The story is just getting started! Hope y'all like it!

Chapter One

"Mattie! Don't go yet!" Matthew internally groaned.

"Al, if I stay too long, people could start to notice and-"

"Oh hush lad! No one will notice if you're gone a few more hours" Alice cut in, from behind the plush, blue sofa, bringing tea on a tray into the grand living room of the palace.

"You work at a library for Pete's sake, and today's your off day" Alfred paused, fixing his dark blue coat. "Wait, today's your day off, right?"

Matthew was about to respond when Alice cut in again.

"It doesn't matter. I've cooked today, and I want you to try my scones" she stated, looking at him firmly, into his violet eyes. He swallowed, and looked to Alfred, who had wide eyes.

Al?! What have you done?! How could you let this happen?!

"B-but honey" Alfred laughed nervously. "Why did you cook? We have cooks for a reason"

Alice shot him a sharp look before returning her gaze to Matthew and sighed.

"It's been forever since I cooked, since my dear husband won't let me" she glared at Alfred, and left the room wordlessly.

"Why is Alice cooking?!" Matthew exclaimed the moment Alice left.

"I don't know Mattie" Alfred groaned, and sat back on the sofa. He covered his eyes with his arm, and began to grumble to himself. Matthew resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the older twin.

"I'll be leaving, I left work and came straight to you guys to inform you of the rebellion" he said as he got up. "But now, I'm sure nobody will rebel against the traveler's tax after seeing Alice's cooking"

Alfred peeked from behind his arm to his brother, a desperate look in his eyes.

"Take me wherever you live. Please. I don't think I can eat a scone without choking to death or getting food poisoning" Alfred desperately pleaded. "I promise I won't bother you. You won't even know I'm there. Just for a few days, until Yao comes back from the Kingdom of Clubs with the Confirmation of Trade and talks Alice out of cooking again"

This time, Matthew rolled his eyes, and began for the exit of the living room, planning on returning to his sweet, humble home.

"I'll even feed Kuma! Kuma will be so stuffed; he'll look like a bowling ball and not a polar bear! Please!"

Quickening his pace, in hopes of escaping the palace and not getting caught by Alice, Matthew left.

"Kuma! Your bear food- I mean dinner is ready!" Matthew yelled, before waiting for the small polar bear.

When the stool-height bear ran into the room, Matthew relaxed. Kuma was almost always ready to eat, but lately he hadn't been eating well. The grey tiles beneath his feet looked white beneath the reflection of the bear's fur.

Running a hand though his blonde hair, he made his way to the light gray stove. He left the stove, when the doorbell rang. He took a quick glance at the boiling water before leaving for the door.

Who could it be? It's not like he had any friends, unless Kuma and his neighbor Carlos counted. The staff at the library was nice, but none of them really talked to him that much. That is, if they noticed him.

He paused, a few feet away from the oak door.

What if someone found out? What if it were another kingdom that sent someone after him? What if-

The doorbell rang again.

He swallowed, and continued to the door.

He held the handle, unlocking the door with the other hand and regretting not having a peephole in the door so he could see who was out there.

The door creaked open, and Matthew was greeted with an unfamiliar face.