Freedom! It's so.... boring.

[Anonymous]

What luck.  Paris thought he was going to be trapped on that chair in the garden with Aunt Jinny forever.  He didn't even know why he had to be there for that meeting with Lady Helena.  She already got his thank you note for that coat she sent for his birthday.  The one he had to lie about liking, even though it itched and had too much lace on it.  One of the hurt guards in the infirmary said it looked like it was sewn from a flag, all green with random bits of brown on it.  If it was winter Aunt Jinny would have insisted that he wear the coat today.  Which was stupid, she didn't need to be reminded that he had her coat.

Something happened though.  It wasn't good that bandits attacked Lady Helena, who was an old lady, but it was good that he didn't have to sit around waiting for her anymore.  Dad might even come home to give the axe to the bandits!  So, of course, Paris had to go find General Verde and tell him that bandits were attacking and that Dad could take care of any bandit ever.  As soon as Aunt Jinny waved him away, Paris was running for the General's office.  His office was way on the other side of the palace, the military ward.  Paris could barely breathe when he got there.

One of the guards on the door was someone Paris had never seen before.  The other, Paris groaned, was that stupid Guard Johnson.  The new guard looked confused, but stupid Guard Johnson took control and told Paris he wasn't allowed in the military ward and that he should leave now before they got someone to take him away and blah blah blah.  Stupid Guard Johnson didn't seem to get that his Dad outranked him by a lot and that General Verde was his friend and he also outranked him by a lot.  He also liked to say what General Verde thought was important a lot.  Now he was trotting out his favorite:  "The General is too busy to waste time listening to your stories."

"You're a stupid bastard," Paris told him, like he always told him.  Stupid Guard Johnson didn't seem very shocked to hear that, he was going to have to learn more names to call people from Dad.

"Got a right regal mouth don't 'e?" the new guard said, watching stupid Guard Johnson's face and trying not to laugh.

"Will you let me go by?"  Paris asked him, smiling.  It would have been easier if he was a girl guard.  The girl guards would let him do anything if he smiled at them, was nice and didn't cuss.

"No," said rude and stupid Guard Johnson.  "Don't you have anywhere else to be?"

"Nope, just in General Verde's office."  

The new guard almost laughed then.  There was hope for him, but now stupid Guard Johnson was in control and it didn't look like he was going to see General Verde.  Stupid Guard Johnson looked like he was going to say 'no' again, so Paris ran off.

This time he got to the foyer before he got tired.  That was almost a new record, close to being able to run around the whole palace like the guards did.  Paris was proud, but was bored soon after.  There had to be something he could do before it was time for handwriting with Mistress Ama.  Any day he looked forward to her classes was a very sad, boring day.

Paris slumped against the wall, directly across from the doors and let himself slide down to the floor.  Sitting down felt good after all that running.  If Madelindia was around, she would have curled into a big fluffy ball and fallen asleep.  Paris was almost jealous of how cats could do that.  The last time he tried to sleep anywhere other than his bed he ended up scaring poor Florie, who thought he was hurt or sick or otherwise in trouble.  He should have picked a better place than Aunt Jinny's big library too.  No cat was ever sleeping there.  Cats liked places that were warm and sunny and as far off the ground as possible.

The foyer wasn't very high off the ground, but it was warm and sunny.  No one was around either.  Paris yawned, stretching his hands out in front of him on the floor and raising his back up like a cat.  Then he curled into a circle with his hands looped around his knees on the ground.

The floor was hard.  He didn't have a fluffy coat to act as a portable blanket.  Paris closed his eyes tight and tried to imagine being someplace even more boring, like the garden.  That just made him think that he should have followed Aunt Jinny.  Then he could hear more about the bandits.  He was an idiot.  

Oh well.  Paris rolled on his back and put an arm over his eyes to keep the light out.

[Anonymous]

Aurelie leaned against the wall, hoping desperately to shrink away from view under the sprawling foliage. It was not her petite form that made it hard, but the rather garish colours she had chosen to adorn this fine morning. Oh, she wasn't complaining about her choice of outfit; she never could get enough of flamboyance anyway. Her resplendent pink gown was cut to perfection just like a little lady's. Its creamy lace and gauze trimmings rustled with every movement of her skirts which is why it was so hard to be so inconspicuous.

