“Hmm. Now, why do you have a necklace with the crest of my husband’s family?” the woman murmured softly as she undid Jas’s diaper. Jas’s heart soared. This woman had married into Anya’s family! Surely, she could help him! “Other than my husband, the only person of the Copperstone family who works at the Palace is my sister-in-law, Anya.” The woman’s eyes widened. “You must be her child!”
Honestly, at this point, Jas would take whatever route he could to get to Anya. So he didn’t protest. Laying in a dirty diaper, surrounded by servants, wasn’t exactly where he wanted to reveal his true identity anyways. Just as Anya’s sister-in-law finished changing Jas’s diaper, the door to the storage room slammed open. Everyone in the room jumped.
“Come on, you need to escape while you can!” barked the Royal Guard that had opened the door. The servants needed no further prodding. Jas found himself clutched to Anya’s sister-in-law’s chest as she fled with the other servants. The Royal Guard that had found and freed them ran alongside Anya’s sister-in-law and Jas.
“I had no doubts you would find us,” Anya’s sister-in-law said as they ran. The Royal Guard sighed.
“I did. But I am beyond happy you are safe, Opal.” The Royal Guard spotted Jas. “Who is the child?”
“I will explain once we are out of the city.” Opal and the Royal Guard sprinted through the Palace, then down the streets of the city that surrounded the Palace. They raced through the gates just before they closed. Opal and the Royal Guard ducked behind a small group of bushes to catch their breaths.
“Now will you introduce me to the child?” the Royal Guard asked Opal.
“I know not his name-” Opal started.
“I Jas,” Jas interrupted. Opal and the Royal Guard looked at him in shock, then laughed.
“Luckily, he knows his name.” The Royal Guard stroked Jas’s hair. “He is a handsome fellow.”
“As he should be. He bears the Copperstone family crest on a necklace. As such, I believe him to be Anya’s child.”
“My sister did not tell me of any pregnancy,” the Royal Guard, who seemed to be Opal’s husband, said softly. “But then again, she might not have been allowed. The boy has the red hair of the royal family. He must be the Prince’s son.”
“Why would Anya not be allowed to mention she had a child with the Prince?” Opal asked.
“Because he is not a witch. He is witch stock, yes, but without blond hair will never wield magic. Given the Prince has refused to sire any other children, I suspect his mother’s heritage is kept secret so he may inherit the throne, should the Prince never sire a son with a non-witch.”
“I see,” Opal said softly.
“But that matters not right now. Right now, we must take care of Jas and bring him to his mother. Luckily, I planned on us heading to my hometown of Wind’s Grove already.” The Royal Guard took Jas from Opal. “Hello, Jas. I am your Uncle Dmitri. This is your Aunt Opal. We are very happy to meet you.”
Jas paused thoughtfully. Now was the perfect opportunity to reveal his true identity. But would revealing his true identity even change anything? They already planned to bring him to Anya. And part of him was thoroughly humiliated by the idea of them changing the dirty diapers that were sure to come, knowing full well who he truly was.