Story
Early years / pre-canon
In his youth, Albert was a troublemaker and would often get picked on for his feminine tastes in appearance, causing him get into physical fights with other kids. Even so, Albert started taking up sewing and other needlework early on and had a passion for all things related to high society and fashion, especially events such as royal weddings. His clothing making skills developed quickly and what started out as making dresses for close friends and family quickly delevoped into a local business with Albert taking care of both the garments as well as the planning and business side of things. This business grew and expanded much faster than anticipated, and Albert was able to move to the capital on his own soon after. His busy schedule did leave him with little time for his education, so despite his bright mind he had to drop out of education before finishing his studies. He has many regrets about this to this day and greatly admires anyone smarter than him and loves to listen to readings or lectures (including getting scolded). Albert calmed down over the years with his fights as many would come to admire him for his beauty and business, however he would remain cautious with a short temper, leading him to train on his own to defend all himself and the life he had worked so very hard for.
Canon
With age, Albert's admiration for the upper class turned into a stubborn belief that everyone should be treated with respect and be seen as equals. One day he returned to his shop, finding the place a mess with his clothes torn to pieces and his personal items broken or stolen. Unsure of how or why, Albert was left with little to his name and needing to rebuild. With the loss and disrespect heavy on his heart, he left the city to wander the forest in the hopes to be forgotten and start anew. This is when the Sheperds found him and offered him to join them as one of their own, marking the start of his new life.