Tap tap tap

I huffed, my finger tapping impatiently against the surface of the desk as I glared down at the pages of my diary. There was nothing for me to write for the past three days; I was grounded for God's sake, and I was therefore bored out of my mind. The only time I could go out was to get supplies for the bakery, and so far that had only been once. And that was to replace a broken wooden spoon. If only the spirits would make something interesting happen...

"Cindy! Cindy come down here, you won't believe this!"

Well. Hallelujah.

Picking myself up I sprinted out of my room, skidding against the floor as I made a turn for the stairs and practically leaping down them. I straightened before addressing my parents "What? What is it?!"

They both grinned and my father pulled something out from behind his back, holding it up for me to see "Look at this."

I stepped forward, reading the words of the flyer out loud with squinted eyes "King... Elias Wisteria cordially invites every civilian of Belliak to attend a ball celebrating Prince Alexei's arrival--" I stopped, before backing up with a frown "Oh no, no absolutely not."

"Why not, sweetie?" My mother whined "It sounds likes fun!"

I crossed my arms "That's not my point, mother. You know how I feel about royalty."

"But--"

"And I'm grounded. I'm not allowed to go out remember? Or are you planning to go against your own house rules?"

They fell silent.

"As I thought." I huffed, turning abruptly with a 'hmph' "Now if you excuse me, I'm gonna continue being bored--"

"If you come to the ball with us, we'll lift your punishment~"

I stopped walking, turning my head to glance at my parents "Okay, what are you up to?"

"Whatever are you talking about?"

"Bye."

"Okay!" Father called out, and I once again turned to him with an expecting eyebrow raised "There is a reason we want you to come with us..."

"Go on..."

---

Un-freaking-believable.

I was their ticket to get in!

Apparently the prince was looking for a Belliak Bride, and every young maiden in our kingdom was qualified. So you see, after they had quite literally begged me to go to this Prince Alexei welcoming ball or whatever, and given me the extremely childish reason to get in, I didn't even care that I was grounded anymore and stormed the hell out of there.

So here I was, walking through the streets of Belliak. Fuming, freezing, and with no intention of going back until I had a reason to. Like, if I bumped into those pedophiles and needed a hiding spot again. I grumbled, rubbing my goosebump-covered arms as I walked blindly down the street; I made the oh so smart decision of forgetting my cloak in the middle of November. But I wasn't gonna give in. I did not want to go back--

Thump

"Ow!"

"Oof!"

A force knocked into my chest. The two of us were sent backwards a few steps, and my hand flew up to cover my chin which had been headbutted by the other person. A curse escapes the others lips, who seemed to be hunched over and holding his head in pain. After a moment of processing, we stood abruptly to face each other.

"Watch where you're goi--"

We paused, eyebrows raising when we locked eyes.

Hold up, I know him. "Al?"

"Cindy?" the young teen in front of me responded, ceasing rubbing his forehead with his hand.

We just stand there in awkward silence. There's really nothing I can think of to say. The only actual thing that I kept in my mind was my childish parents. Al suddenly coughed, which instantly told me he was uncomfortable.

Say something, idiot!

"So, err..." I began awkwardly "Long time no see?"

Al raised an eyebrow "It has only been three days since we saw each other last."

"I-I know that!" I blurted, face reddening from embarrassment "It's just... I've been stuck inside since then, so it felt way longer."

"Why's that?"

"I got grounded."

"... Pardon?"

"You know, when you have to stay inside and have all your privileges taken away?"

"Oh." Al scoffed "That sounds like every day of my life."

"That's rough, buddy."

"You have no idea..."

"Where'd you go?!"

The boy flinched at his name being called, slapping his hand over his face "God damn it..."

"What's wrong?" I tilted my head. Al grumbled.

"My ai- uhm, sister..." He sighed, exasperated "She's looking for me because I escaped from her."

"Why?"

"Because she is convinced that I am still a child that needs my hand held everywhere."

I smirked "Aren't you, though?"

"Cindy."

"Right. Sorry, I promised I'd stop."

Just then a woman pushed herself out of the crowd, apologizing to the man she just nudged before proceeding to look around. As soon as her eyes landed on the back of Al's head, she became furious.

"There you are!" She huffed, storming over to us and grabbing the boy's arm "Stop running off like that, or I won't be able to keep an eye on you."

This woman was very beautiful, with her pale skin and squirrely brown eyes. She had a head of long curly orange hair, that she kept up in a ponytail.

That's his sister? I thought They look nothing alike.

