Nyo! Liechtenstein: Alexander Zwingli, Nyo! Belarus: Mikhail Braginski, Nyo! Prussia: Julchen Beilschmidt, Nyo! Canada: Madeline Williams, Nyo! Hungary: Daniel Héderváry, Nyo! Taiwan: Liu Wang, Nyo! Austria: Franzeska Edelstein , Nyo! Switzerland: Rika Zwingli, Nyo! Seychelles: Marceau Bonnefoy
The Runaway Prince
Chapter One: His escape
Prince Alexander Zwingli is the young heir to the Switzerland-Liechtenstein throne. At the age of sixteen he has never been anywhere outside of the castle yards, and has certainly never left so much as his room without a guard. He hates it and longs for nothing more than to be able to leave even just for one day. To go out all alone and make new friends out of his citizens. It's not that he doesn't like the castle or those in it, he simply wants more than his daily routine of seeing his sister argue with her fiancé, the Austrian princess Franzeska, and watch his guard Julchen flirt with his personal maid Madeline.
Yes, they are all women. The castle is basically filled with women of many strengths; physical, intellectual, artistic, etc., basically any that his mother deemed interesting. It was her idea to fill the castle with women, not even his father's. She believes it is important to show Rika, the true heir, that women are just as capable as men. It was also her wish that this atmosphere would give Alexander a certain respect for women, which it did. It's also caused him to be absolutely sick of women.
Alexander wants to spend time with guys; he wants to learn masculinity from a man who has not been completely whipped by his wife. A strong, cool guy would be preferred to some sort of scholar; he's met enough of those.
"Alexander~!" A familiar voice calls before he's greeted with a red-eyed, white haired woman.
"Julchen, what are you doing here?" Alexander asks, smiling. "I thought today you were going on a date and your younger sister was taking your place as my guard for the day."
Julchen snickers. "Like that little girl can compare to my awesome abilities!"
"I'm sure she can't…" Alexander responds before quickly adding. "But poor Madeline was elated this morning at the thought of spending the day with you."
Julchen stared at the boy blankly for a moment, the image of a heart broken Madeline forming in her mind. "M-my apologies prince, I must go!" She exclaims before bolting out the door.
A small smirk comes to Alexander's face before he jumps up and dashes off to his room. He has a plan today, you see. Today he will sneak out, he will wander around town, and best of all he will meet new people. Very soon he will be outside, the very thought fills him with immeasurable joy. It's finally his time!
At least it would be, had his sister not came out of nowhere as he was rounding the corner to his room. The beautiful princess Rika, known for her military prowess and ability to remain neutral despite it, now stands before him with suspicious eyes.
"What are you doing running around, Alexander?" Rika asks, brushing her long blonde hair off her shoulder to hide behind her beautiful green dress. "Such activities should be done outside, not in the halls of the palace."
"My apologies, sister." Alexander replies, bowing to his sister. "I was simply in a hurry to grab something…" He explains before looking up at his sister. "Isn't this the time reserved for you to spend with Franzeska?"
A feint blush spreads across his sister's cheeks as she averts her gaze from the inquiring boy. "I have no interest in spending time with that woman."
"That is too bad, you were such good friends as children…why does a marriage between the two of you make you so unhappy?" Alexander asks, knowing that soon his sister will grow flustered with the topic and run off herself.
"…Because it was arranged…" Rika whispers under her breath before hurrying on her way so as not to give Alexander a chance to ask more. Of course he already knows what his sister's problem was; she loved Franzeska since childhood, but it was not Franzeska's choice to marry her, it had been arranged by Rika's mother and Franzeska's father.
Shaking his head in disappointment at the two stubborn women, Alexander returns to the task at hand; sneaking out. He's planned ahead for weeks, maybe even months, and now he is prepared for any distraction or problem that comes his way.
"Alexander." A calm voice calls, getting Alexander to come to a full stop and pale a little. Turning on his heels he comes face to face with his mother; a distinguished woman with her long blonde hair tied back into a braid that just barely sweeps the ground.
"M-mother…hello…" Alexander says, bowing again. "How are you today?"
"Don't stutter, son, we are royalty and royalty does not stutter." The queen chastises and Alexander nods.
"Yes ma'am, I will not stutter." He responds. "If you do not mind, I have some work to do that Miss Alice gave me."
"Ah, Miss Kirkland…of course. Run along then. Did her assistant Amelia give you anything?"
"Amelia…? No, no she is not one for handing out homework, she prefers to give hands on lessons." Alexander answers, a small smile coming to his face. He likes Amelia, the strange American who Alice has taken under her wing. She's one of the people he will definitely miss while he's gone.
"Yes, she seems that type…" His mother mumbles before turning away. "You must get to work now." She says before walking off down the hall.
Sighing in relief, Alexander finally comes to his room. Inside he finds all the things he needs; a commoners shirt and pants, pouches of as much money as he could get, and a small loaf of bread to snack on. With this he will surely blend in. Smiling to himself he calls upon the one woman he has let in on the plan; the Northern Italian Felicia Vargas. Upon the call, the young brunette comes into the room with a wide grin.
