Snippet #1742281

"Prince, please wake up! It's almost time to leave and you've not a moment to spare!"

There was no response. The Prince continued to sleep on his amazingly comfortable waterbed near the outer wall with the window open and the gentle breeze brought by the morning flowing into the room. His servant, a young woman named Marci, continued to try to wake him with no success for several minutes.

"Oh, now what to do?! The Queen will surely punish me if he doesn't make it to the carriage on time..."

Suddenly the covers of the bed were thrown away and the Prince jumped to his feet and landed in front of Marci, his night robes waving in the breeze as he stood in front of her, his hair billowing gently in the breeze. He brushed a strand of hair from his face and smiled at her.

"The finest of mornings to you Marci! What can I do for you?" He asked with a bow.

Her face turned red with embarrassment and anger at his sudden jump and her reaction (which was to jump and scream slightly). She walked forward and put her face right up in front of his and huffed through her nose at him.

"You've got some nerve Prince Xei, waiting until the last second before you get ready to leave for what may be the most important day of your life! Do you know how angry your mother would be with me if you weren't to arrive on time because of sleep?! I'd be flogged!! Not to mention you'd disgrace your family name by arriving late to such an event! What in the name of the Goddess were you thinking?!" She yelled.

He simply smiled at her, and since her face was so close, he leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Her face turned red as a tomato as she backed away from him, hands covering her lips. He laughed out loud for a moment before throwing off his robes. He was fully clothed underneath, save for his bare feet and fully ready to leave.

"I apologize Marci, but I took the liberty of waking myself long ago. Notice my finely brushed and straight hair despite my apparent 'sleep', and my unwrinkled tunic and pants! My belongings are packed and ready to go as per my request and for quite some time I have simply been playing at sleep to annoy you. Forgive me my dear, but it was all in good fun!" He said with another bow.

Marci fell to her knees and let her head fall. A single tear fell down her cheek before she wiped it away and let out a sigh.

"You did all that to annoy me, your majesty?... How could you?" She asked weakly.

He looked indignant at her question.

"My dear Marci, I do these things to you because you're a good sport and it is entertaining to watch you throw your little fits. I mean no harm by it all, you know that. Anyway, I must grab my sandals and be on my way now. Take care of the Castle while I'm gone!"

He threw on his sandals and left the room, Marci still on her knees on the floor just staring out the window. She was the one who tended to almost all of the regular chores throughout the Castle regardless of who asked her to do so. She was the one who was in charge of waking, feeding and aiding the Prince every day, and yet here she was... On the floor and nearly in tears of frustration and grief.

"I don't like your fun... your majesty." She said quietly to herself as she stood up and walked out of the room.

The Prince arrived a few minutes early to the carriage, greeting everyone who came to see him off, including his parents. They asked him to remain calm and play no tricks or tell any jokes, as this was a formal event and not one to take lightly. He promised them he would behave himself, but in his mind he crossed his fingers. He knew that nothing would be able to stop him from having his fun, and nobody would know it was him at this place because nobody knew him. It was a magnificent thought, going to a ball where nobody knew him and where he could pull all the pranks he wanted.

"Well, I must be off now! Farewell my beloved Airis! I shall return with a new bride soon!" He called from the carriage window as it departed, three giant sea serpents flying it into the heavens above.

Along the way, he thought about many things. He wondered who he'd meet, what they'd be like, how he'd be able to pull a little prank on them as a greeting given this and that, and a great deal many other things. He would not intend to hurt anyone, but still it would be nice to see a few red faces and perhaps a bit of frustration from some of them, especially if they were naturally hot headed.

"Oh Goddess... What wonders and amazing laughs await me at this place? I must know!" He said to himself as he leaned his head out the window and felt the wind on his face. It was cold, chilling him to the bone, but he didn't mind. He left his face outside the window for a good minute before pulling it back in, a tiny bit of frost in his hair. It quickly melted, returning his hair to normal. He brushed a few strands back into place before he was suddenly struck by an idea.

"Driver!" He called out.

"Yes Prince Xei?" Came a response.

