3. Beauty

Caelum, who doesn't know what to do, tried to dance like these people because of surprise he didn't expect.

'This girl's grip is crazy.', said to himself when he noticed he can't pull his hand.

The bonfire in the center give them a warmth and light, making the whole dance lively. The prince is planning to let go but he saw how happy these people are. He felt ashamed when he imagine what he's planning to do.

'I am not that cruel. Well, a little fun wouldn't hurt.', Caelum decided to go with the flow and follow them like a fool.

While dancing, the prince can only think about the unfamiliar feelings he never felt before. He knows it is different from playing with girls, eating fancy foods, or complimented by many, it is something natural even without efforts.

The crowds move to a direction while still dancing. Their hands are still connected and everyone who's watching are all clapping and some are joining. The more people join, the crazier their energy rise. It's like they don't care about anything but dancing in this crazy beat of the drum and lively sound of the bell.

When they reach the end of the town, the party was over. Everyone gave their goodbyes and compliments to each other before leaving. Some are disappointed because it feels like a minute and some are overjoyed for the fun they never get to experience in every day. Caelum felt like it was forever but he doesn't want to stop, so he felt a disappointment but he was also relieved that it was over.

He immediately grab the girl's hand when she let go. The maiden was surprised because of Caelum's sudden action.

"Oi? What are ya' doin'?", the girl asked with such rudeness.

The Prince was shocked because of her attitude but forgot that he was covered with a cloak. She didn't know he was a prince. "You are the one who pulled me in this mess.", he said like a prince. He heard how the lady flick her tongue.

'What a girl.', Caelum complain in his mind.

"But you enjoyed it, right?", the lady asked with an impatient look.

Caelum was speechless.

"Then, goodbye."

"B-But I don't know how to go back.", Caelum whispered but enough to the maiden to hear.

She burst into laughter.

"What the fuck is that? You join us without knowing this town?", she still laughing, almost crying.

"I told you, you are the one who drag me into that dancing thing.", Caelum argued.

"HEY! THERA! ARE YOU COMING WITH US?", a voice of man shout in the distance.

Caelum stare at the girl who remove her mask. She was beautiful. Her hair was white but it's unique. Some are too dark, some are too light and some are too bright. It's magical. And when the moon light touch her face, he noticed her eyes. He was speechless, not because he was defeated but now, he was amazed how red it is. It's like the reflection of the moon, with bright red and shines like a star.

"Nah! I'm babysitting! I got my shit a headache and I need to fix this. Damn, I mess up!", the girl who they called Thera answered.

Caelum stopped his daydreaming when he remembered that her attitude doesn't reflect her appearance. They exchange their farewells before this lady gave him an attention.

"You heard them, right? My name. Thera. And you?", she asked like a punk. Caelum is still foreign about her attitude.

"I can't tell you.", he said. Of course, he's still a prince. What if she takes advantage of that and use his ignorance to do something.

On the other hand, Leonthera was too pissed off to please this man in front of her. She doesn't care who he is nor how he looks like so she can just leave him here or what but she can't do that because robbers are awake at this time and she doesn't want any unpleasant memory to chase her when reminiscing an event like this.

"Oh? What should I call you then?", she asked as she gets her wallet in her thighs, it was tied.

Caelum who look to what she's doing, saw how smooth her legs and how perfect it is. He still can't believe that a girl like her is just a commoner. And an unmarried woman for a fact. He noticed it and doesn't see a ring nor an earring.

'She's beautiful. She is perfect to be a concubine but her attitude... I think we can just fix it.' The prince planned it this much while Leonthera is counting her money.

"I can give you any fancy and money you want.", Caelum offered when he saw how serious she is in counting.

Leonthera stared at him with no emotions, then after a second, she laughed. "What's that shit your talking about, eh?", she still can't believe how this man talked.

"I'm not joking, you know! It's a one and a life time offer.", Caelum confidently said.

The lady doesn't answer because she's too focused on looking at her watch.

"Shit! I'm gonna be late. Let's go and stop bullshitting me. Do you wanna go home right? Move your shit and damn, I need to eat that.", she walked fast, leaving Caelum a choice to follow her.

