You wouldn't have known that right now, as the people of Oriens celebrated their own country, that a silent war was taking place. I wandered along the streets, already a little tipsy from some of that sake I'd tried... well. A lot of it... and gazed in wonder at all the brightly coloured robes. Kimonos? Or did they call them something else?

It didn't matter.

My mind wasn't on that. It was on the war that no one knew was happening.

It was a little surreel as I wandered along the streets, flanked by two of my father's bodyguards, wearing one of those robe things and sampling whatever food or alcohol that took my fancy. Buying whatever pretty thing I wanted. Stood on the edge of the hotel balcony and watched a paradge go by. Listened and marvelled to traditional Orieans dancing and theature that drew us into a warm summer's night.

Right now, my brothers were waiting on a ship, Father's best technology guys hacking away at the Oriens security system, with enough paid men to take over a country in the most modern sense possible. I didn't have to be there to know what was happening. Stage one was to take control of Orien's prized technology and IT.

Stage two was tonight.

I'd never been to this country before. I liked it. It was hard to admit that, becasuse I felt a little bad knowing what was happening behind the secenes, but I did. I liked that people respected each other with a bow. The use of honorifics. I liked their food.

I even liked the royal family. I'd seen them at the parade, these distant beautiful figures clad in traditional robes, waving from the security of their specially made cars. There they were. My father's prime targets. Feeling so secure and so protected behind bullet proof cars and with security on every side, hiding in the crowd, swarming around to protect them. Father wasn't far from their car, an important figure in politics, and a well respected one. He was well known for being a proud and passionate defender of the Kingdom's Monarchy system. Well known for supporting and owning several of the IT devolopment 'labs' that had helped Oriens join some of the other superpowers in the world.

It'd been an act for decades. Decades upon decades.

Of course... that had been long before I'd met him. I hadn't ever set foot in my father's country before today. Mum was his mistress overseas, something they'd kept even from me, and he'd only revealed himself to me when fate had forced him to. When Mum had died and I'd had no one left in my world. I couldn't say if Father was proud of me- he didn't like women much- but it would have dented his honor and pride as a man if I seemed 'unhappy'.

I'd learnt that the hard way when I'd made him look bad. He'd made sure I understood how important appearances were. And when he'd done it, he'd made sure that there wasn't a single mark on my arms or face to ensure that I could smile happily for cameras. Hide the pain. The family motto. We concealed our pain behind doors, fabric, and smiles.

I didn't like my Father much.

But I'd smiled as he moved past in the parade, waved, and then continued to drink my own pain away.

That night was when I took on my role. I joined my father at the casino, late into the night, pretending to enjoy wasting vast amounts of money as his plan fell into place perfectly. As the Oriens technology was used against the Royal family.

And by dawn, he'd done it. Successfully. Almost beautifully. An invasion with scarcely any bloodshed, without any noise, without any explosions. My father had managed to take over the Royal Family and take control of Oriens in one night.

By dawn, there was reports of a 'terrorist' attack, reports that the Royal Family were shaken but well, and the King and Queen themselves reassuring the nation that all was well. There were areas of their castle that were now undergoing repairs, soldiers patrolling the streets and the castle grounds, but all was well. My father's hired doubles. I didn't know where he'd stashed the real King or Queen.

It had been so easy. While my father and I gambled away, pretending to enjoy it, his people had tracked every key figure in the military and security forces via social media. Tracked the royal family via the media's obsessive stalking. In an era where privacy and internet did not go together... it had been far too simple to ensure that each key figure was watched.

It was late when I returned to my private penthouse to watch the fireworks. The fireworks were to signify the beginning of the end of Orien's royal family. A signal that they were now being hunted within their own Castle. I'd stood there, watching the fireworks over the castle as did the rest of the nation, surrounded by happy people who had no clue about what was going on inside. I liked the country. People treated me as if I belonged, danced with me, laughed, and children played with me.

And when he'd brought me to the castle that next afternoon I was confronted with the stark reality of what he'd done. Confronted with the white faces of people. Not royals. Not figures. People. Terrified mum and dad, standing in front of a boy that was red faced, wet eyed, his face screwed up with anger and fear. A young man who stood beside them, half sheltering his brother behind his leg, gazing at us with pure hatred. All four of them still in Pjs.

