BEROYALED

THE CAFÉ OWNER

At first I thought it was a good idea. But then unexpectedly I spent an hour walking through the alleyways of the academy' compound without Jeremy talking. I suppose I expected he was going to be interrogative. For someone who openly admits they like me, he's not the curious type. I guess he's thinking there wasn't anything he has to know any more about me. Then... what does he like about me? Perhaps it was still a good idea to escape.

"What's your deal?" I finally spoke. I guess I did come to a point where I was bored enough to even initiate a conversation—especially with Jeremy.

Frustratingly, he didn't answer. Instead he looked at me as if I was a stranger who just suddenly talked to him in the middle of the street. But then he laughed and continued walking past me.

"Please don't mind me highness. I know it's uncomfortable without Simon with you."

"You know it then."

"Of course—everyone in the academy knows."

"Oh." I did not know what to say next. I just continued walking while watching his back and with my mind blank for a while. A few curious things did come up into my mind later but a while has already passed. The path we were strolling is still a bit far from downtown. No one was there except us.

"I think it's time for me to go back to the palace."

He checked his watch and looked at me. "It's still too early highness. I still want to do more sightseeing."

"Go ahead and walk further yourself then. I've been gone long enough."

"You have nothing to worry about, highness. They've been following us this whole time. No one will be looking for you in a long while."

"What?" I sounded concerned and looked around. But Jeremy grabbed me by the shoulder to keep me from looking. I assumed if there was someone following us they'd come out when Jeremy was suddenly this aggressive. His hands on my shoulders were neither holding me tightly nor gently. His eyebrows were knitted together while his dark eyes gazed at me. I could tell his teeth are gritted together underneath his shaking lips like he's hesitating to say something. But no guards came out at all. Only a faint whisper from his lips came out.

"Don't... you know me?" He whispered.

Lost, my voice almost came out like a whisper as well. "What?" I breathed but his gaze was steady and he did not respond or asked any more. Weird things were starting to run in my mind. Some of them were completely outrageous like—what if this deceitful foreigner plans to kidnap me for ransom? But then his lips curved up into almost a sinister smile.

"Wh-who are you?" I stuttered.

"I'm..." He started. "...just kidding, highness!" He suddenly exclaimed and laughed. "Don't you know me still, highness? I am never serious. No one is following us. We totally fooled them with our disguises earlier."

I got so mad I punched him in the nose. I did not knock him out but he sure was grunting in pain and I did punch him hard enough for his nose to bleed.

"Why did you do that? What is wrong with you? Look it's bleeding!"

For a moment I felt guilty I made his nose bleed but even then I was still furious, I left him there and ran away.

"Highness, where are you going? You can't leave by yourself!" He yelled but I had no intentions of turning around neither did I had any particular places to go. I just wanted to run to my heart's content. I ran until I was out of breath. I ran until I realized I was already downtown and walked to an alley where a small overnight café just opened. There I sat on their porch to rest and stayed there until it was starting to get dark. The café's owner brought me a slice of cheesecake when I didn't even order.

"It's on the house, darling." He said and smiled.

"Oh. Thank you very much, sir." I said meekly.

"It's no bother darling. Waiting for someone?"

"Huh? Oh... No." I answered. Or I lied—partly. As much as I didn't want to, I was already wondering why Jeremy hasn't arrived yet. He should've followed me despite what I did. I'll have to admit. I wasn't confident being by myself in the city. All of it was ironically strange and new to me.

"Are you sure darling? No one's tagging along with you, for sure?" The owner said as if he was able to read my mind.

"Well, I had a friend tagging along but I punched his face and made his nose bleed." I answered honestly.

"Tough girl you are, eh? I suppose your friend figured out you're good to go by yourself after all. Some young man left this envelope just a short while ago. Told me to give it to you, darling. Maybe that was your friend." He handed to me a strikingly familiar envelope.

I jerked off my seat, stunned. "Are you sure it was my friend who gave this to you?"

"Pretty much." He shrugged. "His face was quite a wreck. You punched him in the face didn't you? That was him alright."

It can't be. I said in my mind. It really couldn't be. There must be a mistake somewhere that I did not notice. This just couldn't be it. It can't be. I probably said that line over and over in my mind as I stared, slowly opened and read the letter. My mind went blank and all I could hear was the throbbing of my heart.

Dear Princess,

I've noticed you've been having a rough time lately. I suppose I am to be blamed. As princess, you don't shed your tears in front of people—not even in front of your friends—but I know you've been crying as I have been watching you. I wish there is something I could do to ease your suffering but I could only write this short letter to you and pray you'd think of me; sometimes at least; even if it's only to despise me.

Please be patient with me, highness. I haven't done much yet to truly show myself to you so you do not see me as an enemy but only a gentleman asking for your hand. My intentions are pure and my conscience is clear. But I very much prefer winning your heart this way.

Yours truly,

Lucas

"Where..." My voice merely came out as a wisp of breath as I felt my throat starting to turn dry. But I wanted to know for sure so I tried again and asked, "Do you know where he went after giving this, sir?"

"I can't be sure darling but he was headed down that road." He pointed at an alley across the café.

Without any more delay I ran as fast as I can just in case I might still catch him. I almost did not care about cars passing by. If I wanted to catch him I shouldn't be in a ludicrous sudden car accident in a very critical moment, shouldn't I? But then more sudden than a car accident I was just thinking and more surprising, I saw Simon come out from a pharmacy and bumped into him.

All the thoughts that I've had beforehand were nullified. No, it became even more confusing.

"Drei..." Simon looked at me flabbergasted. I had a lot of things I wanted to ask him. What is he doing here? Why is he still here? I though he left! I was completely lost but looking at his face in a wreck...

"...I punched his face and made his nose bleed." That's what I told the café owner.

"His face was quite a wreck... That was him alright." That's what I recalled the café owner said.

"Simon... what happened to your face?" I asked out of breath and shaking. My lips were dry and shaking. My knees were becoming weak and shaking. And my vision also started shaking and before I realized it, I was already on the ground watching Simon call my name before I lost consciousness.