I dashed underneath the trader's table to catch my breath, as I hurriedly wrapped my hair back into a tight bun. My heart almost leapt out of my chest when I saw four feet approaching me.

"Where is he?!" I heard a deep husky voice charge at the merchant, who had no idea what exactly was happening.

"Do..Down there." The helpless man replied him before running off for his dear life, abandoning his goods. I scoffed as I pulled out a dagger from inside my blue pants, ready to brandish it if it came to that.

"You have no where to run now, you slimy piece of..." His profanities were cut off the table splitting into two, as I sprung up from underneath the table.

I swung my knife at the two buff looking thugs, with scabs and scars splattered all across their arms and faces. They were barely fazed by it and made an attempt to grab me.

Unfortunately for them, I was swift on my feet and tossed the day old bread at them, making sure to aim for their eyes. Those things were as hard as stone and didn't sit in well.

Using their brief stun to my advantage, I nabbed the sword resting on the left side of the larger one's hip and gripped it with both hands.

"Two against one? Where's your honour in combat?" I retorted with a quirky smile drawn across my face as I lunged forward to attack.

**********

I blew off the dust particles on my nails as I stood beside the tied up traffickers I had been hunting down for two whole weeks. Waiting for my backup to arrive and escort them to the prison house.

It had all been exhausting, infiltrating their hideout and pretending to be a gold smuggler looking to sell off my bounty. If it hadn't been for how gullible they were, I might have spent an even longer amount of time.

"There you are!" I exclaimed, using my fingers to shield my gaze from the sunlight, allowing me make out the figure that approached me in a navy blue uniform.

Though his shoulders weren't as broad as most men, nor did his aura exude confidence, that black hair officer was one of the best men in the clean up section.

"Took you long enough." I teased, resting my shoulder on one of their heads, using it as a stool to support my weight.

"Arnold isn't going to be too pleased once he sees this." Stewart told me, as soon as his eyes laid sight on the aftermath of my battle with my prisoners.

"You just keep doing what you do, and add these two to my accomplishment on the roster. And here..." I discreetly pushed two silver coins into his ****** pocket, grinning from ear to ear as I looked into his brown eyes.

"Just keep your lips sealed, the captain won't know unless he finds out, right?" I casually shoved my elbow into his side, forcing him to grin as well.

"Why of course Rue! I didn't see a thing." He replied, straightening his back as he tried to look intimidating to the criminals. "Come on! Let's go!" He commanded, pulling them up by the collar towards the awaiting carriage a little distance from here.

"I'll see you at tomorrow's briefing." Stewart said, bidding me farewell as he happily shoved those men into the carriage, labelling them as criminals.

It was times like these that made we wonder who really were the criminals in society. I picked up their swords and raised them above my head, examining the Craftsmanship.

"This will definitely fetch me a good price." I told myself with intention to head to my next destination.

The trade shop.

*********

Right from the entrance, the little shop spelt business, the trade shop was the busiest place in the kingdom, right after the palace and the black market. Almost anybody and everybody stepped into this place with one item or the other.

I noticed how busy things were at the counter, and decided to take a seat, not wanting to cause a fuss. Everyone's glare was already on me the second I walked inside.

'Must be these shabby looking clothes' I figured, completely forgetting the huge swords I casually flung around like it was nobody's business.

"Things sure are busy today, any occasion coming up?" I asked the lady who sat across me, sipping the tea served to entertain patronizers.

It tasted like soil and sugar, but I wasn't one to judge, so I just avoided having to drink from it.

"The biggest! His majesty just announced that his highness Prince Roland has returned from his travels and is to chose a bride!." The excitement in her voice was so rich that it spread across her face.

"Isn't it foolish to get your hopes up? He won't pick just anybody, he'll probably settle for a royal or a childhood sweetheart..."

The maiden knitted her brows and scoffed at me, due to the mere mention of the word foolish. "I beg to differ, the royal decree stated that his highness shall pick any woman of his choice from any social standing! Which is why all the mamas and maidens are gathered here!" She sternly retorted, looking to start something with me.

