"Father..." she sighed. "We need to talk. I don't want to get married to some bulky, gross prince. I want to find love. Real, pure love. I want to rule with someone who cares about me and who I care about. You know, emotionally. I don't care if they're rich... that isn't what matters. I could marry a poor boy from the streets and he'd be a better king than any of those dreadful princes. So... I just want you to think about what's best for me and the kingdom. Reasonable request. That's a reasonable request... right? Ugh."
Legacy was scared to talk to her father. He would never let her marry for love. She stood on her balcony in her long nightgown. She slipped off her slippers, took down her hair and ripped the bottom of her gown. It made her feel like herself.32Please respect copyright.PENANAkh4GblCPPp
"H-hello?" came a voice from below her balcony. "Princess Legacy?"
Legacy peered down off the railing of the balcony. "Y-yes?"
"I-I don't want no trouble," the voice said. "I just came to say hello, if that's all right with you, Your Grace." It belonged to a boy.
"No, no," Legacy said. "It's all right. Nights like these get boring and lonely. Come out. I wish to see who you are."
The boy stepped into the light coming from her windows. "It's such an honor, Your Highness. I-I'm sorry I'm such a mess... I'm from the streets, you see. Nobody out there in the village is very clean. Not that it's your fault, Your Majesty."
"Who might you be, boy?" She asked this slowly, taking in how handsome he was for a street boy.
"Atticus, my lady," he introduced. "Pleasure to be at your service."
"The pleasure is mine, kind sir," Legacy said, finding joy in Atticus, for once. "Come on up, will you? I'm bored out of my mind."32Please respect copyright.PENANAIYVJ2StFou
Atticus's eyes widened. "Me?! Inside the palace!? But Your Excellency, I'm just a poor boy from the streets!"
"Of course, of course," she said, "and please, call me Legacy. Not Princess Legacy, just regular old Legacy, please."
"OK..." Atticus began to climb up the balcony. Legacy offered him her hand, and he took it. She hoisted him onto the balcony. Atticus gasped uncontrollably. "Wow." Legacy was even more beautiful up close.32Please respect copyright.PENANAQCnLFyupwm
"What?" Legacy asked. "What is it?"
"This palace... these treasures... and you... everything here is beautiful."
"Thank you," Legacy said. "That's very kind of you."
Atticus began to bow, but Legacy stopped him. "No need to bow, Atticus. Think of me as an ally."32Please respect copyright.PENANAhblQ8Co6Tf
"Of course." Atticus stood, leaning on the balcony railing. Legacy stepped toward him, gently resting her hands on the railing. "What's it like? To have all these... all this... all of the..."
"Riches?" Legacy said. "Treasures? Money? I guess it's nice... if you're my father. What an awful soul, I apologize. All he cares about is wealth. He wants me married by Christmas, but not to anyone I love, but to a cowardly, ugly prince from another kingdom."
"Oh..." Atticus had always wanted to be rich... but was it worth it? "Sounds worse than life out on the streets."
"Yeah?" Legacy said. "What's it like out there?"32Please respect copyright.PENANAnsamCvGORe
"Well... most of us are poor, so we have to steal to eat," Atticus explained, "and there's this girl named Egypt who wants to marry me. Everyone's an orphan or has only one caretaker."32Please respect copyright.PENANAqhws5j7V6U
"That's awful!" Legacy said. "My father doesn't treat you all well at all! He's terrible to all of you! I promise, when I'm queen, I'm going to change all that."32Please respect copyright.PENANA42TaU7uqsc
"That would be wonderful, thank you," Atticus smiled, "but I kind of like it like that. It gives me... kind of a rush, you know?"
"Oh, all right."
They giggled.
Atticus stared off into the night sky. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" Legacy said softly.32Please respect copyright.PENANAnr93XHsivC
Atticus looked straight at her dreamily. "Yeah; so are you."32Please respect copyright.PENANAz4r4ub1Nga