Gods, how he despised these ropes.

Standing in his room, Ace was surrounded by servants trying to get him dressed up and ready to leave their beloved kingdom for a few days. Trying to, because Ace was not making easy for them. In a childish manor, he would once in a while pull away when they adjusting his pants, brush their hands away, whenever a cape would wrap around his shoulders or a crown would be put atop his head.

Meanwhile, Ace's attention would be elsewhere: On a Robin bird's nest to be precise. From his window, he could barely but surely spot the feathered bright red chest peak through branches and leaves, occasionally moving, but never leaving its home in the treetops. Ace had never seen it fly. Perhaps it couldn't.

"Your highness, the carriage is waiting," someone announced, making Ace to turn his head, "I've told you not to address me like that," he said by way greeting the newly arrived lord who chuckled, "It's common formality-", "No, Lord Ryder Harrington, it's annoying," Ace mocked jokingly, raising a brow before heading down to the carriage.

It didn't take long before they entered the gates of a foreign palace. Accompanied by Ryder, a servant and 7 guards, Ace was led to the palace's main entrance, met by what looked to be some sort of higher ranked. Ryder took care of his introduction, "His Highness, Prince Ace Xavier Maldonado, first born to his Majesty, King Alexander Maldonado and heir to the throne and Kingdom of Alaandirh."

Ace wanted to punch him.

After being welcomed and brought inside, Ace quickened his pace to walk beside his friend, "That was unnecessary," he casually said. Ryder smirked, "Common formalities."

Ever since he had been a young boy, Ace hated being referred to as royalty, trying his best to defy his father's rules and lessons as a result. The only thing that led him to, was being assigned a "role model", who turned out to be Ryder. Supposedly, he was to teach him how to live up to his title. Obviously it hadn't worked, but Ryder still lived up to his role by addressing Ace "properly".

Ace glared at his friend, "I'm gonna have you hanged if you keep this up," he threathened. Ryder glared back, "Go for it."

Time went by quickly. After a tour of the palace and officially meeting the parents of his upcoming wife and queen, Ace was getting restless. He was about to be married afterall. To someone he had never met. As firstborn, it was his right and duty to marry another firstborn of royalty. He'd never thought too much of it. If anything, a marriage like this was a way of joining forces and unite their kingdoms.

Rounding a corner, the group - led by the same high ranked individual from when they had arrived - was about to reach the doors leading to the ballrom. There was still almost an hour untill the engagement ball would begin, but they had been advised to be there at an earlier time. Ace was looking around, absentmindedly tracking down exits. He would be lying if he said that he was not getting slightly nervous. Ryder noticed it. "Trying to run already?" he asked in a low voice. Ace huffed, "No," he lied, "Good, because I'm not letting you," Ryder responded dryly, to which Ace stayed silent, unfortunately telling Ryder everything he needed to know.

Letting his eyes wander, they eventually landed on the ballroom entrance. And the people before it, more specifically the young woman in a wheelchair, who seemed to be leaving. Stopping in front of them, Ryder was the one who spoke first, after assessing the situation, "Is there a problem here?" his friend asked, looking between the guard blocking the entrance and the young woman turned halfway around.