James knew that the best chance he had of making this ball as catered to the people as possible would involve going out into the villages and having non-royal people plan and provide for the ball; they'd get paid by the palace to continue running their businesses and, as King Quentin pointed out, it made James look better.
He personally didn't care about his image, but if helping the people was an option, he'd automatically choose that.
James did want to pick out his staff on his own to help as many people as possible, so he hurried out into the village dressed in the least princely clothes he had, which were still a very nice shirt and pants and probably more than anyone who lived here could afford.
Honestly, it wasn't his fault that he didn't have cheaper clothes; princes don't need casual clothes and he didn't shop for himself anyway.
Halfway through looking for his staff, he'd already scored a baker and a planner to help him out, he realized something: if he was in the villages, he had some sort of a chance of finding Ava. She must live around here somewhere.
He scanned the people around. There wasn't a single ginger, let alone that startling red shade. Lots of sparkly blue eyes, but none of them were the right ones.
Maybe she doesn't look the same. Maybe she's not supposed to look exactly like how I met her. Maybe...
"Dammit!"
A young woman crashed into him head-on. She was clutching several books to her chest that almost fell but she didn't look like she ever planned on letting go. She caught her balance and glared at him.
"You really need to watch where you're going!" She grumbled before staring more intently. "Shit, you're..."
"The prince?" He said, still a little disoriented. "Yes, I know, I'm very sorry miss."
"James!"
He blinked and looked at her again. There she was: Ava. The scarlet hair, the sparkly eyes, much more angry than he remembered, but he did just run into her. "Oh god, Ava, I'm so sorry."
"You...you know who I am."
He frowned. "Ava, we've spoken several times now. I'd never forget you; you've practically changed my life. I am terribly sorry for running into you, my mind is everywhere today."
"Oh it's fine," she murmured, still in intense shock. "I've told you; guys like you don't pay attention to girls like me. But why are you out here? Aren't you supposed to have guards or something when you leave the palace?"
"Yeah, but they're boring. And they take forever to get dressed," he joked. "No I'm actually planning for the ball. I hope you got the invitation; I'm holding it for you, you know."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I mean, it's a little weird to explain to your father, the king, that you've met the perfect girl in a dream. Especially since you're not a royal or a noble. He didn't really believe me, but I made this deal..."
"A deal?"
"If...if you didn't show up to this ball, he's going to force me to court someone who is actually there. Which is why I was praying so hard that you existed and you're not some figment of my imagination." He beamed so wide that Ava swore she could see sparkles in his teeth, almost like the trees in their mind forest, or whatever else they could call it. "But you're here! You're real, and you're here right in front of me, and god you're just as beautiful as I hoped." Ava grinned back at him; his happiness must be contagious, and she began laughing. "What's so funny?"
"You!" She cried with a smile. "You're supposed to be this regal person, but in reality you're...gorgeous but so normal and approachable." She was a writer for gods sake and yet she was struggling to try and come up with the words to describe him. "You're a bit of a people pleaser and a bit of a mess, just like the rest of us."
He stared at her and after taking a moment to process what she'd just said, he began to laugh as well. "I guess I am, aren't I? A true prince of the people."
She smiled. "Do you want to go sit down and get a drink or something?"
"Oh god, yes please, these shoes are way too small."