The joys of the festival and the wonderful smell of the summertime breeze masked the dissension that bubbled just beneath the surface. The anger that stewed beneath grew stronger and stronger and the bubbling water frothed as revolutionary sentiment clung to the air and seemed to drip from every surface, known but unknown. The decisive point had yet to be reached, but many felt the moment was quickly approaching.<br/><br/>Perhaps the drought and the most recent famine of nearly a year ago had left the poor citizenry disillusioned. But their angst and their fears were being manipulated by a pair of underhanded nobles who sought to overthrow the monarchy in the name of democracy only to seize power themselves. Helene Grace walked through the throng of people with her mouth set into a thin line. Her hands held firm the shoulders of her only son, Oliver Grace. He was a strapping young lad with messy dark brown hair and brilliant blue eyes. Oliver was garbed in a faded green jerkin with a pair of light brown breeches completed by a pair of brown boots.<br/><br/>Oliver's head twisted this way and that trying to see everything. It was rare that young Oliver was able to mingle with the commoners. He saw boys his own age bustling to and fro and his heart yearned to join them, but the iron grip of his mother's hands on his shoulders reminded him that he couldn't do such a thing.<br/><br/>He had been so busy looking about that he yelped when the little girl suddenly ran into him. By this time his mother had stepped away to a small shop that was selling a number of trinkets and other odds and ends. Oliver stumbled backwards a bit but managed to keep himself righted. Oliver knew who the girl was. She was one of the princesses. Oliver had seen her many times at the court functions but hadn't talked to her. His mother always guided him away from her instead favoring the ones who actually had power.<br/><br/>But Oliver was a gentleman despite being the tender age of nine. He slowly walked up to her and held out his hand.<br/><br/>"You really should watch where you're going," Oliver scolded, as he gazed down at her.