The Fruits of Laughter

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"So, you just ran away from home?" a boy with striking blue hair and a bruise shaped like a ball on his face asked Rina.

Rina averted her gaze, her heavy eyes descending to the lush greenery at her feet. "I have no one who cares for me... and right now is not the best time to return."

"I don't know what's going on, but if there's nowhere to return to, how about you come with me?" he proposed, as if it were the simplest thing in the world, akin to taking a bite from a ripe king apple.

For a fleeting moment, Rina pondered the idea of accompanying this stranger, imagining herself embraced by his loving family, leaving behind the weight that suffocated her heart with every beat. But then she chuckled. The boy's sincerity and the absurdity of the situation overwhelmed her. Rina was, after all, a princess. She couldn't just run away with any random boy she encountered on the streets, no matter how enticing his offer sounded.

Perhaps it could work for a day or two, but it was only a matter of time before the missing princess would be discovered. Disaster would befall him and his family for supposedly "kidnapping" her. Even before that, he might be oblivious to the truth, but his family might recognize her or prove less welcoming. No matter the scenario, Rina knew there was only one path she could follow, and it led far away from him.

Her focus shifted back to him, sitting amidst the bags she had purchased. Many still clung to him like bracelets or necklaces, and a few smaller fruits had tumbled to the ground. A Rabcat, drawn by the sweet scent, pounced on the fruits, playfully batting them around with sharp claws while its adorable furry ears twitched, ever alert for rival scavengers.

Amidst this playful chaos, the boy who had posed the most naive question remained seated, unaware of the potential doom he had inadvertently invited upon himself and his household.

If only he knew... Rina laughed again, but this time it was a laughter tinged with pain. She couldn't allow him to share in the same anguish; this burden was one she had to bear alone.

"Thanks for the offer... but I can't."

"I thought so."

"You knew?"

"Yeah. Your eyes told me. Though you surely dread going back, it appears to me that you're determined. I don't know anything about your circumstances or what awaits you at home... but you don't strike me as someone who would give up easily. Running away from home already takes determination, and returning takes even more. You seem to have a plan."

Startled, Rina was left momentarily speechless. Had he seen through her so easily? Was she that transparent, or was he simply more perceptive than she had anticipated?

Then she reflected on the moment their eyes had met. Those deep brown eyes didn't belong to an ordinary teenager. Rina had encountered her fair share of cunning schemers within the palace. For her, locking eyes with someone was akin to glimpsing their innermost thoughts; eyes never lied, except perhaps those of a monster like Duke Damocles or someone of her father's stature—figures of great power. The urge to peer into those honey-colored eyes welled within her.

She began to lift her gaze, about to meet his eyes, when a distant voice disrupted the moment.

"Hey, you kids, come here for a second."

Approaching from a distance was a group of guards, alerted to the presence of a peculiar monk roaming the streets. Though they were preoccupied with searching for the missing princess, they couldn't ignore anything out of the ordinary. The leader of the group spoke with annoyance.

A shiver ran down Rina's spine. The voice seemed to permeate the air, sending tremors through her entire body. Her dark eyes widened, desperately trying to absorb the world's light to remain hidden. It was too early for her to be caught.

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