I'm not sure why but Aric seems to have taken over my thoughts. I often get lost in how interesting he seems. How different he is. Cliche, I know. Something new and exciting in the dull thrum of everyday life. Nowadays, I don't argue with my mother when she orders me to go to the market. Now, it's become exhirating because of the thought of meeting Aric there. Of course, if I do see him, I never dare to go up to him. There was something about the way he carried himself that was so imposing. Perhaps, his nobility can never truly fade away. The only times I get remotely close to him is when Ansel pulls me with him to bombard the poor man with questions. He's been lovingly patient with Ansel, but the look of annoyance whenever he shows up doesn't escape my sight.

  Today was one of those days when my mother demanded that I go to the market again. I heard her mumbling something about not having enough potatoes, but I didn't mind; my mind had gone back to the dark knight I see often at the market. I sigh. I hope I see him there today. My mother shoves a list and a basket into my hands and ushers me out of the house.

  "Go on, dear. I need everything on that list, okay? Don't forget anything." My mother then waved me off and returned inside the house.

  I don't even realize I'm smiling until I brush my hair out of my eyes. My hands momentarily brushed against my lips. I shake my head. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Since when were you this boy-crazy? First, it was that little crush on Ansel, and now this. No! I don't have a crush on anybody. I still like Ansel, and currently no one else is on my mind. I don't think I've ever felt more like an idiot in my life. Am I really worrying about boys right now? I love how I call myself an average girl when I switch between crushes and am also being followed by a stranger. So average.

  I slowly make my way towards the marketpce. Since I actually get here when my mother wants me to, I realize that there aren't a lot of people here. I should listen to my mother more often. Though I was here just to get groceries, my heart was pounding in a rhythm I wanted to refuse to acknowledge. I scanned the faces hurriedly, convincing myself it was out of curiosity and nothing more.

  Where was he?

  I shook my head, annoyed at the persistent thought. It's not like I cared. He was just another face in the crowd. But as I moved deeper into the market, my eyes kept darting from side to side, searching for a glimpse of his familiar figure. My denial was a stubborn whisper in my mind. I don't like him. Yet, my feet carried me further into the sea of strangers, my gaze unwavering in its mission.

  I caught sight of a dark-haired man by a fruit stand, and my heart skipped a beat. But as he turned, disappointment washed over me. It wasn't him. Frustration bubbled up, and I mentally chastised myself.

  Get a grip.

  I was shaking my head at my childish thoughts when I felt a familiar wave of fear course through my body. I look around the marketpce and once again catch sight of a man looking directly at me. He made no move to look away or even walk away. He was just standing there. Watching me. But the more I tried to push the thought away, the stronger it clung to me.

  I saw a fsh of a familiar cloak, and everything fell apart. My pulse quickened, and I made my way towards him, telling myself it was a coincidence, nothing more. As I drew closer, the figure turned. It was him. Aric. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, everything seemed to vanish. I felt my heart rate spike, a mix of relief and something I wouldn't dare name. He smiled, and I could feel myself being drawn in.

  "Hello," he called out, his voice cutting through the noise.

  I was just about to turn away when my body walked towards him against my will. "H-hello, sir, I was just browsing," I said, my voice betraying the nonchance she tried so hard to maintain.

  "Browsing for me?" he teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

  My eyes widen, and I quickly shake my head no. He ughed.

  Strange.

  His ugh was deep, like the warm embrace of a familiar melody, rich and resonant, filling the room with an unexpected warmth. In that brief, beautiful sound, you find a connection, something that I wanted to ignore. I couldn't help but feel a strange comfort in his presence. And though I would never admit it, not even to myself, I knew he was exactly where I wanted to be.

  "I hope you know that I'm just teasing," the pyful look in his eyes never faded, "I don't think I've ever caught your name. I've seen you more often than not by Ansel's side when he comes to attack me."

  As he looked at me expectantly, I barely managed to speak out my name, "A-annabelle, sir,"

  "Oh, no need to call me sir. That's much too formal for my taste. Let's keep things a bit more... rexed, shall we?"

  I cough, and he ughs once again.

  His ugh.

  I shake the thought away from my head and look down at the ground, suddenly interested in the various pebbles next to my feet.

  "I notice that you haven't looked at me since we've begun talking? Is there something on your mind that you're not sharing with me?"

  "Oh! No! No! Not at all. I was just thinking about what I need to buy today."

  "Would it be alright if I accompanied you? I promise not to disappoint."

  "Oh..well-," I felt a blush rising on my cheeks.

  But before I could respond to him, I felt an arm snake around my waist and a voice close to my ear.

  "Hey there.."

  Ansel.

  I turn to see him standing close to me, looking intently into my eyes. It was hard not to let my eyes stay on his. The warmth of his hand on my waist sent a shiver down my spine, a tantalizing blend of comfort and excitement.

