Chapter 2

I don't think I'll ever get used to this place. I've taken the walk for the past two months and it still feels surreal, the sights of all these marvelous statues standing against the wall, the flower beds around every corner. The decoration of the walls; it was royalty, and I felt like royalty.

Don't get too ahead of yourself, Fitzherbert.

I heard the voice in my head, my subconscious. I was hell-bent on not letting it go to my head too, because I knew it could be taken away from me at any moment. The arrangements I made with the King and Queen were originally meant to be temporary until I was able to find myself some work and begin supporting myself. But, despite how far I've come, Rapunzel's been the one reason I still stay here. Whenever her parents ask about the potential of me moving, she quickly turns them down citing how important...I was..

To her.

Darn, it feels really good to have someone say that about you. Growing up as an orphan, no family, barely any friends. It felt like it was me, myself and I against whatever the world would bring. Having someone say that I meant something to them was the best feeling in the world.

I turned the final corner and there I saw one of my oldest foes, the Captain of the Guard himself.

"Good morning, cap." I said to him. The man looked up from his conversation with a fellow guard and then proceeded to step right in my path.

"Whatcha got going on, Rider?" he said sternly, pointing right at my chest as I stopped in motion. Despite how long it's been and that I had been the one to return his kingdom's lost princess, Cap still didn't trust me all that much. It got irritating at times, I often noticed an extra guard or two just trailing behind me as if they were there to make sure I wasn't getting in any sorts of trouble.

"Nothing much, just off to rob a bank," I said sarcastically as I began to walk by him. "Care to join?"

"Rider! What did you just say!?" his voice began to rise, and I couldn't help but let out a little chuckle.

"Kidding, Cap. Sheesh, lighten up for once." I said, still with my ever so annoying sarcastic voice. I ended my thought as I opened up the massive doorway that led up to the castle dining room. Immediately, the scent of fresh bakery, all sorts of sweets and deserts rushed into my nose. The room was decorated with banners everywhere, each and every one tainted in purple and yellow with that sun symbol I've come to appreciate.

There in the middle of the room sat Rapunzel and her two parents, as if they had been waiting for my arrival. I felt a sense of urgency as I saw the three turn their faces towards mine, standing there twenty or so feet away at the door. I let out a nervous chuckle.

"Good morning, your majesties." I said, attempting to sound as official and appropriate as I could. I love Rapunzel, and I love her parents too but I still wasn't comfortable yet fully being myself around them. I knelt down on one knee to show a sign of respect, and to my surprise, I saw the King rise from his seat and begin to approach me.

I rose myself, looking straight into those big blue eyes of his. His size towered over mine, and he definitely was an intimidating site if I had ever seen one. I saw as he stopped his approach right in front of me. An awkward silence ensued as I saw in the background the Queen and Rapunzel looking on. Was I late, and was he mad? I'm still trying to figure out how to read these two, the King and Queen.

Before I knew it, he pulled me in for a massive hug.

"Eugene! How are you, son?" he said, warmly in that deep voice of his.

I felt squished, and over his shoulder I saw Rapunzel and Pascal trying ever so hard to hold in their smiles. It was starting to hurt, his grip I mean when he finally released me.

"It's, it's been good sir." I said, confidently. "Life's been good."

"That's splendid to hear!" Gosh, the King seemed to be in a good mood today. I wonder why?

"How have you been?" I asked, instinctively.

"I've been fine, thank you for asking." He began to motion me to my seat on the opposite side of his. He sat next to his wife, and I sat next to Rapunzel. Felt like this was meant to be. I let out a quiet chuckle as this warm thought entered my mind. Gosh, what I would give to spend the rest of my life here in this castle, with her by my side. I began to daydream before..

"Eugene, how has the new job been?" the Queen asked of him. Her voice radiated of confidence, but also compassion and kindness. It was soft, sweet, gentle; it reminded him of Rapunzel's.