Lady Arlington would be so terribly mad right about now. And for once the little blond haired child didn't seem to care. Always proper and well-mannered, especially around adults, Aurelie always felt it best to bring out the 'mature' side of her around men and women of nobility and class. It was like second nature now, with her haughty little nose turned up, and vivid green irises peering through thickset lashes, her delicate mannerisms and appropriate conversation always impressed and awed her audience. But not the old crone that was appointed her chaperon.

The Arlingtons' were not so small a name in definitive circles, and if anything they mattered to the crown in general for their duties and their loyalty. Which is why she heard they were frequent guests at the palace and had cordial relations with Nobility in general. And Aurelie had tried her hardest to keep that in mind when she accompanied her Nanny or sat down for her lessons; but there was just something about that old hag that brought out the worst in herself, and she would drop all pretentious courtesies and tête-à-tête for childish retorts, unladylike behavior and occasionally escaping the elderly woman's company, just as she was doing right now.

Let her get into trouble for this. She scowled, marring her pretty features with an expression of distaste. Always having hated the idea of needing to be taken care of, Aurelie had never been too tolerant of her 'Nannas' ', though never quite to this extent. And the feeling seemed to be mutual. Her heart-wrenching alibis for why she had been improper would always throw off any impending scolding or punishment from just about anybody. The Noble-child knew that on account of her own apparent character and the sympathy she received for her only parent being away practically all the time, she would not be reprimanded by anyone else save the evil woman who had assumed duties in her household. Let everyone know that the 'Dragonlady' had lost her charge in a place as big as the palace. That would make her sorry!

This was also one of the trips to the palace. Apparently there had been some incident regarding one of their mutual associates and Lady Arlington had been in a rush to personally pay her regard and regrets. Aurelie had tagged along, having grown quite fond of the grandeur and opulence of the princely estate. Her footsteps would always echo on the marble floors and there was always something important going on that made her feel like a part of this grand institution; something she had her childish heart set on since the moment she first laid eyes on it.

Turning very slowly Aurelie peered out from her hiding place, through the banisters on the side. It had been a while, and she had not heard of anyone come to fetch her. She had lost them! Good. She thought. Or she had lost herself.Her inner voice mused. She did not know the palace as well as she would have liked, and she had not really been paying attention to where she was going.

Tentatively, she gathered her skirts in her arms and eased her way out from her hiding place between the wall and the bushes, careful not to let any bramble catch onto the finery of her dress. Brushing imaginary dust off the material and her hair, she looked around her to make sense of where she was. It was probably one of the main entrances. She had the choice to take to the gardens and find a soldier to get her carriage and return home. Surely it would ruin Her chaperon's career if she was found at home unattended. It might even bring her father back for a short visit. It had been a while since she had seen him last.

A flash of colour and the sound of light footsteps made her hold her breath and release it as she realized it was simply a child running off in search of something. Perhaps it would be easier to ask him than a soldier, because an adult was most likely to turn her in, and she felt too tired to charm the soldiers. Having sat in the hot sun for a while, her garments were beginning to itch and she felt uncomfortably warm. She never did like too much sun. It ruined her complexion!

Running in the general direction of the blur, she finally ended up in what appeared to be the foyer, and watched from a distance as a blond haired boy about her age tried to make himself comfortable on the floor.

Ah, must be a pageboy She smiled as she paused just out of sight in order to catch her breath. Those were easy to handle. He probably ran away from kitchen duties to catch a nap and would be easy to pester into showing her the way.

Try as she might, she simply did not get along much with other children, for most of the time, she was expecting of them what their titles demanded at a nascent age which normally inspires freedom and playtime in the young. They would not understand as she did, the necessity to maintain an admirable visage at all times as representation of their noble blood. Yes, she was proud. And there was nothing wrong with beating it into somebody who did not appreciate it.

Walking over to the now sleeping figure, Aurelie stood in front of him, hands on her hips, effectively blocking out the sun he was trying to shield his eyes from.
"You, boy!" she called in best authoritative tone, poking him with the toe of her pointed slippers, "Do you not know sloth is a major affliction?"

