Alternatively

Plethora of Princes and Princesses (i.)

He could see the castle from the sea and it wasn't the rocking boat that sent his stomach into a flurry. His fingers flexed around the banister, his palms sweaty.

"Nice country side, don't you think?"

"It's certainly expansive," he replied, glancing at the crown dangling from his friend's fingers. "It could take you weeks, months to find her."

"It'll work out," Jason squinted against the sunset.

He grunted and rolled his shoulders back. "I should hope so."

It was all hands on deck as the ship pulled into dock, everyone scrambling around and calling to each other. Normally, he felt at peace on the waves. Normally, he was at ease going on diplomatic trips with the prince, as it was his job. Normally, he wasn't impersonating the prince.

"Here."

Percy accepted the crown but didn't put it on just yet. "If this goes south and I die, I'm blaming you entirely."

"You won't die," he scoffed.

"I could definitely die," he argued, adjusting his new regal attire. "This isn't the friendliest of countries."

"I know that, which is why I have to find Thalia. She could be hurt or-"

"I'm not backing out, I'm just saying that I'm going to haunt you if I get executed for tricking the royal family."

Jason shook his head with a smile, patting him on the shoulder. It was strange seeing him dressed down, wearing the uniform Percy typically wore, but he wasn't too convinced. The Golden Boy could never pass for a mere squire, and a squire could never pull off being a prince.

The plank was lowered to the dock and the captain gave the all clear.

"You know everything I do," the prince lowly said, walking slightly behind him. "This isn't your first time dealing with our politics, and it's not that important."

Percy shot him a glare, waiting as three crewmembers scurried past before reaching for his bag. "How is a peace treaty not important?"

"If it were important, my father would be here instead of us, now give me that bag and put on your crown."

He rolled his eyes and passed the luggage off. Thunderous steps stormed up from the lower decks and Piper exploded into the evening, smoothing her hair and brushing off her skirts as she joined Jason at his side. There were pillow creases on her face and when she spoke, it sounded like she was suppressing a yawn.

"We stay with him until nightfall, right?"

"No, we split up here."

"Here? But I'm so tired already."

"It's too risky if I'm seen with him for too long, someone might catch onto us."

"That is valid, considering your descriptions are vastly-"

"Will you two be quiet?" he snapped, his stomach tossing again. "You're going to psych me out."

The translator waggled her eyebrows. "Oh, but a prince doesn't get psyched out."

"Don't make me push you into the water," he shoved the crown onto his head.

So they descended to the dock, people bowing to him as he passed. He kept his chin level and his eyes boring into the carriage waiting by the road. None of them had been to the kingdom before, which was both good and bad. Good because unless someone had been to their country, no one would know what the prince really looked like. Bad because there was a giant possibility of getting lost all the time.