Half edited, half not.

"Leave something for someone but don't leave someone for something."

- Enid Blyton

*******

Soren

"Where have you been?" Calypso, a kitchen hand, asked when he had returned to his staff quarters late that night. She sat at the edge of her bed holding a worn out book in her hands. The orange haired girl seemed to be attempting to read by just the moonlight.

"I can get you a lantern, if you want." He offered, collapsing onto his bed and closing his eyes.

"Don't bother, I'm going to sleep now anyway. How was it, working the ball?"

"Fine. I made some cookies, met the prince, did a little cleaning, that's about it." Soren said, eyes still closed.

"You met the prince?" She gasped, her eyes looking at him in disbelief.

"I was working in the kitchen when this guy ran in. I assumed he was the son of a visitor, or something, so I told him to please go back to the main ballroom and that only staff was allowed in the kitchen. I had no idea he basically owned the castle." Soren brought his hands to his face and groaned. "Regardless, I had work to do and asked if he'd please go back to his room of princesses." He sat up and looked at Calypso. "I feel badly for him."

"Why is that?" She asked, tilting her head and closing her book. She set it beside her onto the table.

"Well..." Soren hesitated. "He gave the impression that the last thing he wanted was to marry a woman."

"Yes, I can see how it must be stressful to marry this young." Calypso nodded her head. "But he's the prince, and it's in the best interest of the kingdom that he marries soon."

"It's not the timing of the marriage," Soren said, "it's more that I don't think he likes women. And his father needs him to marry one."

"Oh, my." Calypso sighed. "That is quite unfortunate."

Soren nodded. "I can't imagine what would happen if the king found out." He sat up on his bed. "I'm not sure why he's trusting me with this."

"My lips are sealed." She promised, patting the sheets on her bed down. "Oh god, its quite scandalous, isn't it? What was he like?"

"I'd tell you now, but I think I'd fall asleep." Soren said.

"Fine." She smiled. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I'm working dinner so my morning is free. I think I'll go into town to make some extra money." He said. "What time is it?"

"It's twelve." She said, checking her pocket watch. "Why?"

"I told Aryan he could have some of the cookies I made if he came to the kitchen tonight." Soren paused to look at the moonlight coming through the window. "But he didn't say what time he'd be there."

"Go now! You don't want to make the Prince wait, do you?"

"Why are you so excited?" He asked.

Calypso looked him in the eye and grinned. "Because, Prince Aryan is hot."

"So? I'm going, not you."

"Yes, but I'm living vicariously." Calypso shlved him towards the door. "Now go!"

Soren slipped out the door and quietly tiptoed through the hallways, making his way to the kitchen.

"There you are." Aryan said when the other boy entered the kitchen.

"Sorry, your highness." Soren said with an eye roll. "Is the prince not used to being kept waiting?"

"I just want some cookies." Aryan said.

"And you'll get them. Patience." Soren went over to a cabinet and pulled out a jar of cookies before jumping onto the counter and sitting down.

Aryan grabbed a handful of cookies and did the same, sitting across from him.

"How come I've never see you before?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Probably because I'm new." Soren said. "I started a week ago. And, not to sound overdramatic, it's odd for someone like you to notice someone like me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The Prince asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Well, you're a prince. I work here. We don't exactly have a lot in common."

"Well, you've been here a week and I've noticed you. Maybe people like me aren't exactly what you think we are." He said.

"Maybe not. But I never stay in a kingdom long before leaving, so I guess it doesn't really matter whether I get noticed or not."

"Oh. Does that mean you're leaving here too?" Aryan asked.

"We'll see." Soren shrugged, knowing full well that he was leaving.

"Why do you leave?" He asked.

"Why do you stay?" I laughed. "I need a change every now and then, or I go crazy."

"You're leaving then." He frowned.

"Probably, yes." I sighed.

"Don't you need money, in case you can't find a place to work?"

"On the days where I don't work, I go into town and do odd jobs." I shrugged.

"You go into town?" He asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Of course, who doesn't?" I laughed, letting it die down when he looked at the ground in embarrassment.

"You've never been to the village." I stated with a sigh.

"I've been." He frowned.

"Under what conditions?" I pressed, knowing that he wasn't telling me everything.

"With my dad, okay? Sometimes when he visits, I go with him. It's very... dirty." He shivered.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" I grinned.

