"Where is she?"
Cavi looked around, finding no shadow of the girl anymore. the sun is already setting though the street didn't even calm down a bit. Instead, more people arrived to celebrate it.
And with this people around, how will that stupid woman even survive?
A man dressed in a commoner's clothing approached Cavi, pretending to check the products in a stall behind him. though, secretly, he spoke to the king.
"Your majesty. don't worry about, my lady. I already assigned some secret guards to protect her. so even if she got lost in the crowd, she won't be put into danger."
Cavi squinted his eyes and turned to the secret guard, lips pressed tight. "Who said I'm worrying about that woman?" he snapped and left.
As he walked away, another secret guard approached the one before and grinned as they watch their pretentious master.
"Now it is really proven that his majesty can really have an interest in women," the first one commented as he touched his chin.
The second one laughed and presented his palm toward his fellow; as if he's asking something.
"What are you doing?" the first one was confused.
"Aya! Big brother! Don't tell me you already forgotten about it? you lose our bet. Didn't you said, his majesty will never have an interest to any lady?"
Sighing in defeat, the first secret guard took out a gold coin from his sleeve and unwillingly dropped it into his fellow's palms.
Indeed, he lost.
***
"Bad Gege! He really abandoned me in the street alone huh? I don't even have a money with me. plus, I don't remember the way back to the palace…"
Hariah sat at the corner of the street, sulking after being abandoned by the cold king. She really couldn't believe he left without checking if she's still following or not? How was he suppose to expect her find her way back in this flood of people?
"But, I can just ask someone the direction back to the palace, right?" Shaking her head at her own silliness, Hariah jumped up to her feet as she decided.
She looked around her, finding someone to ask help for. However, as she was about to approach a woman, a man's voice spoke behind her. she wasn't expecting it, causing her to jump in surprise.
"Miss, are you lost? How about letting us bring you home?"
"N-no. it's fine. I can find my way back," she lied since they didn't even seem reliable.
Hariah instantly sensed their bad intention, causing her to step back slowly. She knew she needed to escape. However, as she walked inversely, she bumped into someone else who grabbed her arms tightly. she attempted breaking away from his grip and though she did, another blocked her way. Now, she was surrounded by them!
"Beautiful lady. don't be afraid. We'll still send you home. But before that, let us take you to somewhere fun, alright?" the leader of the men, started to approach her, even trying to touch her face but Hariah slapped it away.
The bad guys only laughed at her.
She looked around the streets to find someone to ask help for. Yet, everyone seemed too busy. And it was too noisy that even if she screamed, no one will be able to hear her.
She was almost hopeless. At the verge of tears with fear overwhelming her. she didn't know anyone in this world. who was she supposed to ask help with? Yet, something on the street caught her eyes as the sunset beamed over it.
A silver hair!
"Gege!" she screamed, diverting the attention of the men and that gave her an opportunity to ran away. she directly grabbed Cavi's arm who seemed surprised at her sudden appearance and hide at his back.
"T-they…they wanted to take me somewhere," she told him like a child asking for her brother's support at those who just bullied her.
The silver-haired man looked at the men she was pointing at, but those men were already feeling nervous at the sight of him.
"S-silver haired man… there's only one with that hair color who will come here in the streets…" the leader stuttered as their knees trembled.
"Boss... you mean, Crown Prince… and that lady we were about to take was his woman?!"
"Run! Don't you want to live anymore!?" the leader screamed and cowardly run away into an alley.
Hariah giggled in relief though she her heart was still racing.
"Tss! Such a coward! I can't believe that you can scare them away in just your presence, Gege!" she looked up to him since he wasn't even speaking. Yet, her brows knotted.
"Your majesty." she said at a whispering voice, tip-toing so he can hear her. "Why are you wearing such a scary mask? Is that why those men were scared and run away? Ow… I got it now. Then, buy me a scary mask too so I can scare away those bad guys if I met them again!"
Pulling him by his hand towards the stall of masks, Hariah was halted when she saw someone so familiar before her. Lips falling to the ground, she stared at the man she was holding-hands with and to the man standing before her.
"Why is his majesty standing before me when I am holding him beside me?" she thought, confused of the two silver-haired men beside her.
As she intently looked at the man before her, her eyes widened as she recognized the cold and squinting eyes of his. That man was indeed the real king Cavi! But who is this man she's holding?
Letting his hand go, she run towards Cavi who was now glaring at her. "Gege!" she screamed, hiding behind him ash she peeked at the fake Cavi who's wearing a mask.
"Gege?" the other silver haired man chuckled viciously, and Hariah was convinced. He wasn't really Cavi. They're too different. "I didn't know you have such a beautiful sister, your majesty."
Approaching to her, the man was about to touch her face but Cavi snapped his hand away. again, the mysterious man just laughed.
"Crown Prince Raziel." In his tone, there was an evident warning and threat as the king spoke.
"Fine. Fine. Fine. I won't bother your sister, your majesty. for…now…" the last two words were firm.
Before leaving, Crown Prince Raziel took his mask of, revealing his face which made Hariah froze. Inexplicably, she felt a strange stir inside her. it was just too strange that made her scared of him. Though Cavi was cold and indifferent at many times, she was never been afraid this way.
Yet, this man… he's different. His beautiful face wasn't even able to mask the evilness and naughtiness he had.
"You're staring at me, beautiful lady. aren't you scared your Gege will get angry at me?" the crown prince teased, snapping Hariah back from reverie.
Cavi glanced at her and his lips formed a thin line, seeing the red tint in her cheeks. Again, he glared at the man before them when she felt her hands gripping at his arm more tightly. was she…scared?
"Raziel." Again, he warned him.
Raziel, nodded with smirk before waving his hand. Yet, he still wasn't planning to leave. Approaching the girl who was hiding behind Cavi, he placed the mask on her face and tied it on her.
"Always wear this when you go out, alright? There are many bad guys who loved pretty ladies like you. Don't get lost from your Gege, anymore, understood?"
To her surprise, Hariah found herself nodding at him. thus, making the prince grin.
Turning his back, he started walking away but stopped in few steps. He looked back, staring only at her. "Also, I forgot to tell you. I'm also one of the bad guys."
With a wink, he left. Hariah gasped and realized she only started breathing when he was gone. Beside her, Cavi was intently staring at her. when she looked up with curious eyes behind the mask she's wearing, he spoke to her.
"Are you scared of him?"
She again looked at where the man disappeared into and sighed. In a small voice, she replied. "Yes."
She was feeling guilty. She was scared of a man with no reason. It's as if, she's judging him with a prejudice despite knowing nothing of him.
As she was busy with her thought, she felt a hand holding her own; making her lift her head from the ground.
Though Cavi didn't smile, his expression seemed lighter than usual. As if, trying to comfort her.
"Don't be scared. I'm here." with that, her heart jumped. Those words were too familiar…