Fool on the Run

When Alberto hires on his cousin as a maid at Villa Altaria, Prince Roberto figures said cousin will be another stick-in-the-mud to tease at best, or yet another method Alberto will use to keep tabs on the prince at worst.

He’s pleasantly surprised by the arrival of friendly, fun-loving Long Lian Accardi--Lian for short. He is also, however, rather confused. The girl is obviously used to a far more comfortable lifestyle than the maids at the Villa can typically afford, so why has Alberto set her on only the more menial tasks? Why does the High Steward seem to be dodging certain questions about Lian that Roberto asks? And why can’t Roberto shake off the feeling that there’s something off-puttingly familiar about her smile?

Determined to find out exactly what Alberto is hiding from him, Roberto decides to try and befriend Lian. But in searching for the truth, he’ll discover some other truths he may not be willing to face… particularly concerning what real friendship entails, the strength (or lack thereof) that lies in familial bonds, the meaning of motivation and duty, and whether genuine happiness in love is possible for him as a man with the title of Crown Prince.