When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. My mother sat on the other side of the room.

"Koda! Your awake." she said as she jumped up to hug me. "Thank goodness you are ok!"

"H-How did you find me?" I asked her.

She looked back at me with that big comforting smile, "I didn't find you. Kinji did."

Mother pointed to the door way and there stood Kinji. He had a shy smile and waved to me. I waved back.

"How are you feeling your majesty?" he asked.

"I'm feeling ok." I replied.

Without thinking, I tried to get up using my left arm for support but I immediatley fell back down. I grunted in pain and grabbed my arm.

"Be careful!" mother said, "You'll tear the stitches."

I looked down at my forearm and the wound must have leaked a bit. When I examined it more closely, I had noticed some blood had been there for a while.

"How long have I been here?"

"About three days. Your father was here a little while ago but had to return to the palace to take care of some work. The doctor said you should be alright to come home tonight, but you have to stay home for about two more days to rest. I already called your home room teacher. Some servants are on their way to go get the things you will need to make up all of your homework." she said.

"Awesome." I answered, sarcastically.

The doctor had walked straight into the door. I laughed from the thud she made. I didn't mean to. She was looking at her clipboard.

"Glad to see your awake, Prince Koda. I'm Doctor Shira. You have been healing up very well for only three days. You should be able to go back home tonight but to be on the safe side, you need to wear this sling. It may not feel the most comfortable, but it will help with pain and make it heal faster. This will also help alot with the problem of stitches. I'll go get you a warm blanket. It's a little chilly in here." she said as she left.

She seemed nice and very talkative. Most doctors are probably like that too. It's their job I guess. Besides that, my back was bruised. It hurt to lay down or get up so there was no way to be comfortable.

"Hey, Kinji?" I asked.

"Yes, your majesty?"

"How did you find me?"

"After you left, I thought it was a good time to start brushing the horses. As I was brushing one of the last of the horses, it was starting to get dark so I turned on the lights. I looked behind me and I saw Shoka running towards me. I thought you were there too, but when he got closer, I could see you weren't on the sattle. I knew that you and Shoka wouldn't just seperate from each other unless it was an emergency and especially in the dark. I told your father and he had given me permission to take a few of the soldiers and go out looking for you. Your father didn't think that it was a big deal because it was only a few minutes after your curphew. We followed Shoka's tracks and they led back to you. You were unconcious when we found you and bleeding to the point where nothing we had would stop it. The guards helped put you onto Shoka and I rode you back to the palace where your mother called an ambulence and here you are." Kinji seemed uneasy too.

I guess it was an off day for everyone. Either that or Kinji was still a bit shaken up. I guess I could kind of relate to the situation. Not really.

"Kinji, I'm impressed. Didn't know you had it in you." I laughed.

"Thank you, your majesty."

The doctor came back with the warm blanket. It was very warm. It almost felt like my skin was starting to burn. Kinji had left and soon, we would be too. At least I could hope. Doctor Shira came back and gave me a perscription for pain medication. I had to stay an extra night just so that they could moniter me because I was concious.

Finally, we got home and my mother immediatley went to my father and had a long talk about the grounds security. I chuckled but not loud enough for her to hear. If she did, she would probably scold me. I was very tired and I wanted to go to bed. I would have to rest of course and not do much. The maids were running up and down the halls most of the night. Usually, I would be able to sleep through all that but the pain kept me up. Some of the maids would come in and ask for permission to talk to me and ask how I was feeling. When they asked me what happened, I would only answer by saying "I don't know." It was the truth. I really had no idea what happened or even why it happened. I didn't remember much from that night.

After I woke up and prepared for the day, Mother came to check and give me a lecture about my arm and how it wasn't safe to run or do anything but rest and as she says it "Stay slow." In the evening, Miu came to the palace on my order. I waited for her and when she finally got here, I had so many questions for her. I was going to open the door before the maids got there to do it but as I was opening the door, Miu pushed on it too, causing me to fall over.

"Koda! Are you ok? You didn't get hurt did you? I'm so sorry." she bowed to me and seemed so scared.

"I'm fine. By the way, can you stop bowing to me and using all the formal stuff. If you do something on accident just say your sorry. That's what you would do to any normal human being right?" I asked.

"Yeah. I guess so." she replied.

"How is Azami doing?"

"Azami? Why?" she seemed a little angry.

"Well, I already know how you are and I like to know how my friends are doing. You and Azami are my first actual friends at the academy. I can worry a little about you two, right?"

