Kurts had started to tune Prince Sebastian out almost as soon as he started speaking. All he seemed capable of was talking about himself or bragging about his kingdom, with lewd comments thrown in here and there. Kurt thought those were probably just to get a rise out of him, he hated to admit it, but it was working.

"There are tales of your beauty throughout the kingdoms." Sebastian said scooting closer to him as they sat on the ledge of a fountain in the middle of the royal gardens.

Kurt was wearing a pair of blue silk pants and a darker silk vest. He wished now he had chosen to wear a tunic with the way Sebastians eyes were raking over him. Kurt looked at him wearily. "Are there?"

"Of course." Sebastian smirked and scooted so close to Kurt their thighs touched, he reached over and put a hand on Kurts knee. Kurt glanced over to Mercedes who was a few yards away pretending not to watch them.

Mercedes was Kurts only friend, she was hired as his companion years ago as an attempt to make Kurt more content within the confined walls of the palace. He had resented her at first, but had soon grown to love her playfulness, frankness and fierce loyalty.

It didnt make him more content being trapped here though. And right now Kurt felt even more trapped with this smarmy Prince leaning in too close and his hand traveling up Kurt leg.

"But you arent." Sebastian said.

Kurt realized he hadnt been listening again. "Im not? Not what?"

"Beautiful." Sebastian answered hand getting uncomfortably high.

Kurt swallowed nervously. "Well thanks." He said sarcastically, lifting Sebastians hand and moving it away from him.

Sebastian smiled. "Youre hot Kurt." He said with what he must have thought was a charming smile. "The man who marries you wins in a number of ways."

"Wins?" Kurt asked arching an eyebrow and folding his arms across his bare chest.

"They marry into a rich, powerful family and on top of it all they get to… spend their wedding night with you." Sebastians hand found Kurts thigh again and he squeezed.

Kurt let out a shocked squeal and sprang to his feet. "How dare you!"

Just then Mercedes made her way over, her fist clenched and a snarl on her lips, she jabbed a finger roughly against Sebastians chest. "Back off greaseball!" She said evenly. "Touch him again and you lose an arm."

Sebastian looked indigent, glancing over to Kurt. "Youd let your servant." He spat the word. "Talk to me like this?"

"Mercedes has far more class than you do!" Kurt retorted.

Sebastian threw his hands in the air. "I dont have to put up with being treated this way. No one will ever love you Kurt, no matter how much of a prize you seem! No one wants to marry a spoiled brat!" Then he turned on his heel and marched away.

Kurt was shaking with rage. He couldnt tell if he wanted to yell or cry, but his eyes were stinging and he was afraid the tears would win out.

"I dont have to put up being treated this way!" Mercedes said in a ridiculous imitation of Prince Sebastians voice while waving her hands in the air. "Im Sebastian. I always get my way. I have servants who wipe my ass for me."

Kurt smiled, his anger dwindling. Mercedes stopped her rant and smiled at Kurt. "Dont listen to people like him." She said and gave him a tight hug. "You are your own person and you should always be proud of that."

Kurt nodded against her shoulder and then fell back down to the ledge of the fountain. "What would I do without you?"He said wiping his eyes.

"Probably be completely bored."

Kurt let out a small laugh. "I dont know what Im going to do Mercedes."

Mercedes opened her mouth to say something but then stopped as they both looked up to see the Sultan marching towards them. His face was set and his eyes angry.

Kurt let out a long sigh, hed been expecting this. He stood lifting his head and setting his jaw. If it was a fight his dad was after then Kurt was ready for it.

"Kurt!" Burt stopped a foot in front of him. "Prince Sebastian wasnt even here an hour! How did you make him so angry he stormed off yelling and swearing in only an hour?"

"He insulted Mercedes."

Burt glanced over to Kurts friend. "You know I care about Mercedes but you cant put your servants above your suitors, he is a Prince."

Kurts eyes flashed with anger. "And why does that immediately make him a better person?"

Mercedes cleared her throat behind them and made a little bow before she turned and left, Kurt knew she wasnt going to stand around and listen to him argue with his father, again.

