Maybe it was because of the sheer volume of sleeping I'd done in the past week, maybe it was what we'd seen on the news, or maybe it was the 'engagement'. Whatever it was- I couldn't sleep.

For one thing- my Father. It had taken me a while to realise that there was something off about this man. First it'd been a private boarding school though. I went from being a public school kid, which I actually didn't mind all that much, to being one of those girls at a private boarding school who's daddy basically spent everything on. I used to gawk at them when the country held 'school' events where both private and public mingled. Those girls had perfect hair, perfect uniforms, strange little hats, makeup, private drivers, usually had a very pretty boyfriend on arm and were completely isolated from the real world.

It was like joining the circus. First day of boarding school, instead of being bullied openly, it was all sneaky stuff. Stuff that couldn't be traced back to the girl who wrote it. They didn't want my Daddy to speak to their Daddy about their 'bad manners' I supposed. And I just ignored it. Found a few other oddballs and we more or less teamed up till the circus was over, tried out a few different drugs together, had our own parties, and studied.

So Father hid his 'real side' pretty well back then. It really only started to show when I graduated and started to live with him and my 'brothers' all the time. I wasn't sure what I'd have done if I'd noticed the full extent of it back then. Run away? It may have been cowardly but when you'd just lost your mum, just fallen out of high school, and was pretending to be a grown up while at college... well, between parties... all I could do was depend on the security Father's money offered. I may have even hoped that he'd become a real Father. A real dad.

But sensing something, that someone was a psychotic asshole and seeing proof of it- he had his own son shot!- were two different things. It sent chills down me as I lay there in bed and stared up at the sky outside the window.

On top of that- he'd decided I'd marry his puppet. I was more shocked by the fact that I wasn't shocked.

"You want a cookie?" A soft voice made me nearly scream as something suddenly made the bed sag. "This is an awful bed."

"Roberto!" I nearly shoved him off the bed. Nearly.

"I can't sleep." Roberto complained, crawling on top of the covers and flopping there, something hard in his hand. Another book?

"I can't sleep either." The questions about his marriage... they hung around in the back of my mouth all of a sudden as he settled himself down beside me. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to go to sleep. Alberto was patrolling the hallway outside my room." Roberto yawned and flopped down as he tugged out a book.

I just stared at him. What about your arranged marriage? What about mine? Well. It was fake. There was no way in hell...

"Phia, you're staring." Roberto's finger prodded my nose.

"Um. I know." I admitted. I tried to smile and relax but it wasn't happening.

Roberto went quiet and he shut the book. Then he sighed. "It's about that. Isn't it."

"I..."

"I wanted to ask for your help."

I froze at that, as he shifted closer, leaning across me to switch on the lamp. Roberto added, "I was going to ask tomorrow but... well, you're here, I'm here."

"Yes you are." I agreed. He was, once again, inches from me. I swore I felt his body trembling.

"I trust you." Roberto frowned as he rested his head down. "And... I don't want to do it. But I'd let down everyone if I didn't. Myself too. I don't want to give up the crown but I don't want to marry yet either."

"You can't just change the rules?"

"No and Father wouldn't even if there was time." Roberto rolled onto his back and stared up. "So I have to marry."

I felt pain at that, at his resolve to do it, and shut my eyes as I lay back carefully as well. "I guess so."

"So please. Help me." Roberto was up again suddenly, peering down at me, sadness across his face. "You're my friend. Father's sending over the women who are... who he thinks are suitable. I need to find out which of them... I don't know."

"Isn't just using you?" I tried to smile but it wasn't working. He nodded at my suggestion. What was he asking me to do? Interview them for him? "Roberto, it's-"

"Only something you and Alberto can do. My friend. I trust you... I know you won't let those women get away with anything." Roberto pleaded softly. "You'd see right through them. And if they can't treat you nice then why would they treat anything else I care about nice? Like my people? Please." He was on his knees suddenly, the bed sinking and my body bumping against his, bowing so low that his forehead was on the bed. "Help Alberto test these women. Please."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Pretend to be a maid. Think up any kind of date you'd like. Pretend to be a begger. A poor mother. I don't know. Something common. You know how to … do that. Put them through hell." Roberto's voice was muffled. "Please."

