(A.N. "AD" has the same pronunciation as the word, "AID".)

10 years after

"He's drunk again?"

"More like wasted..." The bartender mutters out of exhaustion and annoyance as he carries the young man back to the orphanage he resides in. "When will you kick him out? Wasn't he supposed to be out of your care three years ago?"

The woman with gray hair and bulging eyeglasses sighs before taking the drunk, rather wasted person in her arms. "I'm really sorry." She apologizes, wrapping the man's arm around her shoulders and heaving him on his own feet so that he could 'try' to walk.

"Eh, I'm getting used to it." The bartender shrugs nonchalantly. "It's nice for someone to keep me company. It's getting lonely at the bar especially because of the heavy snowfall here in Russia. Nowadays, people mostly go to the capital city for the winter."

"I hope Aden brought at least the good kind of company during some of his visits." She says before slightly turning away and muttering under her breath, "Clearly not this time."

"There...there were better days." The bartender utters, choosing his words carefully. "Anyway!" He exclaims and clears his throat. "Sorry, once again, for bothering you in the middle of the night. Hopefully we see each other next time through better terms." He bows his head to the woman who is holding the wasted man, and he internally sighs in relief upon realizing that he could finally end his shift and go home.

"Thank you, young man. May you sleep well tonight." And with that, she closes the door and frowns with what had just happened. "Really, Aden? This is the nth time this happened." She whispers whilst dragging the man to his own room. She has grown accustomed to the weight of the young man since this is not the first time this has happened.

Mother Teal, that is what the kids would call her. She has been the mother superior of the orphanage for more than a score and she has seen all different personalities of children come and go. The case for the boy named, Aden was weird though. Abandoned as a grown child and he even could not remember his own name. That night, when a group of people brought him to the orphanage, the (then) young boy kept on murmuring the word, Aden, over and over again.

Mother Teal talked to him that night, but he cried throughout the whole time saying that he could not remember anything.

One could say that she has a soft spot for the lost child. Every time he would see an orphan, like him, get adopted by a family he would hide how envious he was by just trying to distract himself. Most of the time he would play with the toys the orphanage could offer and sometimes he would beg for one of their guardians to play with him. And when he is alone, Mother Teal finds him sobbing quietly or sometimes bawling out loud. But that was when he was still a boy.

Now as a young man, around the age of 21 or 22 (Mother Teal is not so sure), Aden has steered to another direction. More of a care-free and rebellious path. Adrien grew up watching the children around him get adopted but none of the couples or families wanted to adopt him, that left him with great pain. Presently, Aden is close with the kids, no one could deny that. They look up to him as a guardian and he took that job pretty well. But when the kids weren't around, he would drink...a lot. That is the only time he could pour out all the hurt he has been keeping for the past 10 years living in the orphanage.

It bothered Mother Teal to the extent that she decided to talk to Aden about his 'drunk' incidents a day after his latest drunk episode.

"Mother Teaaal." Aden whines, his elbow perched on the arm rest as he leans his head on his hand. "You could have allowed to me have breakfast first..."

"And let the other kids see you? I don't think so, young man." Mother Teal takes a seat on her office chair and faces Aden with a frown, her arms resting on her desk.

"I'll hide if you want me to. My head really hurts."

"That's what you get for choosing to drink too much."

"So what?" Aden scoffs, "I've been legal for the past few years, meaning that I could drink all I want and I have no one to blame." He shrugs whilst Mother Teal sighs in defeat.

"Aden, it's the action that's inappropriate. I mean, you're hurting your body and you're getting addicted to it. Think of your pare-"

"If my parents loved me, they wouldn't have left me here. What the hell do you know about parents?" Aden bitterly spits out, interrupting Mother Teal mid-speech. Forgetting his aching head, he crosses his arms in front of him and scoffs, once again, angrily.

"Aden-"

"Mother Teal, I'm not going to hide anything anymore. My heart has become so full of envy that it's painful for me to bear all the hate already. For the past years, I've seen kids my age and even younger come and go. They get adopted in an instant and, I'm sorry, I hate them so much for that. Look at me, I've gone through countless interviews and...and they just leave, not bringing me with them." Aden turns away from Mother Teal and rapidly blinks his eyes to keep his tears at bay. "You could let me leave already. I'm sorry for causing you all the trouble-"

"Oh, you have all the right to leave." Mother Teal, with no hesitation, interrupts Aden nonchalantly.

"Excuse me, Mother Teal?"

"I just said that you have the rights to leave this orphanage." Mother Teal repeats. "You are of age and, from what you mentioned before, you are legal to do anything. But all the more should you have the drive to start living a better life." She stands from her chair and clasps her hands together. "My dear Aden, when will you start living your life with a purpose?" She whispers, hoping to bring some sense to the young man.

Aden was gobsmacked with the question and he couldn't find himself to answer it...because he didn't know.

"Aden," Mother Teal continues despite his silent answer. "maybe you were never adopted or brought to foster families because that path was never meant for you. Maybe...your real purpose in life is to find your real parents."