"I need to make a very brief stop. I promise it will be no longer than a couple minutes. I'm sure these magnificent beasts can get us to Elphanor on time despite this stop. Please pull them over when we reach the trade post on the north end of Airis's borders. I have someone I must speak to!"

"As you wish my Prince." He called back.

The carriage veered down and headed for the border just below. It only took a few seconds for it to come to a stop, and Xei was quite surprised by it.

"You called to me just in time Prince Xei, we were about to pass the point to which you wished to stop."

"Goodness, I cut it close didn't I?" He remarked as he stepped outside.

Xei told the driver to wait for him, and wandered off towards a small hut near the trade post itself where he was greeted by an old acquaintance.

"It's been a long time boy, still up to your old tricks?" Came a low and husky voice.

"Haha! Valdmir my good man, it's wonderful to see you. I have had a most glorious idea, and I need you to help me realize it. I thought about what kind of fun I could have at this ball with all the other Royals and commoners, and I felt that a... disturbance would be in order. Nothing too grand, but enough to upset the mood and rattle the cages, if you know what I mean. There is a substantial reward in this for you if you manage to pull it off."

Xei pulled out a purse of gold and showed it to Valdmir, to which the old man grinned. Valdmir had been an agent for the black market and a contact of one of the crime circuit underworlds that lived within the societies of all the nations beneath Elphanor. His reach was vast, and his influence was strong. There was almost nothing he could not accomplish when he put his mind to it, but these days he was retired and trying to live a quiet life, even if it wasn't exactly pure. He took the gold from Xei and promised him that a disturbance was in the works, and the Prince bowed to him and left for the carriage.

Once he returned, he climbed back in immediately and they headed off once more. The mighty serpents managed to arrive at Elphanor in good time, and indeed the Prince was early enough to enjoy some of the more quiet festivities upon arrival. He paid his carriage driver and bade him farewell until it was time to return home, and walked inside the Castle. On his way, he smiled and bowed generously to the guards and nobles he passed. It was the usual for him to do so, and he relished in the thought that they believed him to be a calm, quiet and honest young man. It made it easier to win them over later and convince them he had nothing to do with anything strange that was happening.

Once he arrived inside the ballroom, he looked around and noticed that nearly everyone was wearing a mask. He suddenly realized that he had no mask, as it was the only thing he'd forgotten to pack in preparation for this day. He sighed and looked around, and spied a young man leaning against a table on the far side of the room looking like he had plenty of time on his hands. At his back was a large and intimidating blade, no doubt wielded by a powerful individual.

Must be a Taura to wield a weapon like that... He thought to himself.

He approached the young man and smiled.

"Greetings sir, and what might your name be?" He asked with a bow and a smile.

The young man's head slid towards him, and he cocked it to the side in confusion. Xei suddenly realized that he was speaking in his native tongue, and that he needed to translate before this young man could understand him. As there was with every nation, there was a native tongue that was passed down through the generations, but there was also a universal language that was learned by all as well, and Xei had forgotten to use it.

"My apologies, I had forgotten where I was for a moment. I am Xei Val Airis, Prince of the Kingdom of Airis, and I would like to know who I have the pleasure of addressing!" He said, still with a smile.

The young man's eyebrows furrowed slightly as his expression changed. Airis could not figure out what was going on in the young man's mind, but whatever it was, it could prove to be trouble.

"... Kordoshi... My name is Kordoshi, and I will warn you now that I am not a fan of nobility or royals. Pardon my bluntness, but I would like you to leave me be. I have no desire to speak with you..." He said in a low voice.

Airis's smile vanished and was replaced by anger. Never in his life had he been spoken to in such a manner, let alone by a commoner without any noble blood running through his veins. He calmed himself and let out a sigh.

"Very well then Kordoshi, you have made your point. I shall not bother you anymore." He said with a bow.

He turned and walked away, finding a new table and pouring himself a cocktail. He took a sip and looked around, wondering if he was really a guest or if he was someone else entirely who didn't belong. Either way, Kordoshi was obviously immune to his charms and would not be easy to fool when the time came for a prank. He'd have to keep an eye on him if he was to have any fun.