Hello everyone! I hope everyone's having a good day/night! Here's a new chapter so, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Mikayla POV
Today was the monthly royal parade, which my father always hosted to show he was King, the parades becoming fancier by the month. I was never a big fan of the parades myself even though I was in them. I mean, who wants to ride on a horse for a few hours without getting off and then come right back to the castle? If you even consider this freedom from the castle, you must not have a life like mine: Freedom is when you can do what you want when you leave the castle, not when you're stuck on a horse during a hot day, showing off your wealth to all of the poor villagers.

Did I mention that was the part I hated the most? I hate that I show off that I have everything while there are people nearly starving in the village. However, at the castle we've been hearing reports of three brothers helping people out in the village, which makes me wonder if one of them is him. I mean, the boy I met yesterday was with two other boys and they left together, so could they possibly be the trio?

"My lady, you look beautiful!" I turned my attention to my lady-in-waiting, Alex. She was another close friend of mine, much like Indigo was, mailing because we were the same age. Alex had black hair that was all the way down to her waist as well as tan white skin and bright green eyes. I smiled. "Thank you Alex, and please, call me Mikayla." Even though she was my best friend, she still had to address me formally, another downside of being a princess.

I was wearing a pink dress with green flowers on it. The dress reached the floor, and had ½ sleeves that reached my elbows. It was light and comfortable; something a dress had to be if you were riding a horse. I was wearing a pair of heels, even though I was going to be riding a horse. The heels were white and strapped around my foot so as not to fall off while I was in the parade. The heel was about two inches high. Last but not least, my hair was done up in a bun asides from two strands, one hanging down on each side of my face, both of them slightly curled. My tiara was placed on top of my head, a few bobby pins holding it in place so it did not fall off.

I had to agree with Alex: I loved the outfit, and I thought I did look pretty in it. "Now come Princess. It's time to mount your horse so you may ride through the streets." I sighed but followed Alex to the Royal Stables without complaint. There was one thing I was looking forward to because of this parade: I might be able to see him. I still wanted to talk to that boy, to know his name, and I knew how I could meet him.

"Alex." My friend's attention shifted to me as we walked towards the stables. "Yes Princess?" Alex questioned as she continued walking. I was wondering if you could do me a favor." I now had her full attention. "There was a servant boy here yesterday, and I'm hoping that when I see him in the crowd, you might know who he is, or you could find out." Alex nodded. She used to live in the village, so she knew everyone there. "Of course my lady. Just point out the boy and I'll find out who he is. Would you like me to bring him to the castle as well?" I hesitated in response. I didn't really want to force him to come to the castle. I would rather him come here on his own free will. Then again, I'm not sure the guards would let him in.

"No, don't bring him back to the castle. Just find out his name and where he lives." Alex nodded at my words before she squealed. "I sense a secret romance forming! This is just like the fairytales, where the princess falls for a common boy or the prince falls for the servant girl or something along those lines!" I smiled at my friend, not confirming her fantasies, but also not denying them.

We then reached the stables, stopping any other conversation in fear of my father overhearing. If he knew I was trying to get in contact with a servant boy, he would flip out and probably throw the boy in the dungeon. That would not be good at all.

I smiled at I walked over to my horse, a beautiful white stallion with a blonde mane and tail. I had named him Ice. He was the best horse anyone could ask for. I loved to take him for a ride whenever I could. With the help of a few stable hands I was able to climb up onto Ice's back without ruining my dress. Sitting on him with my feet hanging off one one side, since I was wearing a dress, I grabbed the reins and we began walking towards where my father was already waiting with our part of the parade.

"Are you ready?" He questioned as I rode up to him. I nodded before we were signaled for us to begin riding. My father and I rode out together, side by side. I put on a wide smile as the first villagers came into view, but I was searching for one in particular. Glancing down quickly to make sure Alex was beside me, I sighed quietly in relief when I discovered she was.

My eyes went back to searching for the boy. He had to be here. All of the villagers were given the day off, and it was required that you show up, otherwise you would go to the dungeon. The latter of the two things was a result of my father believing Sirocco would rob somewhere while the guards weren't on duty and the villagers not at their stands. Since I had met the thief myself, I didn't believe he would do that.

As we neared the farther corners of the village where some of the more worn down houses were, I spotted the two boys I had seen with him the day before, except they were right next to him. Maybe they're brothers? He was wearing a tan cloak, concealing his clothes beneath, but I would recognize that black hair, and most of all, his brown eyes, anywhere. Reaching down and tapping Alex's shoulder discreetly, I motioned to the boy. Alex's eyes flitted over to him before flickering back to me.

"The black-haired, brown-eyed one?" She mouthed. I nodded. She smiled. "He's cute!" I smiled at her before I shifted my gaze back to him. Our eyes locked, and I smiled at him, butterflies filling my stomach when he smiled back. One thing I did notice though was when the two boys next to him noticed our eye lock they both nudged him, but it didn't affect him. We kept our gazes locked until I was forced to turn away, as I was past him and it would look suspicious if I continued to stare. Smiling to myself as we rode away, I didn't even notice when Alex left the group. Who is that boy?

Brady POV

"Dude, she was so in to you!" Boomer teased as we began walking away from our spot where we had watched the parade for four hours. "She was not. She was probably just looking at all of us villagers." I tried to argue back, but the blush that was beginning to creep its way onto my face was showing I thought otherwise as well.

"Excuse me; can I talk to you please?" I looked up to see a girl around my age with long black hair and green eyes staring at me. Noticing my slight hesitation, she quickly spoke up, "It will only take a moment." Even though I was still confused I nodded before allowing the girl to lead me to a quiet place where there was no one else.

"Do you mind telling me your name and where you live?" This question shocked me. Why in the world would a stranger want to know where I live? "I'll answer your questions if you'll answer mine: Why do you need to know this?" I questioned the girl, trying to figure out what was going on. Panic flashed in her eyes before she covered it. "W-Well, my friend wanted to ask you but she couldn't do it herself so she asked me to ask you for her." I nodded slowly, allowing what she had said to sink in.

"Who is your friend?" As soon as these words left my mouth the girl panicked again. "She'd rather I not say." I sighed in annoyance and frustration. "Fine then. My name is Brady Parker and I live on the edge of the village, one of the only houses out there. My house is the small cottage. Is that all you need?" The girl nodded before she quickly left, leaving me to return to my brothers, confused.

"What was that about?" Boz questioned as I walked up to them. I shrugged. "She just asked me for my name and where I lived for her friend." Boomer and Boz both smiled knowingly but didn't say anything more as we began walking back home again, all three of us ready for lunch and the rest of the day relaxing.

Mikayla POV

Thirty minutes after the parade had ended, I was in my room. I had already changed into some shorts and I tank-top, something I only wore when I was in my room. Lying down on my bed, I envisioned the boy's eyes in my mind. They seemed so familiar, yet I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Princess, I know his name and where he lives!" Alex burst into my room as she said this. I jumped at her sudden entrance before sitting up, Alex sitting next to me, completely silent. She was being quiet on purpose too as she tried to hide her smile. "Well? What's his name?" I demanded, dying to know something about the boy.

"His name is Brady Parker and he lives on the edge of the village in a cottage!" Alex finally burst out, giggling after she finished. "And," She whispered, "He's cute!" I nodded in agreement, blushing as I did so. Brady Parker. So you're the one who's captured my heart. I smiled as I pictured him in my head again. Now I definitely know where I'm sneaking out to tonight.

Did you guys like it? Thanks for reading!

Lots of Hugs,

Bra-Kayla Luver4eva