[Anonymous]

What the heck?

There was someone fussing at him... and poking him with something.  Paris wasn't that unfamiliar with fussing and being poked, but usually he knew the person behind it.  He would recognize their voice, their preferred fuss, or he'd even recognize what was poking him if it was his governess.  Who always poked his ankle with her walking stick.  This was a new person.  A bold person.  A person that didn't know that they could get the axe for... what was it called.  Oh.  Striking a senior officer was what they called it in the military.  Paris knew he was something like a senior officer in the non-military world, so not many people had the right to come up and poke him.

He pulled his arm away from his eyes and scowled up at the offending poker.  The expression lasted all of five seconds, in which he realized that the poker was a girl.  A young noble girl that he'd never seen around the palace before.  Kids had different rules to follow than adults.  Paris wasn't sure what would happen if a kid struck a senior officer-kid.  This was a girl too.  Lord Suri always said men needed to be nicer to ladies and a girl was a little lady.  If Lord Suri found out he was mean to a girl then he would tell Aunt Jinny and Paris would be in big trouble.

At least he remembered to keep his mouth closed while he was staring up at her, all wide eyed and bewildered.  She sure was wearing a lot of pink, and there were enough frilly ruffled things on her dress to make Paris glad that he wasn't a girl.  "There's nothing wrong with being bored," he grumbled, mentally adding another reason to hate Stupid Guard Johnson.  "I don't have anything to do for hours."

It then dawned on Paris that he should probably get off the ground if he didn't want to get poked again.  It was probably rude to talk to someone while you were laying down if you weren't sick or hurt.  Being bored sick probably didn't count either.  So Paris rolled on his stomach, pushed himself up on his knees and looked down at his clothing.  Dust didn't seem to exist in the foyer, so his tan breeches and green waistcoat were still ok looking.  He smoothed the waistcoat down anyway, it gave him something to do with his hands.  "I've never seen you here before.  Who are you?"

[Anonymous]

"How could you not?!" Aurelie replied indignantly, "With a manor as big as this, you always have a million chores awaiting!" She made certain that she sounded like she knew what she was talking about, but the truth was, the six year old wasn't quite sure if even her initial assumption had been correct. The brief glare that she had received as a reflection of her disturbing the boy's nap had been enough to make her flinch.

Now that the boy had stood up and she had noticed his clothing, she realized that a kitchen hand would not be wearing something so finely cut at all. But as always she would never correct her error in judgment or accept that she had made a mistake. Not just yet. She would merely make more assumptions, until she could correct the first, or lose it in the process. It even seemed to work on adults sometimes, and this was just a kid.

Albeit, a noble-kid. A noble-kid, who had shot her a snooty glare that betrayed that he might just be a tattle-tale, and get her into trouble with Lady Arlington before she could. Aurelie eyed him suspiciously. That was a story she could work with. Yes, he quite did look like he would have made her the former's acquaintance, she decided.  Well, at least he did not know who she was. That was a relief.

Although, he seemed to have mistaken her for somebody else for his initial response was followed by a more civil mannerism. Suddenly, Aurelie, smiled her brightest, widest smile, and pulled the sides of her skirt up as she bowed down into the deepest courtesy.

"I am Princess Aurelie Dominique Delacroix of Adela," she lied as she held her small hand out for him to take, "If you do not have any pending obligations, young man, you may show me to my awaiting carriages, so I may continue on my days agenda. Come now, Hurry up." She swished her skirts in an impatient motion, waiting for him to lead her in the required direction. Any anxiousness she felt was not on account of the latter's lethargy, but the risk of being found by her strict chaperon in this very central location.  That simply would not do.

[Anonymous]

((Sorry for taking so long to reply @_@))

What a weird girl.  It was like he asked some magic question that suddenly made her courteous.  Or maybe it was because he stopped being rude, talking to her while he was curled up on the ground and all.  Usually it took people a while to switch from their offended face to their courteous face.

