"If we were late, Tear would get us" Nadia said as they began to walk back to the castle. She looked at Alexi for a while, wondering whether he thought she was not fun to be around with. She sighed inwardly. He seemed upset about something, but could it be because they sneaked away from the castle? Even if they did, Nadia knew that Tear would come follow when she felt Nadia was taking longer then usual.

Nadia kept quiet the rest of the journey, wondering if she had done something wrong. They soon reached the hedge and Nadia took of her cloak, placing it near the hedge.

Vladimir was walking the gardens, his courtiers bowed when he came before them, servants scurried out of the way for him and looked away from him lest they offend him. He was on his second lap of his garden walk when he came across his daughter and son. His daughter was taking off a old cloak and his son was looking distressed, like he had done something wrong "Hmm... And what would you too be doing?"

Vortex said
Vladimir was walking the gardens, his courtiers bowed when he came before them, servants scurried out of the way for him and looked away from him lest they offend him. He was on his second lap of his garden walk when he came across his daughter and son. His daughter was taking off a old cloak and his son was looking distressed, like he had done something wrong "Hmm... And what would you too be doing?"

"they were sneaking out. my lord" said Ogcnoton with a smile looking to the noble, all while on his knees bowing to the mans feet as if he were a god. In truth he was not a fan of vladimir. He was always afraid of the man, not like he was with others, but as if the man were a demon. The prince always seemed like a child and Ogcnoton could relax around him, and the princess always seemed to be around him in the village so he had grown to be less afraid, though he always had a weak spot for her. The king scared him and the duke was somewhat his friend but vladimir was diffrent. He was terrifying.

Vladimir looked down at the filthy peasant, who had the stomach that would make one assume that he liked to eat, with a look of slight disgust of the man and slight annoyance at his children Vladimir said "Oh really? Aleksander? Nadia? Is this peasants words true?"

As the noble spoke Ocgnoton began to cower as if the man was going to hit him. An instinct he had from his early days and from how the nobles reacted to him. Looking back to the man when he seemed to listen to him he quickly looked away as he scooted off. He knew well that the kids would deny what he was saying and that he would be punnished, he may be dumb but he was no dweeb.

Vladimir watched the man scurry away. He grunted with mild contempt and turned back to his children "Well?"

Aleksandr's face blushed. He was intimidated by his father. Perhaps, being one child from the throne was for a good reason. He looked at Nadia and then back to his father, "We were just going for a stroll around the garden as you scheduled for us," he calmly said, hoping his father would not inquire anymore.

"Then why where you not in the gardens but outside them? Furthermore why where you lookng so distressed just before?" Vladimir said with narrowed eyes

Ogcnoton smiled as he watched the family from behind a bush. He had never thought that a family of such riches could be the same as his. The father was hard on the child but it was to make him a better person, if only it worked on him, thought when the father dies it ruins the plan. Much like iron bone training or physical therapy if the training stops, it worsens the problem. He knew well he was a rotton thief of a man who does dirty things just because he has a mindset, but it was because of those who took away his family he could have much better. Having the ability to read, a strong body and a healthy man he could do about anything. But with the sudden loss he needed to coup, a sudden need to do what he pleased turned into a force of habit. He would never let the prince go on without a father, he would do it if he had to.

Erik took the kitchen hand's remarks with a minor sense of accomplishment, until the slight in her voice made it apparent her true feelings -- the boy had always been slow to pick up on social cues when he thought he was being flattered. However, he took no offense. In fact, the smug smirk on his face had turned into a warm smile as he watched the girl walk off. "Any other noble would have your head," he called after her, a laugh ringing in his voice. Her

He watched the girl walk out of site, before turning on his heel and making his way to the royal garden deciding that the scent of the flowers and shrubbery would help to settle his hangover. Yet, when he arrived, he was surprised to see the king and his two royal cousins. He took a second to observe the conversation dynamic, it not taking long for it to register that some wrong had been done.

He slowly paced forward, giving him time to listen to topic, before stepping to his younger cousin Nadia's side.

"Uncle." He stated, making his best attempt at bowing, though his lack of attention in his etiquette classes showed in his lack of effort behind the gesture.

"You'll have to forgive them. I went out last night with some of the stablehands... And I lost my bearings." He stated, presenting the information with as somber of a face as he could muster. "I sent one of the servants back to tell Prince Alexi that if I didnt show at the Royal breakfast this morn to come find me and make sure I got back safely. I told him not to bring any guards or servants... As I didnt want to bring any attention to the matter." Erik finished with an apologetic tone in his voice. "I should've gotten word to him that I'd made it back safely; however, I just wasn't feeling myself this morning. They only meant to do right by me, sir."

