Me and Sir Calisto were walking side by side while Prince Lex was just a few steps in front of us. I couldn't help but feel conscious of our surroundings. The people who walked past us would steal a glance at us. This has never happened before. I wondered why people acted like that. Am I doing something wrong or do I look weird? I looked at Sir Calisto if he realized what was happening, but he just walked forward as nothing happened. I look left and right while wondering why. As this has never happened before, I stopped myself and thought about what was different today. And that was Sir Calisto and Prince Lex. Both of them hold a very important position in the kingdom. Besides, both of them were also attractive in their own way. So I didn't want to feed the journalist or even other nobles any weird news or gossip. During this time, the credibility of news could be twisted just by a snap of a finger.
I turned my head towards Sir Calisto to see whether he covered himself properly or not. I saw he was wearing his hood, though everybody could see how excited he was.
"Calisto, I feel like people are looking at us. You should cover yourself properly."
I said to Sir Calisto while we were walking.
"Don't you think they are looking at how beautiful you look today?"
He teased me. I felt like he had become too comfortable with me nowadays. To be honest, I actually felt the same way. Maybe because he was the only friend I got here.
"Stop joking around. If what you said were true, shouldn't they looked at me since the first day I came here?"
He's the beautiful one, I felt like I was being compared with him. As he stood beside me with his glorious and beautiful aura.
"I'm not," he smiled cheekily.
I ignored him and looked for Prince Lex, who was in front of me. He was walking forward without looking sideways. Sometimes I felt like he was living but didn't at the same time. His mind working, but his soul sleeping. How could he be so careless? He just walked like he didn't care about anything at all. I was almost burst at him. He knew he was a prince, but he didn't even bother to conceal himself. Anyone who walked past us could see his beautiful, shining blue hair and glorious red eyes. The colour of his eyes proved that he was royalty. Not many have the red-coloured eyes, only the royalty have it, and not all royalty had, but only the lucky ones. However, in Prince Lex's case, it was a curse. I walked forward towards Prince Lex.
"Lex! Wait!"
As he didn't turn around, I accidentally held his sleeve. He stopped and looked straight at me.
"Sorry," I said as I let go of his sleeve.
"You should cover yourself properly."
I said to him while I tiptoed to cover him with his hood. I am not sure why I did that, but I did. Maybe it was because my eldest sister's role was light up. Though in this world he was older than me. Because he was too tall for me, I have to stand a bit closer to him. My body almost touched his chest. He flinched away and the colour of his face turned as red as a tomato.
"I'm sorry, are you hot? But you should cover yourself. Don't you know even when you were not smiling you look so attractive?"
I said to him, feeling worried about our surroundings.
"I... I can do it myself," He stuttered as flushed creeps across his cheeks.
Then Sir Calisto, who was a few steps back before, stood beside me.
"We are already late, aren't we Deanna? Let's go," Sir Calisto said as he smiled at me, though inside no one knows except himself. Inside his mind, he was jealous, he felt like he was broken-hearted even before it all started. He just doesn't like what he saw just now. Though he felt that he had no right to feel like that. So he just concealed his feelings.
"Right. Let's go," I said and continued walking forward to our destination.
Before we reached there, I stopped at the stall that I bought the juice last time. I bought five bottles this time because we were going to be here for quite some time.
As I was about to reach for the bottles, Prince Lex reached for them first.
"Let me carry some. It's heavy isn't it?" I reached for the bottles that Prince Lex was holding.
"It's fine," He said and just walked forward, leaving me with Sir Calisto.
Now, with Sir Calisto holding my baskets and Prince Lex holding the drinks, I walked empty-handed. Was it right for me to do this? They came to help me and accompanied me.
Then I walked towards Prince Lex, feeling guilty and annoyed. I don't like being thought of as weak. I can do my own things perfectly without a man to help me. That was what I thought at that time.
"I'm not that weak you know," I said, and just walked away feeling annoyed.
I walked alone to the field, as it was not that far. While I was walking, I thought to myself whether I am the wrong one? Maybe he was just trying to help me.
"Argh," I breathed a single word. I hate this. I always thought something was bad. I felt like I would always be pessimistic. I know every woman wants a man who protects her lover, not because he thought she was weak, but because she was important to them. I am also one of those women. But I am worried, I always misunderstand things. I wondered how I would be when I had a lover. I'm feeling guilty already, it must be hard work.
As I reached the field, I saw many children playing in the field. There were more than last time. Felicity ran towards me and gave me a hug. Then we walked side by side to the big tree.
"Felicity, how was your mother? I planned to visit your mother yesterday, but something came up." I said, feeling worried about her mother.
"She's all fine now. Thanks to you, Miss Anna.
