“Alright, now that you’re ready for the day, let me inform you of something,” Casey said firmly. “Are you aware that tonight you have to attend the royal dinner? You didn’t forget that you have to plan the Gala with your parents, did you?"

I gulped harshly and looked up at her intimidating form. Locke hissed at me for moving when he had yet to finish braiding my hair. “They want me to attend? Are they not aware of what I did yesterday?” I asked with heavy reluctance in my voice. I clenched my hands into fists and winced when my nails formed crescents on my palms, the action aggravating my sore wrist tendons. I don’t want to see them right now.

Casey sighed, “No, no one has told them yet. We certainly won’t, either, unless you’d prefer us to?” 

“No, thank you,” I sighed as Locke tied off the braid and I leaned my back against his chest. “Can’t I just take the day off from being a prince, altogether?” 

A sudden idea struck me and I beckoned Casey to bring my crown over to me, my hands outstretched in a grabby motion. She rolled her eyes and picked up the golden crown that looked more like an enlarged ring with masterfully embedded red gems. I took it from her hands with a mischievous smirk and reached over my head to place it on top of Locke’s. “There,” I said as I admired how well it suited him, “Now you can take my place!” I peered at him with an upside-down smile, still leaning against his chest and craning my neck backward.

He laughed and placed the crown on my head instead, careful of my braid. “I think this suits you better. It brings out your eyes,” He said with a chuckle. “I mean, I’d be honored, but you know I can’t.”

“I know…” I grumbled and roughly sat up. “You two are dismissed.”

“What?” Asked Casey with worry, “Why?”

A small smile spread across my face, “It’s alright, Casey. I’m just going to run to the kitchen for some food. It wouldn’t be very entertaining to watch me eat.”

She rubbed at her neck nervously as if she’d been caught. “Ah, right. Okay, then.”

“Yes!” Locke cheered and hopped off the bed, “I’m off to the library!” He sauntered out of the room with Casey hot on his tail.

“What’re you going to read?” Casey asked and rolled her eyes, “I hope it’s not another cheesy romance.”

“Why, don’t you like cheesy romances?” Locke gave her a knowing look and she slapped the back of his head before shoving him out the door.

I smiled at their childish behavior. Those two are such a handful. I waited a moment longer to be sure they had left before I headed out of the room myself.

I peeked my head around the corner and jumped when I felt my braid thump against my shoulder. Clam down, Angélo. Stop being so suspicious! I tiptoed down the east wing and felt exposed as the paintings of my ancestors looked down on me from their high pedestals on the wall. Shuddering at the feeling, I continued down the corridor. When I approached the entrance to the kitchen, I found myself swallowing hard. I  attempted to speed past without anyone noticing.

“Ah, Prince Angélo!” I jumped with fear at the small voice and froze.

“Y-yes?” I asked hesitantly and turned to peer down at the young maid who had called my name.

“Ms. Casey came by earlier to tell us you’d stop by for some food. What did you have in mind for this morning?” She asked and clasped her hands together behind her back politely.

“Oh,” I sighed a breath of relief, “Nothing fancy, please. Just a piece of toast will suffice.”

“Oh, but, sir…” She trailed and took in my frail frame, “You really must eat more. You’re all skin and bones!”

I winced at her well-intentioned criticism and wrapped my arms around my abdomen unconsciously. My shoulders hunched and I responded with a forced smile. “No, just toast will be alright, thank you. I had a big dinner.”

The maid took on a skeptical look but beckoned me to follow her into the kitchen. I wondered vaguely if she knew that I’d left the castle last night, and if I’d been caught in a lie. She instructed me to sit on one of the steel stools at the counter and turned to slice a freshly baked loaf of bread. The maid glanced at me and gave me a once-over as she put a piece of bread into the flame-powered oven. A disapproving frown sat firmly on her lips. Am I that obvious? Did she notice? I squeezed my arms tighter around me until I felt my ribs digging into my skin. No, stop overthinking. She didn’t notice anything. I hunched over, even more, hoping to conceal my thin frame.

“Prince Angélo, your toast is done,” The maid from before announced, startling me from my thoughts.

“T-thank you.” I replied timidly, “If you don’t mind, I was going to sit outside and eat?” Hoping to charm her enough to leave me alone, I offered up a small smile.

“Oh, is that right? Then, should I call for Casey to escort you? She’s in her sleeping quarters. I’ll fetch her for you, you shouldn’t be out by yourself.”

“Oh, no, thank you, ma’am. I’ve already informed her that I plan to eat outside,” I said and quickly stood from the chair, being sure to grab my toast off its plate, and hesitated before leaving. “T-thank you for the food?” With an awkward bow, I then fled the kitchen and made a bee-line for the door.

Once outside, I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I walked lazily over to the castle garden, taking the time to observe the grand place. It never ceased to amaze me. The flowers are so elegant, I thought while I plucked the head of a red rose off its stem, careful to evade the thorns. The petals were velvety and soft in my hand. I inhaled deeply as the signature smell of roses washed over me, sighing blissfully. Still carrying the rosebud, I made my way over to the koi pond.

With a smile, I sat at the edge. Sometimes, I envied the fish that swam in the crystal water, their gorgeous scales varying in color. No one hovered over them to the point of suffocation. As I stared at the fish, I absentmindedly began to list their colors in my head. Red, orange, yellow, gold, white...and black. I smiled when I saw my favorite fish; he was a fully black scaled, beautiful koi fish named Lynch.

“Hello, Lynch.” I smiled down at the fat fish, “Would you like some toast?”

Lynch swam closer with ebbing excitement. One of the perks of my abilities was that creatures were able to understand me, and vice versa. I listlessly watched him swim in circles and do other tricks as I tossed him the toast. Of my abilities, this one was probably the most useless. Being Xgifted sucks, I thought and dropped another piece of toast in the water with a smile. But, at least I got a friend out of it. 

I focused my attention on my hand and water droplets began to materialize in my palm. A spherical shape became of the water and I slowly submerged it into the pond. When it rose again, Lynch rose with it. I watched his face make an ‘o’ shape as he swam in circles within the bubble, finally seeing the world outside of his small pond.

For a gifted person, such a feat wouldn’t be possible; creating elements wasn’t within their range of ability. But for me, it was. I could create water or ice, not solely manipulate it like other gifted people. Not only that, but I could control the living things around me. Whether it be people, plants, or animals, I could sway them. In turn, this also gave me the ability to correspond with most organisms telepathically or verbally.

“Lynch,” I whispered with a sad smile, “I wish people could be more like you.” He swam up to the edge of the bubble and I lowered my face to his level. He gently pushed past the barrier of water and tapped our noses together. I giggled and lowered his bubble back into the pond.

Poor Lynch, I thought and floated the head of the rose I picked earlier out into the pond. He must be going stir-crazy being confined in that small pond. I watched the rose float out towards the middle of the pond. Lynch swam up to it with lightning speed and poked at it with his nose, mistaking it for food.

I sighed and stood, now bored with the fish. “Bye, Lynch.” I called, “See you soon.” Lynch swam in happy rings, his shadow-like body leaving ripples in the water.