Chapter 5: A Chance Encounter
RHYS rarely smiles. He also almost never gets amused by anything. He was raised in a strict and dangerous environment that smiling can be considered as showing a weakness. But that night, at the short moment while he was watching the girl eating the bread like it was the most delicious thing in the world, a smile tugged at his lips.
He and Kayden have been roaming around the flea market for a few minutes before they got into that stall that was selling bread. They've seen expensive and rare items but Rhys never got interested in any of it. Not only because he was busy trying to put his father's death at the back of his mind but also because he was used to luxury.
Seeing the girl's amazed eyes as she stared at the breads in the table picked his curiosity. He never felt that sense of wonder in her face before. Watching her eat was a whole new experience for him. He was amused and entertained that he lowered his guard. Rhys forgot that he should keep his face hidden since he was in a disguise.
The girl looked up and he knew the moment she saw his face before their gazes met. He saw the surprise in her eyes, probably because she saw the color of his eyes. He should look away, turn around and get out of there as fast as possible because that was what Kayden told him before they went out of the castle. No one must see his face. Once someone gets a hint that he is part of the royal family, they will have to go back.
But then the girl said, "Wow, your eyes are pretty."
Rhys blinked. He was caught off guard. For as long as he can remember, the first thing people say about his eyes was that they are strange and scary. Even inside the castle, court ladies, royal advisors and royal guards couldn't stare at his eyes for so long. The only people who can meet his gaze are Lennox and Kayden. People think that they will be ensnared by some powerful force if they look straight to his eyes. They don't want to be enchanted and mind-controlled. They are afraid they might do things against their will.
There was a reason why everyone reacts that way. There is no one who has eyes like the royal family in Mowsland. Forest green eyes is one of the telltale that a person comes from the royal family. His father said they have this feature because of the fairy blood in their lineage. It is a reminder that the Mospick family is not fully human.
"We should go," Kayden whispers next to Rhys. Even without looking, he knew his friend was also looking at the girl.
"How old are you?" Rhys asked the girl instead of answering Kayden. "Why are you outside this late?"
The girl blinked and she suddenly looked guarded. She took a step back. "I'm ten. I… just live near here."
Rhys was surprised. He was just three years older than her. It doesn't make sense. Her height didn't even reach his chest. He was aware that their family are tall, another trait that they got from the fairy blood. But this girl is too thin and too short for her age.
The girl's eyes became weary and she began to look from side to side, as if she was afraid someone might suddenly come to her. Rhys's eyes narrowed as suspicion dawned on him. "You sneaked out huh."
The girl looked at his face again, her wide eyes confirmed his suspicion. She took a step back again. Rhys suddenly said, "It's okay. We sneaked out too."
He could feel Kayden tensing next to him but he ignored his friend. For some reason he couldn't take his eyes off the girl. He wanted to ask for her name but he held himself back. If he asks she might ask for their name too and they must not reveal who they are.
"Do you want to look around with us?"
"Rhys, what are you doing?" Kayden whispered warningly to him.
He finally glanced at his friend. "She is just ten. She is alone."
"Clearbury is a safe city. King Maximus made sure of that. There are almost no crimes in this part of Mowsland. She will be fine alone."
Kayden had a point. His father was a good ruler and he made a safe place to live in for the people in Clearbury. Rhys glanced at the girl who was now curiously looking at him and Kayden. She was no longer afraid. She was still guarded but he could see in her eyes that she is a smart kid.
Rhys looked at his friend again. "It is better to move around the city as three than just us two," he explained quietly.
Kayden stared at him for a few seconds before understanding flashed in his eyes. He understood his point. Rhys was sure that someone will notice he was missing. Those who will go out of the castle to find him will surely look for two persons. If they go around with the girl like they were always a three-person group, they can get away from the royal guards longer.
Kayden sighed. "Fine." He glanced at the girl. "Do you want to look around the flea market with us?" he asked grumpily.
The girl stared at them. Rhys could almost see her brain working, figuring out the pros and cons of spending time with them. She glanced around again and he knew that she was trying not to get caught by whoever too.
After a while, the girl stood straighter and she squared her shoulder. The decision was written on her face even before she spoke, "Okay."
Rhys smiled. "We are not bad people," he assured her.
The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I know. I've seen really bad people. You don't have the look in their eyes."
Rhys and Kayden looked at each other at that statement. The girl didn't look bothered. She glanced at the table of breads again and asked, "Can I have one more? Last?"
Rhys did something that surprised him and Kayden. He laughed. "Go on. Take another one."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone