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Eugene doesn't know what kind of man Prince Banale is (there's absolutely no way he's going to acknowledge her comparison of them from earlier), but once he sees the prince standing in the middle of the castle's third floor study, he is forced to make an admission that rattles his soul: the prince is a handsome man. Maybe even more handsome than Eugene himself!

…

Nah, he quickly assures himself, that's pretty much impossible.

He pulls his gaze from the man's face and scans the room from the safety of his discreet position just outside it, noting the presence of one other man besides the prince as Eugene looks for anything old-key shaped.

Ah hah!

There, on the table in the center of the room, the key in question sits alone, beckoning the former thief.

Scowling at the prince who is idly leafing through what appears to be some charts spread out over an old, dilapidated table beneath an assortment of mounted deer and elk heads, Eugene evaluates the situation.

This guy must think he's got it in the bag to be so confident.

It's gonna be fun raining on his parade.

So, to work! Setting foot in the room is his only option. With a quick shuffle, an effective distraction and a quick sleight of hand, then the key could be his. Right. Plan? Check. Implementation? … Working on it.

With a frustrated huff, the prince begins pacing the room. He runs his hand through his perfectly styled blonde hair. Unfortunately, the gesture only improves the hairstyle. Eugene's stomach rolls with disgust despite there being no ship or sea in sight.

"Your highness…" The weary reprimand comes from the only other individual in the room, Lord Rein. "Please remain calm. Our plan will succeed."

"Will it?" Banale challenges. "We don't seem to be making much progress."

"The princess' crown will be found as will the princess. Surely Corona is a prize worth waiting for."

"I hate waiting."

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Eugene smirks.

"I still don't know where we went wrong," he continues in an unbecoming whine. "I was charming. I was heroic. She should have been easily swayed toward accepting my marriage proposal."

The lord lays a hand on the young man's shoulder. "We knew she was… different."

"Yes, I am well aware of the company she keeps." His disdain permeates the air.

Eugene can't think of better company than himself. However, it seems that the prince disagrees with his silent assessment. Not wanting to add yet another reason to hate the prince to his ever-growing collection, Eugene makes his entrance. In this uniform he looks just like any number of other guards. He'd passed many on his way here. Still, he tilts his chin just so, allowing the helmet to shade his eyes more effectively. "Excuse me, your Majesty." And then with a slight twitch of his chin in Rein's direction, he adds, "My lord."

Lord Rein looks up expectantly and with some relief. "Any news to report?"

"No word of the princess, my lord, but..." He walks to the middle of the room. The table is almost within his reach. Now, it's time for a little distraction. "A sighting of the thief has been reported."

"Has he?" Rein muses. "Here in Trist?"

Eugene nods. "He attempted to cross the border. Our soldiers are in pursuit."

"Hah!" Banale crows and shares a look of triumph with a gloating Rein. In that single moment, Eugene takes his chance and palms the key from the table. He leaves behind a piece of a broken hinge that he'd found in the dungeons. With any luck, neither man will notice that the object on the table is not the one they'd put there for a good fifteen minutes. Maybe more. That, Eugene thinks silently, is how a master works.

"We'll have him soon! And with that simpleton out of our way…!" Banale rejoices.

Rein argues gently. "Yes, although before he's disposed of, he might be of some use to us in luring the princess to Trist." The lord leans back in his chair and folds his hands over his belly. "Yes, you see, your Majesty? It's all coming together. Patience is the key."

At the mention of the key, Eugene quickly distracts the prince from glancing in the direction of that very object. "If I may, sir, I would like to confirm the details."

"Yes, yes, go," Banale bids him with a listless wave of his hand. "Leave us."

"Yes, your Majesty. My lord." Bowing, Eugene retreats from the room, key in hand.

This is almost too easy! Eugene nearly makes it out of the door before Rein calls out to him. Maybe not too easy, he quickly amends. He wonders if uniforms come with built-in warmers: his collar is suddenly feeling strangely hot.

The lord stands, giving him a considering look, and crosses the room toward him. "You look very familiar, soldier. What is your name?"

"Bartimus. Morphy Bartimus." Was that his voice that had squeaked? "Sir."

"Hm… I don't believe I've heard of you…"

"I don't usually patrol the castle, sir, but given the circumstances…"

"Yes, we're all a bit out of our element, aren't we?"

"Oh, let him be, Rein," the prince demands. "You and I have things to discuss."

The lord, however, is stubborn. He continues examining Eugene very closely. "I am almost certain…"

Several tense seconds pass before the older man finally snaps fingers. "Ah hah! Your brother is in the third battalion, isn't he? Captain Bartimus, I believe."

Relief makes his easy chuckle sound loud and awkward to himself. "You caught me, sir. The military life is in our blood."

Rein slaps him on the shoulder. "As is gambling, I'd wager. Tell him he still owes me an ale the next time he sees me. I may be old, but I'm not that forgetful."

Eugene nods. "I will pass on the message, my lord."

Then, before the old man has another brainwave that contradicts the first, Eugene turns around and leaves the room. It's time to save the king and queen.