The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

Journey along the Forest

Once again, I am caught at a loss at the differences of the Empire from the Kingdom. Our clothes were often made of coarser materials, much so that we could survive from the harsher winters up north. The southern nation, however, was drier and hotter, so silks were a fashion they can afford to use. Knowing how expensive the prices for silk can go up exponentially within the kingdom, I am but frozen stiff from shock as I gazed upon the rolls of soft material draped upon the dozen Cameliphanti.

"How much-?" I muttered blankly.

"That would fetch a lot of money back in the Kingdom," Joren agreed with his hands on his hips, admiring the extravagantly clothed herd.

"I didn't really notice earlier," I murmured. "But that's actual, real silk."

I was reminded again about how beneficial the move to open our markets were. Not only for the exchange of clothing and cultural objects, but also for the exchange of knowledge and medicines. Although for now, the Empire was the only one who had made the sudden move, I knew from the future that upon the announcement of my engagement to the Crown Prince Charles, Saule Kingdom will also soon open their walls. The economy will be booming not only for the two leading nations, but also for the smaller countries that lie in between them in the central plains.

I suddenly felt bad. 'If I had stayed... If I hadn't left, I could have made our people's lives better. The citizens would have had better and cheaper necessities, and their way of life would have had improved by a significant margin...'

"Am I really that selfish?" I whispered to myself. 'All for my personal freedom?'

Something suddenly pushed against the back of my knees, making me bend forward and lose balance. I looked back in annoyance. "Joren! Not nice!"

"Well." He shrugged his shoulders with a unapologetic look. "You seemed like ya were daydreamin' again. You do that a lot."

"... I do?" I asked seriously.

"Yeah, you do." He nodded his head. "All the time while we were travellin' from Saule. You looked all sad-like, or somethin'."

I unconsciously looked around for a mirror, but settled instead for a puddle right at my feet. I could barely see my face because of the low sun, but I can imagine my face clearly. Growing up, I had grown used to seeing myself looking gloomy rather than filled with laughter.

'Right,' I thought. 'It didn't matter if my disappearance would cause the alliance to end. What would those flimsy deals bring anyway? Short reprieve? I remember the alliance almost getting broken off at least twice as I was growing up, regardless of my engagement to their prince.'

I began to strengthen my resolve. 'It doesn't matter. It's not like anything great ever happened from our brief alliance. If I could change it all-'

The loud exhalation of the Cameliphantus right beside us interrupted my thoughts. I looked way, way up and swore the creature's dark eyes were staring right at me. One of its horns was almost touching the ground, so I stretched out a hand to touch it...

"Don't go placing your hands wherever you want, boy." An incredibly tall and skinny woman had pulled at the back of my shirt and away from the animal. She then announced loudly towards the whole field of accepted students, all standing around anxiously alone or gathered up in groups. "Don't no one go touching or coming near the Cameliphanti, you hear?"

Staring up at her, her face and arms were decorated with weird, swirling markings that were a shade lighter than her bronze skin. Upon closer look, although she seemed skinny, her arms and legs were well-toned and firm. She then gazed down at me with a thin brow held up. "You see something interesting, boy?"