I wanted to put them through hell. I wanted to fail them all right now. If they were only coming here for Roberto and the crown... they weren't okay. For some reason breathing hurt now, and I almost felt like crying, almost, except that my anger was keeping it hidden deep down inside. Anger at Roberto, at his father, at the law, or at these women? I didn't know. Or was it because he'd indirectly just called me … common?

"I … I want you to be happy." I felt my voice falter and his head raised from the bed, his hair across his face, and I wanted to touch it. Brush hair out of his face. Cuddle against him.

He stared at me and frowned as he sat up. "You're sad."

"I-"

"Nevermind. Forget it." Roberto's face had fallen and he crawled off the bed, slowly, regret all over his face. "I... it's not fair to you."

After he was gone … insomnia returned two fold. It was late before I really fell asleep, so muddled up with anger, sadness, and some other emotion I didn't want to admit I had, so that when I found myself face to face with the maid and breakfast the next morning, I nearly threw a pillow at her. Nearly. Except that she had my pain medication.

Once she'd doped me up enough to move from the bed, I showered, and hobbled around the room on crutches feeling restless and frustrated. My room had an excellent view of the back of the Manse where the cars would come. Now I could see them- those women- as car after car snuck in and preened women filtered out. Famous women. Powerful women. Probably noble women. There was probably only ten of them but it seemed to go on forever.

"Ahem."

Someone cleared their throat behind me. I spun around carefully on the crutches to find myself face to face with Alberto.

"You're suited up." I tried to smile as he bowed his body low. Nice grey suit. Practically identical to the old one. "Sorry about your other suit."

"I had it donated to a charity as you suggested. It was not wasted." Alberto's face flushed as he admitted this, striding forward, his eyes going up and down. "You seem stronger."

"Given that I was probably asleep when you last saw me..." I agreed and waved a crutch at him. "You want to sit?"

"No."

I didn't think so but it was worth a shot. Alberto stood there, his eyes going beyond me to the outside where the last woman was being shown inside, his eyebrows knitting together. "You've seen them."

"Hard to miss them. They're glittery." I tried to joke and Alberto's frown increased. He seemed almost sad. "How can I help you?"

"You... help me?"

"Yeah." It was too tempting, however sad I was, to mess with the Butlers. "You're visiting my home for now. I'd offer you tea but … I don't really know how to ask for it."

Suddenly Alberto smiled, even laughed softly, shaking his head. "I see. No. I haven't come here to visit, although I am glad to see you so full of energy once again. And for reference. This is what you press for a maid." He gestured to a small button nearly invisable near the door. Oh. I was glad I hadn't pressed that instead of the light switch.

"Oh? What then?"

Alberto's smile slipped off his face and he strode over to stand beside me, gazing out as the woman was led in, all traces of his amusement gone. "His Highness, Prince Roberto, has requested that you keep a little distance now. Prince Roberto has a difficult time ahead of him."

"Huh?" I stared at Alberto. Roberto was there just here last night! "What are you talking about?"

"I am truly sorry." Alberto sighed. "I am."

Once again the pain was back. I found it hard to breathe. Now … he didn't even want to see me? "Was it because I refused to help?"

"...help?" Alberto blinked, turning to me, confused. "What do you mean by that? Did he ask for help?"

"Um. Yeah. Last night." I saw Alberto raise an eyebrow and hesitated. Uh oh. I'd dobbed Roberto in for sneaking around. "Forget I said that."

"I doubt I will. I may forget who said it." Alberto turned towards me. "He asked you what, exactly?"

"Just to test them out. Pretend to be a maid, or a beggar, or a common person, because I am a common person, and … think up dates, and things. I don't know." I didn't mind the idea of being called 'commoner'. It was less insulting than 'That man's daughter'. I felt a wave of emotion rise up though and tried to look away as Alberto's gentle gaze kept peering at me, digging into me, until I was sure I'd start bawling. "Stop staring at me like that."

