Lorcan was dragged out of the Marriot restaurant towards the capital street. Astrea made sure to avoid both the Royal and Campbell carriage while walking towards the commoner's market.
"Where are we going?" he asked after being pulled around the streets.
She didn't stop moving and replied, "You are too eye-catching, we must change you from this royal outfit for us to blend well in the crowd"
Lorcan furrowed his brows in confusion but soon his query was resolved when they entered a commoner's clothing hoard. He was about to ask something but Astrea didn't wait for him and handed him some clothes, "Wear this your highness" he stood still but she urged him inside the changing room, "Get inside your highness"
He sighed inside the room and started changing his outfit. Lorcan was not even able to understand himself today. Last night he was not able to take his mind off of that stubborn girl's letter and after meeting her, he obeyed all of her whims without getting angry. It was just that, he wanted to see more of her smile and bright eyes and couldn't bring himself to make her sad.
"What is wrong with me?" he murmured coming out of the changing room.
"Oh, you are still eye-catching your highness"
Lorcan looked up at the sweet voice calling him and went into a trance. She looked so lovely in a black top and knee-length maroon-colored skirt. Her shiny silver hair was put in a messy bun with a maroon scarf tied in a flower shape.
Astrea stepped towards him, "Your highness?"
He came out of his reverie hearing her voice, "Hmm?"
She smiled, He was wearing a simple white shirt with black trousers "Are you ready to explore the commoner's street?"
Lorcan nodded absentmindedly as she took his hand and left the shop before paying for the outfits, "I'll call you Max for today your highness. We cannot enjoy our time fully if people recognize you"
He nodded, it was a good idea for them to use a different identity. He wanted to start a conversation so he asked, "Why Max though?"
Astrea smirked, "It's my favorite name, your highness" then she turned to him, "You don't like it?"
Lorcan's lips unknowingly arched up after hearing her reason. 'So she used her favorite name for me?' 'Then am I her favorite now?' He laughed inwardly at his silly thoughts. Still happy, he asked, "Then what should I call you?"
"I'll leave that to you..." she said in a sing-song voice.
He smiled at her and parted his lips, "Rea...I want to call you Rea"
She chuckled, "But that is my real name"
"I just want to call you that, name," he said, "Can I?"
"Hmm" she feigned thinking and beamed at him, "Since you are so handsome, I'll give it a pass"
Lorcan halted his steps, "You think I'm handsome?"
She nodded her head and he grinned, "You are beautiful too"
"I know," She said shamelessly surprising him yet again. Shouldn't ladies in this situation get shy? Well, she was different, she was his Rea, after all, Wait! did I just say my Rea?
"I didn't know your Highness" he came out of his thoughts, "What did you not know?"
Astrea laughed, "That you go into daze every minute"
His face felt warm and a blush crept through his neck. It was surprising for even himself that he lost focus so many times today.
She didn't want to embarrass him further so changed the topic, "What do you want to have for lunch Max?"
Lorcan, now Max recovered from his embarrassment, "I have no idea"
Rea took his hand and went into a nearby seafood restaurant, "You are fine with seafood right?"
"Anything is fine"
The server of that place stepped towards them and smiled, "You are finally here? Grandma always asked about you"
"I was busy Steven," she said and the server looked at Lorcan, "Who...?"
Rea followed his line of sight and exclaimed, "This is Max, my lover" then she turned to him, "Max this Steven, the owner and also the waiter of this place. Most importantly my good friend"
The crown prince observed the young man in front of him with a frown on his face. He was quite good-looking with caramel-colored locks and amber eyes. But he didn't like this guy even a little bit. Lorcan detected the obvious displeasure the young man showed when his Rea introduced him as her lover and his displeasure grew even more when she started talking with him so enthusiastically.
Steven led them to the table beside the window and left after taking orders. Lorcan looked at his retreating form and turned to Astrea, "Do you come to the commoner's street quite often?"
She nodded her head, "I do. Most of the time when I want to spend some time away from the boring high society, I find myself here"
"You must hate the gatherings of high society I see"
"It's tiring," she said with a sigh, "Masking their real thoughts with a fake smile, always pointing out that my family is filled with humans and how humans are beneath the supernatural beings. I get annoyed, sometimes I even wish to take my family to the Findara empire to settle down"
Lorcan stared at her face and said seriously, "After I become the king, I will make sure to punish all of the nobles who insulted you and your family. So don't leave this empire, and stay with me"
She blinked her eyes, "Aren't you offended by my words? After all, you are also a Vampire, a supernatural being"
He furrowed his brows. Her words were true, he was also one of them who loved superiority and condemned the humans. He didn't like the fact that they were so weak and only treated them as his blood supply but suddenly after hearing her words, he felt angry for her. How dare someone treat her like that!?
Astrea smiled sadly hearing no response from him, "Just forget about it"
He tried to open his mouth to say something but the food came to their table, "Enjoy your food" Steven said and left the table to attend to other customers.
"Thank you" Astrea thanked him and started breaking the crab leg using a wooden mallet. She waved her hand in front of him, "Are you not eating?"
Lorcan nodded and started eating a fried fish dish. After finishing their lunch, they left the restaurant to roam around the streets.
Astrea felt a little awkward after their conversation in the restaurant. She chided herself for her loose tongue and wanted to lift his mood. Then an idea flashed in her mind and she took him to the center of the commoner's street.
In front of a beautiful water fountain, musicians played various instruments creating music that uplifted the people's hearts. Couples danced following the beat creating a festive atmosphere in the air.
Lorcan looked at this scene with his eyes wide open, "Is there a festival going on here?"
Rea shook her head with a faint smile, "After the working hours every day, commoners gather around here to dance of their tiredness and enjoy the music"
"Do you want to try?" she asked.
"I don't know how to.." he replied doubtfully.
She took both of his hands and directed him towards the music, "Just listen to the music and follow my lead"
Astrea linked his shoulders with hers and circled according to the beat. Awkward in the beginning, but he soon memorized the steps and started moving.
"You are a fast learner," she said laughing.
"It's because I have a great teacher" he replied with a smile. It was the best day of his life. He learned so many things about humans and commoners. As a crown prince of this empire, he felt lacking. Today he learned about the hardships his people faced and also about their positive mindset in facing everything with a smile on their face.
Then he stared at Astrea's beautiful face. She was one of a kind, not scared about telling problems that their kind-faced and he also knew that she was not blaming him but just felt comfortable with him to reveal her worries and he liked her honesty.
As they stopped dancing, a little girl with a flower basket came to him and tugged his sleeve, "Please buy some flowers brother"
Rea crouched down at the girl and looked at her big brown eyes, "What is a little girl like you doing at such late hours dear? It is not safe for you to be here"
The girl bent her head, "I don't have a choice sister. After my father's disappearance, my mother fell ill. Only I and my big brother are the breadwinners of our family"
She frowned, "Did your mother get treated?"
The girl shook her head with tears brimming in her eyes, "My mother said that some bad people are looking for us, so we were unable to go to a hospital"
"Bad guys? Can you tell me who are they, sweetie?"
"I don't know, my mother is too sacred and doesn't tell us about them"
Astrea got up from the ground and stretched her hands towards the little girl, "Can you take me to your mother?"
The little girl fidgeted in her place and ran away leaving Astrea behind, "Wait..." she tried calling but the girl was gone.
"Poor thing, how afraid is she?"
"Do you know that girl?" Lorcan asked and she shook her head, "Then why are you trying to help her?"
Astrea raised her brows, "Because I have the power to help her. Who will help the less fortunate if all of us close our eyes and remain silent? Help is just a simple word, but it might change others' lives and I try to be helpful for others if possible"