The False Prince

The False Prince, by Jennifer A. Nielsen, is the first book in the Ascendence Trilogy. It's about an orphaned boy named Sage who gets involved in a twisted plan to impersonate roylaty. The story begins briefly at the orphanage before going to nobleman Conner's estate. The following description is of the outside of Connner's house: "An engraved wooden sign at the entrance identified this as Conner's home. It rose two stories above the ground with a partial third floor arching over the center of the house. The roof was nearly flat and bordered by a low parapet. I wondered if any stairways led up to the rooftop for what was certain to be an impressive view of Conner's extensive ground's."

Later, when they are eating dinner, Sage describes the dining room, "This small dining room appeared to be reserved for everyday meals and more intimate affairs. It was clearly designed to impress whoever ate here with an idea of Conner's wealth. I couldn't help but do the math on how much a clever theif might earn from stealing a polished silver fork or a gold-rimmed goblet' or a singe crystal hanging in beads from the sconces on the wall." He also talks about the food, "They started with cheese as soft as butter and fruit in the prime of ripeness."