I'd had to watch as the butler, who'd tried to stop them dragging the child away, get beaten until he no longer moved. Listen to the child scream for 'Yu' until he couldn't scream anymore. He was just a boy. They were terrified.

It was the first moment I realised I didn't know what he'd do with them now he was replacing them with fakes. And … the moment I realised that, however afraid I was of my Father, I … I didn't feel okay with it. I didn't feel as if I could do this for long without screaming. Even alcohol wasn't going to numb these feelings.

I'd stared at the butler as he was dragged out, blood matting his black hair, and knew. Felt it deep inside. There was no way I could allow this. I knew how cruel my father could be.

I didn't sleep very well that night.

It was so quiet in the servant area of the castle. I wondered, as I quietly moved along the passage, if it had once been busy with life. Servants, maids, butlers, rushing too and fro in the wide hospital like passage ways that serviced all the main areas of the castle, pushing along carts of food or cleaning products.

My boots were tied up and swung over my shoulder, the socks keeping my movement silent, and the only sound I made as I hurried along was the gentle splish-splosh of the wine in the half empty bottle. I was still in Pjs- it was easier to explain why I was out if I was in them- but my regular clothing was carefully folded away in one of the backpacks I carried.

Even now I couldn't explain it. But two nights ago I'd witnessed the capture of the royal family and their guests and... it'd moved me. It'd made me feel something for the first time since my mother had died. I'd spent all night last night, drinking and planning tonight, because I knew that if I spent any longer with my father or his family... I'd go crazy. Or drink myself to death. Or spen the rest of my life some unhappy wife to a man he'd decided I'd marry.

Maybe the reasons I had tonight were partly selfish. Partly to help myself escape. But … for some reason I couldn't let myself escape tonight without making sure those Princes escaped as well.

I was already a little tipsy tonight. It helped me concentrate. I knew where the soldiers were stationed, there were several servant wings that were now home to servants and soldiers alike, and so it'd be easy to avoid them. The poor servants were basically under guard 24/7. Not something I could fix tonight. I took another drink of the wine as I passed one of the security cameras, pursing my lips to avoid drinking more than necessary, because if I was caught tonight... my father would write me off as drunk. Again.

I wouldn't get into trouble for it.

In fact, he already knew I was fascinated by the Princes, and it was a well known 'fact' that I liked celebrities I didn't really. I liked going to parties to escape my father. But his power and influence meant that celebrities tended to be at those parties.

I froze, suddenly, as I heard a servant pass by in a fast pace. Quickly I switched off my gear. It was one of the Butlers that served those Princes, his face drawn and pale, with a soldier trailing his every move. I felt bad for him. I really did. But I couldn't figure out how to help them escape as well. So I watched him pass, and the soldier, standing perfectly still and quiet as they moved past. The solider didn't notice me, he was busy harassing the poor man, and if the Butler had seen me... he pretended not to. It was probably better for both of us that way.

It took them barely two minutes before they were out of hearing range and I moved again, quickly, focusing on my own task at hand.

Father had planned the whole invasion thing beautifully... but he'd overlooked one fact. Two extra Princes had turned up in their careful search of the castle. I didn't hear anything about the King or Queen- I knew that father had caught them but they'd been relocated to somewhere else. I hoped they were alive.

As another patrol of soldiers, just a pair of them, passed by I paused and waited quietly in a dark doorway. Once they were gone I continued onwards, slowly, making sure that I took a 'deep drink' of the wine every time I passed one of those cameras. I even paused to smile and wave from time to time. As long as I pretended that I could be here... I suspected that they'd probably not question it. Not with my reputation for partying and drinking.

The last stretch was the one I'd been least looking forward to. This area, a floor below the servant quarters and the area that had been used for laundry, offices, that kind of thing... was sealed off and off limits, pitch black inside, and it meant I had to revert to the night vision gear I'd nicked from the equipment. I hated the dark. It scared me to death.

I ran now, breathing a little faster, trying to not panic as the vivid green view on my night vision gear added to the horrible eerie experience that was being in a deserted ancient castle hallway ...basement. Or something like that. I half expected a ghost, an alien, or ...something else to burst out at me from the shadows, empty rooms or the halls. It was with great relief when I found the other end of the passage way that connected to the great two-story kitchens.