"My apologies. I did not mean to stare." Alberto turned quickly and I tried to get a hold of myself as he gazed calmly away towards the view outside the window.

"You must have a lot to do anyway." I muttered.

"This is one of my tasks." Alberto didn't budge. "Prince Robero has requested that you be entertained and happy while he's doing this. I have taken it upon myself to make sure you are smiling."

"So give those women hell." I muttered. The words slipped out before I could pull them back and I felt Alberto's eyes return to me. This time I ignored him. "If they're only here to marry a crown then... they're fake. Give them hell. Make their true natures explode all over the place."

"That is exactly what I intend on doing." Alberto agreed, voice low suddenly, and a hand rested on my shoulder. "My duty to Prince Roberto is to ensure he is the best Prince that Alteria can possibly have. When he does not concentrate on his duties, they suffer, but when he does not smile... they also suffer."

"I can see that." I muttered. "So find him a woman that makes him smile and that refuses to give him any love till he's done his work."

"I am not the one finding the woman." Alberto corrected me, gently, hand squeezing my shoulder before he released it and turned away. "I am simply the one providing Prince Roberto with experiences that allow him to better know each candidate for engagement. Her strengths and weaknesses."

Exactly what I'd said. Pretty much. "Group outings to Liberty?"

"As Prince Roberto is staying within these grounds, no. All of it will have to take place within the Manse or grounds."

I suddenly didn't want to leave my room... I didn't want to accidentally run into them. I had a flashback to the TV showing Roberto surrounded by women. It'd be like that only in 3D.

"What dates have you found yourself enjoying?"

"Huh?" I turned to Alberto. He was tugging a small notebook out of his pocket. "I don't know. I haven't gone on many."

"Then dates you would enjoy." Alberto bowed suddenly. "Please- indulge me this. I have not had much experience in ...dating... or knowing a woman's heart."

"Why not ask the Princes? They must know a lot about seducing women high class style."

"Prince Roberto..." Alberto hesitated, as if trying to decide how to word it, "...has more fun in ways that many would consider normal activities. Dates, functions and duties that are, as you says, High Class, are the last thing he would enjoy. Please- what would commoners do on dates?"

Okay then. Fair enough. I didn't really want to list off what I liked. Talking about dates didn't help the way my own heart was feeling right now. "Um. I suppose the movies. Or cooking dinner at home together and then watching a movie together. Pizza and star viewing. Picnics. Outdoor films." I'd listed off mostly things related to movies and food and flushed, trying to think beyond that, adding, "Roller coasters. Ferris Wheels. Outdoor theatre. Playing in the snow. Long walks all over the place. Rose gardens. Roller skating... or, erm, blading. Shopping. Karaoke." To my amazement he'd written everything down. The images of puppies filled my brain and I added, "I don't know. Volunteering at shelters or something that involves cute puppies."

"Roberto would likely adopt them all." Alberto muttered, mostly to himself, and I was amused that he'd forgotten the 'Prince' part. "I see."

"I don't know. I just … I think they'd be fun things to do." I flushed somewhat and gazed off. Not that it mattered. Those were all things I could see myself doing with Roberto. Not other women. It was depressing to think about. I wished suddenly that I could go home.

"Please, don't look so unhappy." Alberto frowned as he slid his notebook away.

"Huh?" I blinked, turning to him, and once again the frown lines were back on his face. "I'm... sore. The pain meds don't work completely."

"I see." I didn't think he believed me but Alberto bowed again, very low, and he said softly, "Thank you for your help."

"No problem. Happy to help."

Once Alberto was gone, I found the wheelchair, and sat there.

It wasn't long before Glenn and Alan, his adorable brother, were ready for breakfast. I was already tired, emotionally strung out from the talk with Alberto and the news that Roberto didn't want to see me, but even with my churning emotions it was impossible to not relax around Alan.

