabbed Henry’s cape, which slid off the younger man’s shoulders and caused him to trip down a few stairs, losing a shoe in the process. Henry turned around for a second, and stared into Robert’s beautiful brown eyes. The same kind eyes from days before. Henry paused, he could always just stay, reveal himself to Robert and hope the other man remembered him, and that Robert’s affections were true.
But Henry knew he wouldn’t be accepted. After all, a poor scientist being wed to a prince? It couldn’t happen. He allowed the fae to transform his rags into fine clothes, Zosi into a footman, the lab rats into horses, and a small pumpkin he kept for experiments into a carriage for a reason. The moment Robert found out his social standing was too low, the prince would abandon him. He’d think Henry just wanted a better position in life, that it wasn’t about the way Henry’s stomach turned to butterflies at a single glance from Robert. The risk was too great. So Henry turned back around and continued running, leaving Robert stunned, clutching the cloak to his chest.
Henry panted as he ran, the sound of the guards close behind him. He found the carriage, jumping into it. He urged Zosi to hurry as he fled into the night, praying that the magic would last to get them all safely home.
The path through the woods felt longer this time, and Henry could feel every bump from the horses beginning to transform back into rats. Henry quickly looked out the window, just in case Rob-the prince, sent guards after him, but there was nothing except for silence and darkness. The moment he saw a light orange color on the carriage, and his makeshift lab outside the window, Henry leapt out of the carriage, landing on the ground with a thud. Zosi, back in his grim form, hopped into Henry’s arms as the lab rats tumbled out of their harnesses, the pumpkin rolling away. With a woof, Zosi wiggled out of Henry’s arms and led his master back to their home.
The magic finally wore off of Henry’s clothing in an instant, turning back into his old lab coat, vest, and pants. He stood up and brushed himself off, then leaned against the well near his lab. He placed a hand over his heart and smiled, still holding the tulip tight in his other hand.
He danced with the prince.
He kissed the prince.
He fell in love with the prince.
Evening if they never saw each other again. Even if a relationship couldn’t work. The night was theirs, and Henry vowed that he would hold the memory in his heart as long as he lived.
Little did he know that fate would work in his favor soon.