Red & White

seven.

The cold January air blew gusts at Leah's pale face, causing her to squint and huddle closer to her scrap of clothing used as a jumper. It wasn't coated in animal fur like the middle and upper-class had. It wasn't even warm. It was scratchy, but in this weather, Leah knew she just had to suck it up and deal with it.

The pail clutched between her fingers dangled by her side. She was on her way to the water well in the mid afternoon on the day before the last day of the month. Her feet tapped against the stones, lighting tossing them in opposite directions.

The streets were quiet, making the short journey down the cobbled road peaceful. She looked at the tall trees swaying in the wind until they cleared. The water well was unoccupied, none of her fellow peasants here to retrieve water for the families. That was what Leah was here to do. It was one of her many jobs to do during the day.

She set the bucket down under the faucet, pulling the lever back and watching on as the water spewed out. The water here was as clean as you could get. It didn't cause cholera or anything, which was good. But it wasn't exactly..clean.

The once silent road suddenly picked up in volume.

Leah paid no attention to it, keeping a close eye on her bucket. Maybe it was one of her neighbors getting water, or maybe it was some soldiers patrolling the land as usual.

It was when the thud of hard boots thumped into her eardrums that Leah realized the previous noise wasn't someone's feet. Her body twisted around only to back away. Her back hit the brick well, eyes bulging.

Prince Harry had jumped off his horse, stalking towards her.

"I found you," he softly said, oblivious -or not caring- at the panicked state Leah was currently in. He was here. He was staring at her clad in rags and dirt and sweat.

"Y-your highness." Again, she fumbled with her words through the shock and embarrassment. Quickly, she curtsied.

"Leah, right?" He asked and she nodded her head. The way her name rolled off his tongue and spoken so slowly sounded incredibly sexy. "You must think of me as some crazed stalker, knowing exactly where you were," Harry chuckled, "but actually it isn't really like that. See, I was looking for you specifically-"

"Me?" She was afraid of speaking up and once she realized that she had interrupted the prince, the full regret poured though her body.

"Yes, you. I ordered my valets to find out where you lived just by your name. I then rode my horse here and when I arrived at your..uh home, I found your little brothers outside and they informed me that you were at the well and directed me down the road. And here I am."

His explanation confused her in so many different ways. This didn't make any sense to her. She was a peasant. Couldn't he get in trouble for even speaking to her? Their worlds should never merge. It's nature. So why was this prince suddenly going out of his way to talk to this nobody?

"Why me?"

"I wanted to invite you to my birthday ball," Harry shocked her by saying, dodging Leah's question. She literally chocked on her own breath at that. She swore, this man would end up killing her. "It's in two days. I apologize for the late invitation, I understand it's rather inconvenient for you. But I do hope you will be able to accompany me."

"I-I.."

Harry raised his perfect brow at her inability to communicate with him. She was stilled to the land, the pail squeezed under her hands. Leah couldn't believe what was happening right now. It was so incredibly foreign and anomalous that her brain was pounding against her skull.