"Why do I have to dress like this, again?" Naveen—outfitted in an elegant and official, but stiff, jacket and slacks—asked through his teeth as he smiled and waved at the crowds. Queen Luzia smiled.

"The people like a well-dressed prince," she calmly explained.

"Do the people also like a prince that can't move?"

"Not necessarily, but me and your father do. You're less trouble that way."

Naveen rolled his eyes, then looked at the car in front of them. Ravi sat beside their father, looking solemn and princely. The poor boy! Naveen made a vow then and there to come back before his little brother was grown to teach him how to have some fun. At last, the royal procession reached the docks, and Naveen tried his hardest to stay collected as he stepped out of the car, fighting the urge to simply bolt over to the ship. He and his mother went to meet his father and brother. King Maneesh smiled.

"Good luck in the States, Naveen. Abinaza," he said as he and Naveen grasped each other's right forearm in a Maldonian handshake.

"Stay safe, please. No reckless behavior," Queen Luzia said. Naveen laughed and kissed her cheek.

"You worry too much, Mother! I'll be fine. Abinaza." Naveen looked over to his little brother and noticed the unnatural shine in his eyes. He got down on one knee and clapped his hands on Ravi's small shoulders. "Do you promise to take care of everything while I'm gone, fromanni?"

Ravi sniffled, then looked up, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Naveen's eyebrows rose. "You mean I didn't tell you? Faldi faldonza, how could I forget?" He glanced to the right, then to the left, then he leaned close and lowered his voice. "Every night, I have to go up to the top story of the castle to scare off the monsters up there. But, since I'll be in the States, I can't do that. Do you think you'd be able to?"

Ravi's eyes widened, and he nodded. Naveen grinned.

"I knew I could trust you! Now, the only way you can scare them off is by checking every one of the rooms and turning on the light. And sometimes, they leave their treasure while they're running away, so you might be able to get some of it."

Ravi grinned. "Don't worry, fromanno! I'll make sure all of the monsters are scared away!"

Naveen laughed. "Good! I'll be wanting a report every week, so you're going to have to write to me."

"I will, I will!"

"Sire?" Naveen looked up and saw Lawrence, struggling to hold all the luggage, standing impatiently nearby. "The ship is leaving soon."

"Ah, all right." He stood up and half-ran to the ramp leading up to the boat. He turned and gave his family one last quick wave. "Abinaza!" he called, then hurried up the ramp and onto the ship. A few moments later, the ramp was lowered, and the ship set sail.

"Sire? Shall we go to our room?" Lawrence asked, still struggling with the luggage.

"Uh, go on, Lawrence. I shall meet you in a moment," Naveen said, then leaned on the railing and looked out at the quickly retreating island, stealing a last glance at the polished marble towers at the palace. He had never left Maldonia before.

A splash of sea spray hit his face, and he laughed. "Well, I've always wanted to see the world," he said to himself. "I suppose this is a good way to start."

------

A few minutes later, he walked into his room and was surprised by a note left on the bedside table. He picked it up and read it.

Sire—

Left to check the proper arrangements with the captain. Be back shortly.

—Lawrence

Naveen's thick eyebrows rose. He had planned on changing into his normal clothes. He smiled and shrugged. He was almost twenty; he could most certainly dress himself.

After a few minutes of digging in the luggage to find his clothes, hat, and ukulele, he slipped off his jacket and starched shirt. That was easy enough, but buttoning his other shirt was a bit difficult. The buttons kept slipping out of his fingers, and, when he had finally buttoned it, he had skipped a few. He frowned and tried again. This time it was right. He pulled on a knit vest, then folded down the shirt's collar.

Then came the ascot. He tried tying it once and nearly choked himself.

He tried again; this time, the knot was at the very end of the tie.

He tried again; one end slipped right through.

He tried again…

Lawrence entered on his tenth try. The manservant wore a puzzled expression, and Naveen laughed sheepishly.

