"Happy birthday, Arion!" His mother was waiting for him to enter the dining room. She immediately embraced him in a hug, kissing him on the forehead. He rolled his eyes, a feat not many could do in the kingdom in regards to the queen without getting a glare that could make men quake in their boots. Queen Aurelia simply ruffled her sons hair at the gesture, causing his father to laugh.

Lacey was already sitting at the breakfast table, looking quite smug as she watched her brother receive their mother's coddling. Despite this she herself had shiny red lipstick stains on her cheeks and forehead. She too had been attacked by a caring mother.

"Thank you, Mom." Arion chuckled as he separated himself from her and sat down.

"Yes happy birthday, Arion. Are you ready to be a man?" Lucas wondered.

Aurelia scoffed. "You weren't even a man when we met. I'd say it took you another two years after the twins were born." She teased.

"Yes, but you're forgetting that he might take after you in some respects. I remember you being quite masculine after you turned eighteen." He jested back.

Aurelia pretended to be offended, gasping. "You dare speak to your wife like that?" Laughter barely creeping in.

Lucas leaned over and kissed her as if it were an apology. "You know I'm joking. I wouldn't want to truly offend the woman I'll be stuck with until I die."

Aurelia let out a snort of laughter before returning the kiss.

Lacey rolled her eyes, making eye contact with Arion after. Her expression seemed to say, can you believe them? Arion chuckled. That was their parents.

"Well to answer your question... I don't know. I suppose I'll have to meet the trials as they come." He replied.

Aurelia's eyes narrowed. "Ah taking your father's approach."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Things made me anxious when I was younger."

"And they don't now?" Lacey chimed in.

"Less so, sweetheart."

"Well I for one, can't wait for a bit more freedom!" Lacey exclaimed, taking a bagel from the middle of the table. "So in celebration of our birthday, what do you say letting us take a ride in the Olivine forest?"

Aurelia and Lucas shared a look. Lacey and Arion had never been allowed by themselves farther than the village borders. Their parents wouldn't ever tell them more than simple answers like 'because it's dangerous,' and 'you're too important to risk.' Lacey was going to push those borders if it was the last thing she'd do.

"Are you sure, sweetie? The Olivine forest... Well it's quite a ways out there."

"Mom, it's only one village past Aureros! I can fence better than any man in the kingdom and shoot an arrow more deadly than any shot this side of the Opal Sea! If I take my weapons there's absolutely nothing for you to be afraid of. Please, Mom! For my birthday." Lacey begged, bringing out emerald puppy dog eyes.

Aurelia glanced at her husband, who sighed. Neither of them liked the thought of Lacey or Arion off without bodyguards, but they were getting older.

"Fine... I suppose. Today only, but you can't go past Silver Stream and you have to take your bow." Lucas agreed.

Lacey stood up and launched herself at her father. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hugged.

"Lacecila, you put your knee in the butter dish." Aurelia pointed out to her daughter, repressing a giggle. "What about you, Arion? Anything you want for your birthday?"

Arion shrugged. Truth be told he was pretty content. The life of a prince wasn't as exciting as you would think. There weren't as many devious plots, evil sorcerers, or stranded maidens as you would expect. Still he had plenty of books, and in all honesty that was all he wanted.

"I think I'll just have a quiet day in. Might be a good idea to study some more."

"Aren't you always studying." Lacey rolled her eyes again, wiping butter off her trousers.

"Well someone should put some effort into learning how to be a good ruler. We have a lot of expectations to live up to." Arion snapped.

Aurelia grabbed her son's hand in comfort. "You know what I always say. The best way to rule is to know what your people want and need. And if you ever need help with that, go visit your grandma and grandpa. They'll always let you know what the royals can improve upon... Even if I am their own daughter."

The Millers had continued to operate their mill, even after Aurelia had married Lucas a weeks after his coronation. Their work was necessary for the town to keep going, and Jadia and Coal Miller weren't comfortable with retiring so young anyway. Still, they were able to take it a lot easier with a bit of financial aid from their eldest.

"And if you ever want to know what not to do, well my stepfather still lounges around the castle." Lucas joked. "Grandpa Leth loves taking to you, Arion."

"I know."

"He smells funny." Lacey mumbled.

"Well in any case, you certainly don't have to study on your birthday. There are plenty of people you could spend it with, if you aren't going to ride into the woods with your sister." Aurelia said the last part somewhat uneasily, as if hoping he did want to go with his sister. Safety in numbers, of course.

"I think my books are enough. After all it would be nice to spend some time with someone my own age and seeing as I'm not in the mood to follow Lacey around-"

"Well Henry should be arriving today." Aurelia smirked.

"Henry's coming?" Arion gasped.

