I'm finally back again! I planned on uploading this for months but school kept me from having a private life (and it still does... ). I have the two next chapters already but I still lack nine names for the some of the royals. I would be very grateful if you guys could help me with this issue and tell me what names you think are suitable for this period. English is not my mother tongue so I have not a clue what names were common that time. I also would be happy if you pointed out any mistakes I made :) Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this story! :)

Of Steal And Suspicion

Chapter 1: No Need To Worry

"I'm soo excited!" Rapunzel exclaimed, bouncing up and down in -well- excitement.

"I would have never guessed that," Eugene said sarcastically, earning a stern glare from her and Pascal, who was sitting on Rapunzel's shoulder, sticking out his tongue at Eugene warningly.

Rapunzel nudged Eugene's shoulder playfully:"You're mean. You know how important this whole thing is to me."

„I know," Eugene sighed, putting his arm around her waist,"but there's absolute no need for you to worry so much about it."

"'No need to worry'? Tomorrow there's going to be a ball here and I'll meet other princesses and princes for the first time of my life and you say there's 'no need to worry'? I don't even know if they will like me!" Rapunzel blurted out.

"Of course they'll like you. It's impossible not to," Eugene calmed her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

Rapunzel blushed:"You think so?"

"I know so", Eugene assured her, giving her a light squeeze.

"I hope you're right. But my manner teacher, Ms Farrison said that I really need to keep all the rules in mind that she had told me in our manner lessons, like..." Rapunzel started babbling and usually Eugene would have listened but he had other things on his mind.

Since Rapunzel's father, the king, had announced that there was a ball going to be hold in honor of his daughter, Eugene had often been deeply in thoughts about this subject.

But he felt less excited than Rapunzel about that. He felt actually quite uneasily at the thought of so many royals visiting the palace. Not that he was thinking that they're were stiff and boring (well, he had been thinking that before he had met Rapunzel and her parents who were quite vividly); but because he knew that he was very different from them. And, of course, because he was a former thief (and he was quite sure that the guests knew that although he had changed his name but, after all, Flynn Rider had been the most infamous thief in Corona for five years). Plus, even though he would never admit it aloud, he was fearing the reactions of the royals.

Eugene had already thought about asking the king for leaving the palace as long as the guests were visiting but he knew that Rapunzel was looking forward to the festival and wanted to share this experience with him. So he maybe wasn't thrilled to make this experience, but he just couldn't let her down.

"... but I don't think that I will be able to remember and follow all of the rules!" Rapunzel sighed desperately, making Eugene snapping out of his thoughts. Pascal nestled up against Rapunzel's neck consolingly.

"You'll manage it. All you have to do is being yourself and I'm sure they won't care if you do something not properly," Eugene calmed her.

"Aww, thank you", Rapunzel smiled, embracing him tightly.

"Hey, it's the truth", he said, earning a sweet peck on the lips for his reply.

"Now let's go to the dining room before my parents start having dinner without us!" Rapunzel exclaimed, grabbing Eugene's hand and dragging him with her.

Later, around bedtime, Eugene sneaked into Rapunzel's room like usual. Every evening he would sneak into her bedroom and they would talk about everything they had done or that was on their mind. Often Rapunzel would ask some questions that had popped into her mind and Eugene would answer all of them.

Tonight Rapunzel was talking about nothing else than the ball of course, though Eugene would have appreciated not to talk about it; he was nervous enough already.

But he pulled himself together and listened to everything Rapunzel had to say about it. Like before, she was worried that her guests might not like her.

Which was utterly impossible.

"There's no way that they won't like you, Blondie!" Eugene repeated for the umpteenth time, using his now-not-so-fitting nickname for her out of habit. Pascal, who was laying curled up on the bed sheet, nodded in agreement.

"I just hope you're right, Eugene," Rapunzel sighed, cuddling deeper into her pillows,"By the way, what are you so nervous about?"

Eugene's body stiffened. Was he really that easy to read? Trying to sound nonchalantly, he said: "Nervous? Me? Why should I be nervous?"

By the look of her expression he could see that she didn't buy it. Like always.

"I know you, Eugene. Don't try to fool me," Rapunzel warned.

Then she added with a much softer voice:" What's wrong? You know that you can tell me everything, right?"

And just to confirm her statement she put on her cutest pout. Dang, this thing was even more powerful than his smolder! How could he possibly say no?

"Fine, I'll tell you," Eugene sighed, defeated.

Rapunzel just looked at him expectantly.

"Well, I'm afraid of the reactions of all these royals," he admitted.

"Huh? What reactions?" Rapunzel asked confused.

First Eugene thought that she was kidding, but then he realized that she really didn't understand why.

"Well, I've been a thief before, remember?" he added questioningly.

"What has that to do with their reactions?" she wanted to know, completely oblivious.

"I'm sure they won't be too happy about having a lowly thief attending this big festival!" Eugene pointed out impatiently.

Rapunzel laughed and reminded him:" But you're not a thief anymore!"

This time it was Eugene's turn to laugh at her (adorable) naivety:"I don't think they'll see it that way."

"There's no need for you to worry," Rapunzel assured him. (Eugene was feeling kind of a déjà vu.)

Then she added:"You're a guest of mine and of the king. Don't rack your brains over it."

Rapunzel giggled once again.

Eugene was surprised how ridiculous his consideration was to her.

"You really don't see any problem?" he asked in disbelief.

Rapunzel shook her head:" Why should I? You have always been good with people. You're very charismatic, you know? I don't think there will be any problem."

She was right. He had always gotten along well with others. Maybe there wasn't any problem at all.

"You're right," Eugene agreed, relieved.

Right when Rapunzel was about to respond, the clock struck midnight.

"I guess I should leave now. It's time to go to bed," Eugene said, raising from Rapunzel's bed.

"Oh please stay a bit longer!" Rapunzel pleaded, preparing to put on her pout again if she had to.

"I'm sorry but we both have to get up early tomorrow- well, today," Eugene corrected.

"Fine," Rapunzel sighed in defeat.

"Good night, Blondie," Eugene whispered, kissing her on the forehead.

"Good night, Eugene," Rapunzel whispered back, flinging her arms around his neck, sweetly pecking Eugene on the lips. Pascal was turning as white as the sheet.

"Sleep well," he said, then closing her bedroom door silently and sneaking back into his room.