JPOV
After hours of discussing with my dad about a plan we hadn't decided on anything. Since we were getting nowhere I decided to stroll around the palace. The halls were decorated with portraits of royalty and other unique paintings of garden and life. I scan through all of them occasionally stop to look at the ones of my ancestors. I look almost nothing like them. The only thing I got was my mother's golden hair and my father's built. My eyes and my sharp features are my only unique physical looks. I guess I'm different because everyone in my family except my mother has black/brown hair and blue/brown eyes. Everyone looks closer to my 5th great grandparents Edmund and Linette Herondale who first ruled this kingdom.
I start to think about how cousin Will looks like them the most when I hear the doors to the front entrance open. I make my way through the halls and stop at the top of the large staircase. At the bottom of the stairs are my longtime friends the Lightwoods. Alec, my best friend, is the first to notice me and nods in acknowledgment. Isabelle looks at Alec then to where he's looking and sees me. Next to notice me is Max.
I descend the stairs and go to great my friend. Alec gives me a bro hug like usual which I return. Next Izzy walks over to me and gives me a hug. Once she releases me Max practically jumps me. He's always looked up to me since I can remember. I never had any siblings so he's like a little brother to me. I ruffle his hair and laugh when he shoves away from me.
"Come on man! I'm not 10 anymore," he says annoyed but he can't help the smile growing on his face. I just chuckle more at him.
"So what are you guys doing here anyway?" They usually call or text when they're on their way over.
"Mom and Dad wanted some 'alone time' so they excused the help for the day and told us to get out." Alec shrugged not really caring.
"So you just decide 'Oh let's just go to Jace's'? What would have happened if I was busy with work?" I inquire
"Please. You working? Don't make me laugh."
"Shut it Max. And for your information I was working this morning. Lady Hood struck again." Their eyes go wide. My father has asked Robert for his opinion before regarding her. Obviously they told their children just in case she struck there but I seems like she only has problems with our kingdom.
After telling them about what happened we decided to get something to eat. While waiting on food we were catching up each others lives. Izzy tells us about all the new clothes she bought and Max talks about his comic books. Me and Alec talk about weapons every once in a while.
We spend the whole day talking and eating. Alec saying that their parents still want alone time decides that they're sleeping over. We head towards the movie room and camp out with sleeping bags while watching The Princess Bride. We all fell asleep around 2am.
The Next Day
After Alec, Izzy and Max left Father called me back to his study. I get to the study and knock on the half open door. "What is it Father?"
"Ah Jace, yes, I need you to go collect taxes for me today. One of the guys got sick and there's no one else to go pick them up," he continues to write not even looking at me once.
"Sure thing. What town was he assigned to?"
"Mundane." I nod and head towards the front of the castle. Town of Mundane. Such a boring place should have such a boring name. The journey is about a day and a half so I can't help but close my eyes as we ride away.
CPOV
Ugh. It's tax day. Tax day is the worst. This is when a royal tax collector comes to take what little money this town has. It also means I have a lot of work to do for the week. I have to go through 4 towns to give their money back to them. Our town is the closest so we're the first. Also the collector usually stays for 2 day in the town to collect and count to make sure everything is there. At least that won't be so hard. The guy who usual comes here is an old fat guy. Okay well he's actually 48 and chubby, plus he's very kind to us. Harold hates taking the money from us but he has no other choice.
Every tax day my family has to change our looks because we can't take the chance of being found out. I go to the bathroom and put on my brown wigs and hazel contacts. I decide to wear a dark purple shirt and grey jeans. I go into Seraphina's room and put on her light brown wig. Since she's still young I can't put the contacts in her eyes yet. When I finish putting her in her pink dress we head downstairs where mom is already dressed and cooking.
I walk over to her and kiss her good morning on her cheek. I set Ser down in her high chair while I help mom finish up breakfast. Just as we set down the food Simon comes in. "I smell food!" I laugh at his weirdness, welcoming him in and making him a plate as well.
