Cornelius' POV
I woke up at 4 AM today. I turned on a lamp on my study table and wrote a note for my parents to tell them where I am going to. I said that I would be studying and having fun with my friends at a summer school/summer camp for 3-5 months. I had to leave as soon as possible so I folded the note and placed it inside a white envelope. I had to gather everything that I need. I picked a big duffel bag and a small luggage to place important things.
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I gathered several things:
1. Clothes that can be worn outside without other people noticing that I am the Prince;
2. A small handbag;
3. Pens, pencils, markers, and highlighters inside a pencil case;
4. Notebooks;
5. A med-kit;
6. Books; and
7. A gaming console
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After finishing up, I opened the door of my bedroom and closed the door behind me quietly. I slowly walked towards the back door which led to the basement of the palace. While I was going down, I heard someone moving upstairs. I stopped moving and waited for the sound to go away. When it disappeared, I started to go down the stairs. In the basement, I got my flashlight instead of turning on the lights because the servants might become suspicious. I saw two doors. One of them has a signage on the side which said "Storage" and the other door did not have a signage. I tried to open this door but it did not really budge.
Maybe my parents do not want people or anyone trying to leave the palace other than the main door.
I suddenly remembered that in this palace, there were some hidden levers or buttons which can open the doors so that people who go here won't be able to get in. There must be one here as well. I checked the walls near the door and there was none. I tried checking out the basement's floors and some of the walls which weren't fully painted. It seems like there is no way to open this door. I stopped for a while, thinking about what I should do to be able to go through the underground tunnels besides this door. I brought out my mini-map of the palace and saw that there was a staircase that can lead towards the basement without having to open this door.
I changed my plan by going up the stairs quietly and look for that staircase. I turned off my flashlight and went up the stairs quietly. I did not hear anyone coming this way for any supplies so I walked up the last few steps of the stairs and quickly closed the door quietly. I started to walk again but quickly this time. At last, I was able to find it. Before anything else, I kept all of my belongings inside my small handbag and went downstairs.
I jogged right away, going through the dark underground tunnels which can lead you to your desired destination/location. I checked my map from time to time just to make sure that I am going the right way. Once I have reached the tunnel leading to Edinburgh, I stopped jogging and rested for a short while. Once I was ready to walk again, I went straight towards the tunnel with my flashlight in hand. After 45 minutes of walking or jogging and some short breaks to rest, I finally reached the place where I want to be, Edinburgh.
Breathing heavily, I stopped walking and smiled, thinking that this was a good idea to set myself free. Although this was temporary, I felt happy for being able to secretly leave the palace and find a place where I can be my usual self. It's not like I don't want to be a prince but sometimes I want to loosen up and just relax. I am not fond of balls, big parties, or basically celebrations celebrated in the palace because I usually just greet everyone who visited and later on I would be dancing with strangers or people who find me interesting. I just hope that when I come back to the palace, my parents would understand that sometimes it's okay for me to be able to interact with people my and just hangout with other people aside from my friends from high school or college.
I drank some water from the water bottles stuffed in my duffel bag. Before I went out and called a cab or a taxi, I wore a black mask. I also wore my watch on my left wrist, fixed my hair, and wore a dark blue cap. Once I was ready, I headed outside by walking towards a narrow staircase and there was a small sign that said "Welcome to Edinburgh!". I walked up and brought up my small baggage slowly without damaging it. I knew that I was almost outside because I felt the wind flow through.
I breathed in the fresh air and found myself near a street and some people eating in nearby restaurants or people shopping at the exquisite shops with interesting dresses or shirts. I realised that I might have ended up in the right place because it would be easier for me to find a hotel or find an apartment room where I could stay for the time being. Instead of calling a taxi to take me there, I explored the place by walking on the left side of the street. I checked my watch and it was already 6 AM. I passed by a café and saw that there were some people ordering coffee and waited for it to be ready by sitting on the tables near the counter. My stomach growled. I was famished since I was not able to eat a proper breakfast earlier. Before looking for a place to stay at, I planned to go inside the café and eat.
I opened the glass door of the café and lined up to order earl grey tea and two potato scones. While I was waiting, some people were talking to each other while a few were looking at me and whispering. There was even a child pointing at me, saying to her mom that I look so tall. The mom made a gesture for her child to go back because it was a bit embarrassing that she was doing that. Since I was the fourth customer in the line, I tapped the little girl's shoulder and said that what she said was true. She smiled with her teeth showing.
"G'morning sir! Why do you have two big bags with you? Are you going to go somewhere far away?", the girl asked.
