"While you are in our service, you have full access to the complimentary royal buffet. Anything you want is at your disposal- exotic fruits, assorted vegetables, scones-" Hutchins explained as we passed by said buffet in one of the last hallways of our tour.

"And the cake. The cake is amazing. And once you eat it all, someone replaces it with more within the hour." I spoke up, feeling less embarrassed about speaking now I was out of the eyes of my parents. Hutchins was here, yes, but he tended to allow me to be less formal in his presence if I didn't need to be.

"Uh, thank you, Princess, but I gave up sweets. My body is a temple." Cole said, giving me a glance over his shoulder. I was beside Lloyd, hoping I wasn't so close he was uncomfortable.

"Ever since Master Wu went missing, Cole has been a real party pooper." Jay told me with a roll of his eyes. Hutchins paused in the hall, not looking back, but I could tell he was a little annoyed. I, on the otherhand, was humored by it.

"Party pooper?" Zane asked and Jay nodded, looking back.

"I'll explain later." Jay whispered to Zane, then faced Hutchins again.

"The Palace is equipped with secret passages to get anywhere fast." Hutchins continued on, leading us down the hall again.

"Ah, so that's why they call it the Palace of Secrets." Kai noted out loud as he looked around. He squinted his eyes as he searched our surroundings, as if he'd find a door that way.

"Yes, but as to the locations of these secret passages, only the royal family knows." Hutchins said, turning to face the Ninja.

"So, like, Princess (y/n) knows?" Kai questioned as he stopped looking around us. I nodded.

"Yes, but I can't tell unless you're my best friend, so you better step it up if you want to know." I joked with a smile. Kai's face dropped, then he huffed.

"No. I think I can figure it out on my own. Lloyd might be interested though." Kai said smugly. Lloyd sent him an embarrassed glare, not saying anything as Kai searched over one of the bookshelves. He began to pull books out at random, and when a door didn't open, he threw the book back at the rest of us. Little did he know, that hidden passage was three bookcases over.

We all watched as Kai threw back books, his aim reckless as he tossed them back. One of the times, Lloyd had to reach a hand across, barely catching the book before it nailed me in the head.

"Kai, be careful!" Lloyd scolded. Kai ignored him, still grabbing books. I heard Hutchins sigh, clearly losing his patience. Cole let out a nervous laugh

"We'll clean up after ourselves." Cole assured, scratching the back of his head as he stared at the growing pile of books Kai was creating. Hutchins simply shook his head, walking a little ways a way, but not too far as I began helping Zane put the books back.

"You need not to help, Princess. This is not your mess." I shrugged in reply at Zane as he slid eight books perfectly into place. The other ninja were huddled, whispering about something.

"I don't mind. This gives me something else to do than sit in my room." I replied, finishing up with the last three books, then we were moving again.

"And finally, the reason for your protection-" Hutchins began as we came to the final hall. "The Mask of Deception." Hutchins turned and gestured to the only glass case in the room. I paused by the doorway as the Ninja filtered in. We've had the mask for as long as we could remember, and it had always freaked me out. It wasn't just the creepy face, the mold of it to follow the shape of horns, or even the harshly painted smile on it. There was something else too, the way the mask seemed to call out for me, whispering for me to simply put it on, at least once.

"Ugh. A face only a mother could love." Kai observed, being the one closest to the case. The orange of the mask stared back at him, the eyes and teeth placed diagonally. Kai looked to his friends. "Why would anyone want that?" Kai asked.

"That's up to us to figure out." Lloyd replied as the rest of them approached behind him.

"Just being in the same room with it gives me the heebie-jeebies." Jay said, biting his lip as he held onto Lloyd's arm.

"If this is the Mask of Deception, what was stolen from Borg Industries?" Nya questioned, facing Hutchins.

"The Mask of Vengeance." Hutchins answered.

"And who has the third one?" Cole asked. I pushed up from where I had been leaning on the wall and walked to the group.

"No one. The location of the Mask of Hatred is unknown, and let's hope it stays that way. Ninjago City doesn't need more issues." I said, staring in the glass case. "Though I doubt, with how the Sons of Garmadon are rising, that it will be hidden for long." I added with a frown.

"The Princess is correct. And it gives the royal family little resolve, as we know dark forces are looking to acquire it, and that's why we need eyes on it at all times." Hutchins told them. Kai shrugged.

"Don't worry, we're ninja. We experts at this kind of thing." Kai replied, placing his hands on his hips with a smile. I huffed a laugh, then looked to the clock on the wall.

"I better go prepare for bed." I spoke up again, bowing to all the Ninja and letting my eyes linger on Lloyd a few moments longer. "Goodnight to you all. Goodnight Hutchins." I received a chorus of replies as I left the room, heading to my bedroom across the Palace.

I was on my balcony again, looking out at Ninjago City, or at least what I could see. Earlier, I had seen Cole going around the perimeter of the Palace, and now more guards seemed to be around, reminding me of the box my royal life placed me in. I sighed, going to the side of the balcony railing and pulling myself up. If I couldn't escape the noise of the Palace life in my room, then there was one other place I could go. I was reaching up to one of the ridges along the side of the wall by my balcony when someone cleared their throat from below me.

"Princess, what are you doing?" I looked down with wide eyes at the voice, finding green ones staring up at me.

"I... um, sometimes I go on the roof to think at night." I explained, shifting my feet, as I had been in mid reach to climb up. For a moment, we were both quiet. "You can join me, if you like." I offered. Lloyd gave a nod, then swiftly climbed up the other side of the balcony. Within seconds, he was holding out a hand to me. For a moment, I stared at his outstretched hand, then I grabbed it. Lloyd was quick to hoist me up, making sure I was safely away from the edge before he let my hand go.