"Ah, prince Alexander~! This will be so wonderful! You will meet amazing new people!" Felicia says happily, helping the boy get changed. "Oh, don't forget your crown~!" She adds, placing a small crown on top of his head. "And of course a cloak to keep you warm~!"
Alexander looks at the woman curiously as she slides on the red cloak. "Felicia, I do believe these make the commoners clothing useless…"
"Nonsense! Now follow me!" Felicia commands, leading him to a secret exit in the wall. "Go to the end of this, it will bring you out in town." She explains, handing him a candle. "Be safe, little prince~!" The brunette adds, kissing him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Felicia." Alexander grins before heading down the dark hallway. He has finally managed it; he's gotten away from all his guards and gotten out of the palace. Hopefully Felicia will not be found out and punished. Tiptoeing down the hall, Alexander looks around to see spider webs and various small creatures. The place is truly disgusting but thankfully he will be out soon and into the open world.
After a good twenty minutes Alexander reaches a light and smiles, racing to it and swinging the door open to reveal a bustling town. He steps out, excited at the people there. Taking a deep breath he steps into the busy street, quickly getting pushed to the ground. "O-ow!"
"Watch where you're going, stupid kid." A man with pale blond hair and cold blue eyes groans, walking past him. Immediately Alexander's face lights up, looking to the man in amazement. He's exactly what Alexander was looking for; a true man with no real effeminate attributes, aside from his fairly pretty face.
"W-wait!" Alexander calls, watching the man pick up his pace. "I said wait!" He repeats, jumping up from the ground and grabbing the man's arm.
"What the…? Don't touch me!" The man hisses, yanking his arm away.
"I-I'm Alexander, and I...I want to spend time with you!" Alexander blurts out awkwardly, receiving a nasty look.
"I'm not some whore, you can't just…" He stops speaking, looking to Alexander's crown. "Who are you?"
"I-it doesn't matter!" Alexander says quickly, growing nervous at the way the man is staring at the top of his head.
"I'll tell you my name if you answer my question; you're Prince Alexander, aren't you?"
Alexander laughs nervously. "Y-you go straight to the point, don't you?" He asks before sighing. "Yes, I am…"
"Hmm…did you bring money with you?"
"Well…yeah…."
"I see…" The man says, a menacing grin coming to his lips. "My name is Mikhail."
Alexander grins at him. "Nice to meet you Mikhail!" He says happily, looking up at the man with admiration.
"Uh…huh…stop looking at me like that." Mikhail commands, averting his gaze.
"Hm…? S-sorry…I have never spent time with another man aside from my father…so I am just very…excited!" Alexander explains. "So! Where do you live?"
Mikhail rolls his eyes. "Pull it back, your highness." He groans. "I'm not taking you home with me, you're just going to buy me a meal and then I'll escort you back to the castle."
"I do not wish to go home." Alexander says, holding a pouch of money out. "I will pay for you to watch over me until I return to my home."
Mikhail sighs. "Why me? Go bug someone else. I know a Hungarian man named Daniel who will do it."
"But…I would very much like it to be you…" Alexander mumbles, looking to the ground sadly.
"Leave me the hell alone." Mikhail commands, trying to leave the boy.
"Ah…but-!" Alexander calls, his voice faltering as Mikhail abandons him. "M-Mikhail…" He mumbles, sniffling. This isn't how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to make friends and spend a few days outside, not get abandoned by the first person he met. Maybe he's not actually likeable.
"Your man left you? I would be more than happy to take his place." A man says, wrapping his arm around Alexander's shoulders.
"Ah…? I suppose you can show me around…" Alexander mumbles sadly.
"Great! So...where would you like to go? My home is nearby..." He coos, sliding a hand down Alexander's back to grab his butt.
"Ah!" Alexander gasps, trying to swat at his hand. "S-stop it! That's not what I wanted!"
"Begging for a handsome boy like that to spend time with you and offering him money? I get what you wanted." The man whispers into his ear.
"N-no! It's really not! I simply wanted-!" Alexander stops himself when the man wordlessly falls forward. "...Huh...?"
"You really can't take care of yourself, can you?" Mikhail asks, grabbing his wrist and yanking him forward. "Let's go before I get caught."
"Mikhail…" Alexander calls happily, sending a cold chill down Mikhail's spine. "You're so kind!"
"Don't say my name like that, and I don't care." He commands before turning to Alexander. "I simply decided it was stupid not to get that money."
"Of course!" Alexander chuckles, receiving a glare from Mikhail.
"You piss me off."
"Nope, you like me! I know you do! You saved me!"
"You want to be left for creepy men to attack? Keep that attitude up." Mikhail warns, making Alexander go silent.
A/N: Rika is a German name, for the record. I thought it was only Japanese, but nope! It's German as well. In German it means Honorable ruler, so I found it fitting. Uuummmm...I packed a lot into one chapter...it won't happen again...probably. Anyways I hope you like it.