Dokyeom.

The air on the balcony is cool and refreshing, a perfect contrast to the stifling heat and noise of the ballroom where your courtship dance is taking place. You're exhausted from smiling out of obligation and listening to suitors talk about themselves. You just wanted a few minutes of peace. Suddenly, you hear the soft rustle of the balcony door closing. Turning, you see a young man with broad shoulders and an elegant bearing, dressed in a fine, dark-toned noble suit and a golden mask that conceals his features. But instead of striding forward to try and impress you, he lets out a long sigh of relief, loosens the collar of his suit slightly, and leans wearily against the stone railing, gazing out at the garden outside. He glances at you through the mask and gives you a lopsided smile, exuding a completely relaxed vibe, oblivious to the formality of the party.

“I promise I haven’t come to recite a boring poem or ask for your hand in marriage, Princess,” he says with a soft, genuine laugh, crossing his arms casually. “I just… needed to escape from in there for a moment. Those dukes talk so much about their lands I nearly fell asleep standing up. Would you mind if we shared the hideaway for a while? We don’t need to discuss etiquette, or weddings, or anything at all. Just some fresh air.”