...ChApTeR OnE...

"Hear Ye, Hear ye" the announcer said, Loud and stern as everyone quieted down. "On this day, the year of the panda and the tenth of the tenth month gives our crown prince his luck as he turns ten years old" said the announcer he then stepped down as the queen came up to say a few words. "Thank you all for being here, today is Alexander's seventh birthday he is incredibly lucky to have his golden birthday, so early and as a mother I can't be more proud of his achievements so everyone raise your glasses and toast to my son" it was more of a command to toast to the crown prince, but she was able masterfully hide it and smiled warm and brightly.

"To the crown prince" everyone said toasting to him. Alexander looked around while enjoying the sweets he was far too young for wine from the kitchen. The staff always prepared grape juice or what he preferred. As he walked around speaking to the Lords and Dukes he caught the glimpse of a palace maid, young just like him, but she stood out so he went over.

"State your name" Alexander said in a soft command to not draw too much attention to her. "Elora your Highness, is there anything I can do for you? Your Highness" Elora said simply and gave courtesy. He stared at her trying to figure out, something as if he had tasted something sweet but forgot the name of the sweets. "What a lovely name" Alexander said softly "too bad it's wasted on a servant" his pupils dilated realizing he can be as cruel as his mother. Elora was hurt but couldn't talk back she needed to stay here, within the palace the only place she could live and earn money. "Do not take to heart"... Alexander eyes widen slightly hearing another voice. "It"... Elora said not realizing what she just did "do not take it to heart".

"You... you cut me off" Alexander said slightly shocked he simply composed himself and reprimanded her "never cut me off again" Alexander said firmly. "But don't take it to heart" Alexander said softly. "I... I'm so sorry your Highness, I didn't mean to... it's a bad habit of mine please forgive me" Elora said in a hurry truly not meaning any harm.

"Don't let it happen again" Alexander said then left to mingle around but feeling something, something new towards Elora, her face, her eyes, the way she simply stood out just as being a maid. It was something new to him being only ten but so many expectations. Alexander is still learning the big words, but he gave her a scent, "mint" Alexander said.

Alexander's thoughts began to drown out hearing the classical music and chattering nobles broke his focus on Elora which was a good thing, it's his birthday tonight but also a Royal ball planned to how his mother likes it, how she used him and planned his life. Thankfully for Alexander being young also means retiring to his chambers early so that's what he did. "Mother I'm tired, so I'll retire to my chambers, I had a good time for my birthday" Alexander said loud enough to beat the music. "Already? Alright then you're still young, have someone escort you back sleep well" the queen said her expression gives off nothing years of masking behind to be a good mother especially in front of other nobles.

Alexander was surprised she agreed because she's always ranting on and on about connections for political reasons, never any mother and son time but then again she was in public. Alexander went to his chambers not bothering a maid for something so simple and unnecessary. As he walked down the long halls of the palace Royal guards standing at least three to ten feet apart all the way down, halls decorated with family photos dating back six generations of his great 6x grandfather at the start of it all.

Alexander reached his chamber doors his fathers' portrait was covered, to him this was unacceptable so he took the cover off seeing the glass needed to be clean, he balled his fists knowing this was his mother's doing. He simply kept his composer and called a guard over. "Leave your post" Alexander said as he turned his head to the guard "And come here" he said calmly while giving an order turning his head back to the portrait. The guard respectfully stepped out from his post of attention and executed a left face the forward match went towards Alexander halting at three feet back kneeling down to place right hand over his chest as he formed a fist. "Yes your Highness" the guard said respectively.

Alexander looked at the portrait thinking of the worst thing he could see on his birthday, the golden birthday of three tens he said to the guard "Have someone clean this, I want spotless nothing less" he went into his chambers. The guard stood up and turned using the rear march command. "Yes your Highness" the guard went to relay his order to the nearest maid that wasn't busy. "An order from his Highness" the guard said standing in front of her. "He wants the portrait of our late majesty cleaned and spotless as soon as possible" the guard said. "Understood I'll get on it now" the maid said and with that the guard left going back to his post using rear march to turn and leave the room, forward march to walk down the halls, halt to stop at his post, then a right face to face the other side of the ball finally standing at attention.

The maid the guard asked was Elora she was finished with her duties for the ball, and she was the closet with free time on her hands. Elora didn't know if she could clean the portrait of the late king she was only ten, but her height was at least four feet two already, despite that problem she grabbed a bucket and cleaning supplies and went to clean the portrait.

...cHaPtEr oNe ePiSoDe tWo...

...Meanwhile,...

𝘐𝘯 his Highness chambers he was getting ready for bed and already had bathed nothing special just short he's only seven. He dressed in simple night garments and decided to see if his order was being executed to his liking, so he opened the door and saw her struggling as the portrait stood nine feet on the wall and four feet off the ground. "Halt" Alexander said startling Elora making her miss her footing, so Alexander quickly saw and reached out to catch her. "Ahh" Elora screams softly. "Careful" Alexander said, catching her smoothly.

