"Watch your step, Little Clive~" Arianna cooed, guiding Clive along while holding his hand.
"I know." Clive responded, slightly annoyed with all the handholding.
"By the way, if you get lost, come find Miss Tipha and Miss Arianna's house. It's a bit dusty, but it can hold all four of us for the night~"
Arianna guided Clive through the winding streets and sidewalks of the elven village, the afternoon sun casting dappled light through the verdant canopy above. The village thrummed with a serene energy, each step they took revealing more of its fantastical charm. All around him were elves of all shapes and sizes. Some were children, who seemed interested in him as he wasn't an elf. There were men who took an interest in his royalty and stopped to ask questions. There were even women with the same build as Arianna who found him cute, but Arrianna was quick to shuffle him along to not get any of their attention.
"Don't haphazardly trust the elf women here, especially for foreigners like you," Arianna would say. "Once they grab you, you won't come out."
"What about you then, Miss Arianna?" Clive asked.
"I'm different~" she giggled. "You don't need to worry about me."
The first stop was a small stall draped in vibrant, flowing fabrics. The stall's owner, an elderly elf with a welcoming smile, offered a variety of sweet treats. Arianna selected a delicate pastry with a glossy, fruit-filled glaze. She handed it to Clive, who took a tentative bite. His eyes lit up as the sweetness melted on his tongue, and his eyes went wide. It's the first time he has had a sweet treat in a long time.
"Could you give some to me?" Arianna cooed. "It looks delicious."
"S-sure…" Clive said, handing the pastry to her. Arianna took a big bite, but some of the white cream spilled onto her face and between her cleavage. The prince and the elf shared a little laugh seeing the mess, though Clive didn't really know why that image made him feel off.
They continued their stroll, the path leading them to a small clearing where an unusual creature caught Clive's eye. Perched on a low branch was a bird-like being with iridescent feathers and small, curling horns. The creature tilted its head curiously as Clive approached. Arianna encouraged Clive to extend his hand, and with a mixture of awe and hesitancy, he gently petted the creature's soft and warm feathers.
"This creature is native to the Elven lands." She said, "I used to have one as a pet when I was little." Arianna said, petting the bird.
"Do you think I could keep one as a pet?" Clive asked.
Arianna giggled. "Is Lima not enough for you?" Clive recalled all of Lima's antics and sighed. She was right, another pet might be a handful.
Arianna then led Clive to a charming boutique nestled between two grand tree trunks. The shop was filled with elegant elven attire, ranging from intricate gowns to finely tailored tunics. Arianna selected a set of clothes for Clive: a crisp white tunic with intricate silver embroidery, paired with matching trousers. The fabric felt smooth and light, a far cry from his usual rough attire. As Clive donned the new outfit, he looked at himself in the mirrored surface of a nearby stand. The clothes fit perfectly, but he looked almost feminine, similar to Chief Nava in a sense.
"This will help you blend in a little." Arianna said, struggling to look away from the boy in front of her. "You look cute!"
"Is that so?" Clive whispered, with a blush. "I shall take these clothes, then. Thank you."
The two continued their tour in the bustling heart of the elven market, the air alive with the chatter of merchants, playing children, and the soft melodies of elven music. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A crowd of elves parted revealing a tall, imposing figure stepping into view. It was a man, clad in a red regal top and black pants, who strolled with a commanding presence. His aura was magnetic, drawing gazes from all corners of the market. He had well combed brown hair, fit with his chiseled jawline. On his waist was a large sword in a scabbard, held up by a luxurious belt. The elven crows murmured with thoughts about this figure.
"Is that…."
"No way?! He's here!"
"Agh…he's so hot~"
Clive's eyes widened in shock as he recognized exactly who this is. Instinctively, he shrank behind Arianna, clinging onto her and planting his head into her behind. Whatever confidence he had melted away. Arianna, sensing Clive's distress, made sure to keep him hidden to the best of her abilities.
"Prince Marcus." said a petite, short haired elven girl with glasses. She seemed to be his assistant. "Chief Nava wants you to come to the Great Village Hall by tomorrow morning."
"Oh Lia, is the ritual happening finally?" He said, "Inform him that I shall arrive."
"Yes sir!" replied Lia. She turned away, obviously flustered from being in his presence.
