"Good morning, Your Highness. Let's make today another great day." A maid's voice rung cheerfully throughout the large chamber as she pulled open the grand chantilly-lace trimmed curtains, letting the room fill with fresh, almost blindingly bright sunlight. Majestically light wallpaper of a baby blue color adorned the walls with streaks of gold curling around the base like the stem of a flower. With a soft swish of her obsidian and ivory uniform, the maid rolled over the tea cart she had brought with her to the side of the canopy bed placed in the center of the room. As she poured steaming liquid from a pot into a silver tea cup, the covers were pushed aside on the bed and a sleepy yawn followed suit.
The boy, who was nestled under the blankets moments before, rubbed his powder blue eyes groggily after he sat up on the silken sheet beneath him. The teacup was handed to him on a matching saucer and he inhaled the sweet herbal aroma of earl grey before taking a sip.
"Are they back finally today, Hannah?" The boy asked before setting down the teacup.
"It is as you assume, Your Highness. They arrived earlier this morning. Your parents would like to see you as soon as you're ready." The maid responded as she situated his clothes for the day in her arms. With a simple tug, Hannah removed his night shirt and slipped a white ,chiffon blouse over his head. She tied the ribbons attached to the ruffled collar after buttoning the shirt up and slid white thigh-high stockings onto his slender legs. After he was dressed in light blue shorts and a matching overcoat, his maid stood by the door patiently for him.
Walking passed her out the door he was greeted by other maids and butlers bowing throughout the hallway. Their greetings were universal in his mind as they were every other morning. "Good morning, Prince Alois." They all chirped in highly enthusiastic tones. Without a single glance in their direction, he brushed platinum blonde strands out of his eyes and walked through statuesque doors leading into the main dining hall held open by two servants identical in appearance.
The long dining table was set with a bountiful selection of breakfast delicacies and pearl-colored lilies picked fresh from the castle gardens; his mother's favorite. A man sat at the head of the table with a beautiful blonde woman by his side. He ran his hand through his dark chocolate hair as the boy sat down with them at the table.
"You're late." The man stated without looking over at his son. His wife sent him an almost irritable glance before sighing and smiling over at Alois.
"He's just a boy, Dear. We just got back. There's no need to be stern already now is it?" His mother said calmingly before turning her attention back over to the boy. "I know it was only two weeks but I hope you've been fine by yourself, my love. "
"You spoil him to much. That is exactly the problem." The king sighed and finally set his gaze upon his son who was paying more attention to the blueberry scone on his plate then his newly returned parents. "Your fifteenth birthday is less than three months away. I was already working on the royal court and helping my father at that age. You've got to start taking more responsibility around here."
Alois's sharp blue gaze met with the king's over his scone. It didn't matter in his opinion. His days were run on a tight schedule from the moment he woke up to his nightly baths. Tutors from all over the kingdom came daily for the young prince's lessons and it truly was tiring. "I don't see how it matters anyway. If it's so important have someone else deal with it." He cheekily replied before taking a big bite out of flaky pastry in front of him.
His father's hands slammed down on the table with a loud bang. "You're the heir to the throne! It is time for you to grow up whether you like it or not, Alois!" The booming sound of his voice echoed throughout the room. "By the end of October I want you to start working in the court learning how to address laws. That is all."
"Dear please... There's no need to best harsh with him..." The queen started but the boy had already started to exit the room, the servants not saying a word as he stormed out. It wasn't uncommon for the king and prince to bicker and it had been that way since the prince was small. Because of their strained relationship, his younger brother had been studying over seas the past year; his father hoping this would make his other son more prepared to support their kingdom. Alois missed the boy dreadfully and the castle walls started feeling more and more like a prison without his cheerful grin.
As he made it back to his chamber, he found his maid cleaning up the tea cart and folding his night-shirt neatly into a basket.
"Oh! You're back already!" Hannah exclaimed. "... I'm assuming it didn't go well as usual, Your Highness?" Her indigo colored-lips smiled sympathetically at him.
