Ethan's pov:-
Aria and I walked through the bustling market, the sights and sounds of the vibrant stalls surrounding us. Aria's eyes scanned the wares on display, her hand reaching out occasionally to touch a fabric or examine a piece of jewelry. I browsed the various goods with a slight frown, clearly not as interested in shopping as Aria was.
I really wasn't in the mood to spend time wandering around stalls, surrounded by people and noise. But whenever Aria asked me to do something with her, I found myself unable to say no. There was something about her that made it impossible for me to refuse her, even when I really wanted to.
As we weaved through the crowds at the market, my eyes didn't linger on the goods on display. Instead, my attention was solely fixed on Aria. I watched her as she browsed the stalls, admiring the way her face lit up when she saw something she liked, and how her fingers brushed against the different items, almost as if she was caressing them. I found myself distracted by her every movement, my thoughts entirely captivated by her presence.
Aria and I stepped into the grand jewelry shop, our presence immediately commanding attention. The shopkeeper, recognizing us as a princess and a crown prince, immediately approached with a respectful bow.
"Princess Aria, Crown Prince Ethan, welcome," he said, his voice deferential. "What can I show you today?"
"We're just browsing for now," I replied casually, trying to hide my disinterest in the jewelry. I knew Aria was the one who really enjoyed shopping, not me.
The shopkeeper nodded politely, gesturing to the array of sparkling jewels on display. "Of course, please have a look around. Take your time."
Aria picked up a necklace and asked, "How is this necklace?"
I turned to look at the necklace, but my gaze lingered on Aria's face instead.
"Absolutely stunning," I murmured, my eyes fixed on her features. But words had a double meaning that Aria didn't quite catch. Iwas actually referring to her beauty, not the necklace.
Aria smiled at my agreement, completely oblivious to the double meaning behind my words. She continued to admire the necklace in her hand, completely missing the way my eyes were still fixated on her.
Author's pov:-
The shopkeeper, Mr. Dashner was standing nearby, couldn't help but notice the subtle exchange between them, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
As Aria held the necklace, she tried to fasten it around her neck. But her hands fumbled with the clasp, unable to manage it.
Ethan noticed her struggle and stepped closer, his fingers taking over the task. "Here, let me help you," he said, his voice low.
Ethan gently moved her hair aside, his fingers fastening the clasp behind her neck. As he adjusted the necklace.
The shopkeeper and the other workers in the jewelry store watched as Ethan helped Aria with the necklace, their faces showing slight smiles. They exchanged amused glances among themselves, clearly appreciating the tender moment between the crown prince and the princess.
There was a quiet excitement among the staff, as they observed the interaction between Ethan and Aria. The shopkeeper, Mr. Dashner, couldn't help but discreetly smile as he watched the two. It was clear that the employees harbored a secret wish for the crown prince and the princess to develop a connection, and they secretly hoped for a romantic relationship between them to unfold.
Aria turned towards the nearby mirror, admiring her reflection. The necklace lay gracefully against her skin, sparkling brilliantly.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, her fingers gently touching the jewels.
Mr. Dashner, the shopkeeper, stepped forward, a warm smile on his face. "It looks stunning on you, Princess," he complimented her. "That necklace truly enhances your natural beauty."
"Thank you, Mr. Dashner," Aria replied. She turned to look at Ethan, who stood nearby. "What do you think? Does it suit me?"
Ethan's gaze lingered on Aria, studying her features as she posed the question. He looked at the way the necklace accentuated her collarbone, the way it drew attention to her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
"It suits you perfectly," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Aria's pov:-
I turned to Ethan, "But Ethan, you haven't even looked at any of the jewelry. Aren't you going to buy anything?"
Ethan chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck in an almost bashful manner. "I don't really need anything, to be honest," he admitted. "I just came along to keep you company."
I shrugged off Ethan's words with a determined expression on my face. "Well, too bad," I teased. "It's not fair if I'm the only one buying something."
I turned to face the jewelry displays, my eyes scanning the items intently, searching for the perfect thing to buy him.
After a few minutes of searching, my eyes finally landed on a pair of gold cufflinks studded with what appeared to be diamonds. They were the most expensive item I had seen in the shop.
A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I picked up the cufflinks, holding them up for Ethan to see. "These would look perfect on you," I said, my tone implying that I wouldn't take no for an answer.
Ethan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the price tag of the cufflinks and then at Aria. "Those are quite expensive," he pointed out, a hint of a protest in his voice.
I chuckled at Ethan's comment, my eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ethan, we're both royalty. Money isn't exactly something we have to worry about," I reminded him.
"Fair point," Ethan conceded with a small smile. He couldn't really argue with my logic. We were indeed royalty, and money wasn't a major concern for us.
"Alright, if you're so insistent on buying them for me, I suppose I can't refuse," he said with a shrug.
My smile widened as I heard Ethan's agreement. "Oh, I can certainly buy every piece of jewelry in this shop for you," I said with a nonchalance. "In fact, I could probably buy the entire shop if I wanted to."
Ethan stared at me with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "Is that so? You plan on emptying the entire shop for me?" he teased, a hint of laughter in his voice.
I nodded seriously, my amusement clear in my eyes. "That's right," I replied, playing along. "Every single piece of jewelry, just for you. You're going to have a hard time choosing which one to wear each day."
Ethan chuckled at my determination. "I appreciate the sentiment," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "But maybe just the one pair of cufflinks for now. I don't need an entire shop's worth of jewelry."
I laughed lightly, "Alright, just the cufflinks it is, then. But mark my words, one day I'll buy you every piece of jewelry in this shop and more," I teased him.
I turned to Mr. Dashner, "I'd like to buy both the cufflinks and the necklace," I said, gesturing towards the items in my hands.
Mr. Dashner couldn't help but smile at my generosity. "Excellent choices, Princess," he said, carefully packing the items in a velvet box. "These cufflinks will look absolutely splendid on the Crown Prince. And the necklace is truly exquisite on you, a perfect match for your elegant style."
As Mr. Dashner continued to pack the jewelry, Ethan stepped forward to pay, but I quickly put my hand on his arm, stopping him. "No, no, I insist on paying," I said firmly. "Consider it a gift."
Ethan's pov:-
As Aria touched my arm, a jolt of electricity seemed to course through my body. I wasn't expecting the unexpected physical contact, and my heart rate increased slightly at the touch of her hand on my arm. I tried to act unaffected, but I couldn't deny the undeniable reaction my body had to her presence. I swallowed hard, hoping she wouldn't notice the effect she had on me.
Aria handed over a small purse filled with gold coins to Mr. Dashner, settling the price for both pieces of jewelry. The shopkeeper's eyes widened at the sight of the coins, clearly impressed by her wealth.
As we exited the jewelry shop, Aria and I were immediately flanked by our respective royal guards, who had patiently waited for us outside.
With our guards trailing closely behind us, Aria and I mounted our horses, ready to embark on the ride back to the castle. We set off at a gentle canter, our horses trotting along the cobbled pathways.
Aria and I exchanged a wave and a final farewell as we reached the point where our paths diverged. We parted ways, each beginning the ride back to our respective castles.
As I continued on my path to my own castle, my thoughts lingered on Aria. I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment that we had to part ways so soon. I found myself wishing for more time with her, to continue our conversation and bask in her presence.