As he looked back up, he met eyes with Arianna, and a sly smile grew on his face. Arianna simply stood her ground. Marcus's eyes narrowed as he took in Arianna's elegant appearance, from her wide hips, her bare cleavage, and her beautiful face.e He approached with a grace that belied his arrogance. "Ah, what do we have here?" His voice was smooth, but carried an undercurrent of superiority. "I do not believe we have met. I am Prince Marcus, 2nd Prince of Oshoen."
Clive clenched his grip on Arianna's dress when he heard them interact. He had always hated Marcus' attitude, and it was on full display here. He could hear the mumble in the crowd when Marcus made his move.
"It's obvious he would go for Arianna!"
"It should've been ME! Not HER!"
Arianna straightened, her demeanor calm but wary. She offered a respectful nod, though there was a sharpness to her eyes. "I am Arianna. We are just passing through. Might I ask what brings you to this part of the market?"
Marcus's smile remained. "Just overseeing matters. And it seems I've stumbled upon quite an intriguing sight."
"Oh please~" Arianna giggled.
"How about we spend some time together, Arianna?" His voice was smooth, like velvet, as he reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. His fingertips lingered for just a moment longer than necessary, grazing the soft skin of her neck.
Arianna felt the warmth of his touch spread across her cheeks, and her heart fluttered. She tried to keep her mind straight, but his words and his proximity were starting to chip away at her resolve. "Th-thank you," she stammered, feeling oddly light-headed under his gaze.
Marcus's hand moved from her hair to her cheek, his thumb brushing over her smooth skin. "Such a delicate face," he murmured, his voice dipping into a hushed tone. "You're not like anyone I've met before. You're strong, you're graceful…."
Arianna swallowed, her gaze drifting to his strong jawline, and down to his wide shoulders. "You… speak so easily," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckled softly, his thumb trailing lightly across her lips. "I'm a Prince after all," His other hand came up to cradle her face, and he leaned in slightly, their faces mere inches apart. "I can give you the world, with a snap of my fingers." Arianna held her breath. She had never been this close to someone so bold, so sure of himself. The way his hands moved, how his gaze never wavered, it all made her feel... captivated. She found herself leaning into his hand, her resistance melting with every caress.
Just as she was about to lose her hold, Clive jumped out from behind her. His hand was tightened around the hilt of his knife, his face flushed with a mix of anger and desperation. His eyes, wide and filled with determination, locked onto Marcus. With a swift motion, he flung the knife towards his brother. "YOU! MARCUS!" he yelled, "STEP AWAY FROM HER!"
The knife sailed through the air with a deadly grace, but as the knife approached, Marcus effortlessly sidestepped, allowing it to swipe the air nearby. With a mocking bow, Marcus raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Ah! So this is where you've been all this time. Everyone back home has been looking for you! Hello, Clive." he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "I see this 'bodyguard' of yours has been playing dress up with you."
"I said…stand back!"
"Relax~" Marcus said with a smug. "Let's not cause a scene in a peaceful village. Besides, shouldn't the Royal Oshoen family get along together."
Clive stood in silence, holding his resolve with a straight face, knife pointed towards Marcus. The 2nd prince realized that he wasn't getting to his little half-brother, so he decided to give up. He leaned in towards Clive, and whispered in his ear. "Whatever you're doing here, we will find out. You do not deserve to have the same luxury as us. You are not one of us…bastard prince." he then let out a tiny chuckle, moving past him and towards the seventh prince's bodyguard. "Arianna my dear, meet me at the Royal Guest Quarters after you put your 'Little Clive' to sleep~"
As Marcus prepared to leave, his hand casually reached out, finding its way to Arianna' behind and caressed it. With a firm hand, he playfully slapped her ass, making sure no one nearby saw his action. Arianna's eyes widened in surprise, a flush of embarrassment rising on her cheeks. She opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Marcus's swift departure. The elven crowd followed him as he continued his walk, leaving both Arianna and Clive in silence.
Clive's face was a storm of conflicting emotions as he watched Marcus leave, his protective instincts flaring but his body frozen in the wake of the encounter. Arianna, her face still flushed and her composure shaken, tried to regain her dignity. She straightened her posture and glanced at Clive. She took a deep breath, her usual calm demeanor struggling to reassert itself. "Are you okay, little Clive?"
"Y-Yes Miss Arianna, I'm fine." Clive, still reeling from the shock of the encounter, watched as Arianna's reaction unfolded. He felt guilt for his own inability to protect her more effectively. It wasn't enough, especially now that his family knew he was here.
"It's getting late. How about we head back to our place?" Arianna asked, nudging Clive along the opposite direction.