Chapter One
The first rays of dawn hit upon the small window at the top West tower of the castle. Luca rose, stretching his stiff arms and legs. Quickly, he made his bed, changed, and shoved his little belongings in the sac. Rummaging through the sac and producing a bread roll he had snuck out from the dinner last night, he shoved it into his mouth and pulled his boots on. Checking that he had his sword belted with him, he pushed the well-oiled door open and stepped out.
This is a good time to leave, before anyone notices that I'm gone. He thought satisfactorily, munching on the somewhat dry bread. Taking quick broad strides, he breathed in the cool morning air.
"Good morning!" A voice said cheerfully behind him. Surprised, he turned to see a familiar girl's face behind him. Suddenly the events of the night before shot through his head. The boat. He had been stranded onto these shores, and had been unconscious until he woke onto a straw mattress. That girl...the princess, had been nursing him. Then he had dinner with the royal family. He remembered the kind royal couple.
"G-good morning, princess." He replied hastily, his face reddening at the fact that he had been caught. She smiled back at him. What had been her name? He couldn't remember.
"Aw, you don't have to call me that." She said, waving the formality aside and smiling even brighter in its place. "Just call me Seren."
Oh yeah. It was Princess Serendipity, shortened to Seren. She was the third princess. The youngest out of five at fifteen years of age.
"Anyway, where are you going at this hour? You haven't had breakfast yet....is it Luca?" She continued brightly.
"Hm? Yes. Er...I'm leaving." He said stiffly. "Please give everyone my thanks. I made the bed and cleaned up the room, so there is no need for any servants."
"Leaving? Already?" Seren said, clearly sounding disappointed. "Why? Have some breakfast first! I heard Toren's making some decent onion soup and fresh bread. And besides, where will you go?"
There it was. The question that had been hanging in his mind for a long time. He had only known that he wanted to get out of the stuffy castle as soon as possible, but had not been able to answer the question. Yes, where would he go? And that onion soup sounded very pleasant. Who knew when else he would be able to get another meal suited for royalty in his life?
Seeing his wavering, the princess took some more steps towards him.
"Come on, Luca. I know you haven't recovered fully." She said carefully, taking his hand. "Breakfast is going to be served in an hour, so during then, why don't I show you around the castle? Rest a little bit more here."
"B-but your hospitality has already been extended to such a large degree-" he began, flushing again, when the princess burst out into pearls of laughter, turning and leading him off by the hand.
"Oh, stop sounding like you're choking on a dictionary. That's only when your tutors are all mad at you for doing something wrong at the first try." She said, pushing open another door and stepping down into a spiral staircase. Not knowing what to say, he followed her light steps into the castle.
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