Chapter 7

After our first dance, he immediately joined me and encouraged me to greet and thank the few guests who came to me who also gave me greetings on this night for my birthday. He didn't leave me, he was just behind me, following and I didn't know if he was as tired as I was. I have to try to smile at everyone even when I'm hungry, eat too but just a little bit, and later my mom will pick me up again and introduce me again to the visitors.

I sigh as we stopped at our table.

“Are you alright?”

I immediately noticed his worried face; I watched his calm face before I spoke and answered his question.

“I’m fine,” I replied as I adjusted my seat and my shirt.

I smiled at him just to show him I’m okay.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

My shoulder dropped as he replied, "Is it obvious that I'm tired?" I whispered at him. That we were all alone even in the noisy surroundings, I also didn't want to hear to them that I was tired and maybe they could tell something about me. I don’t want to bad image to the royal family.

“They don't see it but I notice about everything about you.”

I felt a rush from my heart in what he said and immediately turned my attention to others because of it. I couldn't answer him anymore.

Another round of thanking some guests and talking to them before the exhausting night was over. Valerie is still forcing me to open presents but said I need a break because even though I'm in legal age I still have to go to class tomorrow early morning. I was thankful that she understood me. My father greeted me again before I went straight to my room.

I want to go straight to my bed to sleep but I need to get clean and change clothes. Sometimes I just feel sorry for myself, how does it feel to have a simple life? That I am not a princess, will this be the course of my life?

When I had finished cleaning my body and getting dressed I went straight to my bed. I feel like I haven't been able to rest in bed for so long. I spread my legs and arms just like playing on the ground with snow.

I close my eyes to sleep.

But half an hour later I still had no sleep and I suddenly felt hungry.

I jumped up and got out of bed. I felt more hungry and annoyed that I had to leave my room. Look around in case someone catches me or sees me awake at this late-night because we have a curfew. My feet were barefoot while walking down the aisle to make no noise until I got to the kitchen without catching anyone.

I breathed a sigh of relief when some leftover food was still in the kitchen, I took a small basket for it to put all the food in, I got some fruit grapes, apples, cookies, bread and cupcakes and put it all in the basket.

I immediately came out of the kitchen, as before, I had to be careful again.

My eyes widen when I noticed that royal guards were approaching in my direction, I didn't know where I was going to hide until I almost jumped in panic and shouted when someone pulled me down the right aisle. The noise stopped because he covered my mouth immediately and he embraced me from behind and then we both retreated in the dark.

I immediately felt fear and frustration over my actions that kept hugging me but he whispered in my right ear so I stopped beating.

“It’s me,” he whispered.

The prince.

I didn't move or make any noise while he was still hugging me and me hugging the basket I was carrying when the royal guards passed by in a manner that we could not see us.

Then he releases me from the hug, immediately turned to face him, just like me his wearing his nightdress and his hair fell so I could see his gentle face in the dim light from the outside.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered at him.

He put his index finger in his lips just saying I need to be silent.

“What?” I asked him again.

He shakes his head and laughed. He holds me from my hand and pulls me from the dark aisle.

“Where are we going?”

“Just trust me, okay?”

I don't know but since we met before I never felt like he was a bad person or what, so even though he didn't say it I trusted him.

As we exited the aisle a terrace overlooking the garden and overlooked the starlight on the town's light land. I was amazed at the appearance of the town and the right cold outside.

“How do you about this place? It’s beautiful.” I barely approached the terrace as I still embraced the basket full of food.

“I don't know, I was just walking by because I couldn't sleep when I saw you in the kitchen so I followed you.”

I faced him.

“Is that’s it?”

“Yeah.”

He took a deep breath before he sat face to the town; I also imitated him, sat down beside him, and laid the basket in front of us. I offered him, he smiled at me and took some grapes from the basket while I was eating cookies.

“I hadn't eaten well before at the party so I got some food now even its late night,” I said, “how about you?”

“I haven't eaten well since I watched you,” he said.

“Tedious before, tired of being a princess and a member of the royal family.”

Silence enveloped us.

“Sometimes I wonder if I am not a princess or I do not live in a palace, what can my life be like outside? Can I be a normal person? But when I was in town they seemed happy, they seemed to be happier than I was." As I said while still looking at the city lights.

“Don't you want to live here anymore? Do you want to run away with me?”

I was a little surprised at his question and glanced at him who are looking at me too.