All his life he was complimented for his beauty... but...

"What a gorgeous girl you have!"

"She'll be a catch when she gets older!"

"I'll keep my eye on her! Save her for me, yeah?"

All throughout his life... he'd been mistaken as a girl. All his life... he's been preyed on by older men, and women. Even now as he tries to work in peace, those voices don't leave him alone. He's done things to try and look more masculine. It ends up futile in the end. His parents? Nowhere to be seen. He wasn't the favorite. All he was... was just a pretty face. Why both to protect him? Why bother their time?

His family has other children. Two younger siblings, both boys too. They... are the priority. Don't get him wrong. He's doesn't go unloved... just never their first priority. He grew up watching his needs being quietly pushed off to the side. Yet, he was always praised for things such as being "easy" to help, being so "responsible" when it comes to his brothers, and being... oh so "understanding" when they need something of him. They don't care for him as a person. Just only as a tool to use. What better way than to use the oh so ever obedient tool... as an escape goat for their sons.

"Oh my poor boys..." His mother spoke loud enough for Kaito to hear from inside. She sat on the small broken porch of their house, cradling her two sons. "How will I ever send you away to the palace? You both are so young... I could never forgive myself if I were to send either of you. Oh... if only there were a way." His mother would discuss consequences of what would happen to their family in one of their children didn't go... of what happens if the palace refuses... of who would suffer... of how unfair it would be to ask of someone so fragile. Till... one day.

"Mother... I'll go in place of my brothers." That's where the trap was placed. Where the guilt of trapping him in that decision... stayed. "Oh, my sweet... sweet boy. We'd never forgive ourselves if this hurt you..." "You always see the bigger picture." "We just your judgment more than anyone's..!" "It would ruin your brothers prospects..." "We knew we could count on you." The amount of guilt they fed into him... he couldn't refuse. So, when the draft came... he went in the stead of his brothers.

The day of the selection came... he was surrounded by hundreds of candidates of all kinds from all over. His heart thudded with pure panic. He passed the inspections. The eunuchs quickly checking everyone before gently shoving them to the side to be guided. Kaito hunched over slightly to make himself seem smaller... or tried to at least.

Days of the selection passed and here he was... one of the final few of the chosen. How did he make it here? Even he doesn't know. He just needs to get eliminated. Then he can go home without having to worry about being in the palace. "Our royal highness... has arrived!" A guard shouted. Kaito tensed, swallowing. He tugged his robe up onto his neck slightly. His gaze stayed focused on the ground. He'll get eliminated for sure... no way he'd ever get picked, especially with the way he's dressed. He's even surprised he survived this long with the way he's dressed. Kaito let out a shaken breath. Good thing that their royal highness will stay at a distance--

"Your highness! Where are you going?! You mustn't go down there!" The royal adviser shouted, quickly trying to stop them as they pushed him away. Kaito blinked, slumping. Well crap. He just jinxed himself. What's next? Him being selected?