.

"What is your name, butler?" Sebastian ordered, breaking the silence that had followed through the carriage ride. "I would rather dislike going on my first trip in six years with a stranger."

"Oh, 'tis an adventure, sire! Would you naught dishonor it called it a trip. That would do this no justice. But if you insist, I shall give you my name," the butler offered. "I am Jylan."

"Jylan? But isn't that the name of –"

"My prince! Look! The village is coming into view. If we're getting off the carriage, it best is now," Jylan interrupted, changing the topic, and pointing out the window. His eyes seemed to glow as he spotted a man coming down the trail.

The two exited the carriage and waved goodbye to the horsemen as the man from the town stopped in front of them. He had a gentle but curious smile poking at his face. "Excuse me," the man piped, facing the butler. a few tinges of fear were in that smile too. "But by any chance, are you a noble? your arms and face are astoundingly clean - too much so for a commoner. I'm sorry if you take offense; it's just that nobles never come around to this area." 

Sebastian jumped up in surprise, then furrowed his brows. Too sharp. "No, he is not a noble. Neither am I. I am the c–" 

A hand was slapped over his mouth. "- A CLEANER! The lad is a pipe cleaner! His job has just been finished, so he was treated to a bath." Jylan yelled, and several people nearby who had simply been going about their business turned inquiringly toward the scene. 

"A… a pipe cleaner, you say?" the man replied, the smile on his face growing. "Oh, my! I've needed one for centuries! Please, I beg of you two, could you clean for me?!" 

The curious people only became more astounded by the scene, coming closer to listen in. A woman reflected the needs of her fellow neighbor, stepping forward to speak for herself. "I need a pipe cleaner, too! My toilet has been clogged for a year now and my children have been going out into the woods to take a dump!" 

"Please! Me, too! My sink spills out dirt to wash my hands with!" 

"My bathtub water won't turn cold; it just burns my body whenever I step in! Can you fix it?!" 

"I've been searching for a pipe cleaner for so long…"

Sebastian peeled off Jylan's hand from his face, glaring at the nervous butler. Then, he looked toward the people, pulling his cap off with determination. "I AM NOT A NOBLE!" he called. "AND I AM NOT A PIPE CLEANER!" 

"Yes, yes, go on…" Jylan whispered hopefully. "Maybe you could be an artisan? Or take care of the animals?" 

"I AM THE CROWN PRINCE!" Sebastian finished, grandly ignoring the butler.

The butler's face turned pale. "No-no-no-no-no-no! You weren't supposed to say that. They'll be cramming you into the news now!" 

"Crown… prince?" the crowd chuckled. "What do you mean? None of us have ever seen that boy's face before. He never exits his lush, furnished palace to check up on us commoners. If you were thinking up a rank, you should have just stuck as a noble. Or, if you have ambition, you could have masqueraded as a duke." A few whispers of "Yes, he would be rather fitting as the son of a duke or baron" followed up with that, only fueling Sebastian's rage a bit more. Every duke and Baron in the kingdom was under his command. 

"WELL, I AM!" Sebastian yelled. "I am the son of His Highness Rudolph II and Her Highness Ana! I may have been raised inside the palace due to the constant war, but don't any of you daresay that I've never wished to come to this town!" 

"Psst… we're not in the town yet, bud," Jylan whispered.

"I don't care!" Sebastian whispered back.