[Atoli01]

Royals were absolutely the worst. They were even lower than criminals. All they did all day was flaunt their money! Not even a quarter of the rich did anything to help those less fortunate. It didn't matter to them if people were suffering, though. All that they cared about was whether their bellies were full for the night!

That's why I had long since taken matters into my own hands. I hated seeing all of the kids crying, hearing all of the stories of loss from their parents! How could you know that was going on and not try to do anything...? With those very thoughts in mind, I liked to think of myself like Robin Hood. I didn't steal anything, no; all I ever did was relocate things. It was more like second nature to me now. Sneak into a house or two every couple nights and take a couple valuables. It was enough to get food onto people's tables, and with that, we could even afford to offer free dishes to some of the patrons of the bar.

My sudden stumbling caught me a bit off-guard, however. I cursed the rock that I nearly tripped over It was just then that I noticed that heels might not be the best for breaking into people's houses. They usually didn't give me too much trouble though, and heels were more natural to me than boots or sneakers were. The rest of my outfit was perfectly practical though; a black outfit to blend into the night, consisting of short shorts, a crop top and a pair of thigh-high socks. I didn't have any frills or anything that could be caught on a windowsill. Tonight however, I opted to simply clip my blonde bangs back. I didn't have any time at all to waste tonight. One of the kids had gotten a cold yesterday, and I absolutely wanted to get him medicine.

So here I found myself in the upper-class portion of Aldrect, my brown messenger bag slung over my shoulder. I ducked behind a bush as I noticed a couple making their way down the ally in front of me. I most certainly didn't want to get spotted. As tempting as that man looked however, pick-pocketing was something I simply refused to do. So with a small sigh, I set my sights on a rather large mansion just across the street. The night light didn't allow me to make out many details, though I could spot the white lattice running up one side of the house. Perfect for climbing, of course.

And just as I had predicted, I made a smooth landing in the second-floor room. Luckily, the window didn't put up as much of a fight as some others did.

[Jaykobell]

I was trying my hardest not to make a bored grimace as my lord father started explaining tomorrow's protocol once more, as if I were a low-intellect peasant.

"Remember, Ferapont. The ring goes in front of the plate — it proves that you are a true royal."

"Of course. Naturally, the tie will also match the color of the ring."

"Precisely. The ring itself will be the one inherited from your late grandfather, and which matched your birthstone. A royal's birth is the most magnificent part of their person, as it was the start of a new, hopeful generation of royal youngsters. Never forget that, Ferapont."

I smiled my most uninterested, flat smile, which was all I could muster as I repeated, for the millionth time day, "Of course, my lord father."

"Excellent. You may retreat for tonight — remember to be ready for the banquet at least one hour ahead of time. We do not want to be unprepared for miscalculations or mistakes."

There it was again. "Yes, my lord father." I bowed slightly in order to be polite — as any true royal should be — before preparing to take my leave. "I bid you a good night, my lord father. I promise on my name as a Baldur that I shall make you, and our family line, proud," I assured, this time sugar-coating it some. When my father dismissed me with a hand, it didn't take long for me to bow again and make my way out of the room backwards; turning my back to my own father would be the worst mistake of all.

Tomorrow was an annual banquet organized in honor of our family's establishment as a blue-blood line. Don't get me wrong, we have those impossibly boring banquets monthly — but this one was bigger, longer, and of course, more expensive. Many kingdoms came, some from faraway continents, in order to celebrate with us. How fitting; of course they would love and respect us, the Baldur family line. Wouldn't they?

And so, every year, my father went through the procedure. How to dress, what to put on, what jewelry to have on me, how to place it on the table, how to discuss royal matters properly with the others — everything. And every year, I was starting to become less and less interested in it. Every year, despite being told the protocol over and over until my father was sick of hearing me agree to his words, I managed to mess something up. I would put the ring next to me instead of in front of the plate, or I would put on the wrong tie, or I would say too much or too little. I never did everything correctly to a hundred and ten percent, as he wanted me to. But of course, my brothers were all so much better, it didn't matter, now did it? The scoundrels were the little favorites. Psh!

I made my way through the mansion until I got to my bedroom. I was so frustrated and mentally-drained from the constant repetition of the banquet protocol that I wanted to do nothing more than sleep or perhaps, read a book. Perhaps draw something? Arts were also a favorite in the family.

I opened the door and turned on the lights in my room, completely unsuspecting. When I turned them on, I almost screamed when I noticed that someone was already in it. And it sure as hell wasn't me! "You! Who are you?!"

[Atoli01]

To be perfectly honest, my heart skipped several beats when the room's lights were flicked on. All I could think about was that little child! I couldn't get caught now! What would happen to him...? Oh, it was just a common cold, but he's always been frail! I remember seeing him just this morning outside the bar, sneezing like there was no tomorrow. But this stupid royal had to mess everything up!

