'I sure miss Lily. I grew pretty fond of her. I didn't realize that personal attendants were such a big deal. It's already been four years. I wonder when she will return.'
Rainer, now five years old, was set to attend the royal academy this year. The royal academy, a school for the gifted in the Kingdom of Atitis, mainly nobles. They primarily taught magic and combat, but for nobles, there were classes for politics and etiquette. Generally, only commoners took etiquette, as noble families taught their children at home.
'I wonder what school will be like since I am only the third prince; almost no one should know who I am by looks alone. So, I think I will do my best to keep it that way. I want to make real friends, not some kiss ass leg humpers latching on to me for my status.'
Rainer decided it was a good idea to talk to his mother about his choice to hide his identity. So he went to her study to find her.
!knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
Rainer opened the door and walked inside.
"Hello, mother. I wanted to talk to you about my attendance at the royal academy. Would it be possible to have me enrolled under a false name to hide my identity as a prince?"
The Queen looked a little bewildered.
"Why would you want to hide your status, dear? Hiding your status as a prince could cost you essential connections in the future."
"Well, to be honest, I want to be able to see people's true colors first. I mean to say that I want to know whether someone is my friend or if someone is Prince Rainer's friend. Does that make sense?"
"So you want to hide your status, potentially robbing you of critical political allies to find friends that don't care about who you are? I love you, sweetie, but that seems harmful to your future as a Prince."
"It might be. However, I am looking for people that would take a knife to heart before they would ever put a knife in my back. I would expect political allies to always put their self-interests before my own. It's what I would do. 'If you're not my friend, why should I be willing to cut off a pound of my flesh to help you,' so to speak."
The Queen walked over to her study chair and thought for a moment.
'There is merit to finding loyal friends, and god knows that politics is full of opportunists that would smile to your face and scheme behind your back.'
"Fine. I will reach out to the headmaster and set it up. I will have a forge master create an illusion pendant for you to hide your face. What name do you want to use while attending the academy?"
Ray was a bit surprised that his mother would agree even to hide his face, but since she decided, he thought about it before answering.
"Ray."
Ray was successfully enrolled at the academy because he was hiding his identity. He showed up early and alone. Then, spotting a couple of students gathered in the corner. He decided to walk over, saw what was happening, and turned it into a run.
!crash!
Ray slammed into a boy knocking him off another boy.
"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? HOW DARE YOU? I AM THE FUTURE DUKE OF OSTELWEN..."