The first 48 hours were the worst. But if it weren't for Rios we would have never realized what we had.

  So thank you Rios, thank you for being horrible.

  ~ * ~

  Coming back to court was a mistake. Six months ago she'd felt she'd won when they agreed she only had to be present once every three months to prove she was still alive and well. Three months later she'd managed to forget the stares, the whispers, the judgment only to wilt the moment she stepped through the doors. Today was even worse, more time away meant more time to forget.

  Rushing down the halls as quickly as propriety permitted, Lisa forced herself to not show any sign of how she felt. The clacking of her heels echoed through the dull grey halls as she rounded the corner. No one ever went through the servant's exit, it was the only thing that made coming and going bearable. Next time she just wouldn't come, she'd find an excuse and everyone would be happier, no more reminder that her Majesty had a daughter that didn't fit in.

  Blindly pushing her way past someone as she exited the Holding, she froze when they called out. "Are you ok?"

  "What?" she didn't want to turn around, but there was no way she'd let anyone claim the Princess wasn't proper. Steeling her face she turned to face… a stranger?

  "I asked if you were ok. No one is ever in these passages except when they're making sure I won't get lost and become a problem so I was surprised. And you seemed upset as you rushed by."

  Blinking in surprise, she took a better look at him. Noticeably taller than her, but still not nearly as tall as some of the guards, he had black hair and eyes that weren't blue. His clothing seemed so normal, so plain and everyday, that she never expected to see it at the Holding, especially on a day when her mother was holding Court. Of course when the majority of the court was in their seventh or eighth decade, opinions on proper wear tended to be dated. Her mother might look like she was in her early thirties but had been closer to 60 than 50 when Lisa was born. Denim pants and a t-shirt were not something anyone ever wore publicly in the Holding, especially not when court was in session, and yet here he was.

  "I was leaving," she answered. "Court ended and I wanted to leave before anyone tried to talk to me." Maybe a bit more honest than she probably should have been, but if it let her excuse herself more quickly it was worth it.

  "Court was in session today? I was told not to come when there were afternoon sessions but they didn't tell me when those would be." Frowning he took a step towards the exit, towards her. "I guess I should just go home then."

  Lisa took a step away as he did, keeping a respectable distance without thinking about it. The fact that he did not seem to recognize her was surprising, everyone in the Holding knew who she was after all.

  "I'm Seb," he continued a moment later, only to wince and straighten his shoulders. "I apologize. I am Sebastian Unaffiliated, newly Awakened adult thankful for Holding Lys' generous offer to learn the rules, customs and expectations that come with the privilege of being one of the Awakened." For a moment it looked as though he was going to bow, only to think better of it and give a polite nod before shrugging helplessly. "I know I'm supposed to bow but I always feel on the verge of falling on my face."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  She couldn't help herself, despite how horrible Court had left her feeling she snorted. The way he said it was so stupid, he obviously had been taught the words but not the courtly cadence. And falling on his face when trying to bow? What kind of person didn't know how to-. "Did you say newly Awakened adult? Everyone knows that spontaneous adult Awakening is impossibly rare. I'm pretty sure some of my tutors thought it was a myth."

  "So I've been told," he answered. "How rare it is I mean, not that I'm a myth. And yet here I am, barely 3 months into my new life of privilege and expected to give up everything I worked for since 'Shallows labor is not the place of an Awakened'". She recognized the words and the tone, she'd heard the former when she fought for her freedom six months ago and the latter every day for the first 20 years of her life.

  "How did it happen?" She couldn't help herself, he wasn't one of them and she'd never met anyone who Awakened as an adult. She'd certainly heard of orphaned or abandoned children who were brought into a Holding and intentionally Awakened, but they were brought in as teenagers, not full grown adults.

  "Well I," he paused, looking at the door to the Holding as if weighing his options. "I have no issue telling you, but maybe over coffee? I'd rather not have someone walk up and yell at me for being here while Court is in session, or for bothering," trailing off he looked at her slightly expectantly.

  "Lisa," she answered reflexively before muttering to herself about formality and answering him with her full name. "Princess Lysanya, heir to Holding Lys." She had to, she didn't want to but she had to say it all, to see how he'd react and what he knew about her. "And I wouldn't mind some coffee, although I'm not exactly dressed for it." Gesturing down at herself she brought his attention back to her formal court attire, her suit a step beyond business wear with shimmering bands of bright red and silver, her mother's colors.

  "Princess?" The shock was evident on his face, he clearly hadn't realized who she was until that moment. "That's why you look so familiar, you look just like your mo- Her Majesty and your younger sister. I'd wondered why she was the Junior Princess and not the heir but the looks I got when I even started to ask made it clear I should mind my own business if I didn't want to be taught my place." Shaking his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts he continued. "I know just the place. It's always full of arts majors, you might get asked what play you're in but otherwise no one will care. And if you're willing maybe I could find out why no one talks about you?"

  The comparison to her family was apt, she was quite literally the spitting image of them, blonde with clear blue eyes and a body that looked so much more statuesque on someone 5'11 than her relatively short 5'7. Her sister was seven years younger than her and was nearly as tall. Heeled boots did nothing when every woman wore something similar and the shorter men were still over 6 foot tall. With a small sigh she nodded, he didn't know what he was asking and it was only fair to tell him her story in exchange for his.

  "Just how far is it?"

  "Five, maybe six blocks? If you don't want to walk I can see about a cab but for some reason they always take forever around here. It's probably faster on foot. But I wouldn't want to impose on the Heir and expect her to walk." If it weren't for the teasing smirk as he said the last words she might have hit him, propriety be damned, but instead she found herself smiling back and gesturing for him to take the lead.

  "I think I can handle a few blocks, even in heels."

  At her words Seb let the door to the Holding swing shut, leaving them standing next to the emergency exit on a windowless wall of an office building, and headed down the street. As she fell in a few steps behind him she noticed him slow almost immediately, trying to match his pace to hers while she allowed him to lead.

  "Everything ok Lisa?" he asked as he came to a stop. "It feels weird walking with you following on my heels rather than walking side by side. At least out here, I'm trying to get used to the idea of being led everywhere, or being expected to lead."

  She paused and nearly stumbled as she considered his words. Here she was trying to get away from the Holding and immediately started treating him as a servant leading the way.

  "Sorry, I'm not normally so formal when in the Shallows."

  She took a few quick steps to stand beside him and gave a sad smile. "I promise I don't expect you to walk in front of me the whole way."

  With a nod he started back down the road and Lisa immediately fell into step beside him.