He rushed in anger restlessly through the royal gardens, his usual jester attire replaced by plainclothes. The weight of this situation, that dangerous "affair" with the queen threatened to suffocate him. Aloys was seeing her for weeks and as much as he yearned for freedom, he recognized that extricating himself from her grasp was to dangerous, one false move could kill him.

The silence of his off-duty hours was both a blessing and a curse, especially when that old hag was calling him to use his body. The gardens, usually a place of solace, seemed to mock him this day. Why can't I just be free? His mind raced as he considered every possible outcome in cases of attempts to leave this game.

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected sight, a figure tumbling gracelessly from the swing nearby.