Pausing at the door, as I slid the goggles off once again, I forced myself to stop and listen. These kitchens were incredible. Two floors of kitchen, designed for feeding god knew how many people, and the upper floor was basically open to any soldier who was hungry. From what I'd heard most of the soldiers used the servants for food, so I might have gotten away if a servant saw me, but I had to be wary.

I slid the door open slowly and gazed around the lower level of the kitchen. It was empty. I could hear someone in the upper level, shoes on tiles as they moved around, the smell of cooking food reminding me of how hungry I was right now.

The Princes were literally just metres away now. They were being kept in a cellar, which was a floor below this kitchen floor, which kind of made sense in a way. Four floors below the ground level of the castle. No one would hear them down there. Servants wouldn't know, unless they knew them personally, that the Princes had been replaced.

That was Father's other part of his plan.

He'd replaced the Princes and the royal family with duplicates. Beautiful duplicates. You wouldn't have known if you didn't know to look. The royal family were often so distant from their own country and servants anyway... he'd easily pull it off. As far as the servants knew... as far as they'd been TOLD... the 'empty' servant quarters and areas of the castle had been the target of a terrorist attack. The soldiers were to 'protect' the royal family.

Father didn't want to be King. He wanted to be the ruler. He'd just hired someone to play King while he made all the decisions.

The discovery of three extra Princes- Prince Roberto, Prince Joshua and Prince Wilfred- had been a huge problem. He had yet to decide what to do about that. It'd taken months just to get the original duplicates ready. Last I'd heard was that they were 'sick with the flu'.

Not that it was MY problem. Nope.

I listened for a good ten minutes to the movement of whoever it was on the floor above. They were clearly busy though and I wasn't sure how much longer it'd be safe to wait. What time did servants get breakfast going? Given that it was already three in the morning... I glared at the clock as it gave me THAT shock... I didn't want to risk it.

Quietly I headed for the kitchen larder and gazed around. I'd intended on spending a little more time in here. My plan was pretty simple- get Princes out of castle and to the coast. Put them on a boat. They'd be able to contact that Liberty Kingdom if they sailed far enough from the cell phone blocking and ...well, I didn't know, but I was sure that there'd be help and stuff. I only had planned as far as the boat.

Realistically though I didn't know if it'd take a few hours, a few days, or even a week before we got to the coast. Father would be pretty angry to find out they'd gotten out so we might have issues getting there quickly. Luckily Oriens was surrounded by coasts- he couldn't watch ALL the boats. Could he?

So I spent a few precious minutes, while listening for feet, moving around the massive kitchen storage room and collecting a few lightweight things that they could eat or use. Matches, plastic sandwich bags, aspirin, batteries, and stuff like instant noodles. Rice. Stuff that could last a while. I filled several cloth bags of it and, as I headed back for the kitchen, I found myself staring at the small wine fridge with half-used wines.

Oh.

I stared at those bottles of temptation a while. My hand was trembling, I realised, as the urge to collect some wine started to weigh on me. It was totally irresponsible and useless- we wouldn't NEED this shit- but … but wine was my way of coping with stress.

I knew that I'd be stressed while helping them with this.

It helped me cope with my family. And yeah. I knew it was weak. I knew it was pathetic. I felt guilt and shame every time I felt the need to cling to alcohol for comfort. The only thing I could say to myself, to make myself feel better, was that at least I hadn't turned to drugs. But mum wouldn't be impressed with this either.

It won. I gathered several bottles of nearly full wine and added them to the bags, silently wrapping them so they wouldn't clink together, before I headed back into the kitchen. Even as I did- my heart sunk at my own weakness. I had a lot to be grateful for. And yet... I was still depressed.

It made no sense and I honestly hated it. Alcohol just … just made it easier to forget about that feeling.

I swallowed it away for now though. Right.

There was a lift to the hallway outside the cellar and a staircase for emergencies. Lift was a bad idea. If someone decided to shut it down, while I was mid-rescue, then we'd be stuck till Father came and got us. Not ideal. So I headed for the staircase. I left the bags of supplies there, carefully sliding them onto the ground and dropping my boots beside them, and slid my backpack off my back.

