Once a Thief, Always a Thief ch1

Chapter One

Rapunzel and Eugene were enjoying a light breakfast of fruit, bread, hard boiled eggs, and hot tea.  They ate in a private room, with only one servant to set and clear the table.  It was mostly for Eugene’s sake; he did not like to be in front of the people of the court.  They still held him in a scrutinizing gaze because of his pilfering past.  Never mind the fact that he had returned the kingdom’s lost princess, and the king and queen had given him a full pardon.  He blamed no one for the callous treatment though; he knew he had done petty things as a thief, but he was determined to change people’s opinions about him.  He had Rapunzel’s love though, and what more could he want.
The two had actually just returned from their honeymoon the day before.  Rapunzel had wanted to see other lands and kingdoms, and Eugene was more than willing to show her the world, but their honeymoon had been turned into a diplomatic trip.  There was a coronation in an allied country and the king and queen thought the kingdom would make for a wonderful honeymoon.  It would have been, except for the freak snow storm in the middle of summer, but that was another tale.  
Their wedding was actually a month ago, ten whole months after Rapunzel and Eugene had shown up at the castle.  It had been practically a whole year since Eugene had first met Rapunzel in her tower, along with her frying pan.  A year.  And now he had a home, a wife and a castle.  Eugene found nothing to complain about with his new life, but it was a lot to take in.  Since he ran away from the orphanage when he was fourteen, Eugene hadn’t had a home: an inn here, a cave there.  Sometimes he’d hide out in a barn.  Thieves couldn’t stay in one place for long, which was why he’d never thought he’d marry, but he was sitting across from his wife, smiling fondly at her.  As for royal duties, Eugene didn’t have many.  He was barely the husband on a princess; he never sat through meetings of state, or greeted a visiting diplomat.  The only royal thing he’d done was marry a princess.  Now, Rapunzel on the other hand had her work cut out for her.  She was being groomed to be the next ruler of Corona, which was a lot to take considering she’d only learned she was a princess a year ago.  Eugene knew Rapunzel could step up and be the queen she was meant to be; it was in her blood and in her grace, but Eugene, he could never be an equal to Rapunzel on a throne.  It didn’t bother him though; he was married to her and that’s what mattered to him.  
Eugene sipped his tea and glanced at Rapunzel.  She was feeding Pascal some pieces of fruit, giggling as he turned the fruit’s color.  He chuckled.  She was always so carefree.  Looking at her always made Eugene feel like the luckiest man alive.
“Eugene?  What are you looking at?”  Rapunzel had finally noticed that he was looking at her.
“You.”  She blushed and tried to hide her face by draining her teacup.  He only chuckled again.  The serving maid came over, taking the teapot and filled Rapunzel’s cup as she set it down on its saucer.  Eugene looked out the window and sighed.
“It feels odd not having Max to toss apples to.”
“Father and Mother didn’t want him in the palace.  We can go visit him later, before we go in to town.”
“In to town?”  
Rapunzel smiled.  “I thought we could visit the orphans.  I’m sure they’ve missed us, and Max and Pascal.”
“You know I love those kids, Rapunzel, but, I was hoping we could have one more day just for us, before real life starts again.  I mean, our honeymoon was, well…”
“Frozen?”
“Yes, but at least we found a fun way to stay warm.”  Eugene chuckled at Rapunzel’s blush, then noticed the maid frown at him in a disapproving manner.  He cleared his throat.  “But I don’t think seeing the kids today would be a bad idea.”  Eugene reached across the table and took Rapunzel’s hand.  “As long as we can have some time together.”  Pascal crawled up on their hands and looked up at Eugene.  “Alone.”  The chameleon glared at Eugene.  He winked at him.  Rapunzel picked Pascal up.  
“You can spend some time with Max.”  Pascal rolled his eyes as if to say ‘fine’.
They returned to their meal and were just about done with it when there was a knock on the door.  The serving maid opened it.  On the other side was a guard.  It was Gerald, a guard who had actually found the time and heart to befriend Eugene.  He held a sealed envelope in his hand.
“Sorry to disturb you,” Gerald said, bowing a bit, “but a letter was received this morning for you, Eugene, er, I mean Sir Eugene.”
“Gerald,” Eugene laughed, “I’m fine with just Eugene.”  He got up and took the letter.  It had no address or any writing on the outside, just the words ‘Flynn Rider.’  He cocked an eyebrow at it.  Who would send him a letter with his old name?  Eugene turned the envelope over and disturbed a scent that wafted off of it.  Peppermint.
The scent was familiar to Eugene, but it was a distant familiarity and he couldn’t place it.
“Eugene?  What is it?  Who’s it from?”  Rapunzel had come up beside him and was looking at the letter.  He quickly shoved it into his vest.
“Hm, oh, it’s nothing.  I’ll read it later.”  Rapunzel arched her eyebrows upward, just like she always did when she didn’t understand something.
“Okay,” she said slowly.  She knew he was hiding something.  That was the same look he’d given her before he left with the crown when they saw the lanterns together.  But she wasn’t going to press him.  She’d ask about it when they were truly alone.
“Well, Gerald, pleasure seeing you, thanks for stopping by.  Now, if you’d be so kind as to run along.  Rapunzel and I have a big day ahead of us.”  Eugene clapped a hand on Gerald’s shoulder and steered him out the door.  He went to close it, but Gerald put his hand out.
“Uh, actually, Eugene, Sir Eugene, Princess Rapunzel is needed by her parents for the morning.”
“Oh?”  Eugene’s heart sank.
“And they need to see her as soon as possible.”