"No easier ways to climb up here?" Lloyd questioned as I made my way along the flat part of the roof.

"Not unless I want to get caught. My parents prefer I don't come up here so late. They find it to be too open and think I lack protection when I'm here alone." I told him. Lloyd nodded, pulling back his mask. My cheeks bloomed red as I studied him up close. His blonde hair was now silver in the moonlight, and his green eyes glimmered, looking like dark pools as they turned up to the night sky. In this moment, he looked like a sculpture, perfectly molded and impossibly attractive.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm here." Lloyd joked and I smiled as I sat down towards the middle of the flat roof. Lloyd slowly copied my actions, crossing his legs. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you come up here? I mean, the view is nice, but there are safer ways to see it." Lloyd asked. I shrugged, biting my lip as I turned my eyes briefly to the moon, full and bright in the sky.

"I guess it feels different from the royal life, like that part of me is away. And being up here, without that part of my life surrounding me, it reminds me of my Mom. Though, I can't fully remember her anymore, I remember the way she loved the night, the moon." I answered, turning my eyes to Lloyd. "She had white hair that absolutely glowed in the moonlight. She looked like an angel." I murmured. Lloyd gave me a small, sad smile.

"When my Dad died, I did the same thing. Kind of. When I was younger and he was cured of all his evil, we went on hikes in the mountains as a way to rebond since we both missed out on years of each other's lives. Now, I don't have as much time, but I still try to go when I can. I understand. Going to places that remind you of the people you love." Lloyd replied. I gave Lloyd a soft smile.

"Must've still been a little evil to take you on hikes for fun then." I told him and Lloyd huffed a laugh.

"Yeah, I thought so at the time, too. But you know, it can be relaxing, cathartic." Lloyd explained and I whistled out.

"That's a big word." Lloyd pouted at me.

"I'm beginning to think you don't believe I'm very smart, Princess." I shrugged my shoulders, laying my legs out in front of me. Despite being only in my pajamas, I felt sort of relaxed hanging out here with Lloyd. It let me imagine that everything else didn't exist, and that we were here on account of his choice rather than him having to protect the Palace over a mask.

"You don't have to call me that when my parents or Hutchins isn't around. You can call me (y/n)." I told him. Lloyd sighed, nodding his head.

"I understand, Princess." Lloyd looked to me, biting back a smile. And we went on like this, exchanging small talk and little jests at each other that meant nothing. I spent a lot of time admiring him when I thought he wasn't looking, the way he'd make wide gestures as he talked, drawing his hands through the air as he told stories. Even the way he'd laugh at my jokes, how when his head would fall back I could see the small fangs poking out where his canines should be. I found them undeniably cute.

"Princess, you know how the Emperor and Empress feel about you being up here." Lloyd jumped up the voice, but I only stared ahead, letting my smile drop. Of course Hutchins would've found us eventually, especially if someone had gone to my room and couldn't find me. Not looking at Hutchins, I gave a nod.

"I know. But a lot has been on my mind recently, and technically I'm not alone." I said, then I turned to looked at him. "Lloyd has been up here with me." Hutchins gave me a disapproving look.

"First name basis, now?" Hutchins questioned, raising his brow.

"Technically not. He's stubborn, like you. Insists on calling me by my title." Hutchins' frown lifted a little, but not enough to convince me I was out of trouble. I sighed, shaking my head. "Please don't tell Mother and Father. I'm in enough trouble as it is for last week." I pleaded. Hutchins paused for a moment, then nodded at me.

"This is true. Though, if I may, I would like to escort you back to your room. I would rather you not climb back down, in case you happen to fall. I am sure the Green Ninja has duties to return to." Hutchins said finally. I nodded quickly, sharing a look with Lloyd as we both stood again.

"Good night, Lloyd." I told him simply. Lloyd slightly bowed to me, then flipped his mask back over his head.

"Good night, Princess." Lloyd replied, then he took off over the roof, sliding off and over the end of it. When he was gone, I turned back to Hutchins. Hutchins raised a brow at me, then waved a hand, gesturing for me to follow. I did, walking to the roof entrance at the edge of the flat part of the roof. Hutchins gestured for me to go, then he followed close behind me.

"You know your parents believe you are getting a little reckless with all of your visits to the roof." Hutchins spoke quietly as we walked down the steps that would lead to the hallway.

"I know." I murmured. "It just feels suffocating sometimes, especially with the increased security." I looked up to Hutchins. He gave a nod to me.

"I understand, Princess. But there is increased danger in Ninjago. You must be more cautious, especially in who you trust." I frowned at him.

"Are you saying I shouldn't trust Lloyd? The Green Ninja?" I asked, but Hutchins shook his head.

"That is not who I mean." I frowned at him, confused as his eyes flickered up to someone behind me. When I looked, I could see Harumi closing her bedroom door. I gave her a wave, one she returned, then Hutchins continued leading me to my room.

"Goodnight, Princess." Hutchins told me as I opened my door. I bowed my head to him.

"Goodnight Hutchins, and thank you." I gave him a smile, one he returned, then he continued down the hall again. I closed my door behind me, facing the dim light of my room. I walked to my bed, picturing Lloyd on the roof again. I had told him the moon had made my mother look to be an angel, but I'd have to say the same for him. The silver halo it donned on his head, and how the light had painted him in a soft white. The small smiles he had given me when he thought I wasn't looking or paying attention, recalling them were enough to make my heart flutter.

I sighed, climbing into my green and silver sheets, welcoming sleep as I thought of a specific Green Ninja. Unknowingly to me, he was sitting above my balcony, thinking of me too.