I swatted my bad behind me, as if that simple action would do me any good. "Call the cops, arrest me. I know you will anyways," I said to him in a bitter tone, my eyes narrowed more than they had ever been before.

I quickly assessed my options, but none were any good. I couldn't jump out of the window. I couldn't jump out from the second story. Using the lattice to get back down was obviously out, too. Trying to run past the man and out the door definitely wasn't an option either. There was no way I could just stay a sitting duck, however. Despite what I told him, I wasn't going to let him catch me.

"I just... that little boy..." The tears that welled up in my eyes weren't completely fake, though it's not something I would've done without effort. "I don't want him to die..." Another pitiful whimper and more tears to go along with it. At least my acting skills might get me somewhere. "I just wanted to help him!" I practically screamed the last part and looked straight at the man with tear filled eyes.

Please, please...

[Jaykobell]

I didn't even know where to begin. First, how had someone gotten into my room?

Second, was this how commoners dressed? Because that allure was simply horrid.

Third, were they actually trying to steal from me?

And fourth, from that voice, was I actually talking to a woman? A woman thief?

"Answer my question, you fool!" That was the least they owed me for trespassing into my room! Without thinking, I quickly closed my door shut, in order to avoid anyone hearing or seeing this. If someone learned or even started a rumor about me talking to a commoner, it would be the end of it! I would lose my royal title, and I would end up in the streets. There would be no other end to this whole thing.

When I turned back to that disgustingly-dressed girl, my eyes twitched when I saw the tears in her eyes, and when I heard her speak about some child. What? What in the world was she doing? "Ex-cuse me? You're stealing from my bedroom in order to cure some sort of lowborn child? Have you no shame, you dirty commoner?" Raiding my bedroom for a stupid sick kid... Inconceivable. And that teary display was just disgusting. Her face getting covered in snot and tears was just... ew.

[Atoli01]

Just like that, the tears were gone. "Your kind are the worst," I snarled before pacing to the other side of the room. Well lookie here--a necklace obviously made of gold. "Yes, I am stealing from your bedroom. Do you have a problem with that?" As if to make my point, I threw the necklace in my bag. If I did manage to get out of here--you will, stop that!--then I'd have at least something.

Another gold necklace, a ring... Might as well get this guy as mad as I was, right? "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were the dirty commoner. I act more like royalty than an idiot like you!"

They all disgraced the greatness that supposed to be royalty! They were supposed to be people that everyone looked up to, but the fame did nothing but corrupt them! There was just no end to their cruelty. In some ways, I wish I didn't know what they were like. I wish that I could still look up at them like others can...

"Idiot, jerk, moron...!" I muttered as my eyes wandered back to him once again. Now was as good a time as any, I suppose. Without warning, I rushed towards the door, hoping that he wouldn't catch me. Royals didn't have the same physical build as most commoners did, so I could only hope and pray.

[Jaykobell]

Oh, she hadn't. Oh no, she hadn't. "Put that necklace back where it was. Right now," I snapped, gesticulating with my hand to put it back right there where it used to be. By the lord, if my father found out that I had been smuggled by a dirty female commoner, my entire reputation would be ruined!

"I sure as hell have a problem with you defiling my possessions! Your life isn't even worth half of the fortune I have in this mansion! And comparing me to a lowlife thief like you? Clearly you've lost your mind!" I spat harshly, and despite the words coming naturally to my mind and getting spewed out of my mouth without a second thought, something else was tugging, somewhere. But I could never figure out what it was. Why was there this weird feeling at the back of my mind when I treated people this way? But now wasn't the time for that!

When I saw her dashing for me, I knew exactly what to do. I was a born with the best genes, the perfect combination ever made; I had been trained to be skilled in the art of defending myself and those important to the survival of our kingdom. This girl was sadly mistaken if she thought I would be a pushover!

My idea was to intercept her when she got close enough, grabbing her wrists and pulling her arms behind her. Once that would be done, I would bash her against the door, hands and arms twisted behind her own back, with me tightly keeping her from making a move. Ew, the thought of having to touch her; how disheartening. However, a soldier always had to make sacrifices for the greater good! And hopefully, he would be able to catch her. Even if not, she was trapped in this room!

[Atoli01]

And just as my hand reached the door handle, my balance decided to leave me. Curse these heels tonight, I thought as I fell. Fell right into the guy, no less. At this rate, I wouldn't get the chance to learn from tonight's mistakes.

"What I'm doing... it's not bad," I muttered slowly, my hands gripping his shirt. I wouldn't show him my face, no. Not when actual tears were threatening to spill over. "How is helping people live bad?!" Just because he didn't have to work a day in his life and still went to bed with a full stomach...! "I bet you've never had to go a day in your life with an empty stomach."

