When Matt and Virgil stepped out those gates, Matt was instantly filled to the brim with un-hope-like curiosity. Virgil checked the list. 

"We need cow feed, chicken feed, a cookbook, and some more chalk for school. We should stick together." Virgil said, looking up from the list. Matt was already looking around, inspecting every corner. His hand reached out and touched the glass window. 

"What is this?" He asked. 

Virgil came up behind him and lowered Matt's hand. "It's called glass, Matt. And keep your hands covered. If someone sees the Hope Brand on it, you'll be hunted right away." 

"We don't have glass in Hope Square." 

"There's a lot of things out here that we don't have in Hope Sqaure." Virgil said. "Now come on, we have to go get the feed for the livestock." He started walking off, Matt following close behid, in awe of every new thing he saw. 

Virgil suddenly stopped in his tracks. So did Matt. "Virgil? What happened?" 

Virgil pushed Matt back slightly. "Hide, you've got to hide." He said. He pushed Matt around a corner. While Virgil pressed himself firmly up against the wall, Matt peeked around the corner. 

"Whoah."

The already very small crowd parted in half, all bowing for the people walking through the street. There were two people; a man with a thin amount of hair, dressed finely, but not in his royal best. "Is that the king?" Matt whispered. 

"Yeah. That's king A.J." Virgil said. "And you'd best avoid him if you want to live." 

Matt wasn't really listening. He just watched the king pass through, dressed in a royal blue coat with a green sash and a small-sized crown. The light reflected off of it in a beautiful way, or as much as it could, with the ever-present grey sky hanging above them. The king had a stoic face, one that looked like it was hiding a good set of tears and drepession. Of course it was. The King had recetly lost his wife, of course. He was in so much pain that he outlawed a group of outlaws, (which is of course, ridiculous,) and then outlawed flowers.

Matt actually loved the flowers in Hope Square before the law against them was placed, as he thought they were the few things that gave the world light. He still thought that. But then he saw the girl coming behind the king. 

A beautiful young girl in a long, pale green dress. Her hair was long and beautiful, falling to her shoulders. She wore a very small headband, decorated with diamonds. She had clear skin and large brown eyes. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Then again, there wasn't much compitition in the confines of Hope Square. 

"Who's she?" Asked Matt.

"Princess Stephanie. King A.J's adopted daughter. He loves her like one anyway, but I don't think he cares much about anyone since Queen Gwen died." Virgil said. "Why am I awnsering you? Don't talk to them. Don't talk to anyone." He said. "It'll only get you in trouble."

Matt watched them both fade off into the crowd. The princess was so beautiful. Who needed flowers to bring the kingdom light, when she could brighten up the whole world with a smile? A smile that she apparently could not give, since she looked so sad. 

Once they were gone, Virgil pulled Matt out of their hiding spot. "Alright. Let's go buy the feed." 

"Actually, why don't we split up? That way we'll get it done faster." Matt said. 

"Oh no. I am not trusting you to go off on your own. You're going to get yourself hurt. Or someone else." Virgil said. He grabbed Matt's hand, accidentily pushing his shirt sleeve up. A sharp eyed woman who had seen the scuffle spotted it immediately. 

"A brand! He's got a brand! That man has a brand on his hand!" She shouted, pointing at Matt. 

"A brand?" One man said. He looked over at them, seeing the black brand on Matt's hand. "He does have a brand! He must be a Dagger!" 

"A what?" Matt asked Virgil. 

"Run! Matt, run!" He shouted. He pushed Matt away, running in the opposite direction. Half the crowd went after him, and while they were distracted, Matt pulled his sleeve down and ran off, ducking through the crowds. 

Eventually, he pulled into a shop, closing the door behind him. The shopkeep looked over to him. "Trying to get away from the crowd, huh? I hear them all going crazy, thinking they saw a Dagger. Daggers are all dead. Probabbly just another stupid, helpless Hope." 

"Um... yeah." He said. Matt looked around. There were books stacked to the roof, ladders along the walls. He was in a bookstore. He had never seen so many books in his life. "Actually, I'd like to read about Daggers and such. Where can I find any books on that?" Asked Matt. 

"Risky topic to be looking up on. If the king catches you reading up on that, then you'll be put on his watchlist faster than you can say 'buttercup.'" The shopkeep said. "But they're in the back. Most of them came out before they were outlawed, so keep that in mind while you're reading." He pointed to the back, roped off but still accessable. Matt nodded and went over there, pulling off a thick volume. He flipped through, reading about the Dagger's customs. 

"The Dagger Clan is often seen as a dark alternative to the skittish Hope Clan. While Hopes are quiet and frightened, the Dagger Clan hides in the dark, content to revel in their own curelty and villany. They are rumored to live in the labrythns of the castle dugeon, and spend their time torturing prisoners, banished Hopes, and even some castle servents who come to the dungeon. Daggers are easily recognized by the brands on their hands, shown here:"

Matt compared the brand shown in the book to the one on his hand. From a distance, they did look quite similar. They could be confused for one another, if you didn't look closely. Matt put the book back, now understanding a bit more. 

That's when he heard it. Crying. In the back room. He slowly walked over, seeing her again. Princess Stephanie, crying over a book. Inside was a picture of a flower; a simple child's drawing. 

And then Matt decided to break yet another rule. He talked to her. 

"Why are you crying?" He asked. 

Stephanie looked up, and with her sharp eyes, focused on the brand. She backed away a bit, shocked. "Are you a Dagger?" 

"No!" 

She looked closer at the brand. "No, I guess not. You're a hope, then?"

Matt thought for a second. What was he supposed to say? He didn't kow a lot about normal conversation, especially to a princess. Then he remembered one of his favourite stories in that book of nursery rhymes. About a knight saving a princess, like her. In that instant, Matt decided that Stephanie looked just like the princess in the story. 

"I am a gentleman." He said. He went into a low bow.

Stephanie chuckled. "Oh, well then how do you do?" She asked, giving a small curtsey. She sat back down at a table. Matt sat beside her. 

"You're sad." 

She looked away. "Yes." 

"Because you lost your mother, right?" Matt asked. 

"Well... yes. Adopted mother, but I loved her just the same." She said.

"I lost my mother, too. And my father. I live with the orphanage owner and the others." He said. "You... won't turn me in, right?"

"Oh, of course not. You're not a Dagger. Hopes may a be nuicene to the king, but not a threat. Besides, you're not a Hope, right? You're a gentleman." She giggled. She had such a nice laugh. "What's your name?" She asked. 

"It's Matthew. Matthew Patrick." He said. "I read about a princess in a story."

"Well, there are so many princesses in stories." 

"But I think she looked like you." Stephanie looked confused. "The story said she was bautiful. So are you. "

Stephanie blushed, eyes wide with shock. She brushed a hair behind her ear. "You're a strange man, Matthew." 

"Thank you." 

"Matt! Matt! Where are you!?" They both looked towards the front of the store, seeing Virgil standing there, clearly looking for him.

"My friend. I have to go." Matt said. He stood up, but Steph held onto his wrist. 

"Matthew! Can you... can you come to the old garden tonight and tell me how the story ends?" She asked. 

"It's just a nursery rhyme. I could tell you right now." 

"Yes, but..." She took a deep breath. "I kind of want to see you again." 

Matt smiled. "Alright, then. I'll come tonight."