He looks around for raspberries. All the cabinets and stuff has a bunch of food.

He looks everywhere before lifting up pots, pans and looking through each drawer. There is this one pan that doesn't want to move. He yanks it up and there's a dragging sound.

We both look towards the noise. Part of the wall next to the cooler is missing.

"What the fuck is that?"

"How would I know? I don't live here."

I take my emotional support honey and walk over. The mystery man walks over, with a whole sword in his hand. Where did the sword come from?

Every passing minute he becomes more and more mysterious. So intriguing.

He walks in front of me as if this is a survival thing. The room smells like a hidden pantry. I walk around him, the room lights up. It is filled with shelves of food.

He puts the sword in its holder that is strapped to his leg, under the cape's fabric.

"How many secret weapons do you have on you?"

He stands there for quite some time, counting with his fingers.

"20, I believe."

"How? How is that possible? How do they not make noise? Aren't they heavy?"

"Too many questions for a simple worker to answer, princess. I don't asks you how you hide things, do I?"

"No..."

"So-"

"What are your highnesses doing here?"

We turn around. There is a lovely elderly lady standing where the wall should be. She has her brunette hair in a low bun, is wearing a dress, slippers and an apron. Her eyes are dark green. She looks so sweet. She seems annoyed.

"If your highnesses wanted something, you could have just asked. No need to be snooping around, now."

Awww, I love her. The mystery man should teach me the customs here. I want to give her a hug. She's so cute.

"Don't hide secret rooms then." Mystery man grabs a box and walks out the room.

I awkwardly stand there. After a second she walks out so I follow. The door closes behind me.

"Travieso"

He shakes his head and opens the box.

"You are. Sneaking around on us for no reason."

The sweet old lady smiles before taking the jar of honey from me and the box from him.

"What were you guys trying to make?"

"Honey raspberries," he mutters.

The sweet lady looks at us confused before setting the things on the counter and taking a pan from a shelf. She places the pan on the counter, then walks away to the sink, washing things.

I turn back to mystery man.

"How does cooking work?"

He shrugs and goes to a very tall pantry cupboard that's off to the side. He opens the doors and grabs 3 plates before turning back to the island. He hands me one, puts one by the lady and the last in front of himself.

The lady sets the tray on the counter island. The raspberries have a golden coat on them. She smiles at us before turning away.

"Have fun, your highnesses."

"Come back," the mystery man tells her.

She turns around, confusion within her.

"What is it?"

"Eat with us. Don't make food and then not have any."

He seems annoyed. This is adorable. The stranger man cares.

"I'm allergic to potassium, love, but thank you."

She bows and leaves. How could someone be allergic to potassium?

He puts the plates back, closes the cupboard, grabs the tray and holds his hand out towards me.

"Come."

I give him my hand. We walked to some part of the kitchen, under the 2nd floor. There are black winding stairs that we go up. Now I'm dizzy. He takes me to the top windows that were separated from the bottom ones by the floor.

The window's outcast to the giant village below. Now there is enough light to see everything. It is gorgeous here. Absolutely stunning.

The end of the buildings is extremely far away. I can't see the wall.

"How big is this place?"

He sits on the floor and puts the tray between us.

"Uhm... big? It takes from sunrise to sunset to walk to the other side." He points out the window, then behind him. "Takes almost as long as the other way." He points to the left. "That's all forest, so longer." He points to the right. "That is open land, so not as long."

"This place is huge, oh wow."

"How big is your palace?"

"I can see the walls out my bedroom windows. The front is open but a fraction of here. It's very pretty at home."

I want to be back there. I feel empty. A longing that won't end. A hole in my heart. To hear my parent's voices right now, to hang out with the guards right now. I could be talking with friends and family over afternoon tea. I should be making small chat with the workers and villagers right now. There are little bumps across my skin. Every time I think about them the hole gets bigger. I've never felt so awful before.

I should have gone to bed. Should have listened to my gut, the fear I had. My big ears never listen the way they should.

"Is managing your kingdom easy?"

"I don't manage anything. I only attend meetings with my parents as practice. So with that, I think it's easy. How about you?"

I cannot wait any longer. There isn't a proper time to start eating. I take a raspberry covered in honey and eat it. Oh my, this is revolutionary. The king ought to let me be home if I tell him about this delicacy.

"Me?"

"Yes you. That lovely lady said 'your highnesses' as in more than one. Care to explain, his highness?"

"The courage you have to compare me to the prince is outrageous, princess. I have never met his highness. He is always in his room or busy. I am merely a servant for the people."

"Then why did she say your highnesses?"

He leans closer, whispering. "She is crazy. Always yelling at everyone for everything. She even yelled at the king for being in the kitchen after it closed."

"I don't believe you."

"Not my job to make you believe me, princess."

I hope he isn't the prince, or I will be in knee deep trouble for not being proper or professional. Hopefully he isn't and I don't get in trouble. I still have so many questions lurking in the back of my mind,

"Can I ask you questions?"

"Ask away. Don't get offended if I choose not to answer."

I grab many more raspberries. This is the best food here.

"How did you plan on making food if you don't know how to cook?"

"I will figure it out as best I can. If I can't then I'll fake death. If I don't figure it out by the time they carry me away, I shall stay dead, so I won't have to face humiliation from the very enthralling lady beside me."

I can't help but smile.

"What is your job here?"

As I said, I speak for the people. If they have a problem, they tell me, and I tell the counsel."

I push the tray towards him with the other half still there. He doesn't make a move to touch it.

"You're lying."

"Why do you believe that princess?"

"It is the truth. You are the prince. You won't eat because then you have to take off your mask and I will see your face, then your whole cover will be blown. Your hair is also the same color as his. I don't believe your shenanigans."

"I'm not him. Why do you not believe me?"

"Prove it."

"I can talk." He heavily emphasizes. "He can't, he's mute."

"Really?"

He nods.

Is that why he didn't talk during the meeting?

"I still don't believe you, liar."

He sighs and pulls the mask down his face.

"Happy now, princess?"

The sun is gone by now. This isn't fair. I can barely see.

"You did that on purpose."

"Did what on purpose?"

"You know exactly what."

A/N: do you guys agree with Vivienne and think he is the prince or just a coincidence??