Another night, waking up from the feeling of being watched. It was always subtle, but not enough to let me sleep. I sighed, getting up from the pink bed where I always slept and looked around the room, doing the now usual routine. Check the bathroom, check the closet, check the hall-way, check the window.. Nothing. Again. Like every other night.

Prince Gumball sighed, looking in the mirror to see him in his usual pajamas - a T-shirt that Marshal gave him and his pink striped bowers. He stared for a minute before sighing again, raking his hand through his bubblegum hair and turning back to his bed. Just before the mirror was out of his sight, he saw a wisp of black in the corner of it and he stared for a minute. "Who's there?" he asked without turning around.

There was another wisp and no answer, so he began to get antsy. He could still feel himself being watched but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. Gumball got the courage to face the intruder and spun around, but once he did a wall of air hit him and he couldn't distinguish the figure that jumped out of his window. "Wait!" he called, running over to it and leaning out, searching the ground for the victim of gravity. When he found nothing below him, he was both relieve and worried at the same time. Where did they go? And who were they..?

Prince Gumball shook his head, retreating into his room and closing the window along with the curtains. "Don't worry about it, Gumball. Just get some sleep.." The prince went back to his bed silently and crawled under the sheets, making sure he didn't have the feeling of being watched again before closing his eyes and drifting off into a dreamy realm of Ooo.

Prince Gumball went about his day, doing royal duties and dealing with the banana guards with ease - though he was quickly growing tired of them. He'd been doing his duties for such a long time, it was hard to tell if he was getting duller or the world around him was. It was probably both, he concluded, retreating to his room when he finally got a few minutes to himself for him to relax.

He closed the door behind him as he walked in, blowing a bit of hair out of his face. He was about to walk over to the bed and drop down when he noticed something flickering out of the corner of his vision. Turning to see what it was, he discovered that it was a candle he'd never seen before. It had been lit in his absence and there was a rose sat beside it - half the color grayed to make it look more elaborate. The Prince was wary of it at first, but decided that it would be fine to at least pick up the rose.

The candle didn't seem too dangerous either, seeing as it had a crisp scent that filled his room. It was a nice change from the smell of everything being sugary and nearly too sweet to smell good anymore. There wasn't a card or anything else left beside it, so it had him wondering who would leave something like that in his room when he wasn't there to accept it. It must have been one of my suitors. Peppermint Maid must have accepted it on my behalf and placed it in my room since she's busy making meals for everyone..

Prince Gumball sat on his bed, twirling the rose in his hand thoughtfully. Whichever suitor left it must have wonderful taste.. They might even be interesting - unlike most of the gussied-up ladies that throw themselves at me whenever I leave my kingdom. He went over a list of girls he already knew - since it was a good place to start - but always ended up at Fionna. Fionna isn't really the person to leave gifts like this though. She would ask me on a date by inviting me for a hunt, or to go explore a cavern with her. Hmm.. It must have been Cake doing it on her behalf. That cat is always trying to get us together.

He'd thought that the action from Fionna (or Cake, most likely) would have made him happy, but it did quite the opposite. He scowled at his own indifference and tossed the half-red rose onto the end of the bed. "Why can't I be like every OTHER prince and just be happy getting a beautiful wife!? All the other princes are throwing themselves around just as much and I can't even find a girl who keeps my attention for a few globbin' seconds!" he yelled in exasperation, dropping his pink head into his equally pink hands.

After a few moments there was a knock on his door and he called for them to let themselves in. It turned out to be Peppermint Maid. "Are you alright, Prince Gumball? I heard shouting.." she said in her usually motherly voice. The Prince couldn't stop himself from forcing a smile.

"Yes, I'm quite alright. Just working through some things in my head is all. Being a Prince is rather frustrating, it seems.." he only half-explained. He knew that his maid cared but he couldn't find it in his heart to worry her any more than necessary. Peppermint Maid nodded from the doorway.

"Do you want me to draw you a bath, Prince? They're quite relaxing to you, if I remember correctly." she offered, taking a step in. Prince Gumball thought about it for a moment before shaking his head.

"No thank you, Peppermint. I'd just really like a bit more time to myself. Can you reschedule my next appointment for sometime tomorrow?"

Peppermint Maid nodded in understanding. Just before she left, she looked at the candle and rose he'd been given. "Prince, where on Aaa did you get those?" The Prince's eyes widened for a second before he forced another smile.

"Just from another secret admirer, I suppose." He shrugged so she wouldn't worry again, and she nodded before going to carry out her agenda. Once she was done, he picked up the rose again to marvel at it. "Where did this come from..?"