The next day, although still floating and constantly thinking about Casimir's alluring and devilishly handsome face that night, Adira properly asked for permission to visit their fief's central plaza.

Silfor, who just saw his daughter again from the night he accompanied her to the campus, was crying buckets of tears as he complained to Andrea—Adira's mother.

"Look at her! She just came back and she doesn't even miss her daddy anymore! Andrea! I can't live like this anymore!"

"My, my. Silfor, darling, Adira's just going for a walk and she'll be back in a jiffy. Isn't that right, dearest?"

Adira's smile twitched uncontrollably as she watched her father wail and complain like a miserable brat and immediately answered,

"Of course, Father, Mother. I'm just going to check some stuffs out and I'll be back by lunch."

"See? Now why don't you go do your work before his majesty adds another pile to your ever increasing tower of work?" Andrea said and turned to Silfor's very own version of the twin towers.

Silfor's mood plummeted even more and suddenly shifted to annoyance and running berserk, cursing and scolding the king for pushing so much work into his hands.

I wonder if Casey also pushes some of his work to someone else?

...

"Your highness! Finally! Please take care of these stuff! I'm already dying over here!" Roman whined and melted on Casimir's table at the council's office as soon as he saw Casimir step through the door.

"Good work, Roman. You can take a three day leave. Thank you."

Roman, after hearing Casimir's words, almost went down on his knees to praise him or whatever God or Goddess blessed this person's black heart to ever speak those words!

He even gave him a break! For three days! That was plenty enough to recover his vigor! And even said Thank you! When does he do that? Aside from his falseness at celebrations or meetings?

"Yes! Thank you, your highness! I shall depart immediately!" He sprung up from his seat and saluted with so much verve, his image a second ago almost seemed like an illusion, and quickly disappeared.

He was slightly afraid the prince might change his mind.

But contrary to his belief, it wasn't gonna happen. Casimir, after all, was very happy and satisfied with the week he got to monopolize so much of Adira's time. Although Heise pretty much sabotaged a lot of it, he was still happy to enjoy Adira's mere presence.

Casimir sat on his chair and thought back to the night he gave Adira a kiss on her cheek and remembered how red she was after he did it. A smile was creeping up to his face as he lightly touched his lips, trying to relive the moment he kissed her soft and warm cheeks—a stark contrast to the coldness of his lips.

He was already energized for the day and was refueled. He already can't wait to when Adira hurries back to school.

...

Adira walked around the plaza. She was wearing commoner's clothes to avoid standing out and as if that wasn't enough, she even wore a hood on her head that cascaded all the way down to her heels.

It was just like the first time she snuck outside the Sylveris Castle.

Walking past the familiar bakery, she stopped. This time, she made sure she brought money with her.

Lifting her head, she saw Peter tending on the front as usual while Hyacinth cooked at the back.

"Umm..."

"UWAAAAAH! OUT OF THE WAY!"

It was too late for Adira to step out of the way and so collided hard with a speeding man as they both fell to the ground.

"Ouch." Adira grunted and glared at the man who bumped into a frail lady like her. "Hey! What—"

"What the heck man*?! Why didn't you step aside, huh?! Even when I told you to! But you didn't! This is a scam, right? You're doing it on purpose to scam money from me! Well let me tell you! You can't fool this mighty me!"

The man loudly slandered her and even pointed at her shamelessly.

What an arrogant idiot! How dare you?!

"What the—! How was it my fault?! It was your fault for running around so recklessly like you own the goddamn place! Well let me tell you, you good-for-nothing mighty sir! I'm not afraid of you!"

Adira exclaimed and climbed up to her feet. It was lucky she chose to wear boyish clothes today and so she was raring to go.

"I'll teach you to respect your elders brat!" The man also stood up and easily towered Adira. Looking at it, he was just a little bit shorter than Casimir. So Adira, naturally, wasn't afraid.

"I'll teach you who to respect, mighty arrogant sir!"

After exchanging insults and banters, the man lunged forward and swung his fist towards Adira's face. The latter, seeing all his movements clearly, as if watching it in slow motion, easily dodged to her side and delivered a counter attack—a kick to his abdomen.

The man stumbled a few steps backward. The kick packed a lot of strength for someone as small and wimpy-looking as this little hooded boy. He theorized right then that he wasn't a simple frail-looking boy. He's got to be an expert at fighting.

Launching a few more attacks only to be counter-attacked almost immediately, the man fell on the ground—beaten black and blue.

