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Roused from sleep before noon, Vernie rubbed her eyes, clearly annoyed, as I asked her to join us back in town.

“If they were smart, they’d have already left,” she mumbled, stifling a yawn. “No point hanging around where you’re not wanted.”

“But with what?” Prince Mito snapped. “All their belongings were in the theater!”

Vernie shrugged. “You just take someone else’s. Problem solved.”

I pleaded with Vernie, bypassing a lecture on ethics that would surely go ignored. “Vernie… can you just come with us?”

“Yeah, yeah…” she sighed. “You told the others we’re leaving?”

“We won’t be gone long,” I murmured, avoiding the question. “And they’re busy.” She couldn’t possibly know who I was specifically referring to, right?

One of Vernie’s eyebrows shot up questioningly, and I responded with a helpless shrug.

“Well, I’m sure you have your reasons,” she replied. “Alright, let’s go sneak out!”

“We’re not sneaking,” I cautioned. “We’re just… stepping out for a bit.”

“Sure, whatever you say, Captain!” Her eyes drifted over to Prince Mito. “But let’s find some clothes that are a little more… commonplace?”

After Vernie gave her stamp of approval on our chosen attire, we split up to get dressed in the designated wardrobe areas. As instructed, I put on my armor while she switched out my tailored grey cloak for a more practical and nondescript brown one. Prince Mito's extravagant robes were replaced with ordinary clothing, but he still managed to cut a surprisingly striking figure with them. Without all the excessive makeup, his chiseled jawline and sharp features were evident. And when he wasn't putting on an exaggerated performance, his brown eyes would occasionally sparkle behind his long brown bangs.

“Should we pull our hoods up?” I asked once we re-grouped.

“No, that would look too conspicuous.” Vernie shook her head. “The weather is pleasant, and there are still tourists about trying to look like you. You’re safe showing your face. Just don’t forget your staff.” She then eyed the prince again. “And no one really pays attention to you, right?”

“Vernie!” I objected.

Prince Mito started to sneer but instead turned away, crossing his arms. Vernie blinked. “What! It just means he can get away with all sorts of things. Think of it as a compliment!” There was no way she had said it in a complimentary manner.

As we traversed the castle's corridors and finally reached the entrance, Prince Mito hesitated momentarily before approaching one of the guards.

“I’m leaving now,” he declared stiffly, pointing to us. “And they will be accompanying me.”

In response, the guard gave him a flat look but motioned for the others to let us pass. We exited without comment, the warm spring air carrying the scent of blooming flowers from the surrounding grounds.

I finally broke the silence as we entered the bustling commercial district. “Shouldn’t the guards have treated you better? You’re a prince!” While he wasn't exactly the image of a fairytale prince mounted on a white steed, a thin semblance of respect should be a reasonable expectation, right?

“Sixth in line,” he muttered in resignation. “Vernie's right; nobody cares about what happens to me.”

Vernie came to a halt and let out a rude noise. “Respect isn't just given; it's earned.”

Prince Mito's expression darkened with irritation. “And what would you know of respect, thief?”

“Heh. More than you, apparently. Try me. Name your attendants. I wager… oh, ten gold coins that I can recall more.”

Predictably, he started with Reginald, followed by a few others whose names I couldn't confirm nor deny. While I knew of Vernie's penchant for gathering intel, she had only been here for a couple of days. I expected Prince Mito to list at least a dozen in the competition to achieve victory. Yet, he stopped short.

“…and the guard who rolled his eyes at you earlier is Alvaro,” Vernie concluded after listing at least twenty others. “He's typically assigned to night watch near your chambers, but he took some time off for his daughter's wedding last weekend and is just now returning to his duties.”

“And his daughter's name?” Prince Mito asked, his tone thick with sarcasm.

There was a twinkle in Vernie’s eye as she answered, “Junel. And in case you were wondering, she married Mercer, who owns the apothecary downtown.”

“Enough!” Prince Mito exploded in the middle of the public square, his frustration boiling over at Vernie’s hard-hitting lesson. “So what if you know their names? It means nothing!”

“It means you show a basic level of interest in their lives. Start acknowledging those around you, and you might be acknowledged in return. Or continue to act superior and misunderstood by everyone—it's your choice.”

“Hmph!” he replied, though his face was quite troubled.

Vernie snapped her fingers twice then held out her hand expectantly. “And don’t forget to pay your debts as quickly as possible.”

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We arrived at a cozy, two-story inn with a polished interior and lanterns hanging from dark wooden beams, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Small square tables were scattered throughout the main room, but in a corner far from the entrance, three tables had been pushed together for a familiar group of cloaked figures who sat huddled together, whispering nervously.

Vernie let out a sigh. “They might as well be screaming their guilt.”

“See, I told you he'd show up!” exclaimed Brittany, the actress with fiery red hair, jumping out of her seat upon recognizing the prince, or rather, their fellow actor. “Well? Were you able to...?”

“No one suspects you as culprits anymore,” he replied uneasily as he sat down at the table with them. “And King Saulus has invited us to dine with him tonight in celebration.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The director, Andreas, and the two human actors who played Aleph and Tetora exchanged skeptical glances, finding the situation resolved too conveniently. However, Alaric, now looking plain without his fur suit and claws, shook his head and declared, “We've known Lord James for over a decade, my friends! He would never betray us!”

I gave Prince Mito a questioning look. “Lord James?”

“Oh, not that one,” Brittany tried to clarify, but neither Vernie nor I knew what she was talking about. “No one associates with him. Our Lord James here had a small estate out in the southwest. It's a shame the famine wiped him out, but the local nobility still respects him.”

“Famine?” Vernie feigned astonishment, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, I'm sure there's quite an interesting story behind that.”