The prince do not know what to do. He was thinking of telling her his identity or just ask a knight. But both are too risky for the festival and him. It will also damage their kingdom's reputation. He walk as fast as this lady and he doesn't know where she will go but unexpectedly, she enter a shop.

"Thera! It's been a while. How many years since you visit us?", the lady in the counter greeted the lady in front of her.

Thera greet her back and they talk for a minute. "Where's the lads clothes?", she asked and the Noble lady answer with enthusiasm.

"Here. Here. Since it's festival, I'll give it to you in 50."

"Really? Thank you. You're still sweet as ever!"

Caelum follow Thera when she walk in some place. He can only see clothes with great designs but not as fancy as in the castle. He also noticed that Thera is really serious about looking at those things.

The store was made from woods. Their clothes are divided by whatever the customer is. Its ceiling is not as high as other store but not as low as the customers head. The ambiance and lighting inside are also relaxing and the smell of the shop is addicting.

"You're a noble, right?", Thera began to talk. Cealum isn't surprise by her question.

"Yes.", he answered honestly. 'A royal to be exact..', he thought.

"Then you should change your clothes."

Caelum didn't expect that. "Why?"

"Some nobles are hated and some are robbed. If you wanna be like them, then keep wearing that expensive cloak.", Thera warned.

"I can fight.", the prince defend himself.

"Damn, of course you can! But don't make some trouble."

"But it's troublesome to change."

"The fuck is that? Just ripped your clothes and choose whatever you want there! Don't worry, I'll pay."

Caelum was pissed. "Are you making fun of me?"

Thera stared at the clothes for a second before answering.

"I am."

Caelum left before he can say something doesn't nice. He reminds himself that he is a prince and not a commoner. Thera, on the other hand was smiling because of that man's reaction.

Caelum changed into a clothes he chose. When he looked at the mirror, his face still stands out. He doesn't look like a commoner and he doesn't like it.

'Sometimes having a good face is also a problem.'

When he got out of the room, he find Thera who is searching for a dress. Not for her but for a child. He decided to come closer and wait till she noticed.

"Ehem!", Thera looked at the man who did the fake cough. She was surprised that this man is more handsome than what she expected a noble can.

"Oh? Damn, it's great to you. How much is that?", she asked then looked away. Not interested at all.

'This girl...', The prince was hurt in his pride. He didn't answer.

Caelum looked at the dress Thera was holding.

"That's nice.", he blurted out of nowhere.

Thera looked at him then looked at the dress. "You think?.... Then I'll go with this.", she put it in her arms carefully. Scared of ruining the fine dress.

Caelum looked at Thera's pleased face. "Is that... for your child?", he asked out of curiosity.

Thera laughed. "The fuck? I'll choose to die than to raise a child. Well, they are my friends.", she said then decided to go in the Noble lady.

Caelum followed her again.

"I'll take all of these and this man's clothes.", she said while pointing her fingers to Caelum and getting some money.

"Oh? What a handsome man.", the noble was too stunned by the prince beauty. "No need to pay for his clothes. It's on me.", the old lady said with such desire.

"Really? Thanks!", Thera was happy about it.

Caelum doesn't really care but it's quite uncomfortable. If only she knew he was a prince, she is already asking for forgiveness but he will never do that. It's troublesome. When they finished talking, he then again, followed this woman who holds like five bags of clothes. He grabbed it without asking permission.

"Damn. What?", Thera was surprised and she thought it was a robber.

"You looked in pain.", Caelum smirked.

"Eh? Declaring a war, huh?", Thera smiled as if she is ready to fight.

"Think what you want."

They continue to walk and stopped when Thera decided to buy something. "Hey, what now?", Caelum asked.

"Shut up. I'm hungry!", she replied. "Oi, Sir old man, two of these brown thing please.", she said with rudeness. The elder smiled.

"Yosh! Coming!", he shouted with such energy. He gave Thera the two stick of a brown food she ordered.

"Here! Try this.", Thera offered Caelum but he refused. "The fuck? You're so picky. That shit will kill you, you know!", she started to eat. And without a minute, she finished.

"You don't really have a trait of a girl.", Caelum murmured but Thera heard it. She smiled as if she was flattered.

"You think? But I'm fucking cool with it.", she said with confident.

The prince didn't answer but he was contented to her reasons. They start walking again but unexpectedly, they both saw something interesting.

"Hey."

