16 year old Prince Logan was tired. Tired of his helicopter mom, tired of having no independence, tired of being royal. He was perched on the ledge of the tallest tower in his father’s regal castle, staring down at the dilapidated town, wishing he was somewhere else in the great wide world.

“Hiya, Logan!” His only friend sat down next to him, peering at his emerald green eyes. She was clothed in a dark blue traditional jester’s outfit, the bells on her hat joyfully tinkling whenever she made the slightest move.

“Hey, Sapphire.” Logan smiled at her. He loved his companion dearly. She had been his friend and caretaker from his infancy, assigned to protect him by his own parents. She could always make him smile even in his darkest days, like any jester can.

“You look blue.” Sapphire said empathetically. “Perhaps it’s because of your sweater!”

Logan chuckled as he looked at his clothing choice, a pastel blue turtleneck and a pair of jeans.

“Good one, Sapphire.”

“Do you wanna go to town to cheer people up? I heard one of the shops had to go out of business.”

“Why?”

Sapphire sighed and smiled sadly, and took off her hat to fluff her short, dark locks. “You know I don’t like to speak ill of your parents, but…” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “They’re at the root of many problems in this country. Sure, they’re nice people, but… taxes are so high here. They’ve been that way ever since your grandfather died. Your grandmother… was rather greedy. She thought money was power, and because of that, she instilled that same value in your father.”

Logan nodded slowly. “I know… but father told me he’s trying to expand the country with the tax money, meaning more people and more materials. Within a couple of years, we should be thriving again.”

“I know a lot of things, Logan. Unlike many of the people here, I can freely travel to town and back here to the castle without supervision. I can go wherever whenever I want! But you… your parents told me to restrict your travel to the town as much as possible. They also are not trying to expand the country… I don’t even know where all that money is going, but I do know it’s condensing quickly in the castle. I mean, look at this place!” She waved her hand toward Logan’s fancy, intricate bedroom. “There’s rubies and diamonds encrusted in the walls!”

“Yeah… I managed to pry one out of the wall from behind my bed.” He replied.

The two stared at each other awkwardly.

“I meant that in a metaphorical manner, but okay.” Sapphire shrugged. “Let’s take a look at it.”

Logan opened the drawer of his wooden and silver bedside table and held a ruby about the size of the palm of his hand.

“There’s gotta be more there.” Sapphire examined the gem closely.

Logan nodded vigorously.

“Do you think I could sell this?”

“For a low price. Just to help the economy a bit. You can still make decisions, you’re a royal, after all.”

Logan pondered this for a moment. “I suppose so. But I’m not supposed to leave the castle. Adding that up with the fact that my parents have a dungeon, I really don’t have too much of a choice but to stay here. I'm about as free as an animal in a pen.”

Sapphire chuckled. “Sometimes, you have to break the rules if you want things to work out.”