A P H I A
The next day, Prince Kalmin and I started our combat training at exactly eight in the morning. We were focused on the training since I will be joining one of the Orders two weeks from now.
"You should improve your stamina." He said after our training. I am panting hard, and I can't almost breathe. The sun is about to set, and I figure our training lasts longer than the other day. I sit on the grass before drinking water.
I nod at him. "I will run a few laps tomorrow," I said before dropping myself on the grass. I breathed out before closing my eyes to take a rest. I sense Prince Kalmin sitting beside me.
"So, where did Clovis take you yesterday?" He asked, and I looked at him.
"He took me to the back alley of Capital City. I did not know that your world has that kind of area as well." I answered.
"Did you like the food there?" I looked at him in confusion. "What's with the look?" He asked.
"Have you been there?" He nodded before drinking the sparkling water that his attendant gave to him. "Really? I thought you were stuck in the castle!" I exclaimed.
"Who told you that?" He asked in a straight face. "I am not stuck here. I have obligations outside the castle as well." I looked at him suspiciously. "What do you want me to say?" He asked.
"You don't have obligations at the back alley, your highness." He diverted his gaze away from me before clearing his throat. I knew it! He's hiding something!
"Spill it!" I shouted at him, and he looked at me in surprise. "Spill the tea! I am good at keeping secrets." I said while smiling widely at him.
"Stop smiling like that. You look like a dog."
"A dog is adorable."
"You are not adorable."
"First, you compared me to an animal. Second, you just told me that I am ugly. You have crushed my ego, my dear prince." I said while shaking my head dramatically and wiping fake tears on my cheeks.
He smirks. "Your dear prince, huh." He said.
"You know it's sarcastic, right?" I looked at him with a straight face.
"No. I am taking it seriously, and I like it." He said before smiling mischievously at me.
What is he talking about?!
"You are creeping me out, and you are changing the topic!" I shouted at him while my brows were knitting together.
"I just notice that you are uglier whenever you get angry at me." He said while smiling, and he winced when I punched him on his belly. "You love hurting me, don't you?!" He shouted in annoyance while massaging his belly.
"Just answer my question!" I shouted.
He clears his throat before looking at me intently. "I am sneaking out of the castle." He said, and I looked at him in shock. "Mostly at night." He added.
"Really?!" He nodded. "Where do you go, and what do you do?" I asked curiously.
"Anywhere my feet lead me. I do what any normal person does. I do what I cannot do as the crown prince." A smile formed on his lips, and I couldn't help but admire that kind of smile. It's genuine and comes from the heart.
"So, you are not stuck in the castle," I stated.
He shakes his head. "I am definitely not stuck in the castle." He said while smiling, and I smiled back at him.
I am glad to know that he is not someone that everyone thinks he is. Prince Kalmin is not merely a prince.
Later that night…
"Shit! What are you doing here?!" I shouted and Prince Kalmin quickly turned his back on me. I grabbed my robe from the chair and wore it.
What the hell is he doing in my room at this hour?!
I just came out of the shower, wearing only a nightdress, and I found him standing near the door. I tried to look for something to cover my legs and feet, but I couldn't find anything, so I just left it bare.
I don't mind Prince Kalmin seeing me like this. I am from the other world, and I am used to it. "You can face me now," I said before letting out a deep sigh.
The moment he turned to face me, he quickly looked at me from head to toe and got shocked after seeing my bare legs and feet. "Aphia!" He shouted in shock, and his cheeks turned red.
Goodness! He blushed because of my bare legs and feet!? What more if he sees my cleavage?! It's not that I want him to see, but just to imagine that, I think he will faint.
"You don't have the right to complain! You just suddenly barged in! Deal with it!" I said before sitting on the couch. I look at him from head to toe, and I just notice that he is wearing ordinary clothes. "Why are you dressed like that?" I asked.
He clears his throat before looking at me. "Come with me tonight." He said, and I looked at him in confusion. "We will sneak out tonight and enjoy the night in the Capital City." He said while smiling.
"Really?!" I jumped in excitement. "Will I be able to experience the nightlife in this world?!" I yelled while jumping on the couch. "I'm up for it!"
"Tone down your voice, will you? They might catch us." He said, and I shrieked instead. He shakes his head in annoyance, and I giggle. "Change your clothes into this." He said before giving me a set of clothes. I nodded and grabbed the clothes from him. I quickly changed my clothes in the shower, and I smiled at how I looked.
Prince Kalmin is wearing white long sleeves, brown trousers, and brown knee-high boots. He also puts a fake moustache. I am wearing a plain navy blue dress, covered with a white apron, cloak, and brown shoes. We look like from the working class during the 18th century. These are what we called peasants clothing.
"Are you sure they won't recognize you in that outfit?" I asked before leaving. His princely aura is still radiating from his beautiful face while I look like a real peasant. Life is really unfair.
"I have tried it many times, and no one recognized me." He answered before stepping out of the room. I followed him while making sure that the guards roaming around the castle would not notice us.
Prince Kalmin led me to a way that I didn't try before. It's dark and isolated. I guessed he mastered how to sneak out of the castle. "When did you start sneaking out of the castle?" I asked before jumping over the wall.
"I was sneaking out since I was 18 years old, five years ago." He said after catching me. So, it explains how we sneak out easily of the castle. We ride the horse going to the Capital City.
"Woah!" I exclaimed while roaming around the busier and livelier street of Capital City. "It's livelier at night!" I shouted at Prince Kalmin, and he chuckled.
Lights are everywhere. Clowns are entertaining the visitors. Street painters are busy painting. A bunch of people is playing the button accordion, banjo, flute, cornet, maracas, and xylophone. People are dancing to the beat of their music. Food stalls are more than during the day.
"These are amazing! It looks fun!" I exclaimed. It looks festive and lively!
Prince Kalmin grabs my hand and leads me to the food stalls. We just had dinner, for Pete's sake. I want to watch the performance more! He bought street foods, a normal street food unlike what Clovis bought for me yesterday.
"So, normal street foods exist in this world!" I exclaimed in excitement before digging in. They are selling aloo chaat, arepa, anticucho, asinan, banana cue, banh mi, beguni, bungeo-ppang, bunny chow, calzone, chapli kebab, chuan, crepe, fish & chips, gyro, poutine, and a lot more.
Prince Kalmin bought all the foods that I mentioned, and we ate while watching the performances of artists and entertainers at the plaza of Capital City. Prince Kalmin just mentioned what part of the Capital City is that.
"What is that?" I pointed to a restaurant using my lips, and he followed the direction. I cannot use my hands since I am holding our food. People are coming in and out of that establishment, and most are guys.
"It's a tavern."
"Woah! A tavern, you say!?!" I exclaimed in surprise. I looked at him in excitement, and I think my eyes twinkled.
He looks at me with a straight face. "Do not tell me you want to go there." He said, and I nodded, and he sighed in frustration.
"Have you been to that kind of place?" I asked, and he shook his head. "Why not?!" I looked at him in disappointment.
"I cannot drink alone and go home drunk. The king will not tolerate that kind of action." He said while looking at the tavern.
"I am here now." That statement caught his attention, and he looked at me. "I am your partner in crime starting today," I said while smiling at him. "Let's drink and have fun!" I shouted before grabbing his hand and running towards the tavern.
Let's keep creating unforgettable memories while trying new things, shall we?