Matthew walked across the dirt road that led into the city, smiling at a passing mule driver who tipped his hat as he passed. The bustling town was a welcome balm to the endless quiet Matthew had endured these past few days, what with the sound of everyone talking and carts rumbling past, the children who still remained running around playing tag and whatnot, squealing when someone was caught. Matthew let the noise soak in, his smile growing wider by the minute.

Even with Braginski's rule, the town was still going on and lively. It gave the young prince a sliver of hope. He looked up and enjoyed the afternoon sun on his face, noticing that there wasn't a single gray cloud, despite the recent rain. He could only shrug and continue on, saying hello to the occasional citizen. They were all so friendly, even with the mistrust toward the throne. It had been so different in the palace, everyone overly conscious about rank and such, so stiff and formal, so cold. It had gotten even colder after Braginski came, and utterly destroyed any warmth that could have possibly once resided there, in the form of the twins' mother. That had been a dark day.

Matthew had come to the very outskirts of the town, and there was barely anyone there, only a few who worked with the servants or delivered goods here. They all stared at Matthew strangely. He did look quite out of place, with his nice overcoat in contrast to their threadbare woolen shirts. He wished he had thought to change before he left.

He skirted around the gates and came to the locked entrance to the gardens. Thankfully, or maybe not, growing up in the castle had given him access to several little passages and entrances no one else besides Alfred knew about. He looked out across the stone wall surrounding the gardens and spotted the chink in the wall that he knew was right above a hole covered from sight by climbing ivy.

He hurried over and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Reassured, he brushed aside the growing vines and saw the hole. Squeezing through, he was in the gardens, and now he didn't know what to do. Why had he even come here? What had been the point? What if he was caught? Even if nobody else did, Braginski knew that he was one of the princes!

Matthew sighed and rubbed his forehead. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea…

Just then, he looked up and saw a floating apparition. Well, it had feet, but they were almost transparent, so gave the illusion of floating.

Matthew watched it for a minute, before it turned and he could see it had a human face. What the heck was it? He walked up, thinking that maybe it needed some help.

"Um, excuse me?"

The thing turned, and Matthew saw that it looked completely human, even if he was transparent.

"Vhat… you can see me?"

Woah, that was usually the other's line! He felt an odd sense of deja vu, hearing it come from someone else's mouth.

"Yeah. Were you aware that you are completely see-through?"


Wang Yao sighed as another day of serving the new Master caught up to him. It weighed heavy on his shoulders, adding more droop than usual. He wished he could go home to his kids, whose mother had died a year before. They had become independent, but they still needed a father, and Yao wished he be one. Unfortunately, Braginski made all servants live on the castle grounds.

Speaking of Braginski, which everyone was, he needed to submit the midday report. He hated the midday report, since it interrupted duties that he wanted to get done as soon as possible. He climbed wearily up the stone stairs and walked down the corridor, staring at the parchment he held in front of him, containing the names of the servants and their status. A few notes were written beside a couple of the names, but thankfully, they were affordable to let go. Like that Elizaveta woman. She had been a hard worker, and Yao was disappointed to see her go, but she was a little too violent in the kitchen. she had no family that he knew of, so didn't have anyone she really needed to support besides herself.

He realized that he had arrived at the entrance to Master Braginski's office. He swallowed and knocked, squaring his shoulders and trying his hardest to look impassive. He didn't know why he was so scared by the man, but something about the aura around him gave him the chills, not to mention that smile… that demonic smile that scared the whole of Yao's staff. He had heard rumors about what Braginski had done in his own hometown, and was terrified of what he could do on the throne.

A footman opened the door and bowed Yao into the room. Braginski was sitting forward in his seat smiling pleasantly. "Hello Yao, what brings you here?"

What always brings me here around now. "Midday report, Sir." he answered respectfully, lowering his eyes to his parchment so he didn't have to meet the other's purple gaze.

"Go on, da."

"Well, we've let a few servants go… Elizaveta Héderváry, Vash Zwingli, and Sadik Adnan… Other servants' performance is satisfying. We had a mishap in the dungeons today, but that has been taken care of."

Braginski nodded, still smiling. "Thank you, Yao. You may go."

Yao nodded and gave a perfunctory bow, before turning to hurry out of the room. Who had given Braginski first-name privileges anyway? Yao this, Yao that…

"Oh, and Yao?"

"Yes, Sir?" he almost sighed, but held it back.

"Please don't be scared of me."

Yao closed the door behind him, wondering about that parting remark. Had he read his mind? No, that was impossible…

He hoped.


Arthur stared at the sight before him. Two older children, a castle servant (assuming from his poor clothing), and…

"Antonio? What are you doing here?" What could his old acquaintance possibly find interesting at the castle? And who were those kids?

"I'm here to save a little boy!" he announced, dropping all caution. His three companions shushed him quickly, the servant glaring at him. "Right, sorry!" he smiled.

"Do you mean Peter? Small blonde?"

"Yeah, you seen him?" the little girl asked, a challenge in her eyes. Arthur bit back an amused grin.

"Yes, but you're not going to have any access to him going that direction."

"Can't we go through the window?" the young boy asked snaking an arm around the girl, who slapped it away.

"No, it's far too small, even for the girl. Sorry. But I'm going to get him out, so you can go home." Arthur replied, looking back at Lukas and Matthias, who were quizzically assessing the conversation and the group of misfits in front of them.

"No way! We're helping Peter!" the girl answered, puffing out her cheeks.

"Arthur, let us help!" Antonio pleaded, clasping his hands in front of him and receiving another glare from the servant. The old soldier winced, thinking about Antonio's clumsiness, and sighed. He knew far too well that the man wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Fine," he relented, "But stay quiet and right behind those two." He motioned to the blondes behind him and continued his journey, slinking through shadows and moonlight.