Gwen and Arthur walked side-by-side around the area, "Aren't you going to work?"
"Do I disturb you?"
"I was just asking."
Arthur laughed, feeling a bit guilty for being too sensitive at Gwen's simple question, "I am working. But I'm currently taking a break since it's lunch time. My office is a private office. So, I'm free to come and go, just like you and your cafe."
Gwen nodded slowly, "You owned it?"
"Nope, It's my cousin's."
"I see….my friend is–"
"Let's talk about it later," Arthur stopped walking and turned to Gwen, "I've told you there's something I want to talk about."
"What is it?"
"I want to apologize to you."
"Apologize? for what…"
"I feel bad for almost kissing you last night."
"Ah…" Gwen looked down because she felt nervous all of a sudden. "Did you drink last night?"
"Yeah…"
"Me too."
"Do you think that happened because we were both drunk?" Gwen nodded as an answer from Arthur's question. He stared at her and stepped forward to get closer to her, "How about now?"
"W-What do you mean?"
Arthur was about to answer her until he saw a bicycle moving quickly towards them. His arm instinctively grabbed Gwen's waist and pulled her closer until that bike passed, "Are you okay?"
Gwen looked up to Arthur and when their eyes locked, Her heart suddenly beat faster than usual, "Eum…you can let me go now."
Arthur let her go and Gwen quickly moved one step backward from him, "That's all you want to talk about?"
"Not really."
"Huh?"
"I actually want to ask you on a date," Arthur braced himself to bravely ask Gwen for a date. He did not have any plan for it before. His mouth spoke faster before the mind could process everything and it was too late to take it back.
"A date??"
"Eum…I want to change your mind."
"About what?"
"A relationship. You said you aren't interested in it. I want to change that perspective of yours."
Gwen looked at him in disbelief, "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"I want to ask you on a date because I want to change your mindset about relationships."
"You want to make me like you?"
"Kind of."
"Do you like me?!" Gwen shouted in disbelief while pointing at herself.
"I am curious about you…who knows I might get to like you more after our first date. You're not interested in The Finding, right?"
"Yeah…but…" Gwen paused for a while because she felt conflicted in a good way, "But you can be the prince…"
"What if I am?"
"Stop tricking me."
Arthur laughed at her reaction. This is what makes The Finding tradition fun, "I was just asking."
Gwen stared at him suspiciously. There are so many questions inside her head. Zach could be the prince but so far there is not any strong evidence that leads her to that claim. He looks too ordinary for a prince. But she has to admit that Zach has a very good and classy manner.
"But okay…let's forget about the Prince argument. I am asking you as a man who has a crush on a woman…so…what about it?"
"Where do you want us to go? I mean…the date."
"Anywhere is fine…you can decide the place," Arthur pulled his wallet and handed a namecard to Gwen. When she was about to take it, He pulled it away from her, "Before you receive this, I want to let you know about something."
"What is it?"
"I've never given my namecared to anyone else. I only give it to you, Please do not give it to someone else."
"Is it something important there?"
"My contact number."
"Ah…I see…okay."
Arthur gave it to her and asked her to check it out once he was gone, "I'm going back to my office. Please let me know about it. I'm waiting."
"Okay."
"I hope to hear good news, bye!" Arthur smiled at Gwen before walking away from her.
Gwen flipped the card and her eyes got bigger in shock, "Is this his real name?? Arthur Frederick Zachary??"
—
"Are you fucking crazy?! It's been two days since "The Finding" started and you already revealed yourself?!" Max shouted in frustration after listening to Arthur's story.
"There are many people who have the same name as mine in this country…chill, okay?"
"But you added the probability of finding yours–"
"She wouldn't trust me, okay?"
Max sighed in disbelief. He snatched Arthur's drink and sat in frustration, "What's so good about this woman anyway…She's Helen's best friend last night, right?"
"Eum."
"Okay, She's pretty. But I think you get too smitten with her…"
Arthur sighed heavily, "Does there always have to be a reason for liking someone?"
"It's just too unexpected for me."
"My dad married a tram driver…My mom."
"I know…It's just…I've never seen you have a crush on someone this much. I mean…you always overthink everything! Whenever you like someone, You're always being passive because you don't want to burden them with the probability and responsibility of them being the Queen of Astoria, But what the fuck is this, Man?"
"Right…you're right…" Arthur spacing out while looking at the computer screen. "I also don't know what happened to me…I just visit that cafe regularly and I found myself keep coming back there…She's also a difficult person to talk to and She's building a huge wall between us…but strangely, I keep wanting to climb that wall…"
"Woah…It feels like she is putting a spell on you?"
Arthur chuckled and came back to work, "Probably and I'm not complaining. How about we do a double date?"
"I can't. I have to finish all of these shits because I'll attend a runway event. Helena will be there too."
"You'll be there because of her??"
"Because I got invited, dummy! It's just my luck to meet her there."
"Lucky my ass…" muttered Arthur under his breath.