  Aric's gaze was focused mainly on Ansel's arm around my waist, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. I wondered what that was about, a pang of curiosity mixing with the swirl of emotions inside me. As the seconds stretched on, Ansel still didn't remove his hand, his touch firm. I could sense Aric's discomfort, his shoulders stiff and his jaw set in a tight line. Finally, unable to bear the intensity of the moment, I stepped away from Ansel, breaking the spell. As if on cue, Aric seemed to loosen up, a breath escaping his lips that I hadn't realized he was holding. The strange atmosphere dissipated, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease. I gnced back at Ansel, his eyes still locked onto mine, a small, knowing smile pying at the corners of his mouth. There was an unspoken challenge there, a dare.

  I looked at both of them; they were currently looking at each other with expressions that were less than friendly. However, neither of them made the move to break the forced cordiality. I rolled my eyes. This earned me a curious look from both of them.

  What are these boys doing? I thought Ansel adored this man, and now he's looking at Aric like he's killed his cat.

  "I should get going, I have chores to finish," Aric and Ansel both open their mouths, attempting to say something, "I should go alone."

  That seemed to shut them up. They both nodded at me, each fshing me their signature smile. It was their way of acknowledging defeat, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of victory.

  Ansel's grin was as lopsided as ever, one corner of his mouth quirking up higher than the other. It gave him a boyish charm, making it hard to stay mad at him for long. His eyes twinkled with a mixture of mischief and genuine admiration, silently promising that he wasn't done yet, that there would be more pyful banter to come.

  Aric's smile, on the other hand, was smooth and calcuted, a practiced expression that could disarm even the sternest of critics. His confidence was unwavering, and his gaze held a hint of something deeper, respect, perhaps, or an unspoken challenge.

  I shake my head, a small smile gracing my lips. My gaze just momentarily caught on Aric's smile before it moved away. A momentary distraction, but a distraction nonetheless. I waved goodbye to the two of them and continued on my way, weaving through the cobblestone streets and towards the stalls of food. The evening air was cool and filled with the tantalizing aromas of freshly baked bread, spiced meats, and ripe fruits. Each step seemed to echo through the narrow alleys, the cobblestones uneven beneath my feet, adding to the charm of this bustling marketpce. Vendors called out, their voices merging into a lively hum that was both familiar and comforting. I passed by a flower stall, the vibrant colors of the blooms catching my eye, and I paused for a moment to admire them. They were hibiscus flowers.

  I love them so much.

  I paused, captivated by the vibrant hibiscus flowers at the market stall. The petals, soft and delicate, radiated a spectrum of colors, reds, pinks, yellows, that caught the light and my breath. I reached out, my fingertips brushing against the petals, feeling their gentle warmth and the promise of the sun. In that moment, amidst the bustling market, I was lost in the simple, enchanting beauty of the blooms. Hibiscus flowers always possessed a silent beauty. They often go unnoticed when pced next to more fmboyant blooms, but my eyes always seemed to seek them out first. The subtle grace of their ruffled petals and the way they swayed gently in the breeze spoke to me in a nguage only the heart could understand. Each flower seemed to hold a story, a whisper of nature's elegance, calling out to those willing to see beyond the obvious. As the market buzzed with life around me, I found a quiet soce in their presence, a reminder that sometimes the most profound beauty lies in the simplest of things.

  "Would you like the flower?" a smooth voice rang out from behind me, one that I had gotten familiar with hearing, "if you like them, I will gdly get them for you."

  I turn around to see Aric standing behind me. His hands are tucked into his cloak, and his dark hair is swaying with the light breeze that blows through the market square. His eyes look down at me, warm and attentive. "I know you said you were going alone. But...it would seem that we were headed in the same direction." He fshes me a quick smile.

  I can't help but ugh at the obvious lie he told me. I turn to look at the hibiscus flower again. However, before I could say no to his offer, he had already picked up a flower from its basket and was inspecting it closely.

  "Do you mind if I...," he trailed off, but I knew what he meant to say.

  I slowly turn around and let my braid fall down my back. I suck in a breath as I feel him walk slightly closer to me. His fingers were brushing lightly against my hair at the base of my neck. He gently pces the hibiscus flower between the weaves of my braid, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. My heartbeat quickens, and the world seems to narrow down to this single, electrifying moment. I turn around, and he looks at me with intense eyes.

  I quickly clear my throat, and that seems to clear up the heavy atmosphere around us.

  "Where did Ansel go?" I ask, hoping to change the subject, "I don't see him with you."

  "He said he needed to be somewhere. Something needed watching? I'm not entirely sure."

  I nod and don't say anything more. We both stood there in awkward silence for a while before the shopkeep demanded to know when he was going to pay for the flower he had pced in my hair. Aric had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed and quickly apologized. The symbol on it catches my eye: the royal family crest. No matter how many times I see obvious signs of his past as a knight for the King and Queen, I can never fully accept it. He seems almost otherworldly, too extraordinary for this pce. The most incredible thing that anyone in this town had ever done was being able to win at a foot race.