"Huh?" Elora had her eyes closed tightly thinking she hit the floor. "Open your eyes" Alexander said softly commanding her. "Highness" Elora said looking up at him after slowly opening her eyes. The two locked eyes for a moment longer than necessary until Alexander cleared his throat and helped her stand. "Thank you, your Highness" Elora said.

"You're welcome, you're far too young to be cleaning a portrait alone leave this task to someone else" Alexander said he thought that just like at the party she... Elora was still captivating. "Your Highness" Elora said softly. "Is there something on my face" hearing that a light tinted red blush had begun to creep onto his pale cheeks until he snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Ahem... nothing just thinking... not that I have to explain to you" Alexander said reprimanding her again.

"So… Sorry your Highness" Elora said apologizing quickly fearing her job and earning as she knew well. Everyone knew that offending or disrespecting a Royal Family member depending on the class you're born into nobility and commoners they'd only have some wealth, land, or property taken with an increase on their monthly taxes, commoners would be beaten, whipped, or slashed with a paddle as the office of affairs loved to come up with new ways.

"Highness" Elora said curiously "it's quite late and you're still up?" she said looking down Alexander crossed his arms "making sure staff can follow orders correctly but I find a young maiden doing the hard work instead of being in the kitchen" Alexander said giving off a stern and not pleased expression. "Forgive me your Highness" Elora said thinking he was reprimanding her "for... forgiven... retire to the maids quarters for tonight someone else will finish this task you're dismissed" Alexander said realizing he scolded her without meaning too. "Yes your Highness" Elora said as she departed but felt the need to be bold and look back. "You're Highness" she said softly "yes?" Alexander said wondering what else she could have to say. "With all due respect your Highness... we're the same age" with what Elora said she ran off expecting a punishment for her boldness instead Alexander stood there stunned as no one would dare say something like that to his face nor run away from him.

Alexander knew he should punish Elora, but he couldn't, she was beautiful, and it just felt right not living by his mother's example of her motto "power is everything you punish those who don't obey and reward those who do" what his mother would say. But right now at that moment Alexander felt refreshed "we're the same age" Alexander repeated Elora's words as they reminded him he was only a seven-year-old boy. With that he signaled for a new maid capable enough to finish cleaning the portrait as he went into his chambers and sitting on the edge of his bed with the itch to write something down in his personal journal.

Alexander sat down at his desk and opened his personal journal and dated the page.

...Journal - entry 1...

"The tenth day of the tenth month, the year of the panda is also my tenth birthday I was blessed by the heavens to have a golden day at my young age... I saw someone... something that stood out to me, unlike mother and her controlling ways or the pretentious gaze and thoughts of those around me, she apologized when I didn't mean to scold her then she decided to be bold by saying "With all due respect your Highness... we're the same age" those are Elora's words surely she knew the consequences well... potential consequences, I didn't punish her it seems her words were a wake-up call I dare say that, but I feel it... she gives off an energy warm and fuzzy today is only the first time. I'm meeting her, I'm sure she'll turn out like the rest do, until I write again my future self.

With that Alexander closed his journal and laid down feeling at ease for the first time since his father's passing and for once he was able to sleep. He sunk into his bed with a jerk as if forgetting the softness and coziness of his bed he pulled the covers over letting the earth engulf him and the heavy weight of fatigue seemed to wash off of him making his eye miss heavy as he blinked and caught himself thinking of her... Elora, when his eyes closed fully and for the whole night.

The night seemed quiet and air chilled helping Alexander sleep longer.

...Meanwhile...

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 Elora in the maids quarters she bathed and ate with the others the maids ranged in age from children to middle-aged women everyone was nice since there was no need for drama they always brought along gossip.

Elora looked at Sanchi a mothering head or more like a guide on following the rules. "Ms. Sanchi..." Elora said getting her attention "yes Elora" Ms. Sanchi replied tearing herself from the gossip, "I'm tired is it ok if I retired early I finished everything I was assigned" Elora asked. "Sure I don't see why not sleep well" Ms. Sanchi replied and with that Elora went to bed.

...cHaPtEr OnE ePiSoDe ThReE...

A light beamed through his curtains as the dark shade vanished as a knock was made on his door. "Your Highness, it's time to wake up I'll come in now" *the servant said before going in and closing the door* "Your Highness" she said while getting out his horse riding attire. "Don't worry I'm up" Alexander said sitting up and taking the clothes.

