The boy kept staring at me.
Not in fear, not in awe, but with mild confusion which, honestly, was a first for me.
Even the merchant was still on the ground, bowing so low his forehead was practically buried in the dirt.
"P-Princess Elyzara!" the merchant stammered, his voice trembling. "I—I had no idea you were watching! I swear, I meant no disrespect!"
I ignored him.
Instead, I tilted my head slightly, keeping my gaze on the boy.
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if trying to figure me out.
Then, very bluntly, he asked:
"Who the hell are you?"
The merchant let out a horrified wheeze.
I blinked.
Well.
That was new.
The guards at my side tensed immediately, hands on their weapons.
The surrounding merchants and townspeople gasped audibly, as if they had just witnessed a public execution.
The merchant who had been kneeling in front of me?
He looked like he was about to pass out.
"Y-You dare speak to the Princess like that?!" he choked out, his voice rising in absolute terror. "Do you do you have a death wish?!"
The boy scowled.
"Princess?" he muttered, frowning slightly.
He glanced at me again really looked at me this time.
And slowly, realization dawned in his expression.
"…Oh. You're that royal kid, aren't you?"
The surrounding crowd sounded ready to faint.
I just raised an eyebrow.
"'That royal kid?'" I repeated.
The boy shrugged. "Yeah, the one everyone's scared of."
Oh.
Oh, I like him.
For the first time in four years, someone was talking to me like an actual person instead of a walking disaster waiting to happen.
It was so refreshing that I almost laughed.
Instead, I simply said, "Yes. That's me."
The boy huffed. "Doesn't seem that scary to me."
The merchant looked ready to die on the spot.
"Your Highness, please forgive him!" he begged. "He's just a street rat, he doesn't know any better—"
I held up a single hand.
The merchant immediately shut up.
I turned back to the boy.
"What's your name?" I asked.
He hesitated.
For a brief moment, he looked like he was considering lying.
But something in my expression must have changed his mind.
"…Riven," he muttered.
I nodded. "Riven."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "And yours?"
I smiled.
"Elyzara."
For the first time, Riven actually looked interested.
His frown deepened. "Weird name."
Now I actually did laugh.
It was small, quiet, but genuine.
I heard several gasps from the crowd.
I ignored them.
Instead, I simply looked at Riven and said, "Thank you."
He blinked. "For what?"
"For speaking to me like a person."
He looked mildly suspicious now. "Why wouldn't I?"
I gestured vaguely around us.
To the crowd of terrified people.
To the merchant still kneeling in the dirt.
To the guards who looked ready to execute him at any moment.
Riven followed my gaze, then scowled.
"That's dumb," he muttered.
I grinned.
I had officially decided.
I liked him.
He was going to be my friend.
Whether he liked it or not.
Now that I had chosen him, I just had to make sure he didn't run away.
Luckily, my charisma was ridiculous.
Riven was already interested, even if he didn't realize it yet.
"Riven," I said smoothly, "would you like to spend the day with me?"
He froze.
The merchant looked seconds away from fainting.
The guards were glaring at Riven like he was an insect.
"…Why?" he asked warily.
I smiled. "Because I want to."
Riven stared at me, processing that.
Then, very slowly, he shrugged.
"Alright," he said. "I don't have anything better to do."
The crowd lost their minds.
For the first time in my life, I walked through the market square without anyone bowing in terror.
It was because of Riven.
He didn't kneel before me.
He didn't lower his eyes.
And because he didn't do it other people started hesitating, too.
They still stared.
They still whispered.
But there was less fear.
And more curiosity.
Which was exactly what I wanted.
I bought Riven food.
(He tried to refuse at first, but I simply stared him down until he caved.)
I asked him questions.
He answered begrudgingly at first.
Then, less begrudgingly.
Then, naturally.
By the time we had been walking for an hour, he had relaxed completely.
"So," I said at one point, "do you have any family?"
He snorted. "Nope. Grew up in the slums. Raised myself."
I frowned. "That must have been difficult."
He shrugged.
"Not really. Just how life is."
I narrowed my eyes.
That was not how life was supposed to be.
But I didn't push.
Instead, I asked, "So what do you do all day?"
"Steal," he said flatly.
I blinked.
He grinned.
"…You do realize you're confessing that to a literal princess, right?"
"Yeah," he said. "You gonna arrest me?"
I smirked. "No."
His grin widened.
By the time sunset rolled around, I knew two things.
One:
Riven was one of the most interesting people I had ever met.
Two:
He was officially my friend now.
I didn't even ask.
I just decided.
And when the time came for me to return to the palace, I turned to him and said:
"You're mine now."
Riven choked. "What?!"
"You're my friend," I said simply.
"I—I didn't agree to that!"
"You didn't have to."
He gaped at me.
Then, very slowly, he grinned.
"…You're weird," he muttered.
"And you're stuck with me now," I replied.
[ MISSION COMPLETE! ]
[ Rewards: +10 Charisma, +5 Luck, and Secret Skill Unlocked: ??? ]
I smiled.
This was going to be fun.