*Sonic's POV *
"Wake up, Hedgehog." I heard Shadow growled, and then I suddenly rolled off my bed and hit the ground. I gasped and groaned as I got up. The blanket fell with me, making the landing slightly better but still hurt. "I told you to be ready."

"Hey!" I said as I got up, Shadow was walking to my closet to I assume get my suit but I couldnt let him, I had hidden the mask I wore deep in my closet and was afraid he would find it. I quickly dashed in front of the closet. "I'll change. You go wait for me in the living room." I quickly said.

Shadow looked at me, his gaze flat, distant. There was no warmth, no flicker of recognition or emotion in his eyes - just an unsettling stillness, like the calm before a storm. Shadow clicked his tongue with irritation, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked off.

I dropped to the ground with a heavy sigh, running my hands over my face as the weight of what almost happened hit me. If I’d been caught, Shadow would’ve ended me, no question. He’d never forgive me for lying to him, for using him like that. I can’t let him figure it out. I have to keep pushing forward with the mission and hope, somehow, it all works out in the end.

I quickly stood back up and walked to the door, then locked it. I made my way to the closet and changed into my suit, I couldn't stop thinking about what may happen to them and quickly send a message to Sonia to get everything ready and Scourge ready.

Once I was done, I walked out of the room to see Shadow waiting for me by the door. "What? No breakfast?" I raised a brow.

"I told you to be ready. If you wanted breakfast, you would have woken up, idiot." Shadow walked to me, and chaos controlled us outside the castle gates.

"Chaos, you're so uptight." I playfully rolled my eyes and walked to a guard who was supposed to let us in. They were all aware to treat me like a regular civilian at the moment, so they didn't just open the gates for me like they usually do. "We are here to see Queen Aleena. G.U.N. sent my pal here to ensure everything is in order here." I explained to the guards and waited as one of them went to "confirm" when in reality he was just making time to make it seem it was real.

Once the gates were open, we were guided to the throne room. "Did you even understand what I meant yesterday before you left?"

"Watch your mouth, Hedgehog. We are here to do a job. Not to talk about your weird fantasies." Shadow whispered back to me.

"So you DID understand what I meant. Am I not even going to get an answer? I mean, don't I at least deserve that?" I shrugged as I looked at him. Shadow gave me a side glare, then looked back in front of him. I guess he wanted me to stop talking about this in front of the guards. "A simple no would be good."

Shadow covered my mouth and growled lowly at me. "Will you ever shut up?" I chuckled softly and shrugged as a response. He rolled his eyes and let go, making his way inside the throne room.

"Ah. I wasn't expecting you this soon, Shadow." My mother spoke as she sat on her throne. Uncle Chuck stood beside her, and my siblings and 'Maurice' stood in front to the sides. "No need for formalities. My family has things to do, so I'll cut this short. I trust you and Sonic to look around, but stay away from our private rooms. Any questions, you can ask the guards to help." My mother stood up before Shadow, or I could do anything.

I forgot she was meeting with second hands from other kingdoms today, so she was going to be busy with my uncle Chuck. She left, leaving the room empty except for my brother Manic and Scourge, who was still trying to dress as me.

Manic walked up to me and Shadow as Scourge stayed behind watching us. Usually, when I was here as Maurice, I tried to remain quiet in fear someone would recognize my voice, so that's what he was doing now.

"I'll pay you if you can get me out of here." Manic whispered once he was close to us.

Are you kidding? I could kill him. He better not leave Scourge alone as he impersonated me.

"Excuse me?" Shadow was taken back by the question.

"Oh, don't mind him, Shadz. He is always trying to get out of the castle. The queen doesn't want him in the streets, so there are always guards around him." I explained to him.

"I guess I will just have to spend the whole day around with my dear old brother." Manic shrugged and walked back to Scourge. My ear flickered at what he had just done. I get it now. He wanted Shadow and I to hear that "Maurice" will be around guards all day.

Manic wrapped an arm around Scourges' neck and then dragged him out of the throne room.

"I guess today won't be the day either." I said as I looked at Shadow. "What do we do now?"

"We have the permission to look around. Something here better give us a clue of who he really is. I don't like wasting my time." Shadow rolled his eyes and started to walk out of the throne room. "What kind of prince is he to be hiding his own identity."

"Well, maybe he has a really good reason to do so." I tried to defend as I followed him.

"A prince covering up who he is is ridiculous. What could he possibly have to hide that his siblings aren't?" Shadow walked into rooms and looked around.

"I don't know. You shouldn't judge him."

"Why are you defending him so much? You've got a crush on that Hedgehog, too? Why don't you bother him instead of me with your idiotic feelings."

"Nope. I think..." I rubbed the back of my neck nervously with a low laugh. "I think that relationship would be very complicated." I stopped talking for a bit, then faced Shadow again. "So is that my answer? I leave you alone about it?" I hesitated to ask, but whether I liked the answer or not, it needed to be done.

"Yes. Leave me alone." Shadow said as he picked up a book and flipped the pages.

"Okay." I nodded and helped look around even though I knew we would not find anything. I went on helping while pretending my feelings weren't hurt.