Once breakfast is over we take Ser outside to play. Mom and Ser play with the ball while Si and I sit on the stairs talking. "So you ready this week?"
"Yeah I guess. How about you, are you ready?" I ask.
"Always ready to steal from the rich and give to the poor."
"Well good because this is going have to be fast since I just attacked 5 days ago."
"Yeah why did you attack so close to tax day?" he looked at me questionably. I usually rob a week and a few days before tax day.
"I saw Mary's kid the other day. You know, Franklin, and he was getting sick again. Plus she and her husband are both working and I don't know. I guess I just got angry." I put my head into my knees thinking about my poor town. Compared to the rest of the town my family is living a good life. With all the art we sell to other kingdoms, so we don't get close to ours, we have enough money to survive and have extra. Others in this town are just surviving or struggling. My family sometimes makes food for those who struggle or don't have anything. I guess that's why I do what I do. I've always loved helping out others.
I taking out of thought buy the faint sound of a horse's neigh. I stand up and look towards the forest. They're here. I walk over to Seraphina and my mom. She looks over at me and understands. Seraphina comes to stand next to me as mom goes to ring the bell to alert the town the tax collector is hear. Once she's done she runs into the house to grab our money. Simon says goodbye and runs to his family's side. We walk to the town square where we hand over all the hard money we've earned. By law we must all meet there and hand over the money.
Once we're all in town we wait for the carriage. Simon, his sister Rebecca, and his mom come to stand next to us. The carriage shows up in a matter of seconds. When it comes to a halt the footman goes to the side of the carriage to open the door. What surprised us all is that it wasn't Harold who came out of the carriage.
Instead of Harold the Prince of Idris, Jace Herondale, stepped out. I couldn't help but stare wide eyed at him. This is not good. I look over to Simon who is thinking the same thing. I just stole from him not to long ago. I look back to the prince who has a scowl on his face. He didn't seem too happy to be here either. He scans through the crowd and then his eyes land on mine. He looks me over then smirks. That's when I fall back into reality and return him a scowl.
"Well I'm sure this must be a pleasant surprise to all of you. You're usual tax collector has fallen ill so I have taken his place for this month's tax day." He grabs pale brown, woolen bag from one of the men's hand. "Please place your bags in here. I will call all your names by household in alphabetical order. Let's begin."
He starts calling the names in order. As he does I stare at him. I can't believe he's here. Simon taps on my shoulder and I give him a look. He tilts his head towards the prince and I realize our name was called. Every member of the family must go up because they charge based on the number of people in a household, they'd still charge an arm and leg for just 1 person. I take hold of Ser's hand and place her behind me then I follow my mother.
"Fray family?" he asks looking over us and notices it's me. He smirks and says to my mother "Do you have a husband ma'am?" She tells him that my father died 7 years ago. Then he looks at me "What about you?"
"Haven't the pleasure of meeting a suitable man," I say with venom in my voice.
"That such a pity my dear," his smirk getting wider. He raises an eyebrow and looks behind me. "And who's this little angel?" he bends down to Ser. "Hey there sweetie. Is your sis a good protector?"
"She's my daughter," I say without any shame. He looks surprised but he hides it fast. Seraphina tugs on my hand.
"Mommy is he a weal pwince?" she asks.
"I sure am a real prince," he smirks once again and she giggles not really understanding the situation much. "It very nice meeting you princess." He kissed her hand lightly and Ser giggles again.
I cut in to their chat trying to end this fast. "Well, yes, we must go now Ser." As Jace stands up he grabs my hand and places a kiss on it as well.
"It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Maybe we can meet again before I leave?" he gives me a look as if he knows the answer already. He eyes meet mine and I can't help but look.
A slight blush appears on my pale skin and I snatch my hand away from his. "I don't think so. Come on Ser-Berry, Mom.' I grab Ser's hand and start walking away. Once I'm about a yard away from the prince I hear him starting to call more name. Ugh can this week get any worse?