GUILTY

{Kenneth's pov}

I got home feeling really elated but I had in mind the complains she made about the east which I promised myself to look into. Since I was born and grew up to know what love is, I have never experienced this kind of love for anybody, I have dated girls only because I had the feeling of lust for either their body or beauty, I had never seen any girl I love and is ready to do anything for until I met Evelyn. I was ready to risk anything for her, I knew very well that she doesn't love me but I couldn't help myself from falling for her.

Evelyn though too innocent, calm and insecure captured my heart and changed my view of love, she didn't do anything special but yet I fell madly in love with her. She make me want to see her everyday, she make me want to protect her, she made me want to......

"Oh Evelyn what are you doing to me?" I asked myself in my bedroom as I stare at my reflection through the mirror.

"Who's Evelyn?" I heard Gina ask from outside turning around I noticed my door was opened. I was shocked because I thought I had locked, thank God it was Gina and not Silva or any other person.

I quickly pulled her into the room and shut the door.

"Who's Evelyn? Gina asked again in my room, she stood akimbo facing me as she demanded to know.

"You were eavesdropping" I scolded

"That definitely is not the answer to my question, who's Evelyn? She asked again "is she the friend you said returned from Country V, but I thought you said the friend was a HE and here you are talking about a SHE, did any of your friend even return from Country V? Gina asked, she was indeed a good detector and investigator.

"Promise to keep it a secret? I asked

"I haven't told anyone that you were the one who poisoned aunt Mona's dog during our vacation at Country D" she said as she smirk.

"Oh I thought you must have forgotten about it" I said as I chuckle

She gave me a 'start talking' look.

"Evelyn is the lady I met during my tour around the City" I narrated.

"Oh so that's why you returned home late" she laughed "she's the one you went to visit today? She asked again

"Yes" I said and narrated everything I knew about Evelyn to her.

"So what can we do to help her? She asked

"Gina that I don't know...I didn't tell her I am the prince though"

"You lied about your identity?

"Yes I had no choice and about helping her, I have plans for that"

"Ken how do you intend on helping her when you lied to her about your identity, if she finds out she may not be able to forgive you or worst, trust you again"

"She will, I know she will"

"Okay o"

"Gina I really love her and I'll do everything in my power to have her"

"You don't lie to the one you love, I'm a woman too Ken and trust me when I say that if she finds out the truth, it won't be easy for you"

"I've heard you, I'll tell her the truth tomorrow"

"How do you intend to break the news to the family?"

"Leave that to me. I don't intend rushing things with Evelyn, it's one step at a time, when she finally falls in love with me, I'll break the news to Mum and Dad"

"Okay, do what you like" Gina said and exit the room. I collasped on the bed playfully as I smile to myself.

'why did you lie to her about your Identity? This question suddenly rang in my head and I furrowed my brows.

"Why did I lie to her? I asked myself as the feeling of guilt overwhelmed my excited emotion.

{Evelyn's pov}

"You have to tell me everything that happened" Judy queried as she helped me buy some stuffs in the market. We were buying things that I was going to hawk for my aunt the next day. Judy beamed at me as she waited for the juicy gossip.

My plan was to return on time after hawking tomorrow so that I can meet with Ken as planned.

"Nothing much happened, we just talked about random things, got to know each other more and planned to meet again tomorrow by 3pm" I shrugged as I told her.

"So it's officially a relationship? She asked childishly.

"Hell no, we are not dating, just friends" I refused immediately.

"Someone who leaves the capital of City S down to the west is in....." She asked waiting for me to complete her sentence but I only stared at her like some zombie "....is in love, dummy" she added hitting my head from behind.

"No he's not in love with me" I retorted.

"How'd you know, did you ask him?" She asked.

"No I didn't but...."

"But what, he is in love with you, Kenneth loves you, Kenneth loves you" Judy screamed as she turned it into singing.

I just ignored her as I kept tracing my way back home.

*The next day*

I woke up very early, did my chores, made breakfast and took my wares, I sold all as expected and the time was just 2pm, I had one more hour to go, I started trekking gradually to our agreed spot, I don't want to be exhausted by the time I get there.

"Evelyn! I heard someone call my name but I was too tired to answer or turn back to realize who was calling.

"Evelyn! The person who called me touched my shoulder and I turned around to look at the person.

"Hey don't you remember me, have I grown that big? He said as he gave me a defeated look.

"No I don't" I said as I gave the young man standing in front of me a questioning look.

He looked familiar but I couldn't remember where I met him before. I stared at him for explanation.

"It's Frank's friend, Theodore MD" he introduced.

"O Theo, I thought you were in Country F with your Dad, you've changed so much" I said excited to see him.

Theodore was also very supportive when he was around, he comes every day to visit Frank and most times, he bought me accessories, I refused them from him at first but he kept on bringing until I stopped refusing the gifts from him. He wasn't a bad guy but he made it obvious of his intention towards me, it made restraint.

Theodore's parents are rich, they took care of their only son and even established a business for him, he was making his own money from the business.

"Yeah....I returned few days ago, I was planning to come visit....but work has taken most of my time" he said as he smile cheerfully.

"Welcome back" I said "so what are you doing here? You should be in work" I added.

