"Hello," He greeted me warmly.
"What do you want to order? The regular?"
"What's my regular?" He asked with a smile plastered on his face, As usual.
"Guatemala coffee with whipped cream and cinnamon on top?"
"Exactly," His eyes turned into a pair of crescent moons in tune with his light, airy chuckles. "Add with a medium Iced Americano."
"For your girlfriend?"
"For my cousin," He calmly replied to me with the sweetest smile ever. I'm holding myself back for not getting smitten into his charm.
"Okay," I processed his order until I heard a tap on my wooden counter, "The cafe looks more buzzing than usual…Is there something happening?"
"The Finding will be held soon."
"Really?!" Two of my female co-workers turned around to me with shocked faces.
"Not official yet. I heard it from the guards when I went outside shortly."
"Ouwh…my heart's racing!" said one of them excitedly.
"Ah…so The Finding will be held soon? I think you are all better dressed up. The Prince might be around here somewhere."
"Are you the prince?"
"Me??" He said while pointing at himself then laughed, "Wow, It's an honor if you think of me as the Prince but what makes you think so?"
"I was just randomly guessing," He laughed at my answer before moving to the side to wait for his order.
In the midst of it, Suddenly the sound of a siren followed by a trumpet, echoing across the town. I can hear it clearly because my cafe is located right across the castle.
"I'll check it for you guys," I excused myself from him and walked out of the cafe again. Many of my customers, dominated by women, came out and people started to gather around at the front of the castle.
Some guards stood by while the one who will give the announcement was sitting high on his horse. I don't understand why my mom doesn't want to live here. As someone who grew up with Princess Diaries The Movie, This sight is fun to watch. I still can't believe that I am able to experience this for 4 years already.
Astoria still keeps some of their tradition despite living in the modern era. If there is an important announcement, The guards will walk around the town to deliver the news, The journalist will catch it and air it on TV. That's how people find out about any info related to the royals and The Finding tradition, is the news that they have been waiting for years.
It is a life and death tradition because their life can change just in a flip of a hand. You are a commoner today, but who knows, The Prince might find and fall in love with you then the next morning, You can be a part of the royal family.
The bad news? Some jerks will use this opportunity to lure women and scam them. Since the prince was hidden among us, some men might claim themselves as him or his relatives.
But overall, this Finding tradition is fun! It's like playing a mafia game where you have to guess the mafia among the citizens, but this time, A Prince.
I wonder if the Prince was among them. He might have cautiously listened to the announcement and giggling to himself when he found out that he became the most wanted guy starting from today.
And I wonder what kind of woman would be able to make the future king kneel down in front of her.
"Why don't you join them?" I turned to the right side and my favorite guy just walked out of the cafe with his takeaway orders.
"I'm not interested. I'm just listening because my co-workers need the info about it."
"I see…but how about you? Don't you want to be the queen?"
"I'm just not that ambitious, You know? I just want to live my life to the fullest. Enjoying every little thing around me instead of being trapped inside that huge castle."
"But what if you got chosen?"
"You mean, The Prince likes me?"
"Yeah…"
"I have the right to refuse, right?"
"Huh?" One of his eyebrows raised in curiosity. Judging by his reaction, He definitely did not expect my answer.
"I mean…I feel honored if The Prince likes me. But just because he likes me, That doesn't mean our feelings should be equal, right? I might feel nothing for him or just consider him as a friend. I can refuse it…"
"Ah…right…not everyone can always get what they want…I get it."
"Exactly."
"But what if he's someone that you like? And he likes you too and then you found out that he's The Prince of Astoria?"
"Then I don't have any choice but to be the future queen of Astoria."
"Nice answers."
"Are you the prince?"
He laughed in disbelief, "I was just asking out of curiosity! But I guess it's time for many women to be wary. I understand that."
"What's your name by the way? You always come here but I never know your name."
"My name? My name's Zach. You?"
"Gwen. You can call me Gwen."