A silver-haired princess, disguised as a monk, and a blue-haired boy, bags hanging all over his body, sat next to each other on a bench in the middle of the Central Garden of the capital city of Sylphrena.

The Central Garden was one of the most beautiful places in the whole kingdom. Together with Sylphrena's plaza, it was one of the main attractions for visitors from the other two kingdoms. Everywhere one looked, lush greenery and vibrant colors filled one's vision, and the scent of grass and soil hung in the air, carried by the wind to every corner of the garden. The soothing sound of flowing water calmed the ears, and, combined with the sounds of nature, it helped to chase away the worries of the world.

An artificial river ran through the garden, its water flowing from the mountain range – Nocturne Spine – deep within the Forest of Nightmare. The range was named after the highest mountain in the middle, which spiraled into the sky like a human spine. Legend had it that when the moon cast its light upon the range, the mountain came to life, writhing as if it had once been the back of a terrible abomination that had petrified over time.

From there, the river meandered between the borders of the kingdoms. Engineers had built a small branch that passed through Sylphrena's kingdom and the famous Central Garden.

The juicy squish of teeth biting into an apple disrupted the melody of nature, followed by rhythmic munching. A king apple met its demise under the boy's enthusiastic appetite, his eyes almost forming crescent moons.

"These are soooo good. I've never eaten a king apple before. Thank you again for giving me one," the boy expressed his happiness to Rina.

But she was too preoccupied to give him any attention. It was early afternoon, and by now, the whole palace must have been turned upside down. She also felt that the number of guards running around the city had multiplied. They seemed nervous, their eyes darting around as if looking for something lost — Searching for her.

Rina knew she would have to return, but it was still too early. She had to avoid them for a few hours until her father returned. Going back into the arms of Duke Damocles and her brother Remian without the king's support was surely not a good idea.

"Ohhh, the deeper I go, the better the taste. There's so much juice, I could shower in it."

The boy's stupid remarks grated on her nerves. "Can't you just eat in silence? I'm trying to concentrate."

"I can't... munch... so... munch... good," the boy ate more than he talked. Then, reaching toward his seemingly unlimited supply of apples, he took one out and presented it to Rina. "Here, try."

She turned her head while saying, "No, I don't want to—" only to stop when a giant red apple was shoved into her face under the hood. "What the hell are you — mhm, this actually smells wonderful."

Soon, munching sounds echoed, juices flying around as two teenagers enjoyed the vivid scenery.

"This actually tastes better on the run," Rina let out.

"On the run? Are you playing hide and seek with your friends or what?"

Stop thinking out loud! Why is even my own mouth betraying me like this?

"No... I don't have friends..."

"Probably because you look like that... Woah, stop... stop. It was just a joke, okay? A joke! I'm sorry," he quickly apologized, narrowly avoiding a collision with a king apple.

Rina remained silent, her expression unchanged.

"At least you have a family, right?" he said, trying to change the subject. But he regretted asking when he felt the aura next to him turning increasingly gloomy. Searching his bags, he looked for some kind of funny-looking fruit that might lighten the tension in the air.

"I have a father..." she thought about her family. Although blood-related, her brother was stranger and more distant than even the guards who greeted her every morning. "That's it, and you?"

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Me? Hmm, let me think."

What's there to think about? Have you forgotten your family?

Rina wondered why he was taking so long to answer such a straightforward question. She was on the verge of giving him a piece of her mind when he finally replied, his voice transforming from a carefree and slightly comical tone to a more serious and wistful one. It was a change she hadn't expected from him, and it drew her in.

"I have a father... he is... well, let's say very strange," he grinned, probably reminiscing memories of him and his father. "And I also have many siblings, older and younger, brothers and sisters. I love being with them and I wish to protect them."

Rina listened quietly; from the way he spoke about his family, they must have been quite close. She imagined herself having such a brother who cared so deeply for her. Her fingers curled around the apple she held; these thoughts were unnecessary. Lightly, she shook her head.

Turning back to the boy, she asked him about a detail she had noticed. "W-what about your mother?"

