My heart was speeding, the nervousness and overwhelming feeling of being put in the spotlight are rushing through me as it had three years ago when the ceremony was of my own. Still, I kept my face even and confident through the applauds and attention, putting more of my focus on my breathing to keep it even. It wouldn't do good to show weakness in front of our Kingdom's aristocracy.

I stood at the top of the stairs, as I was told beforehand. The announcer introduced me with few details. It was nothing of significance other than the fact that I was the third prince and looking over the large ballroom, it was intimidating. Many of the people here were wise and had even gone through battles which had ended to make way for this time of peace I was born in. That, being a mere two decades ago, still had some troubles among Kingdom's borders.

I should be thankful to my teacher, Mr. Reinhardt, for teaching me well on our Kingdom's aristocrats. The sense of familiarity with some did well to compass me.

I made my way down the stairs where I could see Louise, ready to be back by my side. The nervousness dimmed within me from that alone. Louise really is one of my most precious people here.

He bowed to me when I took the last step down and was immediately greeted by aristocrats within ten feet of me. Of course, they did it with calm manners and politeness which thankfully helped me be the same. But that lasted only a minute as my second brother was called.

"The Sinnett Kingdom's second prince, Prince Avery Di Sinnett!" Applause erupted and my brother stepped into the spotlight after me, his charming smile no doubt pleasing some of our guests. "Prince Avery will be making his way to his third year in our most prideful Sinnett Kingdom's Alistair Academy." And their hits the pressure on my brother. I can't tell if it actually affects him as it would have me, but Prince or no, Avery is still a child. Mental power can only go so far for someone so young.

Calvey, Avery's butler, bowed when Avery came down and seemed to brighten his smile, as Louis had mines, with his presence alone. Our butlers were a special kind of person to us. Dependable in all cases, they were irreplaceable. The thought made me smile more sincerely in the face of the guests trying to get in my good graces and I could see some others doing the same to Avery who took it all in stride.

There was only a minute given between each introduction so guests could be given the most minimum of time to approach the ones already introduced. Even then, with the people knowing who was to come next, almost everyone's eyes kept darting to the announcer for him to hurry up and announce the presence of the heir to the kingdom. The announcer smiles wide when he gives one last look to his silver pocket watch and I see Hail, the butler of my eldest brother, ready to receive him.

Unlike Louise or Calvey, who both are strict on themselves in their work to care for us in whatever way they could, Hail seemed more carefree. It was an odd thing to see my brother so sophisticated, you would expect the one to be by his side twenty-four seven to be the same, if not more. But once you look behind him to see Hail, you'd be greeted by the laid-back smile of his with an even bigger attitude of the carefreeness of his character. I was honestly left speechless when I had met hime for the first time.

The announcer calls everyone attention back to the top of the grand stairs and the anticipation is almost palpable. If you hadn't known this to be the princess's first coming of age, you would expect this all to be something for my brother himself. The pull Elias has is admirable.

"The heir to the throne, our Kingdom's first prince." As my Brother steps into the eyes of the crowd, his gaze is sharp and observing, his steps wide yet slow to keep a moderate pace. I was called after everyone else in my own coming of age, so I never got to see what kind of presence my brothers held as a prince, but now I knew why Elias was always favored among the people. His presence demanded respect and adoration, and he certainly got mine from this alone. How frightening to know he has this much authority as a child.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Our heir himself will be moving onto his fourth year at our Alistair Academy, where he will begin excursions beyond our kingdom's wall." Right, the year before the year of graduation is when the real experience is given to the students. Mr. Reinhardt did say that even when there is peace between the kingdoms, conflict still erupts beyond their walls in the neutral territory - plain lands between all kingdoms and the woodlands which mythical beasts inhabit. 

Other than the fact that this world is made up of ruling kingdoms, the mythical beasts made my blood tinge of excitement and wonder. Although, I don't expect to see any kind of mythical beast face to face.

Elias didn't smile as I and Avery had, yet he had an easy expression to show his politeness which kept it open to greet him once he came down. When he did, my attention was taken by Mr. Hanz when he came up behind me. "Prince Eli, you look splendid." He complimented as always. I knew he did it to stay on good terms with that of the royal family but when someone stays that polite to you for years, it could get a little tedious until you start wanting them to be a little bit more familiar. But the look I notice on Louise's face when he sees Mr. Hanz holds me back from taking the interactions a little more closely acquainted.

"Mr. Hanz, have you come with anyone today?" Each guest is allowed to invite a plus one to the ceremony, after all.

"Unfortunately, it is me alone that have come."

"Prince Eli." Our chat was cut short as a duke came to say his greetings. Duke Garter, as told to me from my lessons, is the richest of the other two dukes and always makes sure to see through all of the kingdoms' trade interactions. "Pleased to meet you. I hope you still remember me from your first coming of age."

I blinked as he smiled charmingly. Duke Garter was certainly youthfully good looking for a man well in his thirties. "Of course, you had helped me when I collapsed." I said with a polite smile in turn, "I was right next to you when it happened after all."

"Truly, you gave us all a scare." He chuckled right back before looking over his shoulder. "Ah, Daniel, come here and say your greetings."

Suddenly there was tightness in my chest. My breathing paused to a complete stop and my eyes were straining. The surrounding grows dim until the only thing I could see is an illusion back when I was in high school, to that moment when I had my first real connection to him in the cafeteria. His feet up on the table, his little trouble-ridden smirk in full swing as he glances towards me, making my heart skip a beat.

"Prince Eli?"

I gasp back to reality and the scenario around comes back to the crowded ballroom where Duke Garter watches me with a concerned expression. A new person, a boy about the same age as Avery, standing next to him. My heart doesn't stop, it's almost painful as I look into the eyes of the person that just doesn't have the name of Daniel, but their looks are abnormally similar as well.

Louise moves just a little closer to me which helped my sudden change in attitude. "Oh, my apologies, I may have lost my focus for a moment." I honestly didn't know how I managed an even voice. Did they notice my cold sweat? No, calm down. That boy is not Daniel, he just has the same name.

Even while trying to reassure myself, I couldn't bring myself to look at the boy.

Duke Garter gives me a small assessment before nodding. "Right, this is my son. He is on the same course as Prince Elias so I imagine it would be good to be acquainted with you and Prince Avery, as all of you may be working together in the near future."

I nod and hold out my hand to Daniel. "Pleased to meet you, I am Eli Di Sinnett."

Daniel glances at my hand and makes a face of subtle annoyance, but he takes it anyway. "Daniel Garter, son of Duke Harold Garter." His voice held that notion of disobedience which the duke no doubt caught. It was almost like Daniel and his own father.

The similarity between them kept growing. It's all I could do to keep myself from shaking. Truly, all of that carefreeness I built up almost felt null from here on.