"I'm sick of him always telling me what to do!" The young prince snapped before plopping down on his plush bed that had just been made.
"He is your father after all, Your Highness...At least look on the bright side. You have the rest of the day to relax." She said cheerfully, hoping to brighten him up.
"Really?" Alois questioned, his icy eyes staring at her curiously.
"Yes. There is a ball being held at the royal castle in Ariadne Kingdom. A lot of the maids are attending. Your parents granted them off for the evening. Apparently this is new king's first ball as ruler. I'm sure it will be absolutely extravagant. All ladies in the land are invited. Seems to me they're just trying to find him a wife." She chuckled lightly before tucking the laundry basket on the lower level of the cart.
"Extravagant huh? I wish I could go just to get out of this hell hole..." Alois sighed longingly while staring up at the ceiling.
"You know your father would freak if he found out you left the palace." She replied, instantly regretting bringing that up from the bright look in her master's eyes. "Your Highness please... You seriously can't think be thinking of going to that ball... The castle in Ariadne Kingdom is two hours from here. There's no way you could be out all night without anyone noticing."
"But most of the maids will be out tonight and father will be busy just getting back from his trip!" He argued back. Hannah knew better than anyone once an idea got in that head of his, it was impossible to talk him out of it.
"What would you even wear? You couldn't wear any of your normal clothes, My lord. If the heir to Psyche Kingdom was found unsupervised at another kingdom's ball..." A shiver ran up her spine at the thought of the punishment that would certainly come her way if the blonde boy was caught. After a moment of staring into those excited blue eyes, Hannah sighed and shook her head. "I'm not going to talk you out of this am I..?" She turned her back to him and began pushing the cart out the door to continue the rest of her chores for the day. "Come down to the maid chambers by three. I'll get you ready for the ball. Oh Alois Trancy... The things you put me through..." The maid mumbled under her breathe as she exited the prince's room.
X-X
By the time the clock reached three, Alois snuck his way down to the lower quarters of the castle. Majority of the maids were already gone to get dolled up for the ball and the rest of the staff were relaxed with the loose schedule. While making sure not to be seen by any lingering staff, he opened the door to his maid's room in the servant hallway and headed inside. Even though she was a servant, being the personal maid to the prince since he was an infant, she had her own room with all the necessities she could ask for. His eyes widened the slightest when he saw her.
"Ready to get started, My lord?" Hannah asked as she turned around. Unlike her usual appearance, the maid was dressed in a luscious dark purple gown with a high french braid running through her long hair.
"Why are you dressed like that?" The blonde asked with a incredulous tone.
"Well someone has to supervise you on this trip now don't they?" She said in response simply as she opened up her wardrobe. "I've been thinking the past few hours how we can get you through this ball without being recognized... Even though it might not be the most desirable option, I've figured out a way." She pulled out a spring lavender ball gown with delicate white lace.
"For me? In that flower of a dress?" Annoyance rippled in the young royal's voice and his eyebrows were raised.
"You want to get out of here on your own for once isn't that right? I see no other option. We must start now if you're serious; the ball starts at six and the ride will be long."
The young boy's wanderlust beat out the hesitant voices in his mind and he allowed her to dress him for the ball. By the time she was finished, he couldn't believe the reflection staring back at him was his own. Long, curled extensions flowed elegantly down to his back and a single white rose was tucked behind his ear. The lavender gown ,that had belonged to his mother when she was young, fit him like a glove and extenuated his lithe figure beautifully. White gloves ran up to his elbows and matched the lace on the frilly yet still elegant gown.
Standing behind him, Hannah strung a strand of shining pearls along his neck and hooked them in the back. "There we go... Perfect. These were my mother's pearls. They look perfect against your fair complexion, Your Highness." A genuinely loving smile flickered on her lips as a soft ring echoed off the landline phone on her dresser. "That must be the carriage! It's now or now." Hannah waited until her young master left the room to follow behind him, quietly closing the door behind them.