"Oh! Um... I was planning to look for a place to stay in here in Edinburgh. Don't worry. I am not going to leave yet. I am staying here for three to five months so that I could get used to the place and if ever I can stay here permanently, then that answers your second question.", I replied.
"Ohhh oki! I hope you enjoy your stay here, sir. I can ask my mom if you need a place to stay in for three to five months. Will that be of any help to you?", the girl asked again.
"Really? Well if that's your offer, then sure. I would like a place to stay in right away. Thank you!". I said.
"Okay mister! I will ask my mama. Oh and by the way, you are the next person to order hahaha!", the girl smiled.
When I looked away from the child, she was right. I was next in line. I said sorry to the lady taking my orders. She said that it's okay. I told her what I wanted to order and after that, she gave me a small circular device with tiny red lights surrounding it. She told me that my order will be prepared and that this circular device will buzz when it is done. I thanked her and looked for the child who told me that she was going to ask her mom about the places where I can live in. I found them at the right end of the corner on the right side of the café. Her mom saw me and asked me to sit in front of her and her child.
"Good morning, miss!", I greeted.
"Good morning, sir! I am sorry for what happened earlier when my little girl pointed at you. It was a bit rude and embarrassing on your end as well.", the mom apologized.
"Oh it's okay! What happened awhile ago was probably just a coincidence since your daughter saw how tall I was. Hahaha!", I chuckled.
"Okay! Well, thank you for accepting what has happened awhile ago. By the way, my name is Rosa. My daughter's name is Lily. What's your name?", she said, her right arm extended which was probably a gesture for a handshake.
"Oh, um... my name is Max.", I replied and shook her hand.
Oh my! I haven't even tried to think of a name yet and I just blurted out some random name. I also didn't know that you could shake hands by introducing yourself. I got so used to bows and curtsies from the girls in the palace and so I have to learn how to get used to these little but important things.
"Okay, Alex! I will give you an apartment or a small house where you could stay in for about three to five months with a 30% discount. By the way, since you are in a small café with a few people in it, why don't you take off your cap for a while. Including your mask because you are going to eat, right?", she said.
"Um... okay, Ms. Rosa! Hold on, before we talk about the house, may I go to the bathroom first? I just need to wash my face and I'll be right back.", I asked.
"Sure sure! We'll just be here, waiting for you to come back afterwards.", she replied.
"Okay, thank you miss!", I said.
I left my cap on the table before I went to the bathroom. I went inside one of the bathroom stalls. I took off my mask and sighed. I can't keep on wearing this mask once I talk or eat with people like this. I have to come up with a plan so that both of them will not recognise me after my "bathroom break". I checked my handbag to see if I could find something that I could use as a disguise. I found a pair of eyeglasses, a pair of grey earrings, and a custom-made make-up kit. I quickly applied some powder onto my face, placed a bit of blush onto my cheeks, wore the grey earrings, and wore the eyeglasses. After this, I left the bathroom stall and checked my face in front of a mirror. I looked the same, except for some parts of my face. The eyeglasses made me look like a cool person but the problem was that some parts of my face that I applied make-up in were a bit uneven. I brought out my make-up kit again and fixed those parts. Now that I finished my new look, I thought that I looked like an actor. I didn't want to think about it but I guess it made me feel better that I looked like this instead of looking like a regal prince. I placed my mask inside a container and went out of the bathroom.
The mom was still there, talking with her daughter. I felt bad for taking about 15-20 minutes just making myself look like this. I walked back to my seat and sat down. Rosa saw me and she smiled, telling me that I looked good even without the mask. I thanked her and we talked about the apartment I could stay in. She said that it has most of the supplies or the equipment inside. I just needed to add some essential things such as soap, hangers, storage containers, etc. and then the rest of the place will feel like home. She gave me a call card if I still had any questions about it and if ever I needed any help, I can contact her through my cellphone.
We finished talking and we thanked each other. After that, they waved their goodbyes and I waved back. Now that I have already finished eating breakfast, I will be heading out and search up for that place in my Maps app on my phone. When I inputted the place in Maps, it said that it will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there so I needed a cab to take me there. I left the café and hailed for a taxi to come and bring me to the apartment.
Now that I am here in Edinburgh, I hope that there won't be any problems. My parents might be surprised that I am here right now and not in the palace. They may even try searching for me, especially now that they have more bodyguards and drivers that can handle that. Although, let's put those thoughts aside for now. Once I get to the apartment where I will be settling in, I need to ask someone who lives there how to get to the middle of Edinburgh and where I can find nearby grocery stores, clothing shops, and public libraries. Now, it's time to begin a new important chapter in my life where I can be free from royalty206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjDCaLiBma
