"Exactly," she said with annoyance. "They see the title. They don't see me."
She looked at the ceiling, then seemed to remember this was a party.
"Anyway...,"she said, blushing a little. "I lost Stephen. I don't know where he ended up."
It was true, Stephen had been a little distant and had vanished the moment her back was turned. He always was good at hide and seek as a kid. She could remember the 3 of them, Edward, her and Ella spending ages finding him. Sometimes they never did.
But as they'd gotten older, Edward had found an interest in hunting and girls. Stephen had become quiet, preferring books. She adored both her brothers, but they were so different, in appearance and in interest. Both boys were, in her opinion handsome, but Edward was a dark blonde and well built, Stephen's hair was a dark brown and slight. They were of a similar height now.
"Shall we go find him?" she asked brightly. "Or would you like to find a partner to dance?"

"Should you not go back to the party?" Hiro asked Stephen.
"It's okay," Stephen replied, his gaze back at the view. "I like the peace."
"Isn't there someone you'd like to see?" Hiro asked, with mock teasing, but was a little surprised when Stephen's cheeks grew a little pink. "I'm sorry, my...."
"You know I don't like you to call me that," said Stephen. "And you have no need to make apologies to me. You say what you think and I wish I could be more like you."
Hiro ran a hand through his hair, a common habit when he was nervous or embarrassed.
"I'm glad you've joined the guard," said Stephen. "But if you start acting like I'm royalty, I will...."
But the threat was not even meant, anyone could see that. 
Hiro hadn't met any of the other royals, other than the King and Prince Stephen. They'd known each other for a while now, and sometimes he got the feeling that the boy was lonely, and would have traded situations in a heart beat.