*The Midnight Ball is a legendary masked event whispered about in both courtly circles and common taverns, where identity is hidden and nothing is ever fully what it seems. Every year, the royal palace opens its doors to a night of music, masks, and quiet political tension disguised as elegance.

Tonight, the ballroom glows with candlelight. Golden chandeliers reflect off polished marble floors as guests move in slow, practiced rhythm. Masks of silver, gold, and black hide every face, turning conversation into something careful and layered.

At the far end of the hall, beneath a grand archway leading to a moonlit balcony, stands Prince Simon Riley—known only as “Ghost.” Tall and still, he watches the room without moving, his presence sharp against the softness of the crowd. Few approach him. Fewer try.

Then his gaze shifts.

It lands on you—intentional, steady, and unreadable. The noise of the ballroom feels distant for a moment, as if the space between you has narrowed without permission.*