"But is it not too sudden? You maidens have all the time in the world to find a dress and..." She almost jumped from her seat and seized my collar!

"Not when the royal banquet shall be held tonight!" She boldly announced with wide eyes, seizing up all the attention in the room to us two.

I felt my world split into two when she said that his highness was throwing a banquet tonight! And more so, I was busy sitting in a trade shop, so far away from home!

Jade would definitely have my head on a dinner plate!

Luckily for me, my favorite person in this establishment spotted me and signalled me to come through the special entrance, a command I readily adhered to.

"Thank you for the company, it was very... delightful." I forced the word out of my mouth as I made my way to the back room, to receive special attention from the daughter of the owner.

Gisela.

A woman I had become close to, close enough to share my deepest secret with She shut the door behind me and brought out two pouches of silver coins, setting them before me.

I greedily picked them up and started to count each coin, making certain that they numbered up to fifty each.

"Did you heard about the banquet being held tonight? All the maidens will be in attendance." She told me, hoping to make small talk.

"Why should that interest me?" I casually asked, rubbing my precious silver coins against my cheeks, glad Stewart was so easy to buy off.

"It shouldn't interest Rue, but I'm sure Ruelle would beg to differ." she remarked, wearing a mischievous grin on her face, as she eyed my attire from head to toe.

I froze where I sat at the mention of my real name, the only thing that could have me kicked out of the training academy.

The truth that I was a woman, disguised as a man enlisted under the royal training house to become a Regal Knight.

In the kingdom of Credia, it was an unspoken rule that women were restricted from enlisting under the royal academy to become knights. It almost felt as though it were a taboo.

Of certain, if a woman dared to go against society and enroll, not only would she be given extra difficult treatment. But none of her family would dare to lend any financial support.

Which was why in order to fulfil my dream of becoming a regal knight, I needed to do two things. Earn money and become a man!

"You haven't really explained why you're so invested in all this knight business. I mean, it's never been done before." Gisela voiced out her thoughts, as she placed the swords into the nearest cabinet.

"I could ask you a few questions of my own, but I'd prefer if we kept our intentions a secret from each other." I responded in a satisfactory tone as I rose from my stool to take my leave.

"Fine then, good luck on the ball tonight, Sir Rue of the guard house, I hope you catch the eye of the prince." She said as she took a curtsey, bidding me a teasing farewell.

I in turn took a Curt bow, lowering my head, "I hope not, if anything I'd prefer if he not lay eyes on me all throughout the evening." I returned, taking my eventful exit from the trade shop.

Waiting outside for me, was my trusty driver, who knew nothing but my alias and the location he was to pick me up from each day. I in turn barely knew a thing about him, if not for his deep blue eyes and golden blonde hair, I would mistake him for another street boy.

"Punctual as ever, Moran." I greeted him, taking a seat inside the old commerical carriage, looking into my sachel at the money I was fortunate to rack up.

Moran was a farm boy with only this carriage to his name, I collided with him two winters ago and enlisted his transportation services. With a rather generous pay, one that this sly youngster wouldn't refuse.

"The usual." I announced, stretching my legs out as I crossed my arms and placed them underneath my head. My entire body was aching with cramps and blisters.

Moran didn't respond, but knew exactly where I was referring to. He made a left turn almost immediately and headed straight for the small bookshop, far from the bustle of the kingdom.

"I'll be off then, here my good man for troubles, be sure to buy yourself something to eat." I pressed four copper coins into his palms as I skipped happily towards the lonely bookshop, with a shabby looking exterior.

**********

The owners of the bookshop were an old couple with little to no funds to keep the place alive. Right from the creeking door, down to the leaking roof, and cracks splattered across the room. This place was certainly standing on it's last legs.

Which made it the perfect place for me to carry out the switch!

I pulled out a silver key from my sachel and unlocked the door. I walked into the old shop, relieved that no one was inside. My eyes swiftly darted across to the almost broken door that led into the inner room.

"Curse you prince Roland." I said under my breath, as I made for the door to have my change of clothes and change of identities.

