章節 14: A Princess Recommendation

Alita's pov

Tears traced paths down my cheeks. I had retreated to the forest's edge, seeking peace among the trees and the wind. My heritage, the relentless expectations, and now the stupid marriage my father wanted for me had become too much to bear. But as my tears flowed, I felt a sudden shift in the air around me. I felt watched.

Yet, the sensation did not carry the chill of menace. Instead, it was a curious warmth, a gentle curiosity. Wiping my eyes, I stood up and scanned the area, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and intrigue.

"Who is there?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly.

The response was almost immediate. emerging from the dappled shadows, a figure materialized. A creature of ethereal beauty and grace. A male fairy. His presence was almost overwhelming, he had the same aura as the stranger I met at the square.

"Hello," he said, His eyes, deep, bore into mine, expectant, waiting for something.

I hesitated, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Who was this being? What did he want? And why did I feel such a strong pull towards him? Finally, I managed to speak, my voice barely above a whisper.

"My name is Azuka."

The name slipped from my lips with surprising ease. It was my middle name, one I seldom used, but at that moment, it felt right. Perhaps it was a desire to be seen as something other than the princess, to be normal, even if just for a moment.

The fairy cocked an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Azuka," he repeated, testing the name on his tongue. "A beautiful name for a beautiful soul." He stepped closer, and it was then that I noticed the object in his hands. My tiara.

"That is not mine," I said, forcing as much indifference into my voice as I could muster. What was one tiara compared to my safety? If he knew I was a princess, would he kidnap me and demand a ransom from my father? My nerves frayed at the thought. This was the first time I was alone with a male without my handmaids and the guards. I didn't know how to react. I couldn't even look at him directly in the face. He could be a woman mishandler or a murderer—who knows.

'Telling lies are we? That makes the two of us'

He chuckled. "I come in peace, princess. Are you new to the capital?"

I frowned, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. Does he already know that I am the princess? I need to tread carefully with this one. "Do you think I am the princess?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He shrugged a casual gesture that belied the intensity of his gaze. "You are beautiful, and you have an elegance about you that makes me want to call you a princess. I hope you don't mind?"

His words, though flattering, made me uneasy. I relaxed a bit, but only just. "Are you a trader?"

What is wrong with me? I should have been sending this guy away for violating my peace, but I was still talking to him like a common idiot.

He shook his head. "I came to the capital to earn a living. I was scouting for labor when I stumbled upon a beautiful damsel crying."

I felt my cheeks warm. There was a playful glint in his eyes, a spark of mischief. It was rare for a fairy to have red eyes; it was unique. Most fairies had green, orange, purple, and gold but hardly red. Apart from his eyes, everything about him screamed differently. He was handsome but not as handsome as my stranger.

Wait! Why am I addressing a stranger as mine when I only saw him for a few moments before he disappeared?

I felt a strange kinship with him. He looked so young and out of place, like me. I felt sorry for him.

"So, can you recommend a good place for me to work?" he asked, that playful smile still on his face.

"The palace," I blurted out without thinking. I closed my eyes, chastising myself.

'Please ignore me,' I pleaded inside my head.