"Um…Lawrence? Could you help me…?"

Lawrence sighed. "Of course, sire…" He walked over and easily tied the ascot correctly.

"Thank you." Naveen quickly grabbed his ukulele. "I will be seeing you later!"

"What? Where are you going?" Lawrence asked. Naveen turned around, his eyes wide, and he held up his ukulele.

"Is it not obvious? I am going to the lounge to play. Abinaza," he said, then trotted off before Lawrence could protest.

-------

Naveen grinned as he finished playing a song, then basked in the applause of the little crowd.

"Play another one, Your Highness!" a young, possibly tipsy man cried. Naveen grinned and shrugged.

"Oh, I don't know…maybe if anyone has any requests?" he asked, eyeing a pretty redhead beside him. Redheads were rare in Maldonia, and this one was an exquisite specimen. She blushed.

"I've never heard any jazz before tonight…" she said. Naveen's eyebrows rose.

"You're joking!" he said. She shook her head. "Then does that mean you've never danced the Charleston?"

"The what?" she asked. The prince gasped.

"Faldi faldonza! I must fix this." He placed his ukulele on a nearby table and whistled to the band. Almost immediately, they began to play a quick song. Naveen pulled the girl out to the dance floor. "Just follow me, d'escha?" He took her hands and started dancing. The girl matched his moves almost exactly. He laughed. "You're a fast learner!" He quickened his tempo; the girl caught up.

Other couples started to join them on the floor. Soon the entire room was up and dancing, with Naveen and the redhead in the center of the fray. Naveen laughed again.

"I thought you had never danced the Charleston!" he said, lifting her into the air. The redhead laughed giddily.

"I swear, I haven't!" she said as he brought her back down. He grinned.

"Then I must be an excellent teacher!" he said, twirling her.

"I think you're probably excellent at everything!" she cried, laughing.

"Well, I don't like to brag…"

She giggled. The song came to an end, and, as the finale, Naveen tossed the redhead high into the air, then caught her and spun around, facing the crowd. Both partners were laughing and panting.

"What was your name, again?" he asked, still holding her.

"It's Sofia," the redhead responded breathlessly.

"A pretty name. I, in case you didn't know, am Prince Naveen of Maldonia," he said, shooting her his famous grin. She grinned back.

"I know," she said, then kissed him full on the lips. Naveen grinned and kissed her back, conscious of the whoops from the crowd. And the single ahem.

He broke away and looked up. Lawrence was standing a few feet away, tapping his foot in annoyance. Naveen grinned, then lowered Sofia to the ground. He bowed.

"I had an incredible time, Sofia," he said, then winked up at her. "We shall have to do this again."

"Any time you want," she replied, clearly smitten. He grinned again, then took his ukulele and walked toward the door. Just before exiting, he turned to the crowed and waved jauntily. "Abinaza, friends! Buono nuitte!" As he and Lawrence walked, he asked, "Now why did you have to come and spoil my fun, Lawrence?"

"Because it's time for dinner. A private dinner," the manservant said. Naveen groaned.

"How can I learn about people if I am being kept in private?" he asked.

"Because, knowing you, you wouldn't eat if you stayed out there, and you'd be griping about it later…" Lawrence muttered.

"What?" Naveen asked. Though mostly fluent in English, he couldn't always understand his manservant when he talked in that soft, quick voice.

"Because your parents set it up for you," he replied. "And it would be rude to refuse it."

"Ugh, fine…" They entered the private dining room, and he dropped into a chair as a waiter pulled it out for him. Another waiter quickly filled his and Lawrence's glasses with red wine.

"We shall 'ave your meal prepared in a few minutes," the waiter said though a thick French accent, then disappeared.

"Now, sire, I think we should talk about your upcoming marriage to Miss La Bouff…" Lawrence began.

"Oh, no, Lawrence, at least let me have a drink first," Naveen said, picking up his wine glass. Lawrence frowned.