"I actually came to pick up a few things before heading home... I'm not too strong so I'll be heading home on time today..... I'm really glad I met you, Eve" he said.

"Same here" I said awkwardly, I don't know why I was feeling that way "I have an appointment with someone in few minutes..... I'll see you again soon" I added.

"Okay" he said and we departed.

I managed to reach the mango tree only to sight Ken leaning towards the car, waiting for me.

{Kenneth's pov}

I quickly had my bath after training and got dressed to go meet Evelyn, I was about leaving the house when Mum suddenly blocked my way.

"Mum" I called

"Son" she called me back.

"I have an appointment Mum" I said as I try to dodge her.

"With who? She asked and I stared at her wondering if Gina told her or she overheard our discussion.

"Who do you have an appointment with that requires not to wear your princely attires? She asked

"Is this why you obstructing my passage way? I asked in my Country V's accent and Mum chuckled.

"Call it what you like" Mum retorted.

"Mum please this appointment is important, I can't miss it"

"So why aren't you dressed like a prince...are you embarrassed of being one?

"No not at all..... I just don't want to direct unnecessary attentions to myself, I don't want Dad's enemies to find out about my presence back"

"That's an unnecessary explanation, a stupid excuse at that but I'll let it pass" Mum said and cupped my cheeks "have fun out there son" she said kissing my cheeks.

"Ewww Mum....I am not a kid anymore" I shouted at her as I excape her and walked out.

I drove to our agreed spot and parked, I alight from the vehicle and leaned beside it waiting patiently for Evelyn, I was really excited to meet her again, I was smiling and chuckling to myself. Different imagination kept popping into my head both good and nasty one.

"Mr Ken" I heard the voice of the angel I've been waiting for, I looked gaze with her giving her one of my best smile.

"Evelyn" I said "is it safe to talk out here? I asked.

Evelyn shook her head slowly, she had averted her gaze from me and looked down shyly.

I quickly opened the passenger side for her and she hopped into the car quickly like she was avoiding someone. I got into the driver's side afterwards.

"Thank you for risking to see me" I said when we were inside the car.

She nodded still looking down.

{Evelyn's pov}

When I got to where Ken stood, I felt my heart skipping

'why' I asked myself

'i don't know' I replied to myself.

All of a sudden, I became shy and even became cautious of the breath I released into the air, I became cautious of what I was wearing? How I look? Am I pretty? And so on. Things I never really cared about until I met Ken

"Mr Ken" I called him drawing his attention from his thoughts.

He stared at me intensely and I became very embarrassed at his gaze that I decided to look down. He opened the door to the passenger side for me and I got in, he got into the driver's side afterwards.

"Thank you for risking to see me" he said and I tried everything in my power not to be embarrassed at what he said, so I ended up nodding.

"Can I take you somewhere else? I promise to bring you back on time" he said and I accepted. On a normal occasion, I was supposed to be at home in 3 hours but since I sold my wares quickly and on time, it won't be a bad idea to hang out with him and go back a bit late- the time my aunt expects me to be back (6pm).

Ken ignited the engine and drove out from the spot.

"Where are we going? I asked

"An eatery or restaurant, you must be hungry I guess" he said and just then, my stomach rumbled, giving me out. I was so embarrassed.

Ken laughed "so I'm good at guessing" he said in between laughter.

I joined in the laughter.

I looked at the window, I saw children even younger than me hawking, I sighed in sadness as I closed my eyes tight remembering how all my suffering started. One day I was living like a princess and the next day, I am living like a slave.

"Are you okay? Ken asked me

"Seeing all this children outside hawking, I remember how it all started" I said

"How it all started? He asked

"Yes, it's really not a nice topic though" I said and I was glad he coded that I didn't want to talk about the topic

"The other day, you said something about the east side and the prince, I wanted to ask how the prince can help, in what areas specially are the east side being neglected? He asked and I wondered why he asked.

"Education...Food ....Finance... Employment....but mostly education and finance" I said "why are you asking? I asked unable to hide my curiosity.

"Just asking"

"The prince is also heartless if you ask me" I said and I noticed the smirk and interested look on his face

"How? He asked

"Eversince he returned from Country V, he didn't even show his face to his people and many have been anticipating his return, people like Judy..." I said

"And you? He asked

"I don't care if he returns or stays back"

"Why?

"Can't you see, there's no difference between him being in Country H and Country V, no one has seen him ever since he returned, we only heard the news about his return. I wonder what he is hiding from, that's why I don't want to have anything to do with the royal family" I said.

Ken chuckled, I wonder what he found funny "so if you were asked to marry the prince you'll refuse?

"Yes" I replied without thinking, I didn't notice the pained look on his face "one thing I noticed is that once these citizens finds their way into the empire, they change....not good changes" I said looking hurt, I remember Mary, a friend of mine who got a job into the empire, she came to visit her mother few months ago and insulted I and Judy when she bumped into us on our way to the market.

"Have you ever imagined the prince being different? He asked

I turned my gaze to him "you have been asking questions about the prince, are you by chance related to him? I ask scared, I have said a lot of bad things already.

"No not in any way" he said immediately and I didn't notice the change of expression on his face.