"But...but how could I do that?" Aden interjects. "I only have the anklet on me with a ring on it and that's just it! I can't even decipher what's written on the ring!" He points at his ankle.

Mother Teal has her lips formed as a straight line and she sighs heavily before reaching down her desk to pull out one of its drawers.

"Maybe," she starts, "it's time I show you this." She pulls out an old looking white cloth with yellow blotches around it. The cloth seems to wrap around something as there is a protruding bulge. She hands it to Aden and he takes it skeptically.

"What is this?" He asks.

"Why don't you see for yourself?"

Aden gently unwraps the brittle-like cloth and finds a metal flower brooch laying on top of the cloth. He picks it up and brings it near his face, examining it.

"Those were with you when you were first brought here." Mother Teal informs him quietly. "They were in your coat and we kept them at first because the other kids would be jealous once they would see you holding something...very expensive. But what was weird was that you never asked for it. Does the brooch give you any memories, Aden?"

Aden looks at the brooch once again and the flower on top showed a sparkling effect once it was brought to the light. "I have never seen this before..." He murmurs.

"That brooch is not found anywhere else. In fact, it was only for those who worked for the late royal family." She informs him. "Perhaps this could be your first clue in finding your parents. Your mother must have worked for the royal family."

Aden was absolutely flabbergasted. "T-The royal family? I could have resided in St. Petersburg? Or specifically, in the palace?"

"It's not called 'St. Petersburg' anymore. The Bolshevik Revolution left the palace in ruins. But you can secretly ask around if you could see the palace's old servants."

"Mother Teal, what do you mean by 'secretly'?"

Mother Teal leans forward and brings her voice to a whisper, "There are still people who despise the royal family. Any mention of them can bring you to prison. That is why you must be very careful, my dear."

Aden gulps, "The consequences seem promising."

"But the results are everlasting, Aden. You will finally be home where you belong! You must have had a home, right Aden?"

"I guess so..." Aden quietly answers.

Mother Teals brings out a small bag of coins and hands it over him, "Thus, I give you my blessing to go search for your real home."

Aden was in shock with the bag of coins on the palm of his sweaty hands. "T-This is too much..."

"We have given a fair share of amount for you. It's not enough but you will need those in your journey. May God bless you, my child." She smiles at him and Aden can't stop himself from smiling too.

"Thank you so much, Mother Teal." He wraps his arms around her then lets go to place the brooch and the bag of coins in his pocket. "I have never felt so nervous in my entire life."

"Then that's a good sign. It means that you're about to do something great."

Aden chuckles lightly and agrees with Mother Teal. "Should I go tell the kids?" He asks.

"I'll do the talking since you shouldn't be wasting anymore time. Go pack a few garments and we'll see each other soon." Mother Teal walks to the door and opens it for him.

"I'll bring my family with me the next time I come back."

"I'll be looking forward to that day. Now run along and take a bicycle with you. The snow has somewhat cleared a path for you to cycle on."

"Good-bye, Mother Teal. I'll see you soon." Aden says before running to his room and grabbing a satchel to stuff in some necessary clothes for his journey. He places the bag of coins in his bag and when he takes out the brooch, which is still wrapped with the cloth, he stops to hold it close to his heart.

"We will soon be reunited, whoever and wherever you are." He whispers whilst having his eyes closed. He then places the brooch in a small pocket of his satchel. He slings the strap over his shoulders and heads to the main doors of the orphanage.

He pushes the doors open and the cold yet crisp scent of winter welcomes him. It felt refreshing, it felt like he was starting on a journey to find a new life. Or rather reconnect with an old one.

He turns around to see Mother Teal by the window in her office. And just as she turns, he waves a hand at her and she waves back. Aden grabs one of the bicycles on the rack and takes a deep breath as he looks toward the horizon that will lead him to St. Petersburg.

"Oh, God." He mumbles under his breath. "Courage, please don't desert me now."

----------------

"Mother!" A very muscular man, wearing no shirt, flexes his biceps as he acts out the line. "It is, I!" He runs his hands sensually from his chest to his abdominal muscles, "Your son, Adrien." The man finishes with a wink directed towards a 22-year old, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Marinette scrunches her face in disgust and shoos him away. "Can someone take this man out of here? Thank you!"

Nino Lahiffe, a man around 30 years older than Marinette, sits beside the woman and looks at the list of men hoping to get the part of the long lost prince of Russia. Nino adjust his eyeglasses and runs a hand through his thin gray hair. "Look at this list of men who believe that the prince is still alive."

Marinette grabs the list from his hands. "Because it is true! I've been thinking about how he could still be living."

"Oh no! Not you, Marinette!" Nino exclaims in horror.

"Imagine, everyone is talking about it- the possibility of the existence of Prince Adrien Agreste! We'll find the perfect guy to play the part and teach him what to say. Then we'll dress him up and take him to Paris, France! That is where the Czarina is staying!"

"I know everything about that, Marinette! You keep on repeating your plan over and over again."