Even Glenn seemed to relax, smiling with open warmth at his little brother, as Alan pressed question after question at me. Half of them I couldn't answer but did that put Alan off? Not in the slightest. After a while Yu came in to take Alan away again for the morning's lessons, leaving us alone.

"I've thought about what we saw last night." He spoke softly across the table. "Have you?"

"I was trying to avoid thinking about it." I admitted and smiled weakly.

Glenn nodded at that, gazing away, going quiet once again. Then he offered, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Hm?"

"Your brother."

Oh. I nodded, tensing up, not sure how I felt about it. I supposed I should feel more grief. But I... I still wasn't sure if I even believed it completely. "Thanks. I still ...don't really know if I believe it yet."

"You weren't close?"

I shook my head and something, maybe a little like pity, crossed Glenn's face as his eyes went to where Alan had vanished. When I saw them together I did feel a little... envious.

"I'm meeting the other Princes later for a discussion with Prince Keith's people." Glenn met my eyes. "I think you might be interested in knowing what we decide, am I right?"

"If I can help..."

"I'm sure you can." Glenn stood up slowly, breathing in sharply, his eyes shutting a moment. "If we were not injured we'd both be ready to go back, wouldn't we?"

"I guess so." The idea did scare me a little though. For all my 'I want to save everyone' … the sheer thought of stepping foot back in Oriens didn't appeal to me much. "Have you got an idea?"

"Mm, but I need some time to think it over, and discuss it with the others." Prince Glenn bowed his head before moving away, stiff and quiet, clearly in a bit of pain still. He hesitated at the door. "Roberto's in the gardens today."

"Thanks." I wasn't sure what he meant by that. Go see? Don't go and see? Was I free to move around without running into his bimbos? He was gone before I could ask.

As I was wheeled back to the room I nearly ran over a puppy.

No. A puppy and a Prince Keith who, face flustered, was trying to catch the quick little monster. As soon as he spotted me he shouted, "You!" and the maid behind me vanished. She wasn't going to hang around for this.

"...me?" I hesitated as he came storming at me, the puppy gleefully dancing along his heels as if this was some kind of game, Prince Keith struggling to walk. He made another attempt at grabbing for the puppy but it was off again, flying down the passage way, before turning and giving a delighted wiggle at his involvement in the game.

"Woman! Did I give you permission to keep pets?" Prince Keith was embarrassed beyond belief- I could see it in his face- and he stood up and charged right at me. "Do you not have any sense of manners when a guest in someone's home?"

"Um, did I ask to keep pets?" I tried to stay calm. Prince Keith towered over me in the wheelchair and I wished I had my crutches to at least not give him this height advantage.

"That creature-" Prince Keith jabbed a finger at the puppy that'd returned to his heels, "-chased me out of your room just now. It has your name on it. Explain this!"

"Huh?" I stared closer at 'that creature'. A tiny pug puppy who was making delighted little grunts as it wriggled about under Prince Keith, a tag dangling off that very clearly said 'Sophia'. This ...reminded me of something. I wasn't sure what. "It's got my name on it all right, hasn't it?"

"That's what I said! Argh!" Prince Keith made a noise of frustration as the puppy grabbed hold of his finger and held on tight.

"Don't hurt it!" I stuck the breaks on the chair on and reached out, careful to not fall out of the wheelchair, carefully grasping the wriggly little monster as he … or she... hung on with great delight to Prince Keith's hand.

"It's hurting me." Prince Keith gritted his teeth. It let go as I dangled a bit of sleeve for it and grasped that instead, growling happily, sharp puppy teeth tearing away. Prince Keith stared at his red finger. "Then you didn't bring it here?"

"From where, the hospital?" I shook my head and tugged the tag towards me. A few more words, smaller, made it pretty clear where the puppy had come from. "Oh."

"Oh?"

I carefully took off the tag and offered it to Prince Keith. Better that he just read for himself.

'Sophia- meet Otis. Smile! -Roberto.'