"Probably just sitting still, looking pretty, like normal. You know, being a prince is really boring." He sighed as he reached for another cookie.

"Do you want to come with me?" I suggested.

"Into the town? My dad wouldn't let me, I don't think."

"Why is everything about your father? Make your own decisions, for God's sake." I laughed. "Come with me, make a little dough, save up for something important. It feels good to be independent sometimes." I said matter-of-factly.

"What would I buy that my family hasn't already bought me?"

"Wow, you sound incredibly snobby. We'll work on that." I snickered. "And it doesn't matter what you buy. Just buy something for yourself."

"Won't people recognize me?" He pushed further.

"Not with messy hair and baggy clothes." I grinned. "You are going to have the worst day ever, and I'm going to have a blast."

"Wh-" he began, but I cut him off.

"Meet me by the stables at seven tomorrow morning. I'll bring clothes for you, alright? Don't be late."

I hopped off the counter and walked to the door.

"But, Soren-"

I stepped outside.

"No buts. See you in the morning, Aryan." I winked, leaving behind a blushing Prince Charming.

"You look too good." I scowled as he walked up to the stables the next day.

"Am I supposed to be insulted?"

He was wearing a white dress-shirt with nice black pants.

"Here, put these on." I said, shoving a ripped brown outfit into his hands and pushing him into the stables.

"In here?" He called out. "This is disgusting."

"Little too messy for ya, Princess?" I teased him.

"Shut up."

A few minutes later, he walked out in the baggy brown clothes and a sour expression.

"I feel stupid." He grunted. "This is demeaning."

"Thanks." I laughed. "But your hair still looks good."

"Do not touch my hair." He warned me, putting his hand out defensively.

I pushed it away, ruffling his hair to the best of my ability and smoothing it down a bit after.

"Perfect." I grinned as he glared at me. "Suck it up, Ruben."

"Ruben?" He asked.

"I can't just call you Aryan in town, it's kind of the biggest giveaway. I just wish there was a way to make you uglier. Sadly, can't undo good looks." I joked.

He blushed and looked around awkwardly.

"Ready to go, Ruben?" I asked as I tugged him to a dirt path.

"We're walking? Why don't we take horses?"

"Cause it might be a tiny bit suspicious if we pull up in royal horses."

"Oh," he sighed, "maybe."

We reached the village a little while later, and I could see the nervousness in Aryan's eyes.

"Relax, dude. It's gonna be fine." I guided him through carts and crowds of people.

"Dude?" He asked.

I led him to a fruit cart, where a woman was struggling to move her station.

"May we help you?" I asked her.

She glanced up at me and squinted.

"The wheel is stuck so the cart won't roll. I need to get it to a certain store." She said.

"Can we carry it?" I suggested.

"Sure." She smile. "Thanks, I'll show you the store."

I walked over to one side of the cart and placed my hands at the bottom.

Aryan didn't move.

"Ruben," I called.

"What?" He asked.

"We're carrying this cart to a store." I scoffed. "Have you been listening at all?"

"Sorry, this is just...new." He said, moving to the other side of the cart and lifting it with me.

We earned a coin each.

"Excuse me, boys?" A man in a shop called. "A little help with these boxes?"

We made three each.

The rest of the afternoon was spent helping people move stuff all over the village.

In total, we both earned seventeen coins.

"What are you going to buy?" Aryan asked me.

"Nothing. I'm saving this for..." I trailed off.

"For when you leave. Right." He sighed, his tone hardening.

"What are you gonna buy?" I asked, attempting to change the topic.

"I don't know." He frowned.

"How 'bout a hat?"

"I can just have one made."

"An apple?"

"There's a whole kitchen full of food back at the castle." He sighed, growing frustrated. "This is pointless. Even if I wanted to, I can't do stuff by myself."

We walked past a trade shop and I pulled him inside, remembering a collection of rings that I had seen last week.

"A ring." I said, showing him the display.

"A ring? Isn't that kind of girly?" He squinted.

"You're going to wear one all the time when you get married." I pointed out.

He frowned at the thought, but finally reached down toward a ring.

"Don't touch!" The store owner yelled, slapping his hand away.

Aryan pulled his hand away and cradled it, looking at me with wide eyes.

"What did I do?" He whispered.

