Royal Pain \/ l.h.

1:1

Remember that event Mum had planned? It ended up being a dream come true: seven princesses were all waiting for me in the grand hall cosplaying Slave Leia from Return of the Jedi.

I'm lying, I have to stand around listening to my parents talk to a bunch of old people while I breathe in sweaty air. I'm wearing a stupid prince-like outfit from like Cinderella or something and it's incredibly uncomfortable. Although, the greatest part is I can mock some of the old people that come to talk to me without them knowing I'm making faces at them. This old lady came up to me and asked me all these questions and shook my hand and wanted to know what my future wife looked like and the whole time I'm rolling my eyes and sticking my tongue out at her and giving her death glares. It's a bit childish, I'm aware, but I'm so bored.

I love Mum, she's a great and wonderful lady, but her events lack a certain something that could grab my attention. Oh yeah, there's no one younger than 53 in this entire castle.

"May I go now? I have been asked literally 30 times what is on my face," I whine, tugging her hand. "I'm starting to think it's a huge inside joke with these elders."

"Luke, honey, you've been down here maybe an hour. Try to make it to two."

"But I don't think I can!" I whine more, starting to stomp my feet.

"Luke Robert, you are almost 20 years old," my father butts in. I may not be able to see him, but I'm sure he's glaring at me. "start acting like it." I pout, further proving my point I am in fact a kid, and fold my arms. "Don't you dare." I ignore his warning, crossing my left leg over my right leg, wavering a little.

"Luke, not in front of our guests," Mum sighs. I drop to the floor, my legs crossed, and hang my head. "here we go."

"What a grip you have on him," Ben says. I hear his footsteps and clicking of I'm pretty sure his wife get closer to us. "making an idiot out of himself."

"I remember when I threw my first fit. I might have been two," Jack interjects and I roll my eyes. "I grew out of it when I was maybe seven."

"Leave him alone, he's just tired," Mum's hand comes in contact with my hair, scratching my scalp as if I'm a puppy.

"You always baby him!" Jack whines. I smirk behind the cloth. I'm about to get my way and get the heck out of here.

"Honestly, Liz," Dad starts. I can envision him now shaking his head. "you're a wonderful mother and a terrific leader, but could you please pull the reigns on our youngest? You've treated him like a child for so long, just look at him." It's quiet and I think Mum is looking at me. I want to peek out from the cloth, give her my puppy eyes, then climb out a window. However, there's too many 'old chaps' swarming around to take a chance on getting seen and yelled at.

"Well, he's been through enough today. Go on upstairs," I don't hesitate or take my time getting up off the polished floor. I quickly hug her while the other three groan in unison before running up the stairs (getting winded after the first ten) to my room. I change out of the ridiculous outfit, tear off my cloth, and set up my escape plan.

You see, to get out without someone running in and saying "hey, you can't do that", you have to trick them. I usually go through the back door to the garden, but I have to crack open my window first. The guards will hear the sound of the lock being messed with, then notice it isn't even open, and I smile at them as if I have no idea why they're in my room checking on me.

The garden isn't exactly off limits for me, but it can lead to the village if you go in the right direction, and that is what's off limits for me. In order for them to not pay attention to me, I have to make them think I went back inside, which is the hardest part.