"I see." Prince Keith shoved the tag back at me as the anger returned to his face. It was at least not directed at me. I was pretty relieved about that. He turned away, arms crossing, breathing in slowly. "Of course."

He didn't offer an apology. I didn't want one either. I held up the puppy who grinned at me, tongue lolling out, his dark eyes almost cross eyed and his face a mass of wrinkles. Then I turned him around to Prince Keith. "You aren't going to make him homeless, are you? Look at that grin."

Prince Keith glanced down, frowned as his cheeks reddened, and he scowled openly at the puppy. It was unaffected. The little curly tail was going as fast as the puppy could get it to move.

"You'll require a room on the ground floor. With a door to the outside." He decided, finally, and added, "And the dog cannot go indoors. I will arrange for a trainer. Toys."

"Okay."

"If you were able to walk, I'd make sure you were the one held responsible, but... crippled as you are-" I ignored that, "- I cannot hold you to blame for this. You cannot leave the garden I assign for the puppy." Prince Keith added, shooting me a look, but for all his attempt at sounding stern, he seemed to melt bit by bit as the puppy grinned up at him. "Do you understand?"

"If you're asking the puppy... he might take a while to understand. But I get it."

"The gardener will arrange for a fence to ensure it does not escape."

"Uh huh."

"And it must stay quiet."

Even as Prince Keith said that, the pug was grunting away happily, snuggling into my lap as soon as I lowered it back down. I suspected it wasn't going to be that quiet. But the place was so huge that no one would hear it besides me.

"And I... must go speak to someone." Prince Keith frowned again. "Who has forgotten who's home this is."

"Roberto's in the garden, according to Glenn." I offered.

He nodded, stiffening up, and headed off. I grinned down at the puppy. Okay. This face... I could smile at.

The maid reappeared and she smiled, bending down to pat the puppy as she undid the breaks, admitting softly, "I was sure that you were about to get shoved off the front door, wheelchair and all."

"No kidding. Me too. Got any idea what room he means?" I hung on a bit tighter as the puppy started to wriggle again, probably getting bored, and the maid shook her head. We started back down the hallway.

"I'll know before the day is out."

It was sooner than that. Almost twenty minutes later I was moved into a larger sunny room with French doors, a gardener was fixing a barrier around a small courtyard, and I officially owned a puppy.

Roberto was nuts.

I relaxed outside in the sunshine in the garden, lying on the grass, some of my earlier hurt and tension faded as I watched the antics of the puppy with his toys, bees darting from flower to flower in the grass. Otis was nuts as well. They'd be good friends. I could picture Roberto on the grass with that little monster right now, rolling around, and felt a stab of hurt.

It was exactly at that moment that Roberto walked past. I didn't see him- there was a wall there- but I heard his voice and the high pitched laughter of one, two, maybe three women. They laughed way too hard. Come on. He couldn't have really have said something that funny, could he? When they appeared, they were walking away, a picnic basket in Alberto's hand as he followed, and I felt another crippling stab of pain. Roberto had his arms around the backs of two of the women, his laugher a little too loud, and they were discussing a picnic. At sunset.

It sounded effing romantic and I wanted to throw dog poo at them all. Otis hadn't provided that yet. I wriggled a ball at Otis and as he came prancing across, unsteady on his legs still, I muttered, "You make sure you get a nice smelly one out. We're going to leave some traps on the path for those women in the dark."

I watched, half hidden by a willow as Roberto winded along the path into the gardens, the women gracefully floating alongside him on heels that should have been illegal in garden situations, their dresses so fine and delicate that the slightest breeze made them dance around their long beautiful legs. Urgh.

"Jealous?"

A soft voice made me jump and I twisted around to see that Prince Edward and Prince Wilifred had appeared on the other side of the fence. They smiled gently at me as both easily hopped over it.

"Excuse me for starting you. You seemed uneasy." Wilifred offered. He smiled down at the puppy as it charged straight for him, kneeling, open affection showing for it. "I heard from Keith that you had a new friend."

"I cannot help but be a little jealous of him." Prince Edward had already knelt and smiled at me as the puppy returned to my lap for a quick snuggle. "Such warm affection from a sweet lady."

