"I-I swear, there was something! Something t-terrifying in the woods! It made my eldest son go weak at the mention of it!" An old man exclaimed. Everyone else in the bar just laughed their hearts out and downed their pints, agreeing that the old man had one pint too much.

Except for a hooded figure.

The figure went to the old man and said in a low voice, "Come with me unless you have a death wish."
The old man gulped and followed the figure to a more secluded part of the bustling bar. They sat at a table and the figure started to talk.

"Tell me."

"W-what?" The old man stuttered.

"Tell me about the woods. That terrifying thing you mentioned of."

"B-but..."

The figure lifted their head, bright azure eyes piercing through the shadow of the hood.

The old man's jaws dropped open. There's only one person in the entire kingdom who had eyes like those.

"Y-y-your highness-"

"Save it," the prince said as he lowered his hood again.

"When I dress like a commoner I am a commoner. No need for the formalities. Now tell me about the woods," the prince enquired.

"And hurry. Time's almost up for me," he hastily added.

"Very well then, if you insist," the old man took a deep breath before he continued.

"My eldest, he got lost in the woods a fortnight ago. He wandered around, looking for a way out. However, he found a castle instead. It didn't look like someone was in there, yet he heard... sounds. What sound, he never told me.

"Whatever it is, it scared him witless. He managed to find a way back home a few days later, thanks to the mage that lived in the woods. He tried to ask the mage about the castle, but was given no answer," he finished.

The prince listened, nodded, then gave the old man a small bag of silver and gold coins.

"Keep this and don't tell anyone of this conversation," the prince said before the old man could reply.

He swiftly exited the bar into the starless sky, following a hidden shortcut back to the majestic castle looming in the distance. A place that is his home, yet not quite.

- - - - -

Prince Victor entered the castle through one of the back doors. He followed the secret passage to his room that a servant named Georgi showed after much persuasion (and some gold coins).

Of course, there's always someone waiting for him at his room after his usual night escapes. And of course it's none other than his salty younger brother, Prince Yurio.

"Where did you go this time?" Yurio asked in a monotonous voice.

"Drinking," the platinum blonde man said simply.

"Why bother going out of the castle just to drink cheap beer when we have the finest wines right here?" Yurio asked as he played with his cat.

"The beer out there has a certain appeal to me. You should try it when you're older," Victor said with a smile.

"And get out of the castle? Interact with those commoners? No way," Yurio said with disgust, crossing his arms over his chest.

Victor smiled.

- - - - -

Sunlight filtered into the massive room through some slits in the curtains, announcing the arrival of morning.

Prince Victor, after his little escape last night, is having a hangover. He tried to sleep in different positions to get rid of the headache, but to no avail.

The knocking on his door only increased that headache.

"Your Highness, King Yakov wants to meet you at the throne room," said a servant.

"For the love of God, how many times do I have to tell you?! Just call me Victor!" The prince groaned, his frustrations of being a prince catching up to him.

"Tell him I'll be there in five minutes," he added.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Victor continues to wonder about the terror in the woods, as he dressed up to meet his father.

- - - - -

The gigantic doors opened, and Victor stepped foot into what will be his throne room in the future. Not that he really wants it.

"Vitya," his father said while sitting on his throne.

"Yes, father?" Victor asked.

"Have you been sneaking out of the castle again?"

"Yurio told me," he continued.

Victor hesitated before he admitted it, cursing Yurio at the same time.

"Yes."

The old king sighed while placing a hand on his forehead.

"Your coronation is in a few months time, Vitya. I do not condone this kind of behavior in a king. You're supposed to be a good example to everyone, especially Yurio."

Victor said nothing, lips forming a straight line on his face.

"You remind me of your mother, Vitya. Always getting out of the castle. Always disobeying me. That's what got her killed."

Victor just stood his stance, his fist hidden from the view of his father.

"Go to the neighbouring kingdom tomorrow. There are a few things that is needed to be discussed and you shall take my place. Think of it as a practice of being king.

"Oh, and bring Yurio with you," the king finished.

"He'd rather stay at the castle with you," Victor spat as he stepped out of the throne room, slamming the doors.