I hadn't noticed her question because I was so lost in thought before Rapunzel nudged my shoulder a little bit. "Uh, yeah. That new thing? Been great, still going through that adjustment period and all that…. but I'm learning."

The job she spoke of was a royal guard in training. Yeah, crazy, me being a royal guard of all things? When Rapunzel initially brought up the opportunity, I laughed because I couldn't imagine looking at myself in the mirror with that ridiculous armor covering my sleeves. But then I saw her face, her telling me how important it was that I start new and all that. I learned the hard way how persuasive she could be.

And that was that. She went to her parents and they set something up for me to begin the training two weeks ago.

"I personally think he'd make a great royal guard." Rapunzel said, sweetly. I felt her head rest on my shoulder and my cheeks start to blush as both her parents looked my way.

"Uh-huh, yeah." I said, awkwardly.

"So, Eugene," the Queen addressed him once again. "Do you know about the annual flag run coming up?"

My ears perked up, as I hadn't heard about this before now. A flag run?

I cleared my throat after taking a sip from my water. "I don't," turning my eyes towards Rapunzels before back to those of the Queen's, "I don't think I have." My interest was genuinely sparked.

"Well, it's a competition we hold each year to celebrate the national flag of Corona." she said.

"It's a competition that is taken with the utmost seriousness, a tradition in our kingdom that has been held for generations." the King said with utmost seriousness on his own. "A course is made, an-" he nodded his hand slowly in front of his head, thinking, "an obstacle course, if you want to call it that. Many flags are placed upon this course and the objective of each runner is to grab as many as possible while also rushing for the fastest time."

I poked my food with my fork as I listened to the King's explanation of the event. Lifting my head, "Sounds like fun." I said.

"Eugene!" I heard Rapunzel cheer gleefully by my side. "You should register for it!"

I saw that look in her eyes. Gosh, that look. I couldn't say no to her, despite the reservations I held. While my physical shape stayed the same, I've laid low these past few months with all the adjustments. And it felt… it felt good to not be on the run each and every day. Knowing I've got a bed to go home to each night, friends there with me, it's been a relaxing thought. Boring at times, but relaxing.

"I-I don't know," I said, brushing back my hair.

"You should! It'd be so much fun watching you." I could tell just how much she cared about this, and I turned my eyes to face those of the King and Queen with their expressions that both simultaneously lit up. I couldn't say no, now could I?

"You know what, sunshine if it means so much to yo-"

"Marvelous!" the King screamed out, almost knocking his own plate of food over to the side.

I slightly jumped at that noise, relaxing back in my seat now.

"The competition begins tomorrow, Eugene. I hope to see your name on that list." The King slid his plate back to where it was and took a bite out of his food.

Tomorrow? How long did Blondie know about this before she was going to tell me? I looked over to see her smiling as she watched Pascal take a small bite out of a sausage.

Breakfast went well, talking with the three of them before everyone finished up. I grabbed my napkin to brush off my face one last time.

"Darling, can you accompany us to our meeting?" The Queen softly spoke to Rapunzel.

"Sure, Mom, just give me a sec."

I saw as the both of them, King and Queen left the royal dining room for the hallway. I sat back and let out a huge exhale of relief.

"Finally, Blondie, some alone time." I said, wrapping my right arm around her. I felt her snuggle up close to me, her presence sending goosebumps down my spine. She held me for a few moments before giving me a goodbye kiss as she went off to follow her parents.

"Eugene," before opening the door to exit, she stopped. "Tonight at seven, meet me in the castle garden." She smiled at me, that damn smile.

"You got it." I said, as I saw her wink directed my way. My heart literally skipped a beat. Lord, was she special.

Then, she exited and I sat there alone.

A few of the Royal maids entered and grabbed the empty plates they had left behind, as I sat there. "How's life treatin' ya," I said to one of them who came close and grabbed my own plate.

She didn't say anything, but offered a smile in return before bringing his plate back to the washroom behind the stand. I then got up, grabbed my satchel and headed out to the courtyard for my daily guard training.