My bare feet brushed past the ferns as I passed through the bushes. My dress only just didn’t reach the ground, so no dirt would collect on the bottom of it. Asher was beside me, much taller compared to his best friend. 11 years. 11 years of meeting in the forest everyday and pying for hours. As we slowly grew older, we would often just walk around in the forest, talking about any concerns or dreams we had, or anything random really.

  “How do you even find time in the day to come and visit me, with all the work you have to do pre-coronation?” I asked, smiling because he was so committed to meeting up with me everyday. Asher waved his hand dismissively.

  “Of course I’d find time for you. When I do become king of Camelias though, I might see you a bit less, but I promise I’ll meet you at least once a week,” he reassured me. I didn’t expect any less from him. He valued our friendship and so did I. Of course I would understand that he would soon be quite busy with working to make sure the kingdom was always at its best, so once a week was more than enough for me.

  “I’m gd. It would be quite saddening if I wouldn’t see you again. I’ve grown to like you quite a lot. You are my very best friend,” I remarked, turning my head to look up at him. His jet bck hair outlined his handsome face, I felt like I was in a dream. It was hard to believe that I had made friends with the future emperor and had been friends with him for years.

  He suddenly stopped walking, and I stopped right next to him, wondering what was bothering him. He looked down at me, his wonderful brown eyes meeting my own.

  “Let’s promise. We will never abandon each other, no matter what. If there is a problem, we will meet here ok?” He held out his pinky, looking at her with hope in his gaze. I smiled softly and wrapped my pinky around his.

  “Of course,” I said softly, tightening my grip around his finger. Asher smiled back, nodding in relief, slowly letting his pinky unwrap from mine, standing back up straight. We stared at each other for a couple seconds, birds chirping in the background, making the atmosphere very comfortable. It would look like an awkward situation, but it was the complete opposite.

  The chirping stopped very suddenly, and the trees in the distance could be heard shaking. Asher tore his gaze away from mine, looking deep into the forest, completely alert. He clung onto the tip of his sword, ready to unsheathe it at any moment.

  “I’m sorry Lily, but I must leave now. The beasts are back and I must protect the kingdom, including you. You understand, right?” He looked at me for approval. I was a bit sad he had to leave so soon but I nodded.

  “Stay safe. If you die and abandon me, you’ll break the promise,” I was half joking, half telling the truth. He chuckled.

  “Don’t worry, my love. I keep my promises,” then hurried off into the forest, his sword in hand, before disappearing behind the tall trees and shrubbery.

  I watched him until he was out of sight. I sighed, putting my hand where I assumed my heart would be. My feelings weren’t valid in this situation. He was a prince, and I came from a small house in the poorer part of the city. Even if I wasn’t very poor, had nice food, a decent house, great parents, I wondered why I wished for more. Not money or anything expensive. Unless a prince counted as something expensive.

  It didn’t really matter anyway. Best friends it would be. He promised to never abandon me, and he would keep his promise, right?

  I was in the rger part of the kingdom, shopping at the bustling markets. I could hear many people praising Prince Asher for defeating the beasts that inhabited the forest. Although it was only a temporary win, his subjects were just gd to be safe for a while once again. I was counting the coins in her hand, trying to figure out what I could buy with the amount I had. I was mainly looking for the essentials like food. I didn’t have enough to buy things I wanted, just what I needed.

  “Are you thinking of buying a painting?” A male voice came from behind me. I turned around to see a handsome, blonde man. His bright smile and his light blue eyes stood out in his facial features.

  “Excuse me?” I was confused as to why this random man came up to me and asked her such a random question. He chuckled.

  “You are standing by my shop with paintings, if you haven’t noticed,” he pointed to his paintings behind me. I had realised that I had been standing in front of his store for a while, while counting my money. I ughed awkwardly.

  “I guess I am. Uh….” I didn’t want to say I wasn’t there to buy any of his paintings. I felt too bad to say that as his store was empty of people except for me and him, but I didn’t want to waste my money on a decoration. He was clearly talented though. His paintings ranged from abstract to extremely realistic to anything in between. I was quite impressed, admiring them but mentally shook my head, remembering I had to deal with the situation I was in. Sometimes I hated being an introvert. It was better when I was younger and I didn’t care about what anyone else said.

  “Are you ok? You are quite silent,” he bent his neck down, his face right next to mine, startling me at the sudden ck of distance between us. My cheeks went slightly red.

  “U-um- yes! Of course! How… How much are your paintings?” I was hoping there would be a somewhat cheap one so I could buy it and still have enough to get my essentials, so I would avoid making him sad.

  “Oh they all range from different prices. But I don’t know… maybe I could give one for free just for 30 minutes of your time. I’ll take you out for tea, on me,” he shot me a half smile, expecting an answer. I hesitated. I was getting myself deeper into this mess, but maybe it wouldn’t be too bad. A free painting, brunch with a handsome guy and plenty of time to buy what I needed.

  “Ok then. Tea for a painting. I expect a good one. Though, I doubt you have a bad one.”

  I was trying to be nice but I realised it sounded like flirting and my cheeks went even more red in embarrassment.

  “Are you embarrassed, or shocked by my good looks? Either way, I’ll take it as a compliment,” he ughed. His ugh was perfect. I didn’t know what a perfect ugh was but if I could describe it, I would say it was his. His messy hair blew in the wind and the sun illuminated his features, making him seem even more majestic. I would say I fell in love with this man’s looks but there was someone else I found infinitely more attractive, inside and out.

  *

  I took a sip of her hot chocote. I preferred it over tea. I liked anything chocote, but I didn’t usually use my money on sweet things so I was gd to have a taste of it after going without it for a long time. The man, who had introduced himself as Damian, was sipping on his green tea, staring at me. I noticed a spark of curiosity and something else in his eyes.

  “So, Lily, do you have any… interests? You know mine of course, considering what I sell,” he took another sip of his tea, waiting for my answer. I put her cup down on the saucer, wiping away the foam on the top of my lip.

  “I don’t really know. I like to spend most of my time in the forest,” I didn’t want to mention that I spent all my time everyday talking to the future emperor. Damian wasn’t exactly someone I trusted just yet since I had only met him an hour before.

  He nodded, about to speak again when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Damian and I looked up to see a man in a beige cloak gripping Damian’s shoulder. I could see under the man’s dark hood, and it was clearly Asher. His hair peeked out and his unmistakable sharp eyes glinted in the shadow of the hood.

  “Hey man, do you know my sister?” He said in his deep voice. I understood that Asher didn’t want to be recognised so saying he was my brother was the safest route, but I didn’t understand why he was even there in the first pce.

  “I just met her. Your sister is a beautiful and kind woman from what I’ve seen so far,” he smiled, not at all intimidated by my so-called brother. Asher grimaced.

  “Well, we have to go. Right now. Come, Lily,” he basically demanded. I got up. He must have had a reason to ask me to go with him. Damian stood up as well.

  “I hope to see you next week. To give you your painting of course. I owe you,” he winked and walked out the cafe, hands in his pockets. Asher’s head followed Damian until he was out of sight, then he grabbed

  my hand and quickly walked down the empty roads, farther away from the markets. He pulled me into an alleyway, keeping a resective distance from me. He tugged his hood down, revealing his frustrated face.

  “I don’t understand why you need another male friend when you have me.”