The Paparazzo with a Secret

Chapter 1

The art of photography was as refined as any other sport. The science surrounding the usage of a good viewfinder was immaculate, even down to being near to exact. Nobody could really underestimate a viewfinder...

I huffed breaking my gaze away from the digital screen in my hands. Nothing interesting was happening lately, which meant my dinner would be rations again. "Ugh, just thinking about it is giving me such a headache!"

I got up, patting down my clothes as I searched my surroundings. Coast was clear. Satisfied, I moved out of the bushes mentally debating whether I should get a coffee for myself or spare my dwindling earnings when a shout caught my attention.

"That's her! Don't let her escape!"

I clicked my tongue, tucked my camera securely after making sure the strap had been around my neck, and started sprinting like no tomorrow. "Looks like I'm gonna run on an empty tank again,"

It just had to be a bright, clear and sunny day...

•—•☆•—•

"There's a café here that just opened recently," Sieg spoke enthusiastically as he walked at a leisure pace.

"Couldn't you have asked Hans to bring you some?" Hayden sighed, exasperated slightly. He was the unfortunate one to have been dragged along, though that couldn't be helped as the new café had opened in Philip.

"That would defeat the whole purpose of visiting them incognito," Sieg retorted with a smirk. "and the setting of where you eat the desserts matter!"

"You just didn't want to eat them in the Palace," Hayden retorted grinning cheekily at his companion. It was quite obvious.

Sieg huffed and opened his mouth to retort at the jab but was abruptly interrupted when something fell in front of them. Both Princes' blinked to see that it wasn't exactly a... thing but a someone.

Too shocked for words, they both stared as the young woman got up with nonchalance while patting down her clothes. Her chestnut hair all over the place and her attire wasn't doing any better. Then as if to bring the frozen Princes' back to Earth, her hazel eyes made contact with theirs. Unfazed, she gave a short bow. "Evenin', gentlemen,"

With an air of dignity that even impressed both Hayden and Sieg, the young woman walked off as if nothing happened.

Hayden was about to go and approach her when another person had ungracefully fallen in front of them, his attire was thrown in disarray as well but far more dirtier than the young woman before him. Unlike the woman, he didn't pay any mind to the Princes' and instead looked around lividly. He found his target and immediately rushed over to her, all the while shrieking. "You, woman! Stop right this instant!"

The woman didn't look back as she scrambled up the hood of a nearby car and proceeded to jump dauntlessly onto a moving vehicle. It was only then did she turn around with an impish grin, yelling out to the livid man. "Ya ain't gonna catch me, banana-arse! Do me a favour an' watch the tabloids!"

Hayden and Sieg remained rooted to the sidewalk, neither of them uttering a word. It was some time before Sieg started. "Let's go to the café another time, what do you say?"

Hayden met Sieg's eyes and only nodded in response. The trip back to the castle remained silent, all the while the thought of the absurd young woman remained between them.