Inside was beer. Quite a lot of it actually. I opened the top bottles of it, my fingers trembling as I opened up a paper box of medicine, crushing each pill between my fingers as I emptied it into each bottle. It took another precious twenty minutes, much to my frustration, but when it was done I lifted the bag of beer back onto my back and slowly headed down the staircase for the last level.

One last thing to do.

The small hallway at the very bottom of the basement levels smelt like beer and urine. Apparently the soldiers on duty had already been having a minor party down here. I screwed up my noise as I slid out into the hallway, gazing backwards and forwards, half curious about what else might be down here in such a deep level. Treasures? Family heirlooms? No time to find out.

Just as I stepped into the light, and into the soldier's attention, the lift opened. They frowned at me, hesitating, but the person stepping out from the lift distracted them.

"Yu, is it?" One of the soldiers moved over, his finger sliding into the trigger, and pushed at the cart. "What you got?"

"Claude." The butler's eyes skimmed over the subtle movement before he smiled a cold smile and responded with, "You asked for some food."

"Take a bite."

I had to admit- the sight of their guns kind of scared me. Huh. I hesitated, standing there feeling a little like a deer in headlights as they stared openly at me, not quite brave enough to speak to me... I was the daughter of their boss after all... but turning their half-drunk state onto the butler that'd appeared with a tray of food.

He stood there, calm as anything, as he lifted silver domes off steaming piles of food. Sausages, steak, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, toast, slabs of meat and cheese, and delicately lifted a silver fork to his mouth as he sampled each dish in front of them. They waved their guns in his direction as he ate, laughing, pretending to shoot him.

How he did that so damn calmly... I didn't know.

I seriously didn't. I'd have pissed myself if they pointed those guns at me. They weren't toys.

"Would you have me serve you plates?" Claude continued, lowering the fork, and without waiting for an answer began to serve them. He shot me a cool look and, although his face was neutral, I could feel hatred behind it. He'd seen me before when my father had brought me in to show off his hostages. "And you, Miss?"

The squad leader, identifiable by the extra armband, seemed to snap out of his half drunk state and moved towards me. "Miss Sophia. Did... did your father have a word for us?"

"Huh. Oh!"

I laughed, a high pitched laugh that I didn't feel, and waved my arms around. "Oh! I was so hungry. I'm sorry! Daddy sent me to give you a present for your hard work. Well. Actually. I was drinking one of them and I thought … I thought I wanted to share them. And-" I added, voice still high pitched, "-and maybe trade these beers for some of that wine in the room behind you. The really good wine. I don't like beer. It's a man's drink. Daddy said there was special wine down here."

I pouted and they ate my act up beautifully. The men laughed, nodding, the squad leader relaxing somewhat. Yep. They'd also heard about my reputation for drinking and partying.

"Of course you don't, Miss. Beer's a man's drink all right. I think, if one of us go inside, we can find you something better for a woman."

I relaxed and lifted the backpack of alcohol down for them. I pouted again, as the men started to take the bottles, adding with a fake smile, "Oh, I hope you don't mind that they are open- I had to taste them all. Just in case I liked one. I'm sure you don't mind me having sucked a little out."

Claude, I noticed, seemed to have gotten colder at this display. I ignored him. The men laughed again, as they took a sip, openly staring at my Pjs. I suddenly wished I'd worn a bra or something. I felt kind of exposed with that kind of stare and it wasn't at all comfortable.

"Get the woman some food. What the fuck at are you glaring at?" The squad leader turned onto Claude, suddenly, and slammed the gun across the butler's head. Somehow the man's facial expression didn't change as he bowed low. The squad leader turned on another of his own men and snapped, "And you get her something good to drink."

"Yes, as you request." Claude's voice was cold as he started to slide food onto a plate.

I was distracted as I felt something cold slide up my pj bottoms. One of the soldiers had gotten way too close, his gun between my legs, a disgusting leer on his face as he peered down at me. "Daddy wants us rewarded, huh. He grasped for his crotch, suddenly, adding, "How about you kiss me for a job well done?"

I stepped backwards fast.

