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C h a p t e r

O n e

The Prince and his sister, the Princess, walked elegantly down the staircase. Today wasn't a day for the Prince. It was for his sister to find a suitable Prince, seeing as she was the eldest and therefore, next to take the throne. "Maybe you shall find that special someone tonight, Jay," the Princess spoke, nudging at her brother's shoulder.

Jay let out a small laugh and rolled his eyes. "You're delusional, Celia." Jay didn't bother looking at his sister. He knew she was grinning at him. As well as that, he knew she was right in the fact he was hoping to find that special someone. "Besides, this night is about you. Mother and father arranged it for you to find love, not me. And you know why," he grumbled.

"Just because you're gay, it doesn't mean mother and father love you any less."

"You must be blind, Celia. Have you seen how they treat me when I came out? They do not accept me and I'm sure they will hate it if I happen to find love at your night." Celia frowned and put a hand on her brother's shoulder.

"As far as I am concerned, this is our night. I mean, we are walking down the staircase together, not separately. Now smile and wave, Jay. Don't look so glum, I bet someone is secretly eyeing you up as we descend among the crowd." Jay nodded his head and the two of them broke out in smiles and waved to the crowd.

"You know this feels like Cinderella, right?"

"I guess you could say that this is my fairytale," Celia replied, winking at him. "Now go mingle, little brother. You have some hot hunks to meet." Jay chuckled at her words. The two were left to mingle around in the crowd, Jay being more of an introvert than an extrovert. He stayed away from people and watched as his sister was presented with many men. Most tried to woo her but she didn't seem interested.

He noticed how she kept an eye on the clock and he frowned. "What are you up to, Celia?" he mumbled to himself. He kept an eye on her some more, noticing the exact same thing. She looked at the clock around every three minutes. He spotted his mother and father watching her too but it was clear as day that they did not recognise her constantly watching the clock.

He was about to make his way up to her when some guy swept her off her feet with his charm. Celia and the unknown man danced together for what felt like hours. Luckily for Jay, it was only a matter of about ten minutes. It just meant he did not have to wait all too long for her to finish up. Well, it would have been good for him... Except Celia and the man disappeared. "Mother, father," Jay greeted. "Have you seen Celia?" Jay had taken his eyes off of her for literally a few seconds but she disappeared in that time — somehow. In all fairness, it was pretty crowded.

"Oh, leave her be on her night. Don't go bothering her," his father replied. Jay frowned and walked off, cursing his father in his mind. Jay walked around, trying to find her. He got bored, however, and so he walked outside of the castle. He needed some fresh air. He felt happy for needing fresh air at that exact moment because he witnessed something incredibly beautiful.

Celia had run down the stairs with the man, a shoe falling off. Jay almost laughed at how exact it was to Cinderella but he didn't want to ruin the moment. Celia gasped, pulling her foot up in the air since the floor was quite cold. The unknown man smirked and bent down, picking up her shoe and sliding it on her foot. "What do you know, Princess, it fits. I suppose you will have to marry me now, huh?" Celia giggled, a blush covering her cheeks.

"Are you actually proposing? Because that is way too soon, don't you think?"

"Just marry him!" Jay shouts out, making Celia and the unknown man turn towards him. "Oh, sorry to ruin the moment!" Jay grins to himself and runs back into the castle, only to find himself smack right into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

"All my fault. I am sorry." Jay looked up at the man. He was incredibly tall. Much taller than him, at that. Jay recognised him. He was nicknamed 'the Beast' by most of the kingdom. It wasn't to do with him being hairy all over nor being an actual beast. He was human, like the rest of them. He was only nicknamed that because of how huge he was. For one, he was tall. And another thing was how muscular he was. He wasn't too muscular but he was more muscular than most.

As well as all that, he was very strong too. He could probably break Jay as if he were a twig. But who would dare do such a thing to the Prince? "What brings you here?" Jay asks, trying to reassemble himself. It was the first time in his lifetime that someone's presence had thrown him off completely. What made Beast's presence different?

"Why do you think, Prince Jay?" His voice was smooth and silky. It was heaven to Jay's ears. He felt as if he could just melt on the spot from his voice. Jay mentally shook his head. He should not be thinking such things.

"Firstly, call me Jay. Secondly, I am guessing for my sister? Unfortunately for you, I think every eligible bachelors' chances are gone. She's found someone and I am pretty sure they will end up together. I believe you were too late." Jay shrugged his shoulders and straightened his back before heading past Beast.

"I wasn't here for her, Jay. She is not the only single one in your family." Jay's mouth dropped and he stared at Beast in disbelief. Jay and Celia were the only two children, so Beast must have been talking about him. Jay was utterly shocked.

"Actually, I doubt she is single anymore. Besides, this night is for her to find love, not me." Jay sighed and made his way back into the castle. Instead of mingling, he excused himself completely from the party — or gathering. He walked up to his room, hiding away from everyone.

He threw off his clothes and put on his pyjamas. After brushing his teeth, he turned off the light and got into his bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he thought back about what Beast had said.

There was absolutely no way Beast could have been talking about him. There was just no way. Besides, Jay didn't even think Beast was into guys. He knew he shouldn't judge before he knew someone but he really didn't think Beast would be into guys.

Jay fell asleep thinking about Beast, much to his annoyance.

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