"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," I bowed so low that I felt my spine was about to break, "I failed to fulfill my duties."

However strict he may seem, King Eldred gestured for me to sit down, shaking his head as his gems sparkled under the glorious chandelier that lit up the dining room.

"Do not fret, Miss Rosette," he warmly chuckled, as to how a father would to his daughter, making it hard for me to believe that the robe and the crown and all the rings on his fingers came from the riches he stole, from his people, "masterpieces do take time. You should eat dinner. Rest assured."

He walked away and I bowed once more. "Thank you so much, my king."

When he left, I found the safety to breathe.

Yes, it might be rude in the 18th century, but 21st century me didn't bother anymore and proceeded to squish my face against the imperial table. Chefs and servants smoothly glided across the area, decorating the top with mouthwatering platters of food. My stomach grumbled.

"Enjoy your dinner, young miss." They all curtsied and exited to the kitchen.

I smiled, but it quickly wavered. "Looks like I'll be eating alone as usual."

"Am I too late then?" a voice interjected, having me practically jump in my seat.

I whipped my head to the source, only to meet Prince Jacque's eyes that twinkled like tiny specks of fireworks.

"Jacque!" I happily beamed.

My chair was at the edge, so he sat at my right, which was, aside from the left, the closest to mine.

"I always avoided eating in this place because I assumed my brothers wouldn't want to dine with somebody like me around," he mentioned, pausing as soon as he perceived the frown written on my features, "but since you're here, I shall accompany you so both of us wouldn't be lonely."

I released a flabbergasted exhale. "I don't deserve you."

"True," he showed his bunny teeth, "you deserve someone better."

He was too kind. I shook my head, sniffling back tears.

"Hey, you cry a lot." Prince Jacque chuckled. "If I were you, I would not want puffy eyes disturbing me tomorrow."

The spoon that was supposed to go in my mouth stopped midway. I stared at him, perplexed. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded patiently, motioning for me to continue eating so I did. "Tomorrow is the last day of the month, which means it's when we ride our carriage downhill, to have a round along the village of our kingdom."

I quaffed down my drink in a hurry.

"Wait, what?"

Our family's carriage visits the village once in a month. I believe the event this month will be in a few weeks. You can acquire your knowledge when that time arrives. I remembered Prince Vante did say that to me before.

Why am I suddenly feeling nervous?

Third Person's POV

Tomorrow came faster than what Rosette had expected.

The event was, although treated like an honor, seemed distant and empty. Modest crowns laid on each of their heads, for this was an exceptional episode of principle.

An activity that was done every month must mean that the princes already went through this many times before, but the desolation seen on their expressions told her a message—they weren't interested at all.

Are they not fond of the townsfolk? She wondered, searching for Prince Vante Osburne, who she knew had a special affection to his people. When she did, alas, she was shocked to witness the same blank emotion shown on his face.

Was he pretending to be like them so his other self remained a secret? Or was she missing the entire point?

"Perhaps you want to join us, Miss Rosette?" King Eldred perked up the minute he noticed her watching them from afar.

She internally panicked. The seven princes shifted their attention onto her, causing an unsettling feeling bubbling in the pit of her belly, close to how one would undergo with vomit.

She would gladly deny for the sake of saving herself from possible uncomfortable scenarios, yet she would be considered dead if she had the audacity to reject a king's proposition.

"Sure, why the heck not?" she cursed in a low tone, her regrets already piling up.

Her plans to evade getting involved in this occasion sank.

"Ladies first," Prince Eugene bent a graceful greeting. His brothers, except for the youngest, reluctantly mimicked his actions. They were definitely not ready with the idea of her joining them.

And she wasn't as well.

The village was bare.

Incredibly, absolutely, ridiculously bare.

Rosette couldn't believe her eyes. It was as if no one ever lived here in the first place. The whole ride was awkwardly silent, so silent that imaginably a meek snap of the finger could wake up the dead.

Upon careful observation by her view from the carriage, it dawned on her that the folks were hiding in their small houses, locking up doors and blocking windows. She saw a child crouch behind a stall, lost and alone.

She gripped onto her skirt. Prince Vante noticed her fists clenched so he checked outside, soon witnessing what she saw too. He didn't say a word, at least, not out loud.

They were being avoided like the Black Plague.

It was like this for the rest of the ride.

That is, until the carriage was pulled to an abrupt halt. The horses neighed in fright, surprising the chauffeur and King Eldred sitting in a cushion at the front of the outside section of the deportment.

