Author's note: So if you haven't already noticed I added some pics of 'draw the squad memes' for the story to the top of almost every chapter except one or two so if you want to go back and look through the chapters to see them feel free. Huehuehue you might want to go look back through some of the chapters anyways after this chapter, Enjoy ;) .

Also, Munny's been really growing on me recently which is why he made it into the pic at the top of this lol. 

He took a step toward me and I fumbled to my feet. In one swift move Gani swooped down and grabbed the knife and shook his head slowly.

"That wasn't smart, I would have gone for this first." He wagged the knife at me when he spoke as if he was teaching me a lesson. "Never mind that, don't make a sound and you won't get hurt." I tried to calm my breathing, I had been trained for situations like this. I should be able to defend myself against him if need be yet...I was still filled with so much shock and disbelief I found I couldn't do anything but stand there petrified. "Calm down Nicky." His voice slipped back into it's usual normal tone for a moment though it still had some edge to it. "Just let me explain myself, okay?" I nodded slowly. "The things I did...I didn't do for no reason. I was under orders." Still completely confused I tried to piece what he was saying together.

"F-From who?"

"Orla," he said solemnly.

"What?"

"On my own I wouldn't nearly have been good enough to compete with the best the realm has to offer to become a Kingsmen and I needed a little help. I was desperate, willing to do anything to get to my prince again. It turned out Orla was looking for someone like that, someone desperate enough to do anything she asked under the reassurance of a spot in the Kingsmen. Loyalty is the most important thing above anything else." I swallowed hard at that...loyalty.

"But that doesn't make sense? Why would Orla want to get rid of her own trainees?" Gani smiled slightly.
"See, that's where I would come in. Just because someone might seem like the best fit for a Kingsmen skill wise doesn't mean their character is fit to be one. What's the point of having a trusted guard when he might turn around and stab you in the back because someone is willing to pay him more or another who might abandon his post to go out drinking? I was in charge of weeding out all those who were not deemed fit."

"But Kahlil and Gerner! One of them could have died!" Gani sighed at the accusation.

"I know! I didn't want to...I just...I had to think fast. Orla didn't want them fighting like that and gave me a very small period of time to take care of it and-"

"And what about me?" I felt my voice catch when I said it, even though I didn't mean for it to do so. Gani's expression softened and for a moment where I saw the Gani I had come to know. The boy sighed softly.

"Nicky I'm sorry-"

"You said you were supposed to weed about the unsuitable people so what did I do wrong? Why then did Orla still pick me to be here?" Gani was silent for a moment, as if planning each word carefully.

"You had a problem with...I'm sorry I can't tell you much. Just that...there was an issue. It's resolved now."

"No! Gani please I want an explanation." I was worried now...what if they had been on to me? What if they knew about my plans to assassinate the prince. Gani just shook his head and placed his free hand on my shoulder.

"You'll know soon. I promise. Just...trust me okay? I know it's hard granted everything that's just happened but I'm telling you now you'll understand soon enough." He bowed his head, his voice a little softer than before. "I know you probably can't forgive me for this. After all I did betray not only your trust but my fellow trainees as well. But please if this could remain between the two of us and if we could not let this create any bad blood between us? I know it's a lot to ask but we're still a team, we still need to work together, that's the only way we can keep the prince safe." I was angry and upset and confused but standing there before Gani I knew I was no better than him. How could I betray his secrets and pretend like I was above him when I planned on murdering his beloved prince. After a moment I finally nodded.

"Alright. I won't tell anyone."

------

"Woah! The castle is even bigger than I thought," Munny exclaimed with a laugh before falling back onto one of the beds in the Kingsmen quarters. Sullivan crossed his arms, a scowl on his face.

"It's not like we've gotten to go anywhere. We were instructed to stay here until the ball begins where we'll finally be introduced to the prince. We get the actual tour of the castle tomorrow."
"Can you believe we're going to actually see him?" Munny was grinning ear to ear. "And I get to see Gerner too! I'm sure he'll be at the ball tonight. What do you think it will be like? I've never been to a REAL ball before. I mean we went to that one for our training but this thing is the real deal."

"Would you be quiet?" Munny looked over to Sullivan who had spoken and stuck out his tongue at him.

"Why are you being so grumpy?"

"Because," Sullivan suddenly turned to me and pointed a finger accusingly. "He shouldn't be here."

"Is that seriously what you've been brooding about all day because that is STUPID!"

"What is 'stupid' is that Emery was ten times the Kingsmen that red haired piece of shit was and none of you can argue with that. We all know it's true." Munny shot him a glare.

"Will you leave your weird little crush...obsession...whatever you all had for Emery out of this. You're just being fucking rude!" Their voices were beginning to rise at this point and the anger flaring in both their eyes was becoming apparent.

"It makes no fucking sense he would have been picked and not-"

"ENOUGH." Gani spoke now, the lines of his mouth drawn into a thin scowl. "It's in the past now. Nothing can change who was chosen. Trust me Orla would never make a decision without reason-"

"Exactly." We all turned to face the new voice who had spoken. Somehow without anyone's noticing Orla had appeared in the doorway. "The ball begins in approximately fifteen minutes are you all ready?" We glanced around at each other, each giving little nods of confirmation. Our clothes had been provided to us by Orla and it was strange seeing everyone out of their trainee uniforms for the first time. "Good," she continued. "Now I'm still your instructor which means I am still your teacher in what's to be done. When you see the prince tonight you must not speak to him unless he has addressed you directly, this includes when you first see him. As is tradition when you meet him you will bow on one knee, kiss his hand and pledge your loyalty to the crown. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am," came the ring of voices. Orla nodded slowly.