"Oh hush." I flushed a little at that and gently nudged the puppy back towards the Princes.

"We were afraid you'd be sad." Wilifred sat down on the grass beside me. "We were right, weren't we?"

"Sad? Why? No." Maybe I denied it a bit too fast because he raised an eyebrow at me. I seriously doubted he believed me.

Prince Edward had taken a seat on my other side and gently held something out. "It no where near compares to the beauty you show, or the radiance the sunlight brings out in you, but please accept this."

I took a box and opened it. There was a beautiful preserved rose inside, delicate, almost scarlet in the sunlight. The scent of roses drifted up in a cloud around my head. "It's beautiful."

"As are you." Prince Edward was smooth. I gave him that. He gently played with the puppy, face lightening up as Otis seemed to finally pay attention to him, leaning forward. "And your little friend. I didn't think to bring a gift for you, little lord, forgive me."

"We could probably bring a bone from the kitchen next time." Wilifred offered. He shut his eyes a moment as he leaned back in the sunshine. "I forgot how relaxing it can be simply to sit."

"I know." I was half tempted to sit up properly, I was still half on my elbows, but Wilifred lay back and relaxed on the grass. Prince Edward did as well, leaning towards us, still teasing the puppy with the slow wriggle of the toy in the grass. I was caught between nerves, being a little star struck- A prince on each side!- and ...amusement.

I had the feeling that they were here equally for Otis.

"Don't you two have dogs at home?"

"No, no pets." Wilifred responded as he covered his eyes with his arm. "Claude wouldn't allow that."

"I used to wish for a pet duckling when I was very young." Prince Edward admitted. "With a bow."

I laughed at that, relaxing finally, amazed by his soft purple eyes as they stared evenly into mine. Wow. Pretty man.

"I don't think we'd have time as children to give the pets they attention they deserved." Wilifred yawned. He sounded sleepy all of a sudden.

"That's sad. That none of you got time to be children as well." I muttered. They all seemed to have their childish natures still, all in different ways, as if some part of them still couldn't understand why it had been denied the right to just be happy and play. That would explain a lot about them all. ...but it also kind of suggested what kind of children THEY'D have.

I suddenly had this image of Roberto's children. Curly haired. Full of laughter and tricks. Racing circles around Alberto's long legs as he tried to stay dignified. It hurt to think about. Which one of the women would have those children? Would her nature take away some of Roberto's good nature...

"You're thinking about Roberto again, aren't you." It wasn't a question from Wilifred. I didn't answer. He leaned up to gaze at me with a far too knowing smile. "See, Ed?"

"Mm, I see. Surrounded by us, and no matter how hard we try to be nice, your heart remains with one alone." Ed laughed softly and leaned forward to kiss my cheek, very suddenly, adding, "You've got a sweet heart. I would gladly steal you away if such a thing were possible."

"H.. hey, what's with the sudden kissing." I jumped as Wilifred leaned forward but it was just to shove Ed away, almost playfully, his voice amused. "Roberto won't like that."

"Then let him complain. Miss Sophia. Would you come to the picnic under the stars with myself and Prince Wilifred tonight? I... would also appreciate the gentle company of a woman." Prince Edward glanced past me, to Wilifred, some secret message shared. "Prince Wilifred and myself will ensure you are not lonely."

I stared at Prince Edward but he gave no sign that he was joking. "Um."

"Please. All I ask is that you accompany me so that we are a little less lonely. The company tonight can only be improved with your presence." Prince Edward pleaded with his eyes and it was... well, almost impossible to pretend that wasn't cute. Because it was. He looked like a little kid.

I gave in. It was hard to ignore his pleading face.

"We will meet you at eight after our meeting." Prince Wilifred stood up suddenly. "There's no need to worry about anything- I'll make sure every thing is arranged."

Prince Edward kissed my hand, before standing slowly, and he reached down to ruffle Otis's head. "And you, my little friend, enjoy your time with your new friend."