"And for doing what? Sitting here looking pretty?" I stood back up and wiped my face once again. "Try living in a rundown bar. Try running away from home because your mom was an alcoholic and your father always beat you!" I would never give people like him even the time of day. So with that thought in mind, I turned the handle on the door without a second look back.

[Jaykobell]

Well, the door was locked, so there wasn't any problem there. However, we did have a major problem at hand.

She was touching me.

Immediately, I started flailing about madly, trying to reach for her body to push her away — ew, I had to touch her back! But hopefully I would be able to push her away from my clothes — just imagine if they found out a commoner had touched them! "H-how dare you even touch me! I'm one of the heirs to this family! You have no right to even look at me!" I complained angrily, almost in a panic that I had been touched by all the commoner filth.

At the melodramatic words that she started spewing at me, I just looked at her with a grimace, as if she were just trying to sound miserable. Looking at her, she looked pretty average. Obviously not as good as I looked — who did, anyway? — but she certainly didn't look all that famished! "Are you kidding me? That sort of story is only in books," I replied, completely untouched by her words of misery and family misfortune. "Is lying all you commoners can do? I would try to feed myself before lying through my teeth."

[Atoli01]

Of course he had to lock the door, didn't he? Well, there goes my attempted heroics. "Only in books?! Lying through my teeth?! That's one thing... that I would never lie about!" I snapped. Why would I lie about that? I know that there were some people who did, but I made an honest living! Even if thievery wasn't accepted by normal society, I never used any of the funds for myself. I worked at the bar to to get my wage, and stole things so that others wouldn't have to. I was fully prepared to shoulder the blame for all of their sake's, but not this soon.

"Why don't you get off your high horse for once and open your eyes?! There's people dying of sickness, the homeless getting murdered every day and they've done nothing to deserve it! They're dying, while you're here laughing at their misery!"

Sitting duck; that's all I was right now. I was powerless in this situation. Even I couldn't win against a locked door. "...What if your father died tomorrow? You would run off crying like a little baby and complaining about how unfair the world is," I muttered, not even looking at him at this point. I didn't even know if my parents were alive. I don't know if cops finally arrested my dad. I don't know if dad finally did away with mom.

But that was life. Crying because you didn't know what to do with all your gold jewelry wasn't.

[Jaykobell]

So one could argue that I wasn't the oldest in the family. In fact, I was the youngest of my brothers, and I had no sisters. So compared to my brothers and some of the other members of the mansion, I didn't go outside all that often. What I knew from the outside was what I'd been told and what I'd read in books.

So now here I was, talking to some commoner woman, and who was spewing some story about her miserable life, and how other people also suffered some sort of similar fate. "How dare you even assume something like that?! I'm not laughing at anyone! Nor do I even have a high horse! To my knowledge, our horses are all the same size!" That didn't even make sense. But after all, vulgar commoner speech was completely unfamiliar to me. Why would I even want to learn that? Ew.

"How dare you even mention my father? He's your king! All you own is all thanks to him!" My father had done more than anyone could ever imagine! This entire place for his kingdom, this entire place was result of his care. How dare she speak so ill of him? "My father won't die tomorrow, for one! Everything you say is just complete nonsense!" Just in what world would make that sort of ridiculous scenario happen?

[ Methinks Ferapont doesn't quite understand the concepts of EXPRESSIONS and WHAT IFs. 8'U ]

[Atoli01]

Well, there was no one to say that a sitting duck couldn't be knowledgeable. This would take some time, wouldn't it? With a sigh, I leaned up against the wall and started at him, waiting for his little rant to be over. "Well, first off... you know what assume means, right? Wait, no, you probably don't. Might be making an ass out of me, but even a bigger one of you. I consider it worth it."

A slight glare was all that I gave him before continuing. "And second off, the address the actual issue... you're certainly not doing anything to stop the suffering. Funny how a dimwit like you could ever be a prince." On the other hand, I don't think I was so much as going to mention the whole 'high horse' thing. It was obvious that he was on it if he didn't even know what it was.

"And third... Your father, your father, your father. There. I mentioned him! Happy?" Man, did this guy get outside at all? I thought princes were supposed to be caring. I thought they were supposed to be there to support their people. Either that was all fake, or this one wasn't doing his job at all. I found both possible.

"If your father is so great, why are there people here still suffering? Can't you at least answer that, Oh Mighty Prince? Do you want me to kneel down and kiss your feet too?" This guy...

{I have such a love-hate relationship with this guy. :L On one hand, I want to slap him, yet on the other, I want to go and give him one GIANT commoner hug. XD}

[Jaykobell]

I grabbed my head in a panic when that woman started leaning against my wall. Oh by the lord, if they found out a commoner had touched my wall! "Okay, okay, just don't touch anything! At least try to do that! Just walking in my room is already generous!" Well, what was I going to do about the floor now? Ugh, I could only hope to the lord that her shoes weren't too outside-dirty. Ugh.

