Kurt sat up and stretched his back trying to rid of the kinks on his back from sleeping on the hard floor.

He looked over to the window and notice it was still a while before dawn. He got up a started his day a little bit earlier, he would have some time to go to the orchard and pick some apples. Maybe he would bake some pies later.

He walked over to the basin; he shivered as he felt the cold stone under his feet. When he reached the basin, he looked into the mirror. He sighed heavily as he saw that he was covered in ash and soot. He reached down and splashed some water onto his face trying his best to take out most of the grime on his porcelain skin.

His blue eyes stared back at him he studied his pale smooth skin. He looked at (his often mention) feminine features. He sighed heavily again. He sometimes hated his unremarkable looks. He thought who would ever want me? He was just a poor servant boy. Nobody would ever love him.

He knew that there would never be anyone that would take him away from his lonely life. He was nothing. He was the lowest of the low. He wasn’t meant to live a happy and carefree life.

He used to believe in love, about finding happiness, but that had been taken from him.

There would never be a prince that would save him from the life he lived.

It was just a silly dream.

He slipped on his shoes and grabbed a large basket and headed out to the orchard in a darker mood than he had awakened.

----------------------------------

Blaine panted heavily as he ran. He felt the cool morning air as he kept running. He didn’t know where he was going; he just knew that anywhere was better than where he was running from.

He ran as fast as he could before the royal guard from the castle caught him again.

It was one of his many attempts to escape the castle walls. He knew if he was caught then he would be punished. But he was sure he would make it this time. He would finally make it and have the freedom to see the rest of the world.

He ran away as fast as he could, he ran from his duty, from his crown, and from his father. He was running away from the person who everybody demanded he become.

He was tired of that life. He was becoming a privilege porcelain bird. He was living a life where he had become sheltered from the world.

He was not living, he was merely existing.

He wanted to be able to do what he wanted with his life. He wanted to be allowed the person he wished and knew he could be.

But by his father’s treaty he was going to be married to a Spanish princess who he had never seen. He was merely his father negotiation piece. He didn’t want a beautiful princess that he didn’t even know.

He wanted to find, real, raw, passionate love.

Blaine had known since he was twelve that he was different than the rest of the boys. Because when he thought of his happily ever after, he never pictured a beautiful princess, He pictures a handsome prince on his side.

When he had come out to his father and mother, they were not happy about it, but they also didn’t seem to care.

They only cared for him to get married and give them grandchildren. Whatever he did behind close door was none of their business.

But Blaine didn’t want that. He wanted to be proud of the person he was with. He would never keep then as his dirty little secret.

Blaine stopped running as he caught his breath. He notices that he was now by the country side, near an orchard.

He looked around and spotted some stables. He decided that a horse would get him much farther. He really didn’t feel guilty by stealing a horse. He was only borrowing it, he would return it. Someday.

So with that logic he headed towards the stables.

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Kurt finished his morning chores before he went to the orchard. He fed the animals, and replaced their water. He started the fire in the kitchen and fed his cousins cat.

Now Kurt sat on his knees in the orchard humming a soft tune to himself. He inspected and picked the apples that had fallen to the ground, the air slowly getting warmer as the sun peaked through the horizon. He decided to hurry so he could start breakfast for his aunt and cousins before they woke up.

Kurt stopped his humming when he heard hooves hitting the gravel in the direction of the stables.

He looked over and saw a hooded figure riding one of his father’s horses; he was shocked that someone would try to actually steal of horse from them.

Without thinking if the man could be dangerous he picked up some apples and ran toward the fleeing man,

“STOP! THEIF!”

The man on the horse looked over as a very angry Kurt ran towards him, screaming on the top of his lungs. When he got close enough he threw an apple hitting the thief on one of his shoulders. He threw another hitting him on his back, and then threw another hitting him straight on the head making the man fall off his horse.

As he tried to get up, Kurt yelled at him again.

“THEIF!”