Only half of what came from his mouth was true, but Erik had the accquired a reputation for even worser things. He'd prided himself on handling his liquor, so he'd never be put in a situation when he was dependent upon someone else to make it home; however, he'd take a blow to his ego because he was never a proponent of the king's strict governing with his children.

Elise had a smirk on her face, but as she kept walking it turned into a genuine smile. The Duke actually wasn't half bad, Elise thought to herself. She finished making lunch, then decided to go for a walk, as there wasn't enough time to leave the castle, but there was enough to take a stroll. She patted her hands against her apron, then took the apron off and started walking down the path to the garden. As she was walking up the path she admired the flowers in the garden. She was so immersed in doing so that she didn't realize where she was until she heard voices. She looked up and she was standing right behind the prince and princess and in front of them was the King and the Duke. She froze, not wanting to get tangled up in the conflict, as she had heard that the King was very stern towards his children. She did overhear the Duke making up an excuse for his cousins, which made Elise's opinion of him a bit better, as she found it good to stick up for your friends, or in his case, cousins. She smiled slightly and started to turn to walk back to the kitchen, when she noticed the surf that always stole food from the kitchen behind a hedge. She walked away from sight of the nobles, then doubled back, going behind the shrubbery, and came up behind Ogcnoton "Why are you spying on the nobles?" She whispered.

"Father, what Erik had said was true. I was about to sneak out of the castle for awhile, after me and Alexi's walk. Alexi was about to go and find Erik, he spotted me going out of the castle through the gate and stopped me from sneaking away. Well, I think he didn't want us to get discovered out of the castle, which was why he was looking flustered" Nadia said with a apologetic face, looking down shamefully. She couldn't allow Erik to cover them totally as she felt wrong about it. Nadia also couldnt allow Alexi to be at fault because well, she herself pulled him along. In fact, he even might not have enjoyed his morning thanks to her. As she thought of this, her face looked rather sad, which made her look even more sorry for disobeying the rules.

Vladimir pinched his nose bridge and sighed. Mumbling to himself he said "All for a drunken half wit", he then looked at the three, one by one his gaze finally came to Nadia "And why where you sneaking out of the castle in the first place?"

"I was going to walk around town for a bit before coming back for lunch.." Nadia said, her head still down.

(The "king" said this before the vladimir character was introduced so im just adding things as i go along)

Vladimir continued to stare down at his daughter"When i told you not to leave the gardens? What have i told you about leaving the castle grounds? You are royalty, not to be walking the dusty cities covered by pigs filth"

It was statements like that that made Nadia feel the need to break the rules every so often. She didn't se any sense in it. The first time she sneaked away, she was only curious. Now that she didn't it so often, she found the beauty in the town outside, filled with happiness, life. Nadia lifted her head up and stared straight at her father's eyes. She stepped closer to him and gave him a small smile. "A little dirt wouldn't harm us, and even if I am royalty, I am also human, aren't I? No human would like to be stuck in four walls, no matter how large the space they have in it" she said with an innocent face.

Nadia stepped back and curtsied gracefully. "If you do not mind, father, I will be off to my room to change for Royal Lunch" she said and then went off towards her room, not looking back.

"Walls keep you safe. Walls keep you secure. Walls keep you away from the gropers, perverts and the incestuous" Vladimir could give a whole thesis on why royalty should be kept away from the common dirty rabble but his daughter was already walking away. He then faced his son and nephew and shook his head, then began to slowly turn away.

those insulted by the last comment ogcnoton agreed with what the king said. Continuing to hide behind the bushes,only full body this time. Nothing could be seen of him from there perspective. He knew well how much of a sneak he was, and wasn't afraid to show off. Thanks to his ability he knew how terrible it was in the village. Conspiracy, betrayal, muder, not to mention the actual filth. Most of the people hadn't bathed in years and didn't use sanitation for there lives. He never understood why the princess enjoyed her days out.

Nadia sighed once she reached her room. She knew the dangers, but is it wrong to want to know more about the kingdom that her parents rule? Shouldn't they know what is happening to the people that they are ruling over? There were lots of people that she met that didn't get a proper meal like what she have everyday. The thought of people living like that made her very sad. Nadia kept thinking about all those things and wondered what she could do more for the people as she changed her clothes to a cleaner one.

She stayed in her room until Tear came over to escort her to the dining room for lunch.

Tear knocked then door sowfly "milady, may i come in?" she asked with her sweet calmed voice and opened the door not waiting for an answer, she knew Nadia even better than her parents and knew she would not mind