Al grimaced, trying to yank his arm from the female's grasp "I can take care of myself."

"Not my point. This is a new place for you and I cannot have you wandering off--" she stopped suddenly, finally noticing me standing there awkwardly "Sorry, can I help you?"

"Umm..." I coughed.

"Actually, this girl and I were having a conversation until we were so rudely interrupted." Al stated grudgingly as he slapped his sister's hand off him. "She's an... acquaintance of mine."

I think that's my cue "T-That's right, we met at the festival the other day."

The woman glanced down at Al for a moment, who was looking away with a hint of blush on his cheeks. She smirked slightly "Oh, so that's why he was so late out... He was with a pretty girl."

"P-Pretty?!"

"Hey- it's nothing like that!" Al blurted, jumping away from her "We just happened to be in the same place at the same time!"

"Suuuuure, whatever you say." She shrugged, before holding a hand out to me "Regardless, it was rather rude of me not to introduce myself. My name's Elizabeth McClain, I'm--"

"My older sister, like I previously told her." Al interjected, gently jabbing his elbow into her side. She seemed to be confused for a moment, but it passed as her mouth made an 'o' shape.

"Right, I'm his sister! It's a pleasure to meet you, miss..."

"Cynthia Livius." I took her hand with a smile "Though, everyone just calls me Cindy. Nice to meet you, Elizabeth."

"Please, call me Lizza."

"Uh, ahem?"

"Oh, right..." I deadpanned "He's still here."

Al scoffed "I beg your pardon! I was here before her, and you were fine with talking to me."

"Yeah but that's before I found out you're sister's pretty chill." I smirked, wrapping an arm around Lizza's shoulders "I expected another serious stone face."

The redheaded giggled "I like her."

"Yeah, well I'm having second thoughts..." the younger grumbled "This was supposed to be a peaceful day out."

"It would've been if you hadn't run away."

"You were constantly on my back, what do you expect?!"

"That's my job, I'm supposed to watch you!"

"It's true," I cut in and shrugged "My big sister had to go everywhere with me when I was your age."

"No one asked you, peasant!"

"Woah!" Both Lizza and I frowned, crossing our arms ready to scold the child. Even if he was properly spoken, he greatly lacked in basic manners.

However just as she opened her mouth, Lizza got a glimpse at the clock tower. She gasped at the time, grabbing her red eyed brother by the arm "Flip, we gotta head back! They'll wonder where you are!"

Al groaned "Must we?"

"Yes, now come on!" Before dragging Al off, Lizza shot me another kind smile "It was a delight meeting you, Cindy."

I smiled back "Likewise."

"Will you be attending the ball for the prince?"

Frick.

"Uh..." I coughed, playing with my braided hair as my eyes trailed down to the stone floor. After she had asked, both she and even Al had begun to stare at me with expecting and perhaps even hopeful eyes. I chewed on my bottom lip "I don't know..."

"What? Why?"

"I dunno, I just..." I paused "I'm not a fan of formal events..."

"Oh c'mon, please?" Lizza pleaded, pouting slightly "I don't wanna be stuck with this buzzkill all night, and you're the only decent person I've met in this kingdom so far!"

Al scoffed behind her back "I wouldn't go that far..."

Ya know what.

Though to be honest, the thought of spending more time with Lizza did sound appealing, and if you look past his... personality Al was alright company too. I then realized that since I ran out of the house, I probably didn't have a choice about coming to the ball anymore...

If I had to be with anyone during this waste of time, I suppose I'd want it to be them.

"I mean, I guess... if you guys are going..."

"Yesssss!" Lizza cheered, pulling me into a quick yet bone crushing hug before once again linking arms with Al "It's a promise, Kay?"

"Ok--"

"Great! Alright again nice meeting you hope to see you soon byyyyyye!"

And with that she dashed off, pulling an incredibly mortified child with her as she disappeared through the crowd. I watched with an awkward smile, hands on my hips as I watched the dust she left behind clear.

"I swear..." I chuckled "What a strange bunch..."

---

Lizza continued to drag Alexei through the bazaar, unlikely to stop to return any hello or apology for bumping into a passerby. It was only when they were completely alone did she halt.

"Okay," she huffed, turning to her prince "Mind telling me what that was about?"

"As a matter of fact, yes I do."

"Who was that girl?"

"Cynthia Livius."

"How do you know her?"

"The festival."

"How--"

"Are you going to keep asking questions that were already answered during your conversation with her?" Alexei cut her off "Are you that much of an airhead?"

