“There’s a festival being held today that only happens once a year.”
Oh. Was that why there were stalls everywhere? I took in his words as I looked around. What to eat next?
“Lettie,” Lord Clarke called out, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “I’ve actually never been to the city, so I’m not sure how to shop for things.”
No way.
Or so I thought, but looking at his face, he didn’t seem like he was lying at all.
It made sense, I supposed. He was royalty, raised at the palace with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’d never had a need to go shopping on his own.
Well, granted, today was also my first time going shopping on my own.
Lord Clarke was fidgeting. I followed his gaze to a nearby shop that advertised freshly squeezed juice.
“Do you want to try some?” I asked.
“I’ve never tried anything like it.”
“Oh, true.”
Seeing him so fidgety felt awkward. I explained to him how shops worked.
“Did you get all that?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Now, use this to buy some.”
“You can buy some with this tiny coin?” Lord Clarke asked, gazing intently at the coin I gave him. He’d never touched money before, and seemed very moved. He curled his fingers around the coin, and walked to the store with purpose.
He began speaking with the clerk once he arrived there, a little panicked. Apparently, there were simply too many kinds of juice. He should’ve asked what the clerk recommended!
I watched over him restlessly, like a mother watching her child take on a challenge for the first time. I believe in you, my son!
Finally, he made his choice, took his juice from the clerk with a smile, and returned, grinning ear to ear.
“I did it!”
First errand: success.
He looked so proud. I thought it was kind of cute. Maybe I still had the rose-tinted glasses of motherhood on. I was overflowing with motherly instinct.
“Good job,” I said.
Pleased with my words, he took a sip of his drink.
“I’ve never tasted anything like this! It’s quite good,” he said, seeming to enjoy it. “Now that I know how to buy things, we should come to town together more often.”
“You shouldn’t sneak out so often,” I chided him.
“It’s okay, as long as no one notices.”
“People will notice! It’d be very bad if they didn’t, actually!”
If the guards kept looking the other way when the people they were supposed to protect sneaked out, it’d be gross professional negligence on their part!
“Then we’ll inform them that we’re going out,” he said.
“No! Stop! That’d just cause a huge ruckus!”
“But the guards were informed today. In fact, they’re close by, just in case.”
“Huh?”
They were? I had no idea.
“They’re in disguise, you see. Having people in armor around would ruin our date.”
“Oh...”
“So we can go on dates anytime!”
“I don’t really want to go on dates,” I told him honestly.
He just kept grinning at me. What was he trying to tell me? “Yes,” he said. “Let’s come again sometime.”
“I just said I don’t want to.”
“A great plan.”
“What part of ‘I don’t want to’ did you miss?!”
He completely ignored me, grinning widely. He was just hearing whatever he wanted to hear! I’d said I didn’t want to go on dates!
I fanned myself, trying to calm my reddening cheeks, which really needed to stop reacting to the word ‘date.’
“Here, Lettie. Have some,” he said, holding out the juice he’d bought earlier.
“Oh. Thanks!”
You know, I was getting pretty thirsty, so that was nice. It tasted refreshing, a nice mix of sweet and tart. I wondered what fruit they’d used.
As I slurped, I noticed Lord Clarke’s cheeks turning pink. Why?
His face still flushed, he stared at me.
“That was an indirect kiss...”
“Pffft?!” I couldn’t stop myself from sputtering. “What?! An indirect—! What are you making me do?!”
“No, I mean, I didn’t realize when I handed it to you...”
“Stop making that face!”
“Sorry, smiles come naturally to me.”
“You stop it right now!” I demanded emphatically.
He was still beaming. “I think I’ll keep this straw as a memento.”
“Don’t!” I snapped, trying to snatch the straw from him. It didn’t work, and he held it as if it were precious.
“It seems unfair that you don’t get a memento too.”
“Then don’t make that thing into one!” I protested to deaf ears.
After tucking the straw into his pocket, Lord Clarke took me by the hand and walked into a store.
Ooh! A souvenir shop for commoners!
I’d never seen any trinkets like these. How exciting! They were all so pretty and sparkly! And affordable! Wow! Ordinary shops were so great.
“Lettie,” Lord Clarke called out to me as I browsed the brooches.
He handed me a bag. When had he bought this? What speed!
After we left the store, I opened the bag.
“A music box!” And beautifully crafted too.
“Given your status, you wouldn’t be able to wear the ornaments they sell here, even if I bought them for you,” he explained. “You like this kind of thing, don’t you?”
I do! Very much so.
Why did he have to know me so well? How irritating.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile, making Lord Clarke’s cheeks flush a little.
Later, the prince proudly displayed the straw in his room. I wished he’d throw it away.