“I am not a th-“ the man was cut off as Kurt threw another apple at the man that was struggling with his cloak.

“How dare you steal our-" Kurt words stop when the man was finally able to detangled himself from his dark purple cloak.

Kurt’s blood ran cold when he realized who was in front of him; he immediately fell on his knees and bowed his head to the ground.

“Your majesty, please forgive me, I did not see you!”

Kurt heard some shuffling in front of him.

“Your aim would suggest otherwise”

Kurt’s breath caught, he had seen the prince a few times when he was selling the crop in town, but he had never heard him speak before. His voice was smooth and silky and it sent a shiver down Kurt’s spine. But the feeling was soon over when it had finally hit him that he had attack the prince of France.

“And now I know I must die” Kurt said miserably. He knew he was in deep you don’t attack the prince and live to tell about it. His now young life was cut short, he didn’t know if he was actually disappointed in that.

“That shall not be necessary”

Kurt felt a rush of relief at his words.

“We have other horses, faster ones if that is what you wish”

He hear the prince sigh heavily “what I wish for is to be free”

Kurt found it odd for the prince to make such a statement, he was free, and he was the prince of France, why did he feel like he had to be free.

He hears the prince climb up the horse, Kurt’s eyes still glued to the ground. The horse stopped right in front of him, but still kept his gaze down. A few seconds later he felt something fall in front of him.

“For your silence”

He heard the prince leave as the horses sound finally faded and he sat there in the ground in complete silence.

He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, he looked up and the prince was gone. He looked back to the ground in front of him and stared in disbelief as he saw around ten gold coins on the ground in front of him. He grabbed them all and shoved them in his pocket. He then stood up and grabbed his basket full of apples and headed towards the manor.

He realized the sun had finally had risen, he was late for breakfast. So he ran before his aunt scolded him, or worse.

Even if the morning had been one of the most bizarre ones in his life, he had attacked the prince and escaped death, he could not stop the stupid grin on his face as he ran back to make breakfast for his horrible family.

------------------------------------------

Since the day of his father’s death he had become a slave in his own home.

After his mother’s death, he had married her sister who was also become a widow with two young boys.

The match was perfect for the baroness, but not Kurt.

Since that day his purpose had become to serve his aunt and his cousins. He cooked and cleaned, he worked in the farm, and he washed their clothes and took care of the animals.

He was thankful for having the help of his small family.

Mercedes, Tina and Mike stayed after his father’s death to watch out for the boy. They didn’t trust the baroness.
The baroness was tall, slim and had pale skin with dark eyes and dark hair. She was cold and ruthless toward Kurt, since the day his farther had brought her home, there was an instant dislike, Kurt didn’t understand why she hated him so much, but he never bothered to ask. If he did something wrong he would never know.

His cousin was another story; they were around the same age.

Sebastian was spoiled and awful. He had a terrible attitude and always mange to get Kurt into trouble with the baroness. As he got older he became cruel like his mother. He was tall like Kurt; he had golden brown hair and piercing green eyes. In society he was considered one of the most handsome men in the kingdom, but Kurt could only see his black and evil heart.

His other cousin, nick was a little different, if anything he was sweet, he was quiet and often played with Kurt when he was younger. Kurt didn’t think he was mean or cruel like the rest of his lot. He actually felt kind of bad for the boy. The baroness would often compare him to Sebastian and tell him that he was not good or handsome like him. But Kurt thought he was a good looking boy, he had soft brown eyes, and he was tall also and had dark ebony hair with a little curl in it.

“I asked for two four minute eggs, not four two minute eggs!” Sebastian slammed his fist on the table.

“And where on god sake is our bread!”

Kurt heard all his yelling all the way to the kitchen. He set down the basket of apples.

“Kurt where have you been boy” Mercedes notice him as she pulled the bread from the oven.

Mercedes was the cook in the manor she was a little heavy set with dark skin and soft brown eyes. Most importantly she was like a mother to him; she had taken care of him since his mother passed. She also stayed when his father passed.

