Almualim: H-h-how could I... fail?! That arrogant prince... w-w-was a girl all along! Can you b-b-believe it?!
Shifting into a more comfortable position on a tree branch, he looks over to where the girl is sitting. The castle's really going all out this year huh, hiring an outside performer for the banquet. He pauses, listening to the music. Not that I'm complaining. It makes this easier.
Almualim: W-well, w-well! L-look who's t-talking to m-me! You'd think you'd know b-better than to d-dabble in the dark arts, s-sister...
I'm not a sister. I'm an outsider, here for the banquet. I don't meddle in the affairs of others. So long as you don't try to make trouble, then we should get along fine. He continues listening to the music, slowly bobbing his head to the beat. And it would appear my work here is done. Please enjoy your banquet. With that, he flies off towards the castle, leaving Almualim behind.
Almualim: H-ha! Y-you want to know my st-story? W-well, let me t-tell you... I used to be the c-court jester around these p-parts...
Almualim stops talking, hearing heavy footsteps approaching from beyond the wall.
Almualim: C-c-curiously enough, I was sent here to entertain the p-prince! Can you believe it? A prince so boring he needed entertainment!
They continue walking through the maze, Almualim keeping close behind.
Almualim: S-so, I did some acrobatics, played a little music... And then he asked me for more! Can you believe that? A prince asking for favors from a lowly jester like me!
Suddenly, the tall hedge wall they had been following slowly starts to lower itself into an open U shape, revealing a hidden garden inside it.
Almualim: Y-you won't believe what happened next! The prince ordered his servants to drag me into the palace! Can you imagine it? Me, Almualim, being dragged around by servants!
The two enter the garden, which is full of rose bushes. In the center of the garden is a stone pedestal with a single black rose on it.
Almualim: B-but I didn't let them treat me like that for long! I used my acrobatic skills to escape, and then... Then I found myself a nice comfy bed to sleep in for the night. Hehehe!
The black rose on the pedestal suddenly turns blood red.
Almualim: S-spare me the sympathy, p-princess. You think a little thing like a b-burning building is going to hold me back? Ha! I'm Almualim, remember?
Princess? What do you mean? Are you referring to yourself? As someone of royal blood, or as the prince's 'princess'?
Almualim: H-ha! You think I'm some kind of princess, don't you? Don't worry, I'll set you straight! I'm no princess, I'm just a jester who got lucky!
The rose continues to turn blood red. Well, now that the conversation has turned to the topic of royalty, perhaps it would be appropriate to introduce ourselves properly. My name is Flyberm. And you?
Almualim: F-fine, I'll play along... For now... M-my name is Almualim. And don't you dare think I'm some kind of princess!
Almualim. The rose completes its transformation. Well, Almualim, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you plan to accomplish here. I assume you have some sort of ulterior motive for being here, just like myself.
Almualim: H-ha! Luck? I don't need luck, I'll make my own path! And you, Flyberm? What are you here for? To cause trouble, or maybe you're here to help me?
To witness the banquet. To observe the proceedings, perhaps offer comments if they seem relevant. If I cause trouble, well, that's just the price of admission.
Almualim: C-cause trouble? Is that what you think this banquet is? A stage for you to show off your clever little tricks and comments?!
Perhaps. But also no. This banquet is a rare opportunity for me, one I wouldn't give up for anything.
Almualim: R-are you trying to say I'm just a stage for your little act?
I'm saying that you're a stage, and the banquet is an event. Your presence here just happens to coincide with the event, which is convenient for me.
Almualim: C-convenient?! This isn't some kind of game or play! This is real life! And if you think you can just waltz in here and make a mockery of it...
That's not what I'm doing. If I were mocking the banquet, I'd be wearing a costume and pretending to be someone else. I'm just...well, me.
Almualim: Y-you think just by being yourself you can mock the banquet?!
I don't think anything. I know.
Almualim: K-know?! Y-you think you know everything about this banquet just because you're here?!
I don't claim to know everything. I just know enough to know that there's more to this banquet than meets the eye.
Almualim: Oh yeah? What do you know then? Huh?
I know that the king has a secret second gender, and that the prince is actually the long lost sister of the kingdom.
Almualim: Y-you... You know what? You're right! This banquet isn't what it seems!
Of course I am. I know a lot of things that others miss.
Almualim: You... You really know about this? About the prince being a girl?!