Adeline POV

4/1/1843

I squatted down on the outside of one of our many small gardens, my knees to my chin with the sun beating down upon my back, while the butt of my shorts were dusting up against the dirt. Most people had mistaken me for a boy because of the outfit my parents always dressed me in, while my long, blonde hair confused them. 

I was only 8, and being the only child, I helped my father more than my mother; but that didn't mean I wasn't feminine. I wore blue shorts, a cream-colored long sleeve shirt, and a pair of brown shoes. However, I protested them keeping my hair short, thus allowing me to keep my hair long; though I've never let it go below the nape of my back. 

It sucks getting hair in your butt crack, so I'll avoid it when I can. 

The garden I was knelt in front of was in the front of our house, designated for red roses; it was the only non-edible thing my mother tended to. However, today, the beginning of their bloom, they were yellow. I squinted, trying to be sure my eyes weren't just playing tricks on me. I was beginning to believe someone had peed on the garden and poisoned the seeds. 

As I stood up to go back inside, I saw a boy coming my way from down the road, and he looked about my age. Though, I noticed he was definitely not part of our district. He was dressed in a very expensive black coat, that had many gold chains upon it. He was also wearing a clean white shirt underneath his dark jacket. He was also wearing well laundered black pants and fancy boots, which were odd to have for people like us. 

Curious, I started making my way to him, my dainty feet skipping as I made the small journey up the road, a small dust cloud popping up with each hop. 

When I was finally close enough, I called out, "Hello! Who are you?" The boy stopped, his short brown hair matted to his face with sweat, and as he looked up at me, I saw that he had been crying. 

I quickly closed the remaining gap between us so I could give him a hug. I didn't know what else to do; I just knew that a hug always made me feel better when I was down. 

"Are you okay?" my voice was low as I attempted to comfort him when I pulled away. 

He sniffled a few times, rubbing his eyes, "I'm lost." I was shocked by his appearance. I had never seen a person like this before. Red eyes, pale skin, and despite sweating, he was cold when I hugged him. 

"Well, what's your name?" I asked him; I was now determined to save him. Though, he wasn't being very cooperative with me. I took his hand, and gently led him back to the garden before plucking one of the yellow roses and handing it to him. "Take this. It's beautiful, and it'll cheer you up. Smell it and you'll be even happier." I was holding my breath. 

The boy with red eyes gave the rose a big sniff and smiled, "it's wonderful." His tears finally stopped, though his sniffles remained. 

I exhaled, "ok good, because I think someone peed on the seeds and that's why they're yellow." 

He looked at me with a blank face, "they're just yellow roses." 

"I was just testing you," I quipped with a nervous laugh of embarrassment. I began to kick my toe into the ground, tapping it. 

"My name is Oliver, what's yours?" 

"Adeline, and this is my house!" I pointed to the giant wooden house behind me, though, I just hadn't grown into it yet. 

"Wow! It's huge! I love it!" 

"You want to come play!?" I was getting so excited to have a new friend, and began to preemptively head towards the front doors. 

"Maybe tomorrow, I just want to get home." Oliver began to head back to the road, "but I'm not sure which way to go." 

"Well where do you live?" I asked curiously. I was having a hard time believing someone wouldn't know where their own home was at his age. 

"Castle Ravenvale." He said nonchalantly, as I stared at him like he was lying. I actually started laughing. He scrunched his face in disgust, before he blurted out "I'm Oliver Ambrose! Prince of Castle Ravenvale, heir to the throne!" 

I stopped laughing, maybe he was telling the truth. "Alright, fine, I'll take you there." I walked past him, beginning to lead him back up the road towards the castle. "How old are you anyways?" 

"I'm 8, about to be 9 though," he puffed his chest out, but he only looked like a bent noodle. 

"I knew it!" I exclaimed, as if I won a bet, "how did you manage to get past all the guards if you're really from the castle?" 

Oliver gave me an almost evil grin, "I dug a hole underneath the fence, then squeezed my way through. Then I just walked, and walked, and I guess the dirt covered my shirt well enough to blend in or something." 

I nodded, "makes sense," I confirmed. "Well when we get close, take us there?" 

Not being tied down by too much housework, I often explored the city where I was allowed. I had always wanted to see the castle, so after weeks and weeks of trying, I finally found a sure way of getting to the gates mostly undetected. 

No matter the age, the wealthier population never took kindly to the poor people. Luckily for me, it seemed Oliver hadn't learned the slogan quite yet. 

It didn't take us long to get to the gates using my secret, alleyway passage; less than an hour, and that's when the supposed prince took over. He led me to the area he dug to get out, and sure enough, he was telling the truth. 

He really was the prince. 

"Well, I guess this mean we really can't be friends, huh?" I was a bit sad, I felt like we had been friends forever. 

Oliver looked back at me, a sly grin upon his face. "What do you mean? As long as you teach me how to get back, I'll sneak out every day if I can!" 

My blue eyes glistened with happiness. "Great! Then maybe we can dig out of the giant walls next, but together!" 

"Together!"