I then proceeded to ruffle my hair, mostly out of confusion and out of this headache that was starting to creep up on me. "Okay, just... Back-up. What's this whole thing about people suffering? I've never seen anyone suffering, not even from the few times I've gone outside the mansion. Isn't the whole suffering and misery thing just in books? Didn't we stop all that from happening to begin with?" And I wasn't being sarcastic; I was genuinely confused by the words this woman was saying, constantly mentioning the same things. If she had been lying, she would've eventually changed the subject, right? Or something? She wouldn't still be insisting, would she?

This whole thing was making my entire head hurt and spin round and round. "And about that, I'll have you know I'm far from being uneducated! I've only had the best teachers teach me! I'll also have you know that I can't fix anything, prince or not! I don't have any authority!" Was this girl stupid? The king had the authority to fix and change things, not the heirs. Nothing he said ever had an impact, and even his brothers — whom were the little favorites, psh — fell on deaf ears when they tried to say something. "Not to mention, I can't fix something I don't know even exists!" That was common sense! Which I had, despite her thinking I couldn't even put two and two together.

[Atoli01]

Just to piss him off even more, I simply poked the wall. I looked back at him for a minute and poked the wall once again. Anyone that was this touchy was... well, stuck-up of course, but also provided entertainment. It was like a little kid; you tell them not to draw on the wall, so they draw on the wall just to get you angry~ Regardless, there were more important issues at hand than my poking the wall.

"Well I'll tell you this. One solution. If you're really at all serious about this whole prince thing--and being future king--you'll take a step outside. Not just around this pretty neighborhood, where everything's all rainbows and sunshine," I said with a sigh, gesturing with my hands. "But the other side of town. Where there's people living in boxes and starving. A place where that's the norm and no one even bats an eye."

My mouth twisted into a slight frown. I wanted this place to be better, and if this was what it was going to take... "I'll tell you what. My bar's on the other side of town. It's not hard to find. Let me out of this place and take a look around, and well... Maybe I won't have this," I pulled the necklace out of the bag and twirled it in front of him, "circulating through the black market."

[Jaykobell]

Her poking my wall like that just made me growl and grumble the whole time. I was trying to be open here, she could at least have some sort of respect and comply to what I was asking for! But clearly, I should've expected no less from a stupid commoner.

"I have gone further than just my backyard, are you taking me for a fool?" I asked, rubbing my forehead and my eyes deeply from the headache that was slowly creeping up. Still, something did cross my mind. Despite having gone beyond the mansion and further, I had never really seen the world outside. When we traveled, the windows were covered; I never got to look outside whatever means of transportation we used. Not to mention, I had always gone to some of those royal or business-like meetings. Everyone kept telling me unfortunate people, hobos, poor people, didn't exist. They kept telling me that those things were just fantasies, part of the history before our kingdom. But if that were the case, then why was it always such a hassle whenever I wanted to go beyond the mansion?

But just thinking about it made my head hurt even more. When I heard that girl speak again, I looked up at her and squealed when she started twirling it around. "Don't do that! Don't handle it like that! Fool, do you know how much this is worth?! You could drop it and break it!" But she was offering to give it back to me and not sell it outside if I... if I did what? "You just... want me... to go outside the mansion? Or, what? Go check your... bar place, or whatever?" I wasn't really sure what her conditions were, precisely.

[Atoli01]

No, I'm not taking your for a fool; you actually are a fool, is what I wanted to say, though I bit back my words. I didn't want this guy to become even more irritating than he already was. Instead, I chose to focus in his next, incredibly irritating words. With a sigh, I slipped the necklace back into my bag. Anything to get this guy to shut up, at this point.

At his next set of words however, I nearly doubled over from laughter. "Bar... place?" I repeated in between laughs. Was this guy really that stuck up? Well, yes, obviously, but his words still shocked me. "You do know what a bar is, right? Well that aside..." I managed to stifle my laughter for now, but Luka would definitely be hearing about this later tonight.

"All I want you to do is... well first, let me out of this place. Let me out without handcuffs, thank you very much. And secondly, you need to see the area where I come from." My brows furrowed for a minute, thinking of how I would get him out. "I'll tell you what. I'll come by tomorrow... maybe the day after. If your reputation is really so important to you, I'm sure you could disguise yourself, right? Although... everyone would be overjoyed seeing the prince show interest in their problems. That hasn't happened in a long while," I placed my hands on my hips and grinned a little. Oh, would Luka love to hear this one.

I held my hand out, looking straight at him. "Think of it as a right to passage. None of us have been satisfied with the past things for a long time. It'll change my views if we actually have a caring king, and I imagine everyone else would think the same. Deal? Long distance hand shake?"