"Oh, yes of course. Azami is doing ok. I think she was a little scared when she heard the knews about you not waking up for two days and still being in the hospital. I was too."

"I see. I didn't mean to give you to a scare." I replied.

Suddenly, the door opened. It was Azami. She looked confused. Probably because Miu was sitting on my bed with me. I wanted to laugh but I didn't think now would be the time.

"Hey Azami. I was just going to go call you." I said.

"Really?" she asked.

"Of course. I wanted to see how you were doing. I would hope your ok. Are you?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Good to hear. I'm glad." I smiled at her and she blushed.

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

"The pain has certainly gotten better. Soon, I should be coming back to school." I laughed.

"I'm glad."

"Hey! I'm still here you know." Miu interrupted.

"What am I ignoring you?" I smiled at her and her frown turned into a smile. I'm glad I could make them feel better at times.

Arion came in through the open door and came straight towards me.

"Exscuse me, your majesty. I am here to change the bandages on your arm." he said.

"Yes. Of course."

Miu and Azami sat in the corner. Arion slowly took away the old bandages which made me clench my fists and grind my teeth because of the pain. I could hear Miu squeal and gasp every time she noticed it. I watched as Arion was trying to remove some of the infection with rubbing alchohol. I got angry because I wanted him to stop. I raised my left foot and kicked him in the stomach. He tripped over his feet and hit the wall. I felt terrible. I rushed over to him.

"Arion. I'm terribly sorry. I just-"

"It's ok your majesty. You have punished me because I wasn't doing my job well and that's fine." Arion interrupted.

I grabbed onto Arion's shoulders, "No. That's not it at all. Listen to me! That's an order! I got to caught up in the pain that I hurt you and I apoligize. I promise it will never happen again. You were doing your job just fine."

I let go of him and he nodded. He proceeded changing the bandages and cleaning the wound. I decided to laugh at every sense of pain I had gotten. I probably sounded as if I'd gone mental at the time but it was better than getting angry and hurting someone again.

"There you are, your majesty. I hope that it didn't cause you too much pain." Arion smiled.

"I'm fine. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble either." I chuckled.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." He walked out of the room.

The girls stared at him as he walked out. They were drewling over him. I tried to hold the laughter down but I couldn't. I might have exploded if I did. I laughed loud enough for the whole castle to hear. Miu and Azami glared at me.

"What's so funny?" Miu asked.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." I replied.

"It was something. Now, tell us!" Azami raised her voice.

"Just the way you two were looking at Arion. Your faces looked kind of funny."

"What? Who said anything about liking him?!" Miu asked.

"No one." I said.

Azami laughed at her.

"I know you like him too, Azami." Miu whined.

"No, I don't." Her voice got more quiet, "Ok, maybe a little."

Miu squealed and I was just as confused as ever. After that, they both left. I didn't mind. Soon, I would be going back to school to see them again.

A few days later, I walked over to the door and opened it. One of the maids was sitting outside of the door.

"Exscuse me?" I asked.

"Yes, your majesty?" She replied.

"Could you find Arion for me?"

"Of course." she bowed and left.

I walked back into my room and picked up my phone. There was a text message sent from Azami asking how my homework was going. I said it was going fine and that was it. Finally, that sling was off my arm and I could use it again. I paced around my room waiting for Arion to come. The door opened.

"Hello, your majesty." He said.

"Hello."

"Is there something I can do for you?" he asked.

"Yes. Do you think you could get me a copy of this weeks Celebrity Gossip?"

"Of course. I can get it for you now if you would like me to." He replied.

"That would be great. Thank you." I said.

He left and came back about a half of an hour later.

"Here you are, your majesty." said Arion.

"I also have another request. If that's alright."

"Yes?" he replied.

"Could you please take me outside and back into the woods?" I asked. Father wouldn't let me go out unattended after the incident.

"Into the woods? Your majesty, I don't know if that's a good idea. It's a high risk at the moment." he said.

"Please, Arion. I need to go back there." I pleaded.

"As you wish, your highness."

As we walked into the woods, it was starting to get dark. I looked at Arion and he seemed to be very alert. I thought I saw something in the trees but it was probably just my imagination. I tried to remember where exactly I was lying after the incident but I couldn't. I looked around but all the trees were the same.

Suddenly, I heard a crack from under my shoe. When I looked to see what was under it, it was a locket that said Lila on it.

"What is it, your majesty?" Arion asked as he looked over my shoulder.