"What is going on over there?" the king puckered his brows in a questioning manner.

The princes, aware that their identities mustn't be revealed, peeked a bit through the curtains of their frames. Rosette chose to imitate them, genuinely afraid of what the folk would do to her once they discovered that she was with the royal family.

But her fears died down, her eyes widened, and a gasp made it out her lips, right at the very fragment of time when she saw what was outside, or rather, who.

"Lisa?!" she exclaimed to herself, the shock still controlling her body.

"Please," the maiden she referred to as Lisa begged on her knees, rubbing her palms together as if she was praying to the gods, "a sack of gold is enough! We can manage with just that!"

The chauffeur looked at her with pity.

"Move along." King Eldred sighed. "The girl will dodge and get away from the stomping horseshoes."

"Don't you dare do anything to my daughter!" a man, relying on a beaten up stick, raised his free hand that clutched onto a rotten tomato. He was about to throw it but his wife stopped him.

"Fernando! You do that, and you will suffer the consequences!"

"I don't care anymore! If I die, so be it! I had enough with this kingdom!"

The maiden cried, flailing her arms, "Father, don't!"

Brave folks got out their homes, some carrying pitchforks and woodcutters in case anything gruesome ensues.

"H-Hey, isn't this getting out of hand?" Prince Jacque worriedly spoke up.

"You know something worse already happened before, Jacque." Prince Nathaniel replied, making the youngest zip his mouth.

Rosette had enough.

"Move along now." King Eldred harried.

The chauffeur hesitated.

"I said move. That is an order."

"No!" Rosette shouted, leaping down the carriage. She then dropped in front of the stunned maiden, spreading her arms wide as a way of protection. "You can't do this!"

The area fell silent.

"Isn't that Miss Rosette?" she could hear hushed murmurs around her.

"Really? Isn't she Khaleesi Dulcina, the Painter of Grand?"

Welp, what a performance to expose yourself. Rosette mentally slapped the inner her.

The king was flustered. "M-Miss Rosette, you are acting so outrageously!"

His sons watched the display unfolding before them, unable to do anything with the current situation.

"Guards, take them." King Eldred placed his knuckled onto his forehead, exasperated.

The two knights that were walking with the carriage the whole ride readied their muscles, finally receiving a command that deemed them useful.

"Guards, stay in your positions." Prince Eugene's booming voice alerted them to a stop. He glanced at his father, who was undoubtedly taken aback. "That is an order from the Heir."

Rosette couldn't waste the opportunity given to her by the oldest prince. She had to think of any means to slip away. But what?

Time was ticking, seconds were fleeting.

In the end, her desperate eyes searched for him once more. She exchanged gazes with him, whispering out his name.

"Vante...!"

Prince Vante reclined in the passenger seat. Constriction of his chest made him unable to properly breathe, to properly think. But when his eyes had met hers, he had come to a choice, a very rash one, to be exact.

And it would change his flow of life for good.

"Tayden," he said to his twin sitting beside him, "keep this for me."

He lifted the crown that rested on his head, putting it on Prince Tayden's lap. His brother stared at it, and then at him. The others didn't know how to react with this kind of miracle.

The sixth prince of Grand opened the door to the carriage and bolted towards the two young women. Villagers were frozen, not trusting what they were currently seeing. It was their Wizard named Os, coming from the royal transport. His sudden appearance could only mean one thing.

"Osburne!" Peggy stifled a yell.

"Osburne?!" Mrs. Hemsworth hit her husband's shoulder due to immense shock.

"Osburne...?" Mr. Gudmund let out a short baffled breath.

Prince Vante, while running, seized a moderate pack of flour. Once he reached his destination, he ruthlessly threw it to the ground, filling up the air with white dusty sprinkles. The people coughed, shutting their eyes.

"Lisa, can you stand?" Rosette prompted, supporting the maiden.

"I can, but my name isn't Lisa..."

"Now's not the time for introductions," the prince interrupted, aware that his distraction won't last long since it was gradually clearing, "we have to get out of here. Rosette, don't let go of her hand..."

He then outstretched his own to her. "...and don't let go of mine."

This made her smile.

"Coming with me, fellow escapee?" he asked, repeating the same words he said to her from yesterday.

She took his hand, grinning, "Let's run."

Prince Tayden watched him leave. They all did.

"See?" Prince Jacque mumbled in which only he could hear, "You do deserve someone better."

And off they went. 

A/N: AHH DOUBLE UPDATE ASDFGHJKL 

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