“I suggest you tell them sooner rather than later,” I advised quickly, realizing Vernie would only make things more complicated for him.

“Ladies first,” he replied sullenly.

“Oh no, your truth is much more believable.”

He shook his head and stated, “This is all the more reason for you to lead, Chosen One.”

I immediately stood up and retorted, “Age before beauty!”

“Agreed,” he said with a rather evil smirk, pointing at the hachimaki in my hair. “Behold! We’ve been played for all we were worth, dear friends!”

They all stared at me for a moment, then shared a shrug.

“This is Raelynn Lightbringer, in the flesh!” Prince Mito declared loudly.

The group paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“It's his delivery that always gets us,” Andreas chuckled while giving the prince a playful push. “The way he speaks nonsense yet appears to believe it with all his heart!”

Prince Mito’s face soured, but he held his tongue.

“We needed a good little laugh,” Alaric added gratefully before turning serious. “Cody’s gone, by the way. We all pitched in with what we could…”

“Did he say where he was off to?” Prince Mito asked, looking somewhat guilty.

The group quietly shook their heads.

Prince Mito sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “That’s probably for the best.” He turned then and caught my inquiring look. “The stagehand who… you know.”

I quickly prayed silently for his successful escape and karmic repayment for going through such bad luck.

Prince Mito then produced several scrolls from his cloak. “In any case, here are your official invitations.”

The director cracked the wax seal and then read aloud, “Honored guests of Prince Mito…” His words trailed off as his eyebrow arched. “Why would that recluse invite us?”

“Oh yes, why would he indeed…” Vernie added with a vicious grin.

Prince Mito let out an exaggerated groan. “I… That is to say…”

As he hesitated to explain himself, the director stared at the ring on his right hand. “You seem to have something stuck on…”

“Ah!” Prince Mito snatched his hand off the table, but it was too late. His signet ring had a thin strip of red wax coating, its intricate carving matching the parchments' seals.

“Your… Highness…” the director gasped, scrambling to stand. “Forgive me for calling you a recluse! I—”

“Please don’t do that,” Prince Mito mumbled, hanging his head. “And that’s exactly what I’ve been. I just… wanted to be someone else, and acting has allowed me to live out my dream.”

“You think you know a guy…” Brittany muttered in disbelief. “This entire time, you’ve been lying to us…”

“Yeah, to think, we could have hit you up for more money!” the man who portrayed Tetora added playfully.

“That’s it! We’re going to double our compensation request starting next season!” the director announced, eliciting a stern nod from the others.

Prince Mito, taken aback, blinked several times. “You’ll… still allow me to…”

“Your Highness,” Andreas addressed him with a light laugh. “Do you think you know who we truly are? Sometimes, I’m still trying to figure out who I am. But for what it’s worth, we’re all actors in life. While it pains me to admit you are a better actor than I, I assure you I would not want any alternatives sharing the stage with me.”

I laughed merrily at the crimson blush covering Prince Mito’s face. He finally realized that he had people who cared about him, and not just because of his status. He blushed harder, so I decided to toss him a lifeline and change the subject.

“Um… I do apologize,” I murmured, recalling Vernie’s lesson. “But I don’t think I know everyone’s name here at the table.”

The man playing Tetora gave a slight bow from his chair. “I go by Tim. I heard your friends calling you Rae. Is that really what you go by normally?”

“Among some other names.” I smiled awkwardly. “I even answer to, ‘Hey you!’”

Tim laughed at that and introduced the man next to him. “You can call him Alan. And our director’s name is—”

“Everyone just calls me ‘Director,’ and I prefer it that way!” the director interjected.

“I keep telling you,” Brittany grumbled. “You can’t hide from bill collectors forever!”

“It’s working so far, isn’t it?” the director replied with a flippant shrug.

Regaining most of his composure, Prince Mito asked rather lamely, “Then, you’ll all come tonight? To the banquet?”

Everyone but Alan and Tim agreed readily.

“I don’t think it would be wise for the two of us to go,” Alan declined regretfully.

Tim nodded. “Our absence would speak louder than our words ever could.”

Vernie and I exchanged quizzical glances.

“What the heck do you mean by that?” Vernie asked before I could formulate a more elegant way to propose the question.

Alan jumped up. “A statement on behalf of our hybrid brothers! How they’re not allowed to be seated with us in our communities!”

“Their voices are unheard,” Tim agreed. “The only reason we even play Tetora and Aleph is because our hybrid friends fear retaliation for displaying their acting talents in public…”

After seeing all the static Tetora got just for questioning a merchant’s unprofessional business practices, I couldn't blame them.

“But… Dinner with the king would be a great opportunity to tell him of your concerns, wouldn’t it?” I asked.

Tim and Alan looked at each other, considering my suggestion.

“Wouldn’t it be better, coming from a hybrid themself?” Alan asked plaintively.

I paused, realizing the situation was more complicated than I had initially imagined. “You may very well be right,” I conceded. “Honestly, I can’t begin to imagine how hybrids must feel, given all that’s happened. But back at the palace, there are two very inspiring hybrids I would love for you to meet. I think their insight on the matter would be most invaluable. More voices united would make for a better harmony, wouldn’t they?”

Brittany stared thoughtfully at me for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “Yes… I think I know who you’re talking about…” She turned to Tim and Alan. “This is exactly the miraculous situation you need to leverage. Do whatever she says, okay?”

They nodded quickly, apparently used to taking orders from her.

Vernie looked a little troubled at my suggestion, however. “It’s like you live for causing chaos now…”

I shot her a withering look. “Are you serious? After all the stunts you—”

“I’m just so proud of the woman you’ve become, Rae-Rae!” She grinned openly, smacking me heartily on the back before adding, “Ouch!”

I snickered. “You... Forgot I was wearing armor under my cloak, didn't you?”

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