"It's a locket. It says Lila on it. Do you have any idea of who it might belong to?" I asked.

"I don't believe so. I've never met a Lila in the castle or any where else. Strange. I wonder how it got all the way out here. If it did belong to a servant, I don't think that they would come all the way out here. The only two servants who come out here are the gardener and the stable boy. You should check with those two."

"Well, It's a good place to start." I replied.

I noticed that Arion started staring in only one spot between two bent over trees. His eyes narrowed.

"Your majesty! Watch out!" Arion screamed.

He leaped toward me and pushed me onto the ground. I looked at the tree behind where I was standing and small throwing knife was stuck in the center of it. Arion picked me up off the ground, grabbed my hand, and ran, with me trailing behind him. I had never seen anyone run that fast before. He stopped for a moment and looked behind him. I didn't see anyone. He ran towards the guards and told them to inspect the perimeter.

I was immediatly brought back into the castle. Arion left and said he was going to go take care of some dinner preparations.

"Koda!" a voice roared.

"What!?" I had no idea who it was. I regreted having that tone of voice when I turned around.

"What did I tell you? I told you not to go out into the woods!" mother yelled.

"I'm sorry, but I-"

"I don't care. You will stay in the castle from now on unless your going to school. That's it!" she said as she walked out the door.

I was angry, but I knew I had no right to be. She had told me, more than once, to stay out of the woods after the incident. She was very angry and I could tell she did not want to see me for a while. Whether she did or didn't, I still had to see her a dinner later. I decided to walk down the hall. I went down the steps and toward the dining hall. I heard someone walking really fast but I couldn't tell which direction it was coming from. It didn't matter much to me. It was almost time for dinner, so maids and butlers would be scurrying about the palace. I saw something in the corner at the end of the hallway. I was curious and started to walk toward it. I got closer and closer until I was hit with the kitchen door. I fell backwards.

"No! Is it really that hard to figure out that the spices do not go into the freezer!? And who put the ice cream next to the stove! It's all over! Now clean this mess up at once!"

That voice. I knew that voice. It was Arion. He walked out and reached his neck around to the other side of the door. His eyes lit up.

"Your majesty! I'm terribly sorry. Please forgive me." Arion said while helping me up.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. Can you do me a quick favor?" I asked.

"Of course. What is it?" He stretched his lips to the left side of his face and I laughed.

I handed him a note and told him to bring it to my father as soon as possible. It was a letter telling him to take care of mother so that she doesn't yell at me during dinner.

I went back to my room. I remembered that I had wanted to read the magazine Arion had gotten for me. I picked up the magazine from beside my bed. On the front page was a picture of me. The title was in large, orange, bold printed letters that read:

The Little Prince Being Targeted?

Prince Koda is shot at during horse ride on royal estate.

I didn't want to read much more after that but I did anyway. It was just a story talking about how the royal family, the guards, nor anyone of the servants would leak anything to the press and how they tried to keep it a secret but someone snapped a picture of me walking into a drug store with a few guards and a big red circle was around the sling. I was annoyed by it but I still thought it was a little funny that the press had nothing better to do than to ruin the reputation of others or just stick there nose into every little personal matter of any human being that was known more than others.

I stopped reading and threw the magazine in the trash can. There was no use for it any more. I wanted to jsut go to bed and forget dinner but my stomach was growling. I knew mother and father would already be eating. I listened in on their conversation and heard mother fussing about what I had done and other things like that. Arion was coming to bring them desert and stopped when he saw me next to the door way.

"Listening in again are we now?" he said quietly, smiling, almost as if he were goinng to giggle.

"No I was just standing here and admiring the beautiful wall and the pleasant splintering wood on the door frame." I whispered back.

He smiled and laughed along with me.

"Could you bring my dinner to my room tonight? My arm is giving me terrible pains tonight." I said.

"I'm guessing that that means that the queen is furious with you and you don't want to see her." Arion said.

"Yes."

"Well, that makes sense. Fair enough. I will be there shortly."

I walked back up to my room and waited for Arion. He came in about an hour later and explained to me all the details about my parents dinner without me. Apparently, they just sat there in silence and didn't say a word. He set down a plate with my favorite foods such as a salad, some ramen, and some pizza, freshly made. Arion and I laughed about how many things the servants had done that day or what they said about their judgement on other people. After he took the dishes away, I went to sleep. The terrible day was finally over and I hoped to have a better one tomorrow. Who knows when the man would return to take my life.