For a while, the strange boy was silent, looking into thin air, his gaze lost. Somehow, she wished to see the look in his eyes right now. What was he thinking? What did he see that no one else saw?

"I have never met my mother."

These words struck her deeply because it was an aspect, they both shared. Rina felt the emotions he expressed, hearing the hidden sorrow between his words, the longing in each letter formed by his lips. She wanted to convey her understanding. With that in mind, she turned to meet his gaze.

"I also have never met my mother."

Startled by her confession, he turned toward her, and for the first time, their eyes locked. Like streams of honey trickling down a tree, bathed in the sun's warm embrace and transformed into a resplendent golden-brown hue, his eyes shone brighter than any flower in Sylphrena's Central Garden.

At first glance, they seemed innocent, the eyes of a carefree teenager not yet burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood. But beneath that surface, a deep well of sorrow, pain, and longing hid. What experiences had led to these deep brown eyes? Rina could only imagine.

At the same time, the boy saw Rina's face under the hood of her robe. Silver threads of hair framed her features, some tossed playfully by the wind, caressing her skin. Although the hood cast a slight shadow over her face, it paled in comparison to the absolute darkness that dwelled within her eyes. They were deeper and darker than a well beneath the midnight sky, a place where not even the light of the moon or stars could reach. What secrets lay concealed behind those shadows, never to see the light of day?

At that moment, the princess and her newfound companion spoke in unison.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

"Your eyes are beautiful."

And as if in synchrony, they both turned away, their moment of courage shied away, hidden under their blushing faces.

A flock of birds sang their melody, the wind whispered with the rustle of leaves, the river water splashed on the sides of the riverbed, and footsteps echoed chaotically through the garden as many visitors passed by. The two teenagers sat silently on a bench next to each other, lost in their own thoughts.

However, that moment was short-lived as two groups of guards marched from both ends of the path, converging before them. This did not go unnoticed by Rina. Startled, she grabbed her hood, pulling it down as if trying to conceal her whole body.

"Have you found any clues yet?" one of the guards inquired.

"No, sir."

"This is a disaster! Make sure to find her before nightfall. I don't care how you do it! Nothing can happen to the princess, understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The two groups parted again, retracing their steps. Such a delicate matter as the vanished princess was not something the public should learn about, but the guards were too stressed to notice the two children sitting on the bench. Unfortunately for the guards, these teenagers had excellent hearing.

"Huh, did the princess go missing?" the boy asked Rina, raising an eyebrow at her strange behavior. "Are you hiding from the guards?"

"Ugh... How would I know? Do I look like I know something?... I-I am not hiding; the wind is just too strong."

Rina's nervousness took over, her stomach twisting and turning under the pressure.

"Hmm, okay," he said. "By the way, I like your silver hair," the brown-eyed boy smiled.

"Than –"

Rina's eyes widened beneath the hood; her lips stopped moving, hanging open as she was about to thank him for the compliment when she realized that her cover was blown.

He knows, HE KNOWS! Everyone is aware of the royal's silver hair... I was so stupid to pay with a gold coin. I even said I was on the run, and now the guards are looking for the missing princess!

Rina's mind raced as she considered running away from him. He would probably figure it out soon. There were just too many clues. What would he do then? Report the missing princess? Perhaps to earn a reward? She had to act quickly, but running here in the garden would be too risky with the guards around. What if her hood got blown back by the wind? Should she offer him something in exchange for his silence? Could she trust him?

She stole a glance at him, hoping to deduce his thoughts. From his surprised expression, it seemed like he had just realized something.

"Wait! Running around in a robe... Paying with a gold coin... And now hiding from the guards...," he began.

Rina closed her eyes tightly. She knew what he was going to say next.

"You... You are a thief!"

"Yes, I am the... I am what!"

"So, you admit that you stole gold coins from somewhere and are now on the run! And then you even made me an accomplice! You .... Ouch!"

A gigantic apple slapped the boy's face hard.

"Idiot!"