Paris almost forgot that, because she was a well-born girl, he was supposed to bow when she curtsied.  He tipped forward quickly, slapping an arm across his waist and waiting until she stood before he straightened back up.  He completely forgot to say how delighted that he was to meet the girl and that he was himself when she told him her name.  His eyes widened, his jaw wobbled and very nearly fell open.

Princess?  Paris narrowed his eyes a little.  Now the girl felt like an intruder.  He was supposed to be the only Prince around.  Even if she was from another country her presence here bothered him.  It only bothered him until curiosity took over.  She was from beyond Connlaoth, no one could stop him from talking to her and no one could stop her from talking with him!

"I don't know where your carriages are being kept.  Wouldn't they come around to the same place they dropped you and your escort at?" He set his hands on his hips, leaning forward a little and raising his eyebrows.  "I'll help you look for them.  You can tell everyone back in Adela that Prince Paris Alexandre Maverikko of Connlaoth showed you around the palace."  Paris stood up a little straighter, picked his chin up and tried not to grin.  Trying to go for that indifferent look his father usually wore whenever people were fussing over him.

"We can start at the stables.  That's where it should be if they groomsmen haven't begun hitching the horses," Paris took one step down the hall that lead to a door closer to the stable, figuring it might be better to stay inside since girls usually didn't like to go outside and get dirt on their dresses.

Then he remembered, again, that Aurelie was a noble girl.  A princess.  She wasn't to be lead around, she needed an escort.  With a badly concealed roll of his eyes, he stopped and held his arm out to her.

[Anonymous]

((Eeee! i'm glad you're back!))
The exuberant display of fussing about her skirts and playing with her gloves in mock impatience seemed to freeze momentarily, and her skin seemed to pale an instant. Her expression of shock was well subdued but the actual feeling not entirely so. In fact it might have matched the young prince's preceding emotion, had it not outright shot beyond it in capacity.

Prince?! He was the Prince Maverikko?  Re-assessing her self concocted assumptions of the social status the boy, from servant to nobleman within minutes, she had not prepared herself for him to be the highest social order available to any child. She stared at him, her cheeks flushing a deep rose in embarrassment. She had not been introduced to the prince before, or she would have memorized all the visual details for future reference. The social gatherings she had attended in most cases did not involve children; although she tended to weasel her way in with much cajoling and reiterating her representation as the sole Delacroix available. And though she thought she was making her family's mark on Connlaothian nobility,  all that could come crashing down with this one little instance.

She had just lied to the prince! And that could be... state treason perhaps? Oh dear. That was definitely worse than being followed around by Lady Arlington. Surely dungeon time on her record would mar any chances of meeting potential bachelor-princes. Surely there were punishments children were exempted from. She had heard that conditions were meager in stone cells, and there was no prospect of rescue attempts from locked towers once the royalty shunned your name. Only recently she had heard some guards babbling about capital punishment and how it was just for traitors to the crown. She had no idea what it was obviously. But if capital meant central and most important, like the city Reajh itself, then surely it would be grand... in an all too heinous way. Oh dear, and if news of this got to father in...

Wait... Did he say 'back in Adela'? Slowly, her appalled expression disbanded lips curled into a smile as it dawned on her that her alibi had seemed to hold ground better than she predicted. So he thought she was a princess of Adela? Then, she would pretend to be just that. And if he found out otherwise somehow, she would simply pinpoint his foolhardy assumption. Aurelie smoothed her long wavy hair and batted her eyelashes, reinforcing ladylike conduct manifold as she stepped forward daintily and placed her palm on his arm and held on firmly.

This was all well and good. She was talking to perhaps, the most eligible bachelor in all of Connlaoth. Even if Lady Arlington happened to find them, she could not say anything to the prince, now could she? So she could definitely not say anything to Aurelie either for attending to his royal highness.

"You are too kind, My dear Paris, " She mimicked the coy lady callers she had so often heard through doorways, when she was supposed to be asleep in her bed. All thoughts of escaping fleeing from her mind, Aurelie decided she would be very pleased spending the rest of the day sightseeing the palace. If she was going to live here one day, she might as well get a head start on getting her opinions on the decorating straight.

"Ah, forget the stables. I'm in no hurry to leave whatsoever. I would love for you to show me around your beautiful home, milord prince!"