“Why is there no salt on this table!” Kurt cringed when he heard the baroness loud voice.

“I was at the orchard, and look!” he pulled the coins from his pocket and placed them on the table. Showing them to Mercedes and Tina who had just walked in.

Tina had been with him a little before his father died. She was a bit younger than Mercedes and was married. Her husband was name was mike. They were both Asian immigrants and were thankful for his father to give them work and shelter, so they decided to stay with Kurt after he passed.

“Oh my lord, where did you get these” Tina gasped out as she saw the gold coins.

“Let’s just say I almost lost my head today, but luck decided to reward me”

“What will you do with them?” Tina asked curiously.

“There for mike” Kurt’s said simply as he put the bread in the basket, and balanced the bowl with the eggs and the jar of salt in his arms.

Tina’s eyes widen and suddenly she was crying. “Really, master, I don’t know what to say…”

“My dear, I will not let this family fall apart, with this we can get your husband back”

Mercedes smiled as she held Tina. Kurt was relieved that they were going to be able to bring mike back, the baroness had sold him to pay for taxes that she had owed, separating Tina from her husband. Kurt promised he would do anything to bring him back. He was getting desperate. If he had not gathered the money, mike would have been shipped to America, and never been seen again.

He was happy now that his encounter with the prince would leave him with enough money to be able to save mike.

He smiled at them and then headed toward the dining room where his ‘mere cat faced’ cousin waited for his dammed bread.

------------------------------

“What took you so long?” the baroness asked in her usual cold tone that she reserved specifically for Kurt.

“Sorry madam, I was on the latter in the orchard and fell” he replied smoothly as he place the items on the table.

He went over to the side table and picked up a pitcher of juice and walked around to refill their drinks.

“Sebastian, Nick I hope you slept well”

Nick nodded with a smile as he continued to eat his breakfast.

“Did you sleep by the fireplace again, ash and soot everywhere” Sebastian said as he chewed slowly on his bread.

Kurt sent a glare at him, Sebastian ignoring him.

The baroness eyed him up and down “yes, you could better with your appearance child”

“Why don’t you sleep with the pig’s cinderslut, if you chose on smelling like one” Sebastian said evilly.

Nick choked on his bread as Kurt felt his cheeks glow red. He knew he didn’t smell, but Sebastian always found ways to embarrass him.

“Sebastian that was cruel” the baroness said simply. It angered Kurt more that she let Sebastian get away with it. But then again she was no better.

He finished serving them breakfast and stood by the side waiting for anything the baroness might desire.

“Kurt, I need you to mend some of the boy’s garments, clean the fire place, wipe the furniture in the waiting room, wash the curtains and make sure that the cat is taken outside for a little while. After that I need you to help Mercedes clean the mirrors in the entryway”

“Yes Madame”

Kurt already knew what his chores were, they rotated daily, but he was not looking forward to clean the mirror, there were huge and hard to clean.

He finished cleaning up the table as they discussed what they were doing for the day

“Well I think I would want to go to town” Sebastian suggested. He went to town often enough. Kurt rolled his eyes; Sebastian only went to town to go find some oblivious gentleman to fool around with for a few hours.

“That sound fantastic, Kurt can you tell the driver to get the carriage ready”

Kurt left them as he went to tell Matt that the baroness required a ride into town.

Kurt made a little detour and grabbed some of Sebastian’s clothes from his room. The baroness and the boys would be busy in town until supper time, so he thought it might be the only chance he would have to go get Mike back.

After he spoke to Matt he headed toward the kitchen to tell Mercedes and Tina his plan, they agreed to get his chores done while he was gone.

He said his goodbyes and promised to come back with mike by his side, both girls kissed him on the cheek and bid him good luck.

After the baroness, Sebastian and Nick left; he grabbed his things and headed towards the castle.

Hoping to get his friend back home.