Marinette pulls Nino closer to her and whispers, "Because you have to imagine how much the reward the Czarina will pay! We'll be rich and out of stinking Russia!"

"I just want to be rich and out of Russia, honestly." Nino mutters.

"Then help me find the perfect guy to play as Prince Adrien!" Marinette says back. She faces the front again and is surprised to still see the same muscular man from the latest audition. "I told you to leave already." She utters sternly.

"Please, oh beautiful lady! Give me a chance!" He pleads.

"Lose all of your muscles in a day and dye your hair blond. That is when I'll give you a chance." She spits out with no hesitation. "Next!"

----------------

Aden could not believe it. He has finally arrived in St. Petersburg. His legs may be aching but he won't rest just yet. He needs to find someone who could help him fast.

The place was bustling with people and vehicles going wherever. Aden could not take it in just one glance. Adjusting the bonnet on his head, he makes his way, bringing the bicycle with him, towards a place full of different stalls.

Upon arriving there, merchants of all ages and sizes bombard him with what they are selling. Most of the products were stolen from the palace or are replicas of the belongings of the royal family.

"Carpets from the Czar and Czarina's Bedroom! Their footprints are still visible on them!" One shouts out from behind Aden. The young man continues to walk through the stalls, hoping to find someone that would know where the past servants are staying.

"I got these coats from the palace! Look at this! It's lined with real fur!" One of the merchants pulls Aden near him and shows off the coat by placing it on him. "It suits you, young man! Would you like to buy it? It would cost a fortune if it belonged to the Czar or maybe the prince!"

"No, thank you." Aden utters in a rush, taking off the coat. "I'm here to inquire on the late royal family's servants."

"Ah, you mean the late Czar's servants? The Czarina is still alive and in Paris, while we believe that the prince is also still alive!" The man gives Aden a toothless grin and it leaves him uncomfortable.

"The prince...may still be alive?"

"You're not from here, aren't you? It's a rumor that keeps us alive! Tell you what, I'll inform you of where the past servants are living...if you give me your bicycle." The merchant offers.

"I think money is the appropriate payment for what I want."

"Give me the bicycle and you'll get the answer you truly want..." The man haggles. "I know you're seeking for it..." He hisses in a playful manner.

Aden looked at the merchant skeptically but he knew that he couldn't miss the chance. Such merchant may lead him to finding his family. "Fine." Aden utters and brings the bicycle near the merchant. The man smirks at Aden then suddenly loudly claps his hands twice.

Merchants from different stalls gang up on Aden and bring his arms to his back. The others laugh stupidly at him.

"What's going on?!" Aden shouts, trying to break free from the strong hold on him.

"You're the fool here, young man." The merchant utters, juggling Aden's bag of coins with both hands.

He has my money! Aden struggles to move and knows that he has been tricked badly by the people around him. "At least tell me where the past servants are living!"

"Well, too late because they are all dead! None of them survived the attacks on the palace!" The man hysterically laughs as the other merchants bring Aden out of the place. They toss him to the stone-cold ground and leave him lying there.

Aden takes him time, lying on the ground and starts to feel dejected. They are all...dead? He thought then shakes his head in denial. "That can't be." He whispers to himself. He scrambles up and opens the flap of his satchel to check the small pocket. The brooch was still there. He heaved a sigh in relief and felt that he still had a chance to find his family. There just has to be some challenges along the way.

Now Aden is stuck. He does not know what he has to do next. Looking around, he stops on the majestic building right next to him- the grand palace of the royal family. "Oh my goodness." He utters in awe as he walks toward the palace, passing through the broken gates and stopping in front of a closed-off wall. The walls of the palace looked old, with the paint fading and moss growing over them.

"Who knew that the palace was here all along?" He speaks to no one in particular. There must be some way to go inside the palace. There might be some answers waiting for him right inside.

Wooden planks were used to cover the wall and Aden got an idea on how to take them off. To his luck, there was a loose plank right by his knees. He easily pulls out that plank and the other wooden planks follow with ease. Aden takes a deep breath before stepping foot inside the palace. The wall led him to a grand staircase leading to a wide ballroom. He looks up to see the ceiling adorned with paintings depicting different scenes of the Renaissance period. A chandelier hangs in the middle of the ballroom and he could not stop his jaw from dropping. Imagine all the crystals adorning the chandelier or the golden-lined handle of the stairs.

The royal family was truly wealthy. It must have been luxurious to have lived here even as a servant. Aden thought, turning around to view the whole place. Behind him is a tall and wide, oil-on-canvass painting of the royal family. A woman is sitting on a blue velvet chair, that must be the Czarina. Beside her, with a hand resting on top of the chair is a man standing with pride. Aden was sure that he was the Czar. And in between them...

Aden stopped breathing for a moment. The young prince stands in between his parents and a gentle smile is displayed with his other features in the painting.

A family painting which is still intact, and it made Aden feel nauseous. The hair on his skin stood up as Aden felt goosebumps.

For Aden, the prince in the painting looked oddly familiar and yet it calmed him at the same time.

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Heyyyy! I told you that I'm not dead anymore ;)

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