Lorand's POV

I wake up as the sun shines through the tiny window.  My bedroom is just that - a rickety bed, along with a small table and an old wooden chair that I put my clothes on.  No way will I sit on that chair.  It might break.

I pull off my thin blanket and shiver even more.  This is the coldest room in the castle.  I hate it.  I get up slowly and change into my brown pants and shirt, both with holes, rips, and patches.  Needless to say, I hate my clothes too.  My mother always said to be grateful for what I had, even if it was hardly anything.  However, no feeling of gratitude washes over me.

A sharp knock on the door makes me jump.  This happens every morning.  Why can't I get over it?  There's more loud knocking, so I go to the heavy wooden door and open it.

A man is standing there.  He's dressed in fancy black clothes with a long purple robe and a heavy crown.  He’s tall and slim with graying black hair and beady black eyes.

Meet my stepfather, King Morden.

“Good morning, your majesty.”

Of course, he doesn't say good morning back.  Instead he says, “I'm having a ball tonight.  Remember?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“I didn't think you would.  You're such a stupid boy, Lorand.”

I sigh.  “Please don't call me stupid.”

He grimaces.  “You’ll be cleaning the ballroom today.  Don't miss a single spot!  You'll have some bread around noon.”

“Might I have a break to visit my friends?”

“Possibly, if you finish early.”

“Thank you, your maj…”

Suddenly my stepfather punches me hard in the stomach.  “That's for not bowing!”  Before I can defend myself, he punches me again.  “And that's for sassing!”  He punches me one more time.  “And that's for asking questions!”

He storms out of the room, leaving me clutching my stomach and gasping for breath.  I feel nothing but pain and bitter anger.  I should have hit him back.  Maybe someday I will.

As my stomach starts to feel a little better, I get a bucket of soapy water and a mop and go to the ballroom.  I can see my reflection in the shining stone.  I have auburn hair, green eyes, and pale skin, same as always.  Why should I mop if the floor is clean enough?  Whatever.  I'll get punished if I don't.

A long time ago, I went to balls.  My mother even hosted some, right in this very castle, back when it was hers.  My father had died when I was two, so she ruled alone.  Everyone loved my mother.  She was intelligent and kind and patient, all good qualities in a queen, and she didn't need anyone.  I wanted to be like her when I grew up.  But along came Morden.  Both of them fell in love with each other.  They were married when I was twelve, and that was when my life started to change.  Morden became king.  My mother had cared for me deeply, and now I was an afterthought.  But at least I still had someone who loved me.  My mother died of some sort of illness when I was fourteen.  Almost immediately, I became a lowly servant.  I was no longer a prince.  For two years I have worked for my stepfather, hoping that someday my life will change again, this time for the better.

Amazingly, I have just enough time to visit my friends.  I head to the stables and find Dane and Harriet.  They're both two years older than me, but we don't care.

“Hey, Lorand,” Harriet says.

“Hey.  What are you up to?”

“Not much.  Mostly sitting around.  We were going to go riding, but it was too muddy from the rain last night.”

“Any news from the castle?” Dane asks.

“There's a ball tonight.  I had to mop the whole ballroom.”

Dane cringes.

“What for?” Harriet asks as she braids her long black hair.

“Morden’s trying to find a new wife.”  I don't know if the pain in my stomach is from the punches or the thought of him marrying another woman.  Wasn't my mother good enough?

“Creep,” Dane scoffs.  I agree.

I hear carriages start to pull up outside.  “I have to go.  See you guys later.”  I start to go out, but Harriet stops me and gives me a parcel.

“What's this?”

“Something I made.  Open it later.”

“Okay.  Thanks.”

“Bye, Lorand,” Dane says.

“Bye, Dane.  Bye, Harriet.  I'll see you tomorrow!”

I've been instructed to stay away from the ball, out of sight and out of mind, so I go to my room to open the gift.  I tear off the thin paper and find a new gray shirt and another pair of brown pants.  I try them on, and they fit perfectly.  The next time I see Harriet, I’ll give her a big thank you.

My stomach growls.  Morden said to stay away, but I'll just grab some food and be gone.

I go to the kitchen and find some bread and soup, then go to the garden to eat it.  I need the fresh air.

Just as I sit down on a bench to eat, I hear soft crying.  I set down my food and go to find the source.

A brown-haired girl in a light purple dress is sitting on the ground with her legs tucked up to her chest.  Her forehead is touching her knees, so I can't see her face.

“Hello,” I whisper as I crouch down next to her.  “What's wrong?”

“K-King Morden wants t-to marry m-me and I d-don’t want to m-marry him.”  This girl is only about my age.  What was my stepfather thinking?

“That's horrible.”

“H-he scares me!”

“He scares me too.”

The girl looks up.  I see two big hazel eyes staring right at me.  We both gasp.

“Lorand?”

“Aveline?”

My childhood friend hugs me, and I hug her back.

“I haven't seen you in two years!” she cries.  “What happened?”

“I'm Morden's servant now.”

This makes her cry even more.

“Shh, it's okay.  I'm fine living like this.”

“It's not fine at all!” she sobs.

I see something out of the corner of my eye.  “Get up.  I have an idea.”

We stand.  Aveline leans on me for support.  I bring her to a well with a sign that says 'FOR WISHING.’

“We’re each going to make a wish.  Are you ready?”

She nods.

As soon as we make our wishes, she turns to me and smiles.

“Did that feel better?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

We go sit on the bench.  I share my food with her, and we talk for hours.  At dusk, she has to go.  I hug her, and she hurries off.

I hope I see her again.