"Oi!"

They called each other at the same time making them looked at each other.

"I want that.", Caelum said while pointing at some shop.

"That shit's good.", Thera said at the same time the man talk.

"I called you first.", The prince argue.

"I point what I want first.", she said with competitiveness.

"You ate already!"

"Yes! But it's my money."

"I'll pay."

"I'm hungry!"

"Then let's go there first!", Caelum tried to walk but he stopped when he realized she's not following him.

"Damn it. The hell is with you? That shit's going to ran out!", she said with such resolve.

"And so what I want!!"

They looked stupid but they don't care because they both want it.

"Then, let's play! Rock, paper, scissor!", Thera told him. And he immediately agree.

"Rock with paper destroyed by scissor be it win or latter?", they both sang and choose to form their fist.

"I won! I won!", Caelum declared as if he won a war. "Now, now! Come on, loser.", he said that pissed Thera.

"This shit...", she whispered then followed him.

They eat at what Caelum chosed and he was happily satisfied. Everything is too new for him. He was jubilant and amazed by how much contentment he felt. He never felt this before.

"Ayo? It's good.", Thera said that makes Caelum looked at her.

"My eyes never fails me.", he said proudly.

"Ehhh???", she said with disgust. "Don't be too high, young man. You never even eat the town's specialty. You're a beginner.", she added.

"Oh? That's exciting.", he said.

They started walking again and now saw a bunch of people playing something. Their likes are different again, making them fight with their fist. This time, Thera won. He thought she gonna choose the game where a lot of ladies are throwing a ball then hit the cans but he was surprised by what she wanted to play.

"Is it real?", Thera ask while touching the arrow. The crowds are murmuring and some are criticizing her. Caelum is not also sure about this that's why he chose to watch from a distance but still see her clearly.

"Do I look like a crook?", the man who owns the shop frowned.

"Yes.", Again with her straight forward answer. Caelum thought then laugh a little. The owner gave Thera three arrows and ask what prize she want. "That knife.", she said then ready herself.

"Then you should hit that!", the owner smiled and point at the moving circle thing with red dot.

Thera let go the bow but it was in the owners direction. Everyone was shocked and the owner turned pale.

"It's real!", Thera said without any emotions.

"A-Are you crazy?", the owner shout when he recovered. He was planning to talk again but shut his mouth when Thera ready her bow and point at him again.

Thera looked serious. She really wanted that knife and such disturbance will be a hindrance. One arrow is enough to win so wasting one from testing is not a big deal. She pointed the arrow at the target then let go of it at the right time.

Caelum was shocked when he saw how perfect she hit it.

"Unbelievable.", he blurted unexpectedly. Like him, the crowds are also shocked. The silence are too loud.

One the other hand, Thera smiled.

"Eh? That's it? Boring. Now, where's my prize?", she asked with a bored face. The owner was too surprised to be pissed off. He immediately gave it to her and check the target many times. "Oi! Let's go.", Thera called Caelum like a child while playing the knife.

The prince is still amazed by her doings. They started walking again and he followed her. In his mind, he was different.

'Who is she? How can a girl use a bow? No! How can she hit that moving target? Girl's are born to learn from books and grow with nobles to have mannered and etiquettes. She doesn't even show any interest in me. So how come... This girl... Is she a hunter? No. Hunter's are only for men. The... What?', Caelum's mind is full of questions.

"Ayo? Chira?!", he comes back into his sense when he heard Thera calling someone. A child walk towards them with tattered clothes.

The girl smile. "Shera!!!", she shout when she realize she knows this girl. "Where are you? I mish you!", her voice is too little but it's cute. She hug Thera in her legs.

"I have a present for you.", Caelum was surprised, again, because of her sudden change of attitude. She's like a different person. Her voice became soft and her tone became calm. "Do you wanna see it?", Thera asked to the child that immediately nodded. "Then, let's go to where everyone is.", she said then carry the kid. "Young man, are you going to follow me?", Thera asked the prince who was almost scared to her attitude.

He doesn't have a choice. He don't know where he is nor want to leave. Caelum grabbed the bag Thera was holding.

"Do I have a choice?", he asked. Defeated.

"No.", Thera smiled the walk.

'She's beautiful. Really.', Caelum said in his mind before following her.