Lizza grinded her teeth "Look, I just want to know who she is."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know if she's safe."

"Why?"

"Your highn--"

"Why?"

"Is--" she paused, clearing her throat to rid of the high pitch that emitted from it "Is this some kind of game to you?"

The prince smirked "In a way, yes. I find your discomfort very entertaining."

Lizza groaned "Look, all I want to know is why you pretended I was your sister and why she didn't--"

Alexei raised an eyebrow at her sudden pause. Her eyes narrowed at him as she spoke slowly.

"Don't tell me... she doesn't know you're the prince..."

"I thought that would've been obvious."

...

"You do realise she's coming to the ball, right?"

"Yes." He raised an eyebrow "So what?"

"So she'll be expecting to see you!" The redheaded girl shrieked, throwing her arms up in the air "And when she sees you, as Prince Alexei Charoice--!"

"Don't think you're completely innocent in this, Elizabeth!" Alexei pointed an accusing finger, voice raising to match his powerful authority "Need I remind you that you were the one that convinced Cindy to come to this stupid ball in the first place. She was going to say no!"

"I--" Lizza raised an equally accusing finger, mouth opening for a comeback. But she couldn't think of anything... he was right. She dropped her hand "Alright I had a minor brain fart, I'll admit... it's just, she's a pretty nice gal, and I really wanted to spend time with her."

"I noticed."

"You could have stopped me!"

"Oh, so now I'm the one who's supposed to stop you from doing stupid things?!"

"That's not what I meant--"

"Um, excuse me?"

The pair turned their heads, only to notice a sheepish shop owner grimacing at them.

"Could you maybe keep it down?" She asked shyly "You're kinda disturbing my customers..."

Right. This wasn't the castle, they couldn't just squabble carelessly.

"Of course," Lizza bowed apologetically "We're sorry for the disturbance, ma'am."

The female nodded and disappeared into her antique shop, shutting the door behind her. Once alone again Lizza sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Perhaps we should just compromise, and say we're both at fault..."

"I suppose that's fair..." Alexei hummed "But if this was the castle, you'd have to take most of the blame. I am a prince and a slip up like this could ruin my reputation."

Cocky son of a-- "Well you weren't when talking to Cindy," She smirked "You were just some rude snot nosed brat."

"What did you--"

"Come now, you're highness." The redhead jeered, once again grabbing the young prince by the arm "We have plans to make for your ball. After all, your future bride could be attending."

"Ugh, don't remind me."

"Plus we need to figure out how to explain... this to Cindy when we see her."

Alexei sighed out and let his aide drag him down the street. On the way, they passed an odd looking costume shop which displayed all sorts of nick-nacks and props. Though, the one thing that caught the young teen's eye, was a gorgeous black and silver mask.

A light bulb went off in his head

"Perhaps..." he smirked. "We won't have to..."

---

"I'm hom--"

"Cynthia Agatha Livius!"

Uh oh...

My father came barreling down the stairs, ready to kill as he stopped inches away from me with a red face. It was a miracle no steam was flowing out of his ears.

"Okay, look." He began, voice stern "It's not like your mother and I haven't been permissive parents. We let you go out without supervision. We let you stay up late. Heck, we've even let you eat dessert before dinner."

"You what?!" Mother yelled from the other room, making father wince.

"N-Nothing dear!" he turned to me once again, pinching the bridge of his nose "What I'm trying to say is that we don't ask for much, yet the one rule we make... the one thing we tell you absolutely not to do... you go and break it! Twice!"

"Dad--"

"I know that we've been sort of unfair, especially when asking you to unwillingly go to the ball with us just so we could go in and have a good time." He crossed his arms "But after everything we warned you about not going outside in the dark- even if it's only sunset -You go behind our backs and--"

"I'll go to the ball."

"I know you don't want to--" he stopped for a moment "What was that?"

I held my upper arms "When I ran out, it was because I didn't want to lash out at you and mother. I didn't want to break the rules, again, but I really needed some alone time to think. And now that I have..." I looked up at him "I've realized, maybe going to the ball won't be so bad."

For a moment my father just stared at me, is if to process what I just said. His lips parted slightly, and his eyebrows crinkled together as he remained silent. Then he spoke, wearily.

"You... realise this doesn't--"

"Make up for my behaviour? I know." I smiled sheepishly "But it's a start. And honestly, you and mom deserve a break after all you do for Belliak."

"Cindy..."

"After all," I smirked "You don't ask for much."

Father smiled, lifting his arms slightly "Would it be too cocky of me to hug you?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, thought as much..."