Chapter Text
“For Celestia’s sake, Albedo! This is the third time I have found you with a knight this week!” Albedo's mother, Queen Alice, screams, “What’s wrong with Princess Cassius? She is nothing short of perfect and proper, not to mention the great deal of benefits your marriage comes with!”
“Mother, for the nth time. I do not like Princess Cassius, she is overly clingy and quite the narcissist. And I also am not and never will be attracted to women,” Albedo says, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Queen Alice is fuming atop her throne, Albedo standing calmly in front of her on the ground. Queen Alice is not fond of the fact that her eldest son, Albedo, is attracted to boys. She can no longer have children after the loss of her husband, and her other daughter, Klee, is much too reckless and young to marry. Therefore, she is stuck with trying to get Albedo to marry a princess, however, he inherited his mother's stubbornness.
After a few silent moments of angry staring, Alice's eyes light up, and a wicked grin dances across her features. She stands up and slowly walks over to Albedo, mumbling something along the lines of, “That's it,”
“It is rude for a queen to mumble,” Albedo says, a slight smirk on his face as Alice shoots him a glare.
Alice clears her throat and stands in front of Albedo, her arms folded neatly against her torso, “Albedo, my son, I have found a solution to our problems!”
“You’re going to let me marry a boy?”
“Of course not,” Alice scoffs, “We will hold a ball, invite every woman, peasant or royal. We will invite your friends as well, oh, how romantic would it be for you to be able to bond with Cassius while your friends all find wives at the same ball? And of course, no boys allowed,”
“We don’t have the funds for a ball,” Albedo quickly counters.
“That’s why we invite your friends and offer to host it at one of their castles. Our ballroom is more on the smaller side you know,” Alice smiles to herself as she quickly exits the throne room down the left corridor, towards her private chambers. Most likely to write up some letters.
Albedo sighs and retreats to his room. His mother is going to hold this ball, and nothing is going to stop her.
————
Aether puts his basket down with a sigh. He had just finished gathering eggs from the chicken coup and now he has the horses to care for. Aether lives in Khaenri’ah, a peasant village isolated and surrounded by water, an island, far enough away from all neighboring kingdoms hence making them a ‘free’ village. Despite not being under rule by a kingdom and being looked down upon by most, the little village is doing exceptionally well, advancing faster than anyone could have guessed. Aether lives with his mom and two sisters, Asmoday, Lumine, and Paimon. Lumine and Aether are twins but are nothing alike, Lumine has a short temper and no filter or regard for higher-ups, and Aether is the patient and quiet one, willing to do extra tasks for those in need but easily can put his foot down if someone crosses the line. Paimon is their adopted little sister, constantly attached to a twin and hungry. Asmoday, well, she used to be a noble but ultimately fell when her husband died and his family banished her from the castle. Asmoday isn’t fond of her kids, Lumine and Paimon are much too unladylike and Aether is not strong enough to be a gentleman.
Aether grabs a nearby hay bale and walks awkwardly to the stable. He sets the hay on a nearby pallet and cuts the twines holding it together, distributing the flakes to the stalls holding horses. They happily munch on their breakfast as Aether grabs a hose and starts to fill water buckets. Soon, Aether finishes with the horses and walks out of the barn where he is attacked, head-on, by a person with short blonde hair much like his own.
“Aether!” Lumine yells, waving a letter in front of the stunned boy, “We’ve been invited to a royal ball!”
“What?!” Aether blinks rapidly as he wills his shocked body to move.
Lumine thrusts the letter into Aether's hand, practically bouncing as she waits for him to read it…
Dear Vicator Family,
We, the kingdom of Mondstadt, invite your daughter to our upcoming ball. The ball will take place on July 17, there you will be able to meet and dance with beloved Princes, Kings, and Dukes from all around the nation: King Zhongli accompanied by Prince Xiao and Duke Childe, King Venti accompanied by Dukes Kaeya and Diluc, Prince Kazuha, Prince Wanderer, and finally, Prince Albedo will all be in attendance at this ball. A ship will arrive on the morning of July 17 to pick up your daughter, as well as others whom we hope will attend this ball. You may show the guards this letter when you get on the boat as well as when you enter the castle. The one rule is that no men shall be allowed, bodyguards, brothers, and more are strictly prohibited and will not be granted entrance into the castle. May we see you soon,
The Kingdom of Mondstadt.
Aether read and reread the note a few times before speaking, “You’ve never been one for balls or dancing, and besides, I thought you didn’t like guys?”
“I don’t,” Lumine said flatly, snatching the letter back haughtily.
“Then why are you going?”
“Use that brain Aether and think…if this letter was given to peasants like us that means Amber must be invited too! I haven't seen her in so long and this is my chance to see her again!”
Aether just shakes his head in amusement, of course, Lumines only going for her ‘forbidden love’, why else would she be so enthusiastic about a ball meant to catch a royal man's heart?
Lumine turns away from Aether and is about to leave, presumably to show Mother to get a dress, but Aether quickly stops her.
“Wait!” He grabs Lumines wrist, “You said ‘we’ve been invited to a ball’ but I only see your name on this…are you planning on taking Paimon with you?”
“No, she’s staying with her friend all week remember? And there is no way I am leaving you here alone with Mother,”
“Lumine, you read the letter, men aren’t allowed to go,”
“Yes, that’s true…but you do have a more feminine face you know,” Lumine smirks as Aether's brain immediately caught on to what Lumine was implying.
“Oh no, no, no, no way! I am not going to dress up as a girl just for some ball!”
“Oh come on! I don’t trust you staying here alone with Mother, besides, people already mistake you for a girl daily! What's so wrong with letting them believe it this time?”
Aether pinches the bridge of his nose before sighing and looking his sister in the eyes, “Have you even thought this plan through? How are you going to get a dress for me or get past the guards when they're under the impression that there is only one Vicator that should be in attendance.”
“Yes I have, I’ll ask Mom to get me two dresses, in case one gets torn or destroyed. And you’ll just be my quiet sister that wants to have a chance to see the princes and kings for once, even if she's shy.”
“Oh my Celestia, fine! I’ll go to the stupid ball with you,” Aether grumbles as Lumine wraps him in a fierce hug.
“I knew you’d do it! You love me, and those royals, too much to resist,” Lumine laughs as Aether swats at her, his face flushing bright red.
“Yeah, sure, I love you so much,” Aether says as Lumine bolts to the house calling out to their mother, and waving the letter frantically.