I let my long ginger hair fall down to my waist length and rubbed off the makeup I had applied on my face to disguise my smooth clear skin. Next, I slapped on some Jewelry and slipped into my long blue dress, with silver embroidery, coupled with my glass slippers. Not forgetting the white gloves which was mandatory to wear in my family.

To the outside world, I was Rue, the slick and rough knight in training, famous for his wits and intelligence. But to only a select few, I was the sheltered wallflower of the Primrose house, with no sway in society.

I only left the bookshop when I was certain that no one had their eye on me and rode in a commercial carriage, all the way to my family mansion, which was not so far from here.

In my possession were five books which I took with me, to fully convince my family that I had spent my entire day reading novels. As though that was any form of entertainment for someone as wild as I was.

I rested my elbow on one of the books, allowing my chin sit on my palm as my mind wandered to the banquet which would be held tonight.

"If I can speak with one or two influential women there, I could stage a motion for equality of rights." I muttered to myself, pondering over the endless possibilities of what could become of this banquet.

**********

I alighted the carriage with the help of a footman, who was so chivalrous to aid a fragile maiden walk down a few steps. I mouthed a thank you to him, making certain that my eyes were pointed to the ground while I spoke.

"It's not a problem." He told me, removing his hat to reveal his shiny bald head.

"You're too kind." And with that, we had bade one another a farewell and went our separate ways. I gripped unto my gown, which I was not allowed to let kiss the dirt and slowly waltzed towards the large mansion, inhabited by the Primrose Family.

On my entrance, two maids rushed up to me to take the books off my hands and change my gloves for me. I greeted them with a warm smile and changed into the new pair of white gloves they had for me.

"Her lady's parents are awaiting your arrival, have been for a while now. All three of your sisters have been sent to the best beauty parlour in preparations for tonight's ball." The timid maid filled me in, I did not fail to notice the suspicious gaze she casted on the cut I had acquired while fighting those two criminals from earlier.

"I fell from a ladder and hurt myself, it is nothing of concern." I sheepishly told her, counting my words while I spoke.

It was part of the rules of society, that young women were not allowed to make conversation with more than twenty words in a sentence.

A rather stupid rule if one were to ask me for my opinion. Thank my stars no even noticed my existence.

"I shall have it looked at immediately after you return from the ball."

I walked past her, with a maid leading me through my own house, which I had grown up in since childhood. The mansion was somewhat quiet today, more than usual, something that scared me.

My dark brown eyes landed on my parents who were busy sitting and having tea, anticipating my return. I braced myself for the most scrutinizing interrogation I would have to face, for there was no excuse I could produce.

"Father, Mama..." I announced, alerting them of my arrival, I shooed the maid away from my side, too tempted to hand her my pinchy shoes.

"Ah! There you are Ruelle!" Father exclaimed, standing to his feet to greet me with a pat on the shoulder.

This was odd, would he not be scowling at me today? Where was that spunk the old timer usually gave me whenever I returned late.

"My dear, you look rather tired, I'll have the maids draw you a bath this instant! Come sit beside your mama." The woman told me, refraining from raining threats and insults at me.

Hath she not the same woman who threatened to chain me to my bed if I ever were to set foot inside that shabby looking bookshop?

What had suddenly changed over the course of a couple of hours?

I obediently sat down beside my mother, who even went as far as to pour me a cup of Earl grey tea, with her own two hands. Though they were wearing gloves of course!

As I sipped from my tasteless cup of tea, my parents cleared their throats and let out quite an alarming declaration!

"You shan't be attending the banquet tonight!" Father announced with too much excitement on his face. And before I could even ask for the reason why, mama graciously took over.

"Tonight you shall be entertaining a suitor with the intention to marry you! The proposal letter was sent to us, only moments after you left!" Mama cried out, as she pulled out a white envelope with a broken red seal on it from underneath her.

Subsequently, the tea spilled out of my mouth, and unto her dull lilac gown, soiling it's delicate fabric.

"I shall what?!"