The Good Crown

Chapter 39

I stood, brushing off the loose grass and glancing over at Noah. "You really missed out if you've never done that before. Rolling down hills is basically a farm kid's pastime."

Noah chuckled as he joined me. "Well, the palace isn't exactly known for its hills—or for spontaneous fun, for that matter."

I shook my head with a playful grin. "That explains a lot. Life on the farm is all about making your own fun, especially when you're the middle child."

"Middle child?" Noah raised an eyebrow. "Is that as chaotic as they say?"

I laughed. "Oh, it's chaos. Magnolia, my older sister, thinks she's in charge of everything, and Haven, the youngest, gets away with murder. Me? I'm usually stuck in the middle, trying to keep the peace—or getting blamed for whatever goes wrong."

"That sounds... exhausting." Noah smiled but looked a bit intrigued. "What kind of trouble did you get blamed for?"

"All sorts," I said, grinning. "Like when Magnolia wanted to turn us into 'proper ladies' and made us sit through a formal dinner lesson. Haven kept making faces at me, but of course, I got the lecture about manners when I couldn't stop laughing."

Noah chuckled. "Sounds like you had your hands full."

"Oh, definitely. But sometimes being in the middle wasn't so bad. I got to be the hero once in a while, like the time Haven got stuck in the chicken coop. Magnolia was too afraid to go in, so guess who had to save the day?"

"You?" Noah guessed with a knowing smile.

"Me," I confirmed, proudly. "Covered in feathers and everything. I was the only one brave enough to face the chickens."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I think I would've paid to see that."

I glanced at him, my curiosity piqued. "What about you? Do you have any siblings?"

Noah's smile faded slightly, and he shook his head. "No, I'm an only child."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? That must've been... different."

"It is," he admitted, his tone softer. "It can be pretty lonely, actually. There's a lot of pressure when you're the only one to carry on the family name or... expectations." He paused, his gaze drifting for a moment. "I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings, though. It sounds... lively."

"Lively is one way to put it," I said, giving him a sympathetic smile. "But it's not all bad being an only child, right? No one to fight with over chores or share your toys."

He laughed, the tension easing from his face. "True, but I think I would've traded a few toys for a little more chaos in my life."

I bumped his arm lightly. "Trust me, you say that now, but middle-child chaos is something else. You can take my sisters for a day and see how long you last."

"Is that a challenge?" he teased.

"Maybe," I said with a grin. "But just remember, I've had years of practice. I'm a professional peacekeeper."

As we reached the outskirts of town, the lively hum of the marketplace filled the air. Stalls lined the streets, overflowing with fresh produce, colorful fabrics, and all sorts of trinkets. For a moment, I felt at ease, taking in the familiar sights and smells. But then it hit me—I couldn't get caught here. Not by anyone I knew.

Panic fluttered in my chest. "We need to be careful," I whispered, grabbing Noah's arm. He looked at me, confused.

"Careful? Of what?" he asked, glancing around.

"Of people I know," I said, scanning the crowd nervously. "If someone sees me here, they'll ask a million questions—and I really don't want to explain why I'm walking around town with you."

Noah's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly caught on. "So, what do we do?"

I looked around, spotting a stall overflowing with cloaks and capes. "We buy disguises," I said, dragging him toward it without waiting for a reply.

The stall owner, an older woman with sharp eyes, greeted us with a crooked smile. "Looking for something in particular?" she asked.

I nodded quickly. "Two capes. Something dark, to blend in."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't ask questions, pulling out two plain, dark brown capes from a stack. "These should do the trick."

Noah picked up one of the capes, holding it out to inspect it with a smirk. "Is this what farm life teaches you?"

I gave him a playful nudge. "No, this is what avoiding nosy neighbors teaches you. Big difference."

He chuckled as we both paid for our capes, quickly throwing them over our shoulders. I pulled the hood up, feeling a little silly but much safer. "There," I said, pulling Noah along again. "Now we blend in."

Noah adjusted his hood, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You think this is going to work?"

"It better," I said.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'll take your word for it, peacekeeper."

The market buzzed with life as we walked through the busy streets, the scent of fresh bread and spices filling the air. Colorful stalls lined both sides, each one displaying an array of goods. From woven baskets and handmade soaps to exotic fruits and finely crafted tools, there was so much to see. My heart swelled with a kind of nostalgia. I hadn't been to the market since I left, and I didn't realize how much I missed it until now.

Noah was quietly taking it all in, his eyes darting from one vendor to the next. "Did you come here often?" he asked, his voice soft, almost as if he didn't want to break the spell of the moment.

"Yes, with my friends a lot" I said, a fond smile tugging at my lips.

He nodded, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "What's your favorite part of the market?"

I gestured toward the vendor just ahead, where rows of sparkling jewelry were laid out on the table—rings, necklaces, bracelets, all glinting in the sunlight. "The jewelry stalls," I admitted with a small laugh. "I'd come here just to look at all the pretty things, even though I could never afford any of it."

We approached the stall, and I couldn't help but run my fingers along the edge of a delicate silver chain, my eyes lingering on a simple but elegant pendant. Noah stood beside me, watching me closely, though he said nothing. I could feel his gaze, and for a brief moment, it made me self-conscious.

"This was always the part where I'd have to remind myself not to get too attached," I said lightly, pulling my hand back from the necklace. "Looking's free, but everything else... not so much."

Noah glanced at the pendant and then back at me, his brow furrowed slightly as if he was thinking about something. But before he could say anything, the sound of familiar voices cut through the air, freezing me in place.

"Magnolia, wait up!"

My heart dropped into my stomach. That voice—I'd recognize it anywhere. Willow. My best friend. And that other voice—Joseph. And then, unmistakably, Haven's laugh.

Panic surged through me like a lightning bolt. They couldn't see me here.