"You have to pay first, so they know you don't steal it." I explained with a laugh.

"Why would I steal it?" He asked.

"Some people don't have money." I reminded him. "How much are those two rings?" I asked the owner, pointing to a matching silver set.

"Usually? Ten coins each. But, I feel bad for slapping the boy," He grinned, "So ten for both."

I smiled at him and pulled out ten coins, ready to hand them over when Aryan grabbed my hand.

"I should pay," he pointed out, "you need that for when you leave."

A pang of sadness went through me.

"Here's ten." Aryan said, handing his own coins to the owner.

"Thank you." The man said, holding the rings out to Aryan who took them and examined them in amazement.

"Cool." He whispered, handing me mine.

I slipped it onto my ring finger and he did the same, holding a fist out to himself to see it from a different perspective.

"Still kind of girly," He laughed, "but cool."

"It is cool." I agreed with him as we started to walk back to the castle.

"Soren?" He asked me.

"What?"

"Why do you have to leave?" He questioned.

"Because I have to. I'm going somewhere." I replied, kicking a rock on the road.

"Where are you going?" Aryan asked.

"I'm going to live my own life." I said.

Aryan didn't ask any more questions. We walked back to the stable in silence and I opened a back door, holding it for Aryan then stepping inside myself.

We walked through the halls until we reached the servant quarters.

"Goodnight, Aryan." I said, putting my hand on the door handle.

"Thanks for today, Soren." He whispered.

"Anytime." I smiled at I snuck into the quarters.

I stumbled around in the dark for a while before a light flickered on.

"Tell me that wasn't the prince." Calypso whispered giddily, holding up a lantern.

"It wasn't the prince." I joked.

"Why are you two sneaking around?" She asked excitedly. "What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on." I said, rolling my eyes. "I just took him into town and we earned some money, so I could save up and he could buy something by himself for once."

"Did anything interesting happen?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me suggestively.

"Uh.... I guess. A store owner slapped at Aryan for touching a ring before paying, that was pretty funny."

"He got a ring?" She smiled.

"We both did." I said, holding my hand out and showing her.

"You guys got matching rings?" She laughed.

"We did." I said, taking my shirt off and flopping onto my mattress. "Now go to bed, Calypso. I got up early and had a long day."

"Goodnight, Soren." She giggled, putting out her lantern.

I woke up early the next morning and went down to the kitchen, preparing oatmeal and cutting fruit for breakfast.

"Hello." Aryan said from the doorway. I glanced up at him and he walked over to me, hopping onto the counter and sitting down.

"Hungry?" I asked him, pushing a bowl of fruit towards him.

He nodded and began to pick fruit out. "How are you?" He asked.

"Tired." I said, scrubbing the dishes that I had just made dirty.

Some servants entered the kitchen and froze upon seeing the prince.

"Uh..." I stammered, "It's alright. He's a friend."

Their faces remained pale and frozen as they carried the breakfast out the door, to the main dining hall for the king and his court to enjoy.

"That was strange." Aryan smiled.

"Not really. You're the prince, they're... we're servants, you know?"

"Whatever." He sighed. "I'm bored and my dad is going to start wondering where I've been disappearing off to."

"Just tell him you've been running around with the kitchen boy, he'll love that. Also, tell him that you went around town doing odd jobs. Don't forget to let him know you don't like girls." I said sarcastically.

"Thanks." He groaned. "Thanks for that."

"Anytime." I replied.

"Stop saying that." He said all of a sudden, his tone hardening abruptly.

"What?" I asked, taken aback by his change of mood.

"Stop saying 'anytime.' It's not 'anytime', because you're leaving."

"Aryan, you seem to be taking this very personally. Why does it bug you so much? Yeah, I'm leaving. So what? You've known me for three days." I snapped at him.

"Of course it bugs me! You're the only person I talk to here besides my dad, and I'm going to go insane if you leave."

"I'm going to go insane if I stay." I replied with an edge to my voice. "Stop trying to talk me out of it, and cause you're only wasting your time."

"Whatever, Soren." He huffed, jumping down from the counter and storming out of the kitchen.

Of course I felt bad for leaving him. But there was nothing that could make me stay. Not Calypso, not Aryan, not a job, not a kingdom.

I was on a mission to create my own life, and nothing was going to stop me.

Not even Prince Charming.