Chapter 1

Flakes of white frost slowly descended upon the sky as the kingdom of Alphinster tucks its citizens for the night. Well, except for the servants inside the Clemente castle who are busy going back and forth towards every direction as they all simultaneously prepare their masters for bed as well as decorate the entire castle for the holiday season.

In the center of the ballroom of the castle stands the largest Christmas tree among the others in the castle and Sofia is one of the servants who were assigned to decorate it. The male servants are currently on the garland duty, hanging them up the greeneries from the center of the ceiling and across the room towards the edges of its circular structure on the long ladders as the royal interior decorator, Mr. Hanes shouts his instructions. As the preparation has just begun, minimal decorations are the ones that are yet to be set.

Sofia takes out a golden Christmas ball from the wooden chest where the other ornaments are being stored. It was finally gotten out of the castle basement after getting dusted for the whole year. The silent maid inspects the ornament in excitement with her shining crystal-like amber eyes as she thinks about the upcoming joyous day.

"Sofia, can you please hand me the candy canes?" The old, almost white haired head maid, Harriet asked politely who was standing on a riser to reach the higher part of the tree.

Sofia acts upon the command and handed her the candy canes whenever the head maid signals her to place them on her palm. The older lady places the candy canes alternately with the other Christmas ornaments.

"We need to hurry up or we won't finish before the ball." She added and Sofia just nodded and hangs another Christmas ball. It was silver this time.

The Royal Family of Clemente annually celebrates Christmas with a ball in the ballroom during the Christmas Eve which is why every servant in the castle is working double time in order to get everything done on time. The family invited so many royalties to attend to the ball which is why every single detail needs to look perfect and dignified to impress the other royalties.

"There." Harriet said as they finished putting all the decorations on the giant tree. "Now all we need is for the star on the top. Hmmm…" She looks around to see if there any male available to attach the star on the top of the tree but all of them were busy with their own duties. Some of them are getting agitated with all the shouting of the royal interior decorator.

Harriet clicked her tongue, "Seems like all the boys are busy." Then she turned to Sofia who was still putting some Christmas balls on the lower part of the tree. "Oh I didn't notice that there are still some left. Sofia, you finish that up while I go to the kitchen to find a brave man to put up the star for us."

Sofia turned to Harriet and nodded with a smile.

"Thank you dear." She said and exited the ballroom to go to the kitchen.

Sofia returned in attaching the few ornaments left on the branches of the tree when suddenly, the silver Christmas ball she was finding a hard time to attached, slipped off her hands and rolls away from her. Sofia quickly stands up to immediately follow the ball that was rolling across the ballroom, passed between the steps of the walking butler carrying a wooden box, traveled left and bumps to the foot of a maid holding a bunch of shimmering garlands in her arms. She tried her hardest to duck and evade anyone who was passing by as much as she could as she chased the ball for she doesn't want to create a huge scene of her stumbling just to get a rolling ornament.

The ball rolled further away from her until it was kicked across the room and finally stops on the welt of a gentleman's shiny brown leather shoes.

She knows that the shoes don't belong to any servants because no servant would wear this kind of expensive garb.

She wanted to excuse herself towards the man and take the ornament politely, but unfortunately, she is unable to so she just decided to take the decoration nonetheless and thank the gentlemen later in a way that she knows.

But before she could get a hold of it, a large callous hand beat her to it and was the one to take the ornament first.

Sofia sighed and slowly raised her head and gave the gentleman a courtesy. She wants to say thank you, but she just can't.

She slowly raised her head to see who the kind gentleman was. As her eyes traveled upwards the structure of the man, her eyes widened when she noticed the dark-blue tunic decorated with detailed embroideries, golden lacings and a sash. Sofia was additionally surprised to see the royal crest on the embroideries.

When she finally gained the courage to see the gentlemen's his face, her heart couldn't help but pound upon seeing the royal highness smiling at her while holding the silver Christmas ball in his hand.