"So? I hope you learn to respect people despite them looking weak and frail—no! Especially if they are weak and frail! Strength doesn't give you the right to bully them!"

"This prince doesn't bully people! You're the one who was bullying me!" He exclaimed and pointed an accusing finger at Adira.

What the? He really is looking for trouble, huh?

"How the heck is someone like you a prince? A prince doesn't accuse people indiscriminately, have a shrewd arrogant personality like yours and most importantly, they don't wear clothes like this."

Adira stalked closer to him with every word and every part of it was placing pressure on the man who remained on the ground backing up with every step Adira took closer.

The way Adira spoke about what a prince was sounded like she knows one that made the man confused. How could a commoner like him know a prince, right?

"I-It's because I just returned from studying abroad—from the neighboring kingdom—and I wanted to explore a bit before returning to the capital! I'm warning you! Touch me and I'll have them behea—" he wasn't able to finish his threat when a growling sound came from him and he flushed red.

"A prince? When does a prince go hungry? Oh, your highness, almighty one, are you hungry? Did your servants not give you food?" Adira sarcastically said and tried to pick on this arrogant jerk's nerves more. She wasn't about to let him off the hook yet.

"Sh-Shut up! I-I just forgot to bring money with me!" He exclaimed, his voice rising a few volumes higher due to the embarrassment.

"Oooh? Is that so, your highness?"

Adira was still baiting the arrogant jerk when Peter, who noticed that their brawl had finally ceased, stepped out and tried to pacify the both of them.

"Good sirs. Why don't you talk it over some coffee and cakes?" Peter sweat-dropped as he watched the lanky and frail boy beat up a lean and obviously stronger-looking man.

Adira, still hidden under the hood, turned to Peter and visibly relaxed her stance before looking back to the man still on the ground.

She thrust out her hand to help him up in respect for Peter and to avoid causing unnecessary trouble in front of his shop. She was, after all, here to talk with them.

"Wh-What's that for?"

"I'll treat you to a meal. As peace offering and apology to this good sir for causing ruckus in front of his store. Come on." Adira replied and still kept her hand out.

The man refused her though and stood up by himself. However, he didn't refuse the free meal. He really did forget to bring in his person some money which was why he was currently in this predicament—hungry and humiliated.

They both walked inside and the crowd of onlookers finally dissipated and went about their own businesses.

Back inside, Adira and the man settled in one of the numerous tables inside as Peter tended to them. There weren't that much people yet since it was already after lunch so Peter had time to sit in with them and help negotiate their peace talk.

"Peter, how is Hya lately?" The **boy suddenly asked him. He looked taken aback before he had a curious and guarded look.

Adira chuckled lightly and slowly changed her voice back to her original light and sweet voice.

"Hello, Peter. It has been a while." She said and took her hood off, letting her hair tied in a ponytail cascade down to her back.

"Little one! Where have you been all these years?! Do you know how worried we were when you suddenly vanished that day?! Hya! Hya! Come here! Hurry!"

Hyacinth, who was called over hurriedly, ran after hearing her husband's distressed voice.

"What is—Oh my God! Little dear! Where were you? Where have you been all these years?! Do you know how worried we were when you suddenly vanished that day?!" Was Hyacinth's similar question.

Really, they think too alike.

Adira sweat-dropped as her smile twitched at watching the couple's intense worry. She always felt bad at leaving them so suddenly that day, but she never got the chance to visit them again after that.

So now that she had this rare chance, she wanted to make the most out of it and explain as well as apologize properly.

"I'm really sorry for leaving unannounced. I had urgent matters to deal with at that time and I never got the chance to return after."

She started and slightly turned to the man, who had been staring at her with mouth wide agape and eyes as wide as saucers, as what she was about to tell them was a little too confidential to be said in front of others.

"What's that look for?" She asked and raised a brow.

The man only coughed as light tinges of blush coated his cheeks before turning away and murmuring,

"You.. You're a girl?"

"Do I look like one?"

"Mm."

"Then I am one. Why are you asking the obvious?" Adira exasperatedly sighed.

Notes:
*He thought Adira was a boy because of her clothes.
**Is still Adira

Omg! Thank you so much for everyone who voted! It is such a treat to see first thing in the morning! It makes me very happy!

Thank you as usual to Movvai and TunaJeju for your words! Makes me happy every time!
Good luck on your studies Tuna dear!
Lovelove!

Happy 3.2K reads and 146 votes to us! We're slowly getting there! Lots of love to you guys! ❤️