"And what of breakfast?" Alexander asked while rubbing

his eyes and looking at the horse riding attire. "Did my mother change my lessons again?" Alexander said already knowing the answer. I'm afraid, so, your Highness, her majesty said you're to eat after your lessons, and she will not join you" the servant said in a mild tone trying not to let her tone or expressions show her dissatisfaction. "I'll have some tea and scones for you ready so you won't ride on an empty stomach your Highness" the servant said while opening his windows.

Alexander scoffed at his mother's thoughtfulness as he stood up walking behind the changing curtains and began to put on his riding attire. "Won't join me?" he said "she thinks I'm to be starved until all of my duties are completed" Alexander said showing a little malice in his voice as he finished dressing and stepped out from the changing curtain signaling to the servant to tidy up his hair. "Come" he said as he walked to his vanity mirror sitting down. "Yes your Highness" the servant hurried over and gently combed his long hair. "I understand your frustrations your Highness, but she's your mother, and she knows best for your well-being" the servant said trying to offer comfort in whatever way she could. "I don't ask, need, nor want any sympathy from you" Alexander said his tone was cold and unattached not like any other child.

The servant eyes widen in appall "he's motherless and fatherless... who cares anyway everyone already pities him" the servant said to herself feeling the anger of being rejected. "Yes your Highness I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries" the servant said getting back to their task of tidying up his Highness hair. "There, your Highness all done" she said after adding the Royal hairpiece to his ponytail. "If I may say your Highness your hair has indeed grown longer at least halfway past your back" she added before looking up into the mirror seeing a stone-cold gaze coming from his Highness as if he could already see through her two faced act.

"Good" Alexander said simply standing up "I'll begin my rising lessons now" he said walking out of his chambers and to the riding grounds. "The help is so two faced" sighing in his steps as he watched the scenery change from feeling the cold palace walls turn to the warm, chilly breeze of fresh air. Alexander kept walking until he reached the stables "good morning your Highness" said Barm the capable stable boy. "Good morning Barm" Alexander said to greet Barm back, "has Steedles been groomed and fed" Alexander asked, as he always worried about his steed he named Steedles, he then had a sudden flashback to his younger days.

...Flashback 1...

"Alex" his father said using his nickname, "come with me today is the day you learn to ride" voice filled with love and care from his father. "Really dad? You teach me to ride... but mother has been against it" said young Alexander wanting to go and learn to ride but also knowing his mother's wrath. "Of course it's fine your mother will understand now let's go to the stables, and you'll pick out your steed" his father said hiding disdain towards his mother. "Alright then father let's ride" young Alexander said pretending to miss the look in his eyes when mother was brought up. The two walked down the halls watching the scenery change as young Alexander talked and talked.

"Father" young Alexander said running to the stables gates. "Just go in Alex" the king said following him in and greeted by Eric the stables boy and young Barm who was still learning the ropes. "Your majesty your Highness" Eric said as he bowed, "is his Highness picking his steed today my king?" Eric asked. "He is" the king said proudly following behind young Alexander, "what about this one Alex, he's short and your favorite color, good for your size right?" the king said, but there was no reply from "Alex"... the king said looking around before the King's eyes saw Alex bonding with a steed.

"This one father... I can feel him" young Alexander said with his small hands pressed gently against the steed's nose. "Eric prepped him" the king ordered Eric. "Yes your majesty" Eric replied opening the door and bringing out the steed of young Alex's choice. "So his name?" the king asked Alex, "her name dad" young Alex said to correct him. "Oh... so what's her name then" the king replied seeing himself in Alex already, "Steedles" young Alex said proud and loud "Steedles" the king said trying to wrap his head around the thought process of this unique name.

"His mother? No... definitely not me I'd never choose a name like that... must be his own developed trait" the king thought to himself.

"Not changing it are you" the king asked Alex already knowing the answer, "nope" young Alex replied so simply and went out to where Eric was with Steedles. "Come on dad Barm will get Imbo you have to teach me today" young Alex said his voice was filled with pure joy. "Alright coming" the king said watching his boy leave like that he decided to grab Imbo himself, so he went and got his steed Imbo and taught Alex how to ride.

...End of flashback 1 ...

"Your Highness... Your Highness" Barm said calling him as he's been quiet, he snapped out of it a small smile as he remembered his father. "What is it Barm?" Alexander said turning his focus back to Steedles. "It's Steedles your highness... she's pregnant" Barm said hoping I wouldn't freak out. "Pre... pregnant, but how?" Alexander said with widening eyes. "Horses... I guess your highness" barm said gently petting Steedles.

"Can I still her ride her?" Alexander asked carefully "well yes just not very fast or far she'll start to get more tired and stubborn further on" Barm said knowingly, "alright then I'll only ride for 15 minutes today" Alexander said, so Barm put the saddle on Steedles securing as Alexander stepped onto the stool and onto Steedles beginning his lessons forgetting to eat any of the scones the maid left out.