"Ugh Henry." Lacey crossed her arms in disgust.

"Well... He may have already arrived. His ship landed last night, but we didn't want to ruin the surprise." Lucas grinned.

"Why do you choose to torture me like this?" Lacey groaned.

"He's a perfectly fine young man, Lacey. I don't understand why you dislike him so." Aurelia raised an eyebrow at her daughter.

"He's just so..."

"Lacey still hasn't gotten over the fact that Henry had a crush on her when they were eight." Arion rolled her eyes.

"Ugh don't remind me. But that is not why he's so repulsive."

"Uh before we start her off on a tangent why is he here, Mom?" Arion asked, tilting his head.

"Well I suppose that is another surprise we should discuss." Aurelia smiled, smoothing out her skirt. "Eighteen is a big deal. The kingdom want to celebrate its prince and princess coming of age."

"So let me guess. A party?" Lacey asked.

"Well, yes. A ball for your birthday. We plan on holding it a week from now, but Henry arrived early. A social event like this would be a good opportunity to make some friends." Aurelia sent her son a nervous look. He worried her sometimes, spending hours alone in his room or the library. Lacey was far more willing to be social, but she still didn't really have any friends besides her brother.

"As long as Henry's here I won't complain." Arion shrugged.

"And as long as I don't have to dance with Henry I won't complain." Lacey huffed.

Eventually they were dismissed from breakfast. Lacey was trying to convince her brother to go with her into the forest, but he wouldn't budge.

"Come on, Ari! It'll be fun." Lacey exclaimed.

"Somehow I doubt our definitions of fun match up."

"Arion!" A young man flung himself at the prince. He ruffled his buddy's hair playfully as Lacey rolled her eyes.

Henry was a few months younger than the twins, but he didn't look it. He was taller, with a strong yet skinny build. He had at least two inches on Arion, perhaps more, and was a good half foot on Lacey. This was a recent development, as the last time they'd seen him he was barely a few centimeters taller. He had light brown hair that was a short, groomed mess, and piercing sapphire eyes. He too was royalty, being the eldest of King Nyel and Queen Serenity of Midas. Seeing as the King and Queen of Atharia were good friends with the royalty of Midas, that meant Henry visited a lot, more than Lacey would have preferred.

"Ugh, there goes my peace and quiet." Lacey mumbled. "I think I have a headache by your mere presence."

Henry smirked, turning his attention to the princess. He bowed, mockingly. "Ah royal pain, what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You showed up. Need I remind you that I live here? And you don't. So why not stay in Midas and do us all a favor."

Henry pretended to think about it. "But that would mean I would miss out on the birthday of the loveliest princess in the land. And look he's right here." Henry flung his arm around Arion's shoulder.

Lacey snorted, but covered it up as a cough. She'd never admit that Henry made her laugh.

"Very funny, Henry. Are you just saying that to cover up your crush on my sister?" Arion rolled his eyes.

"Out of all the princesses in all the kingdoms, you think I would go after one as repulsive as Lacecila here? No thanks, I'd kind of prefer a lady who can actually act like a lady." Henry wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Ah yes, it would compliment your gentlemanly personality perfectly. The only man with more class than you is, why I'd say is Lord Gaston of Nathe."

Arion frowned, brow crinkling as he tried to remember. "Wasn't he rumored to have slept with pigs?"

"As well as his niece and half the kingdom, yes. Including other barn animals." Lacey flashed a dazzling grin. "I only hope someday Prince Henry here can rise above him in poise."

Henry pursed his lips, trying to come up with the proper comeback, but unfortunately none came to him.

"Well, little bro, I'm going riding. You know where to find me if you want to come as well. It's been a pleasure, Prince Henry." Lacey made sure to swing her braid with such confidence as she walked, that it would hit her rival in the face as she strode away. Henry watched her leave, as Arion laughed.

"It's not funny!" He whined.

Arion only laughed harder. "She got you good that time."

"Shut up." Henry mumbled. He was quite for a moment before asking, "Where's she going?"

"Why do you care? You should just be relieved that she's not going to be harassing you anymore."

"Teasing her is fun."

"You suck at it."

"Where's she going, weirdo?" Henry huffed.

"Olivine Forest."

"I thought you weren't allowed to go there." Henry wondered.

"We weren't. This is just for our birthday-"

"Let's go then!" Henry grabbed Arion by the wrist, dragging him towards the stables.

"Why must we?" Arion groaned.

"Um don't you know how weird and mysterious Olivine Forest is! This may be our only shot to explore it!"

Arion argued as best he could, but it was no use. If he thought his sister was stubborn, well unfortunately so was his best friend. So much for a quiet birthday.