"Good, these last few months...and possibly your entire lives may have been leading up to this moment so enjoy it. God knows you've earned it. Come now, follow me."

----

Walking into that ballroom was like nothing I could have imagined. I could feel the other boys as well standing there dumbfounded with amazement around me. The room was huge and packed with the most elegant men and women I had ever seen. Their clothes practically dripped excessive wealth and there were probably so many jewels and expensive fabrics in the room that put together they would have cost a smaller kingdom's fortune. The ballroom's walls appeared to be made of gold and hanging from the ceiling was the largest chandelier I had ever seen covered in diamonds. My thoughts were suddenly cut off by Munny shouting,

"GERNER!" The boy practically charged at the taller man jumping into his arms. Gerner grinned at him.

"Munny! I knew you would make it!" He laughed giving the boy a little spin before finally lowering him back to the floor. "Remember we still gotta be on our best behavior. Don't want Orla to kick you out for suddenly breaking some stupid etiquette rules about...jumping?" He laughed. "I don't even know!" " Munny looked him up and down now, still smiling.

"Haha, these fancy noble clothes really don't suit you. I knew you were rich but damn," he giggled. "Are you wearing a cravat?" Gerner snorted at that.

"Yeah, it's been in style ever since the prince started wearing them on and off again. It looks terrible on me doesn't it?"

"I would never lie to you so...hehe...yeah not the look I would go for." Gerner suddenly spied me and beamed.

"Nicky! You made it too!" I made my way over to him.

"Yeah," I forced a smile as I tried to forget about how nervous I was. "Gani made it as well." Gerner suddenly pulled me into a hug so tight that with a little more strength it could have been bone shattering.

"I knew you guys could do it. So who's the other. Emery and..." Munny's face fell and Gerner noticed it immediately.

"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Emery....he didn't make it."

"WHAT?" Gerner boomed. "No way? But he was at the top of everything. How is that possible?" Munny shook his head slowly.

"I have no idea." He glanced to me nervously then obviously attempted to change the subject. "Our rooming situation isn't too bad. We all hung out together to get ready today but uh...from here on out it's two to a room and then one single. Gani got the single, we put it up to a vote and we all thought he deserved it." Gerner laughed.

"Well of course, Gani's perfect, he deserves freaking everything!" I desperately wanted to end this conversation but Gerner get kept blabbing on. "You know this will be the first time I'm seeing the prince too. Everyone's actually really excited for him to show up. He hasn't been seen for quite a while. You know about the rumors right?" Munny perked up a little.

"Which ones?"

"Well apparently he had this mistress he was madly in love with. He wanted to marry the girl and everything and then a few months ago she was found dead. Rumor has it the king offed her to stop her from becoming an embarrassment to the kingdom and others say the prince did it himself because he found out he was cheating on her. A few weeks later they say he locked himself in his room and hardly anyones seen him since." I was sure that it was just a foolish rumor made up by the townsfolk but part of me almost wished it to be true. If the prince really had killed his beloveded mistress in some heated lovers rage then...maybe it would make it a little easier to kill him. I knew I shouldn't feel guilt about it, I hadn't even met him. Yet...every time recently I had to think about the prince I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Maybe it was from the knowledge that I was taking away the future these four boys around me had worked so hard to obtain.

-------

The ball dragged on and still the prince didn't arrive. I declined every drink I was offered still not completely recovered from the little scare from the last party. I stayed against the wall for most of the night catching glimpses of the others dancing or talking up nobles, Sullivan especially appeared to have had way too much to drink and for a good half hour tried to convince some noble woman to let him try on her hat. Then suddenly out of nowhere the ballroom turned dead silent. All chatter stopped, the orchestra which had been playing a mellow waltz quilted and all eyes turned to the huge stairwell that led into the room. I heard a page boy from somewhere call out,

"His royal highness, the crown prince Mikhos." As if on cue the other boys and I made our way to the bottom of the steps waiting for him, the air in the silent ballroom was tense, static and stifling all at once. I needed to stay calm yet...I couldn't help the fact that my heart was pounding in my chest. Then suddenly velvet curtains drew back and he was there. My breathe caught and the shock practically rippled through the line of us. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Sullivan's mouth hanging open in disbelief. I still couldn't believe what I was seeing...that this wasn't some crazy hallucination. The prince was breathtaking standing there. All eyes were on him as if watching a god descend from heaven. He was dressed in white a small smile on his face. He was there, the serpent prince...the false prince. He descended the golden stairs now so gracefully it was almost as if he wasn't touching the ground. Finally he reached the bottom immediately Munny knelt to the floor. He extended a hand and Munny kissed it before finally saying,

"I vow to dedicate my life to you my prince as your loyal servant." His voice was shaking slightly as he spoke and the shock was still easily recognized in his eyes. Gani was next. Gani was the only one who looked calm without a hint of surprise...but of course...he must have known the whole time. He kissed the hand and said his vows with more passion than a lover on his wedding day. The prince went down the line of us and at last he arrived at me. The final Kingsmen. Slowly I sunk to my knees before him and took his hand in mine kissing it gently, all the while trying to fight the panic building up in me.

"My prince, I too dedicate my life to you. I will do all you ask of me. I will do anything for you." As I spoke I looked up at his face. Some part of me still thought I was imagining it, that it couldn't be real. Yet there was no mistaking the face of the man...the face of the prince that stood before me. It was Emery.