Luckily the squad leader was quick to grab him and hoist him backwards. "Hey, man, you ain't gonna have anything for her to kiss if you're caught hitting on the Boss's daughter. Take your beer." He glanced in the direction of the security camera, which was pointed at them, and the leer slipped off the man's face pretty damn fast as he followed his friend's gaze.

"Yeah. Just a joke. A joke!" He added the last part loudly, hands up, stumbling backwards somewhat. I wasn't sure if the camera recorded audio too but I suspected, should my father watch this tomorrow, he'd get the point. "I'll... um. Here." The man grabbed the bag of beers, the bottles clinking dangerously as he swayed somewhat, and he turned and shoved the bottles at everyone. "I'll carry this for ya. Yeah. You get something to eat."

My attention was on the butler now though. He stood there, perfectly still, back straight, that smile still on his face even as his eyes watched them with obvious dislike. A trickle of blood was running down his cheek even as he stood there, sliding into the white shirt below, a gash under his ear bubbling red stuff slowly.

But he slowly handed me a plate of food and I took it, slowly, hesitating. I wasn't hungry at all. But I had to wait for that drug to work. Eating wasn't a bad excuse.

I ate slowly, ignoring the attention of the butler as I did, jumping as the lift opened again. It was just one of the other Butlers. Alberto? Probably. Or maybe it was Yu. I didn't know- the suits kind of threw me.

But it didn't matter. It took about two minutes before the soldiers started to fall asleep, the sedatives working quickly and effectively. I felt kind of exhausted just looking at them. They had big silly grins on their faces, totally oblivious to the fact that they were in trouble, which was just an added bonus.

The mind surprise on the two butler's faces was worth it. I smiled faintly as I dropped the plate on the cart and headed for the soldiers.

Three steps and I suddenly felt the world start to twist around me. It rocked backwards and forwards.

Oh. Um.

Had I washed the powdered pills off my fingers before I ate?

Or had I drunk too much?

"Woah. Shit. Too much wine." I muttered. It had to be that. I knelt beside the leader-man and fumbled with his pockets, finding the key card to the cellar, and leaned against the wall as I slid it through the hole. "Huh... Come on. Zap. Zip. Beep. Do it." I growled softly at the lock, hissing as the technology refused to accept the key card, forehead pressed against the wooden door. I just wanted to sleep suddenly. It was not good timing. I hadn't even gotten the Princes out yet.

Arms wrapped around me, suddenly, something steady and warm grasping onto my unsteady body and taking the key from my fingers. "Wrong way, Miss."

There was a click and as the door slid open, an explosion of sound as the four men inside shouted for the butler.

My mind swam, the room twisting about, but it was the sight of the child that managed to bring my mind back just for a moment. Big tear stained eyes met mine and I frowned, standing slowly, some self-awareness cutting through the exhaustion.

Oh yeah. Cute kid. I knew there was a reason I'd felt so bad. I smiled faintly as I moved inside, shaking free of the helpful arms that'd been helping me stay upright, kneeling in front of the little boy. "Shh. Gonna get you escaping, okay? Don't be afraid."

"Not afraid." He lied, this adorable kid, his lower lip trembling even as he raised his voice. "I'm not."

"Of course you're not. Look at you. I bet you'll be the one to help your brother escape, huh." God. I was so tired. I smiled faintly and shut my eyes, a moment, fighting the waves of exhaustion. The realisation that I wasn't gonna be leaving this place, that I'd have to face her father tomorrow, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I slid down beside the child, slowly, my mind trying to find excuses even as I tried to stay wake. I could... could claim I wanted to play with the child. Could claim I wanted an autograph.

I sighed, slowly, and gave up trying to fight the exhaustion. I wasn't sure how I'd done it... but I'd sedated myself as well.

My eyes opened, slowly, as I heard feet and voices. I watched through half opened eyes as several of the feet moved past, slowly, the little Prince Alan shepherded between the two bigger pairs of legs and out the cellar door. With a soft sigh, extremely relieved, I gave up fighting the urge to sleep. Yep. The Princes were loose. I was tired. I'd sleep and they'd be running away.

My father would be furious. It'd be hilarious.

With that thought in mind... I slipped into sleep.