Prologue

Rin

"Queen Evermore is going to be in the Royal parade today? She doesn't typically leave the Palace anymore. Not that I blame her." Uncle said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Uncle was always excited anytime the Queen was mentioned. I never understood him. The Queen was beautiful, sure, but Prince Jay was way better. Looks aren't everything, either. Prince Jay won his first blue ribbon last week at the show jumping event. He is so cool. I wish I could ride a horse. I won't ever understand how anyone could bad mouth him. Just because Prince Kista is missing doesn't mean people need to be so rude to Prince Jay. It's not his fault, after all. It has been two years since his kidnapping, and people still hold some weird grudge against Prince Jay. I don't get adults. I'm the same age Prince Jay was when Prince Kista was taken. It just doesn't make sense. What could Prince Jay have done as a 7-year-old?

"Rin! RIN! Let's go! We're going to be late! We don't want to miss the Queen." Uncle yelled as he ran towards the main road.

The main road was blocked off every time a royal parade was held. Usually, the parades celebrated something big like a new monarch or a wedding. This time, however, it's a parade to welcome the new Royal Commander. I know nothing about that guy. I can't wait to see Prince Jay on his horse.

"Uncle, don't walk so fast. Auntie can't keep up because she's carrying Parker." I yell out as I run back to help Auntie carry her bag.

Parker is my little cousin. He turns four this December.

"Your uncle always forgets which woman he married when the Queen is involved. Luckily, my little brother raised quite the young gentlemen to help me when my husband was lacking." Auntie said as she smiled at me. 

I can see the barricade now. We are lucky that there is an opening near the front. We will have such a great view. Uncle is waving us over with such excitement. He is more impatient than I am. Now, we have to wait for it to start.

The parade starts with the flag ceremony. It's the most boring part if you ask me. It's just a bunch of guys walking with flags. Then we have a Royal Army march—rows of soldiers walking in full formal uniforms carrying ceremonial rifles. The uniforms are ugly. No matter how much you beg me, I won't ever wear something that ugly. Then, they have the heads of the royal council. They are escorted in fancy old cars with no roofs. Some cars are pretty cool, so I don't mind that. Then we have the main reason for the parade. The float with the new Royal Commander and his family. He looks scary. I wouldn't want to be his kid. 

"Honey! Look! It's the Royal float. There she is!! It's the Queen!" Uncle yells as he pats Auntie on the arm.

"Yes, dear. I can see the Queen. No need to yell." Auntie says in a sarcastic tone. 

I can't help but laugh. Uncle loves Auntie, so seeing him act this way and have her understand is funny. I hope one day I can find a love like that. They look so happy. I miss Mom and Dad the most at times like these. I wish we could all be here together. 

The royal float has The King and Queen sitting on their thrones. The float is decorated with flowers and accents of black iron. It looks amazing. Black iron is so cool looking. I wish I had a sword made of black iron. Then, finally, the person I have been waiting to see. The crown Prince Jay. 

"Woah! Look, his horse is white! So cool! Uncle look! He has a sword made of black iron!" I say, leaning on the barricade. 

As I look over the barricade to my left, I see a small rubber ball rolling in the road towards the prince's horse. Oh no! I hope it doesn't get under the horse. Before anyone could realize it, a little boy darts past the barricade after the ball. 

"Troy, no! Come back!" his mother yells after him. 

He doesn't hear her. He will spook the horse, and the prince might get thrown off. The little boy could get hurt, too. I have to do something. Without thinking, I dash past the barricade and run as fast as possible towards the little boy. 

Argh, I'm almost there… just a little more. I reach out my arms and take a leap of faith.

"Gotcha!" I yell as I pick up the little boy clinging onto me. 

However, I was just a little too late. We managed to scare the horse, and he started kicking. Oh no! The prince will get hurt. I pushed the boy away as far as possible, ready to help the prince. However, the prince managed to calm the horse and steady himself on top. I look back and see the mother has the child now. Good, no one got hurt. 

"Thank you for helping that little boy. Are you alright?" The prince asked while looking down from atop his horse. 

I was in awe. The prince is talking to me! What should I say? I don't know! Just saying anything, Rin!!

" I… I'm alright, Your Highness. Thank you!" I say, getting up to bow. 

"That's good. Next time, make sure not to run out into the road. Being a hero can be dangerous." the prince says with a frown. 

I return behind the barricade to where Auntie and Uncle are. 

"Rin! Don't ever do that again!" Auntie yelled as she smacked me on the back of the head. 

"Sorry, Auntie," I say as I rub my head. 

"You better smarten up, boy. Your Aunt won't allow another family member to die on her watch. Are you trying to give her a heart attack?" Uncle says as he pinches my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Auntie and Uncle," I whined.

Then, just as I think the nagging has stopped, little Parker reaches out, grabs my hair, and pulls with all his might. 

"OW! Parker, not you too! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I yell as Parker hangs on tight and giggles.

Even with all the scolding, I couldn't help but smile. I got to talk to Prince Jay face-to-face today. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone like me. Overall, I say today was a pretty great day.

Jay

"Jay, how can you mess up something as simple as riding a horse? You say you won a blue ribbon last week? Ha! Useless. Of course, the son who wasn't kidnapped is a total failure. How many more times are you going to disappoint me? Hmm? Answer me!" Father howled.

My head hurts. I don't know what I could have done to make him happy. The situation was out of my control. It was, right?

"I'm sorry, Father. I will make sure to handle the situation better next time." I say with my head down. 

If I make eye contact with him right now, I will make things worse. 

"Wolf, please stop yelling at the boy. He did his best. He looked very approachable and understanding. He handled Yin very well and managed to stay on even though he was kicking violently. What exactly are you expecting him to do in a situation like that? I mean, would you have stayed on a kicking horse that well? I think not. Enough of your foolishness." Mom says as she pats my head.

"Ever, I swear every time I discipline the boy, you open your mouth. He isn't the second in line anymore. He needs to be stronger. Kista would have never let the boy get that close." Father snapped. 

Mom picks up a nearby vase and throws it near Father's head. It shatters, spilling water and flowers everywhere. The look on my father's face sends chills down my spine. Only my mother would be able to do something like that to him. 

"How many times do I have to tell you? Kista isn't some almighty being! Stop comparing Jay to him as if he could do no wrong. I love Kista, too. He was a wonderful child, but he could not make the impossible happen!!" Mom yelled as she walked closer to Father. 

"I am going to bed. Goodnight, boys." Mom kissed Dad on the cheek and went into her bedroom. 

"Clean up this mess!" Father snapped at the maid, who was cowering in the corner. 

"Jay, I will deal with you in the morning. Go to bed." He orders as he stomps off to his room.

My bedroom was always my haven. No one ever came in here besides the maids. If my parents ever needed me, they would send for me. Kista was always busy, so if I wanted to spend time with him, I went to his room. My room was the only place that was just mine. The only thing I hate is that I overthink when I'm alone. I will lie in bed, thinking about everything that happened during the day. It can be upsetting, but unpacking the day's events is peaceful. Like today, that little boy caused a lot of problems over that stupid ball. His parents need to do much better to teach the kid about safety. Plus, that other guy wanted to play the hero so bad he didn't even think about what would happen. He was pretty fast, though. It was funny seeing how flustered he was when I talked to him. That was the first time I talked to someone my age, someone I met outside of the Palace. Too bad I won't see him again. He seems like he would be fun to have around. Honestly, it would be fun to have anyone around. It was fun when my big brother was still here.

I miss you, Kista. 

Please come home.