  Aric was a breath of fresh air. Something new and wonderful has just appeared in my life. At that moment, a pang of guilt hits me. Not long ago, Ansel had been the one occupying my thoughts with his smile and voice. But it changed the moment I met Aric. I'm curious, I want to know more. This stranger intrigues me. Aric finishes his transaction, and as he catches my eye again, I can see a story untold behind those eyes, one that I am eager to uncover.

  "You're staring," he fshes a grin, "something you like?"

  I scoff, "I was just interested in the royal family crest is all. It's not often that we get someone of noble blood around these parts."

  "You say that like it's a bad thing."

  "Well, I'm just saying," I turn and continue to walk along the cobblestone streets as I look for various groceries I need to get. I feel Aric close behind me.

  "Well, now you have me. I'm here. And I might just decide to stay."

  "Is that so? And what's your reason for staying?"

  "Many things."

  "You won't tell me?"

  "No...I don't think I will. At least, not just yet."

  I ugh, and I look up to meet his eyes. They were already looking at me intently, as though he was studying every reaction I had to his words. His gaze was unwavering, filled with a depth that made me feel both seen and scrutinized at the same time. It was as if he could read every nuance of my expression, every flicker of emotion that crossed my face. The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile, and his eyes seemed to soften just a bit, a mixture of curiosity and amusement pying across his features. It was a look that made my heart skip a beat, wondering what he was thinking, what he was seeing in me.

  "I should probably let you continue with your shopping, shouldn't I?"

  "You should."

  His hand reached out and made sure the flower in my hair was safely where it was in my hair. His warmth was gone as quickly as it came, and I couldn't do anything but look at him. He offers me a quick nod and a grand smile. With a quick motion, his cloak fluttering, he turned away from me and walked away. His movement was graceful, almost theatrical, as he turned away from me and walked off into the bustling market. I stood there, feeling the lingering sensation of his touch, the memory of his smile etched into my mind.

  I wonder what his reason was to stay. Our town was less than interesting, so why did he choose to stay here of all pces? My mind started to wander. Maybe, just maybe, he wanted to stay because of someone he met. Someone like myse-. I didn't let myself complete those sentences; it seemed too far-fetched. He was the type of man whose gruff personality attracted women to him without him even trying. I certainly wasn't the prettiest girl in town, taking care of myself was never always the biggest issue, nor did I have the type of figure that enticed the men around me. I decided that keeping my organs intact was more important than having a 10-inch waist. Still, the thought lingered. Could he have stayed for someone like me? It seemed improbable, yet the idea refused to leave my mind. I shook my head, trying to dispel the notion. There were countless reasons he could have chosen to stay, and it was foolish to think I might be one of them.

  -------------

  I pushed open the front door, the familiar creak echoing through the hallway. The comforting scent of home enveloped me, a blend of my mother's cooking and the faint, lingering aroma of fresh flowers from the garden. I sighed in relief, hoping for a peaceful evening. As I walked towards the dining room, voices filtered through the air, a low murmur of conversation that seemed strangely out of pce. I entered the room and froze. Sitting at the dinner table, casually sipping a cup of tea, was the man from the tavern. His eyes met mine, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. He was holding a delicate rose in his hand.

  What was he doing here? How did he know my family?

  The unease from their earlier encounter resurfaced, stronger and more urgent. At that moment, my mother walked in, a warm smile on her face. "Annabelle, darling, you're home!" she excimed, her voice filled with affection. "Come and say hello to an old friend."

  My mother gestured towards the man, who stood up and extended his hand. I stared at him, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. I took a hesitant step forward, my eyes never leaving his.

  "Annabelle, this is Darius," my mother continued, oblivious to her daughter's discomfort. "He used to visit us often when you were younger. Do you remember?"

  My mind struggled to connect the dots. Darius. The name seemed vaguely familiar, but the unease I felt overshadowed any nostalgia. I forced a polite smile, my hand shaking slightly as I reached out to shake his hand.

  "It's good to see you again, Annabelle," Darius said, his voice smooth and steady. But there was something in his eyes, a glint that made my skin crawl. He held out the rose to me, expecting me to take it.

  "Yes, it's... been a long time," I replied, trying to keep my voice from trembling, and quickly took the rose from him. I gnced at my mother, who was already setting the table, humming a soft tune. The normalcy of the scene cshed violently with the turmoil inside me.

  As the evening progressed, I tried to piece together my memories of Darius. He had been kind and protective when they were children, always looking out for me. The dinner continued, each minute feeling like an eternity. I could barely focus on the conversation, my mind consumed by the mystery of Darius' true intentions. My mother's oblivious chatter about old times only heightened my sense of isotion and fear. My gaze occasionally flicked towards Darius, catching him watching me with an intensity that sent chills down my spine. I forced myself to smile and nod along, but the unease never left me. By the time dinner was over, I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I excused myself, ciming I needed to rest, and retreated to my room. The familiar walls did little to comfort me.