"Sire, it's either marry her or get a job," he said. "And you'll be working hard for a very, very long time if you want to pay back your debt."

Naveen winced and drained half his glass. "Faldi faldonza…what a choice…" he said, swirling the wine in the glass. "Being tied down to one woman or back-breaking labor…" He sighed and drained the rest of his glass. "I shall be needing a lot of drinks during my stay…"

"There's only one problem with that, sire."

"And what is that?"

"There's currently a prohibition in the States."

Naveen arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Lawrence smirked. "No alcohol."

Naveen groaned and let his head hit the table. This was going to be a long stay…

------

After dinner, Naveen grabbed his ukulele and started to go out, but was interrupted by Lawrence clearing his throat. He sighed.

"Yes, my roly-poly manservant?" he asked exasperatedly.

"I was merely going to let you know that the butlers onboard are having a gathering, and that I am going," he said.

Naveen grinned. "Good, go! Have fun, stay a long time!" he encouraged. Lawrence did not look amused, but he didn't say anything and left. Naveen grinned again and walked out onto the deck, humming and strumming his ukulele. But he suddenly stopped as he heard people laughing. He looked around and noticed a door was cracked open. Curious, he leaned toward it.

"You mean he really was cut off?!" a voice he didn't recognize asked incredulously.

"Yes, and serve him right!" This voice was a slurred version of Lawrence's. "He's been spending more than ten thousand lyons a month! Heaven help us when he becomes king!"

"That might not happen, though," another unrecognizable voice said. "You said he might have to get a job."

"If that La Bouff girl doesn't want him, then yes, he'll have to. And that's when I quit."

"Quit? You really don't have that much faith in him…"

"Of course I don't! The boy can hardly get dressed on his own, much less anything else!"

Naveen grit his teeth and turned away sharply, angry at the conversation. What right did he have to say that?! About the prince, too! Why, he should go right back into the room and fire him then and there!

But, as he continued to walk, the less angry he became, and the more he realized that what Lawrence had said was right. He sighed and placed his ukulele on a nearby barrel, then leaned against the railing of the boat.

I really can't do anything…he thought, sadly looking out at the black water.

He heard a familiar giggle and looked up. The redhead he had danced with—Sofia? Was that her name?—leaned on the rail beside him, grinning.

"Buono nuitte, Pruto…" she said, obviously a little tipsy. "Would you mind escorting me to my room?"

Naveen forced a weak smile. "I would, Sofia, but…I'm a bit…uh…dizzy from the boat. Seasickness, it's a curse, no?"

"Oh…" Sofia stood up straight. "I never figured you as the seasick type," she said, then grinned. "Well, when you feel better, you can come up to my room. I know some excellent cures for seasickness. Abinaza!"

"Abinaza…" Naveen lifted a hand and waved a little as she walked away, then sighed. Well, I still have my charms on women…but I have a feeling that won't get me very far. He rested his chin in his palm and looked up at the stars. A particularly bright one caught his eye, and he half-smiled.

"Buono soiréda, soiréda éstoila," he said. He remembered an old story from the old book of fairy tales the servants would read to him; something about wishing on the soiréda éstoila.

He bit his lip. In less than a week, he would be twenty, and it was silly for someone his age to be making wishes. He looked up at the star again, then took a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching. Then he closed his eyes.

"Please…please, please, please…let me prove that I can do something worthwhile…"

He cracked open an eye, looking at the star. It twinkled down at him. He smiled a little, then looked down at his ukulele, still on the barrel. His smile widened.

"Well, old friend, at least we can give people music," he said, then walked back to the lounge to play some more.

(A/N---Whoo, boy…finally, something I'm fairly proud of. I cannot possibly thank all you guys enough for all of the reviews! They make me feel so special ^_^ Anyhoo, next chapter should be up in the next day or two.

Thanks again for the support, my froggers! Abinaza!)