It was in the middle of summer and the city was bursting with excitement. The heat didn’t really bother her just as much as it did to the other folks walking on the paved streets of the capital city of Illyria. Food, drinks, and merchandise were everywhere around the city.

The people of Illyria were brimming with happiness because today, was their King’s fair. She didn’t really know what it meant but from what she saw, it was some kind of a celebration. Although she wasn’t exactly sure what they were celebrating for.

Maybe it was the king’s birthday? Or a new king’s coronation day? Well, it didn’t really matter for her. She was there to look for someone and she needed to find that person quickly before she ran out of time.

The girl ran until she ran out of breath when suddenly, she crashed into a person and were both knocked over due to the force of their collision. She was still blinking the stars out of her vision when she saw an outstretched hand.

She took it and was pulled up by a boy who was a few centimeters taller than her. She stared up and saw the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. The boy’s eyes were violet with flecks of gray in it and they were mesmerizing.

She was staring intently into his eyes that she didn’t notice she was pulling on his front shirt to make him lean down and make up for their difference in height.

“Uhm, what are you doing?” The boy asked awkwardly.

“Your eyes, they’re so pretty. I want to touch them.”

The girl inched her face closer towards the boy’s face. She didn’t know what this feeling was but it felt like she had already seen those pretty eyes before. But if she did, then surely she would’ve remembered them.

The young boy blinked his eyes a few times and it brought her back to reality. She quickly loosened her grip on his front shirt. He grabbed her hands to keep her balance since she still felt wobbly due to the crash.

She noticed that they were somehow closer in age. She was ten years old and from the looks of the boy, she guessed he was about two or three years older than her. His silver hair gleamed under the heat of the midday summer sun.

“Please, forgive me. I’m really sorry for crashing into you.” She bowed in apology to him.

“It’s okay. It was partly my fault too since I wasn’t looking my way.” The boy shrugged it off.

“Oh, okay. I have to go now. Bye!” She hurriedly ran off and disappeared into the crowd.

‘Well, that was weird.’ Ren thought to himself. He was only running fast earlier because he wanted to get away from the knight that Johann assigned to escort him around the city.

Ren didn’t want someone watching over him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the festivities if someone was constantly eyeing his actions and besides, Illyria’s capital city was one of the safest cities in the world.

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He was casually walking around the city when a thought suddenly occurred to him. Earlier, when he saw the girl’s face right after they crashed into each other, there was this feeling at the back of his mind that somehow, he had already seen the girl before.

Ren stopped in his tracks. People were looking at him and he didn’t notice them because he was completely immersed and lost in his thoughts.

‘Where have I met her before?’ He mused.

He racked his brain searching for the girl’s face in one of his memories. It didn’t take long for him to remember the girl, because she was the girl he dreamt of last night.

‘What the hell? Is this for real? Am I still dreaming or what?’

Ren pinched his cheek and squatted in the middle of the street. He was getting getting the attention of the people passing around him but was still clueless of it.

The girl was young but there was no mistaking it. She was really the girl who appeared in his dream last night. She had the same long black hair and he remembered her eyes, they were blue like the clear skies on a sunny day.

Her skin was fair in complexion but it was also kind of pale earlier. But still, the girl was gorgeous! Everything about her face was perfect.

Her cute straight nose, her almond-shaped eyes, and her pink lips. She was every bit of the beautiful girl he dreamt of last night. She was a bit too young though. She was still a little girl to be exact. 

Ren was in the same position when the knight found him in the center of the city. People openly stared at him and when he looked up, he was shocked to find a large crowd gathering around him.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?” The knight asked.

“Yes, I’m okay. I was just thinking about something.”

He stood up and continued walking casually when he heard murmurs coming from the crowd.

“Look, it’s the Third Prince.”

“I didn’t know the youngest prince was this handsome.”

“He looks nothing like his older brother, Prince Riven.”

“He resembles Prince Johann!”

Ren didn’t want to hear their comments about him any longer. He wasn’t allowed to go to the city that much so most of the people in Illyria didn’t recognize him but today was different, it seemed like they couldn’t hide their curiosity about him.

He walked briskly this time to avoid the curious stares of the people around him. His cover was completely blown. So much for hoping to have a little fun in the city.

Ren went back disappointed. He was inside the carriage when he saw the girl again, climbing up the wall of the palace.

‘What the hell is she doing? She’s going to break her bones if she falls.’

Ren stopped the carriage and hurriedly went to the girl. He saw her mumbling softly to herself while trying her best not to fall.

“Hey!” He called out to her.

The girl was startled and he approached her hoping she wouldn’t fall.

“Don’t come near me!” The girl shouted.

“Why? You’re going to hurt yourself.” Ren replied and ran towards the girl.

“I said no!” The girl insisted.

“Come down now or else I’ll call the guards to bring you down.”

The girl’s eyes widened in alarm. Ren looked up and was about to climb the wall when something heavy landed on him. The brat threw her bag at his face. Ren fell on his back and she shouted at him.

“I told you not to come near me because you’re going to see my panties! You pervert!” The little girl burst out in anger.

Ren sat dumbfounded for a moment. My gods! The brat sounded exactly like him. He could recognize a brat anywhere when he saw one.

He was massaging his forehead when he heard the little girl scream. He looked up and saw the girl falling to the ground.

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"...I can still remember the vow we made. You said you'd protect me and cherish me for eternity. Where are you, my love? I have been waiting. My heart is breaking and my body is hurting. Where are you, my love? It's so dark and lonely in here. Why have you left me here all alone?"