"Kurt you cant keep doing this!" Burt shouted

"I dont even know you anymore." Kurt said, his held back tears finally making their way out. "You use to care about people, now you only care about this stupid rule."

"Its a law Kurt. You must be married-"

"To a Prince!" Kurt finished for him. "I know."

"By your next birthday." Burt added and then sighed. "I dont want to fight with you."

"It seems like all we do is fight." Kurt said looking at the ground.

"It isnt just this law." Burts voice softened. "I wont be around forever and I want to make sure you are taken care of."

"I can take care of myself!"

His father sighed again, taking off his turban and rubbing his bald head. "I dont want you to be alone." He looked Kurt in the eye. "I know how alone feels… after your mother died…"

"You had me." Kurt said, feeling like a small boy. "You didnt have to be alone. You werent the only one who lost her. I shouldnt have felt like I lost you too." It was a conversation theyd had before, but it never seemed to do any good.

Burt looked away for a moment his eyes growing cloudy, the way Kurt saw them more and more often these days, like there was something blocking his father from having clear thoughts.

"You have to choose someone." He finally said. "They havent all been bad."

Kurt shook his head and let out a humorless laugh. "If I marry, I want it to be for love."

"You could learn to love one of them…"

Kurt rolled his eyes and marched away stopping at a bird cage filled with brightly colored little lovebirds he watched them so as to not have to look his father in the eye. "Father, how can I fall in love with someone when I dont even know myself?"

"Kurt…"

"Try to understand. Ive never done a thing on my own. Ive never even been outside the palace walls!" Kurt gestured to the walls around him, the ones that had made him feel like a prisoner for years.

"But Kurt, youre a Prince!"

"Then maybe I dont want to be a Prince!" Kurt shouted.

Burts face turned red. "Kurt this isnt a discussion. You must choose a suitor!" He gave Kurt one last long look and then stormed off.

Kurt huffed in anger and then looked back at the caged birds, he flung the cage doors opened and watched as the birds flew off to freedom. He would never know what that kind of freedom felt like.

He marched up to his chambers hoping to find Mercedes, but she must be purposely making herself scarce right now because his rooms were empty. He went to his window and looked out on the city. A city he is meant to rule someday, but that he knew nothing about.

"What must it like to be normal?" He asked himself and leaned against the window frame. "To have that kind of freedom?" He turned away from the window, his heart clenching in his chest.

Burt paced his Royal chambers regretting the way he had talked to his son. Why did this have to be so hard, couldnt Kurt just find someone? Burt had chosen Elizabeth and they had ended up loving each other completely. He wanted that for his son too.

His thoughts were interrupted when William, his Royal Vizier walked into the room.

"Your Majesty." He said with a smile. "What has you so troubled?"

"Its Kurt."

William looked like he sneered for a moment, but maybe Burt had misread his expression as he smiled now. "Did he run off another suitor?"

"He refuses to marry!"

William nodded and looked contemplative for a moment. "Then you will have to choose for him."

"I cant chose someone my son doesnt even like."

William smiled, showing too many teeth, walking forward and holding up his staff with the serpent head on it. Burt hated that thing.

"You will just choose for him." William said.

Burt stared, his eyes focused on the red ruby eyes of the serpent. "I will just choose for him."

"You are too important to be bothered with this anymore."

"I am too…" Burt blinked. "But hes my son."

"You cant be bothered with this anymore." William said forcefully, pushing the staff in closer.

Burt was mesmerized by the serpents eyes again. "I cant be bothered with this anymore."

"You will choose for him."

I will choose for him."

"Good." William said. "Now I am going to need to borrow your ring."

"But, its been in my family for years" Burt protested.

"Yes, but know you are going to give it to me."

Burt blinked again. "I am going to give it to you." He slipped a large diamond ring off of his finger and handed it to William.

William withdrew the staff and smiled pleasantly. "Very good."

He left the Sultan feeling daze and flustered.

William didnt have time for the Sultans petty problems, he was much too important to be bothered with them.