The New Beginning

Chapter 3

Art City

“Victor, is this where I am going stay?”

“Your Highness, this is the Queen’s ORDER.”, Victor, his butler answered with all respect.

Victor is 4 years older than the Prince and he’s been in the service for over 12 years. The Prince considers him as his closest friend. If there is somebody who knew Todd for who he really is, aside from the royal family, then it is Victor, his butler.

“Guess I don’t have a choice.” Todd sighed.

Well, it’s a penthouse. A penthouse is typically differentiated from other apartments by LUXURY features.

“To think that a supposed to be ordinary person is living in a penthouse, how am I to explain that?” Todd could only take a deep breath in thinking over it.

“Your Highness,” Victor interrupted, “These documents were given by your royal brother for you to review. He firmly instructed that none of it shall be changed and thus take it as ROYAL ORDER from the Crown Prince.

Todd could only swear but just in his thoughts for he never swears out loud in his life. He then slowly opened the documents. He knew that what’s inside is not something to be happy about.

He gave it back to Victor, while pulling his hair due to headache. “Read it for me.”

As Victor partially scanned the documents, he was hesitating to read it to the 2nd prince. Todd seemed to notice it and gave a gesture for Victor to proceed.

“This is your Personal Profile Your Highness,” Victor begun. “You go by the name Todd Howard, a Director at Lilia Arson & Co…a company that organizes wedding”, he paused waiting for a reaction from the prince but did not get any.

“So, they’d let me use my con name.” Every time he’s out pretending, he uses that name.

“The King was not pleased on your submitted profile being a waiter at some small restaurant and so he personally did some revision”, Victor continued.

“This is an ORDER with a royal seal Your Highness.”

“So I can’t go against it.” Todd deeply inhaled.

“Is it a big of a company?” the Prince curiously asked.

“No Sire, it’s just a small wedding planning business.”

Todd could only just nod.

By the next day, Todd and Victor decided to go shopping. They’d bought some outfits that most working class wears; eat in a not so fancy restaurant; even leisurely walks along public parks.

These are the few things he wants to do while living this ‘not so long’ ordinary life. He wants to be free. Being a prince has many restrictions. He felt like he’s in prison without a hope of getting away. How he longed to get away from the grasp of those two faced nobles and just live a carefree life.

This thought never just pops up in his mind out of nowhere. He has been influenced by his late Grandfather. Back when he was 14 years old, he was like a leech tagging along with the late King.

King Rocco was something. He was a great King and a unique one. He visits cities and towns especially those undeveloped ones pretending to be someone of no title. He observes, inquires, investigates and study on how he can help improve the life of his subjects. He usually stayed a month or so then suddenly be gone like a bubble that pops up leaving only memories and wonder on the people he met.

For the past years, Todd has been doing the same and it gives him so much pride.

He could smile remembering the past. He’s already set his mind with the idea of living that life a long time ago. He has even prepared himself from the thought of so much labor. During his free time way back those days up until now, he would go to the kitchen and help to do some chores with the servants; plow some dirt in the garden; do some labor at the stables and many other more. Thus, made him closer to every servant in the palace.

Just how much he loves seeing those genuine smiles ordinary people gave him every time he’s with them unlike being with those pretentious nobles in every party.

And then at some point in his life, he wanted more of that life. Weeks and months were not enough for him anymore. Thus, he requested a year of it.

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