At the current time, both Prince Lex and Sir Calisto were amazed and surprised by the event that was in front of them. They never thought that she could gather this many children. Though they didn't know that she received a big help from Felicity. They were mesmerized by how beautiful and lovable the woman in front of them was. She looks happy. Her smile was bright like the sun, her beauty was as beautiful as the moon above, and her aura glittered like that stars at night. Her gorgeous black hair was as dark as the sky on a moonless night, while her eyes were as clear as the sky on a cloudless day. She was so beautiful.
"So beautiful," Sir Calisto muttered a word without realizing.
While Prince Lex just kept looking at her like she would disappear if he turned his head away.
The children who were playing before ran towards me as they saw me coming. I greeted the children first before I introduced both Sir Calisto and Prince Lex.
"Good afternoon everyone. I see many new faces today. I am glad to meet you all today."
Loud greetings could be heard from everyone. They all look so cute and happy. I wish I could protect their smiles. I wish I could protect them.
"Miss Anna, who are they?" One of the children pointed at Sir Calisto and Prince Lex.
"Hmm... Why don't you ask them?" I said.
All the children were fixated on both of them.
"Excuse me, sir, are you Miss Anna's lover?" One of the girls asked Sir Calisto, who was smiling beautifully beside me.
I was surprised by her question. Though Sir Calisto just smiled at her.
"If I said one day, would it satisfy you?" He said.
"We're just friends, stop asking such questions," I said, feeling embarrassed.
"Then is the grumpy one is your lover," the other child asked me.
"I told you didn't I, stop asking questions like that. We're all friends." I demanded as my ears turned red. I don't like to be put in the corner like that and what with those questions.
"Both of them came to teach you just like me," I said as I tried to keep myself calm.
Then one voice could be heard among the children.
"Then one day I will marry you, Miss Anna."
Cato said confidently. I was surprised by his confession. He, who was only twelve years old, looked so cute.
"Okay," I said as I ruffled his hair. He looks so cute like a cat, fierce but adorable.
"So you were my enemy. May the best man win," Sir Calisto said to Cato.
"Calisto! Stop joking around. Both of you introduce yourself." I said. We haven't started yet, but I felt tired already.
"You all can call me Calisto," Sir Calisto introduced himself. Most of the girls were captivated by his looks.
"I'm Lex," Prince Lex introduced himself. He still a man with less words, but today he was not like he usually was. He looks somewhat gentle.
"Okay, now. Let's eat. I bought a lot of dessert for you all. I hope you all will like it." I said, feels a bit pressured.
They all started gathering around the baskets. I passed the desserts around and started to look at their expressions. I was confident before, but now I am worried. What if they didn't like it? What if they are already bored with eating sweet potatoes?
"Miss, is this sweet potato?"
Felicity was the first one to ask me, as others just continued eating happily.
"Yes, it was the one that I bought from you before. Do you like it? I just tried a new way of cooking it." I said with a smile but full of anticipation.
"Yes, Miss. We have never tried it like this before, surprisingly it tastes so good." She said as she continued munching her food.
A sound of happiness could be heard from the children. I'm glad they like it. Then I turned my head towards Sir Calisto and Prince Lex, who were enjoying the food as well.
"Does it suit your taste, Lex?" I asked him, as I know that Sir Calisto likes it because he has tried it before.
"Umm," he said with a single breath and continued eating it.
"What about me?" Sir Calisto asked.
"What about you?" I asked him, wondering.
"Why didn't you ask me?" Sir Calisto said, sulking.
"You already ate it yesterday Calisto," I said. I wondered what was wrong with him. Why I felt like he kept on acting like this around me. His words were full of cheekiness.
We continued eating and chatting for about an hour. We talked about many things. It was fun. I felt like I was happy here more than anywhere I have been. The wind that blew gently, the smell of the grass, the sturdy tree that protected us from the sun, and as well as the people who were beside me. I love it, I love everything.
"Should we start now?" I asked them as my lips curled into a smile.
"Hmm.. should we divide into three groups? It will be easier to teach them in a small group, isn't it Calisto?" I faced Calisto seeking approval.
"Yes, Deanna. That's brilliant," he agreed cheerfully.
I thought to myself, "Is he teasing me again? Or is he playing with me? I only suggested the obvious."
We divided the children, though many little girls wanted Sir Calisto to teach them. It seems that he's popular with the kids. To my surprise, Prince Lex, who was always cold, didn't lose in this battle, as in front of the children, his expression softened and we could see him smile a bit a few times.
The language that was used here is called Halcyon. The writing was a bit different than my original world. Just like when I am speaking, the writing was also embedded in my memory. It felt like I had known it my whole life, so it was no trouble for me to teach them. We continued teaching the children, with no trouble, until an hour before the sunsets.
"We should stop here for now. Good job everyone. Remember that there are no secrets to success, it's all the result of your hard work and learning from failure. Some would achieve their dreams faster than others, but never doubted yourself. Never lose confidence. Remember your dreams. Remember why you do this."
I bid my farewell with a bit of advice. The leftover desserts were given to the children to eat later.
Then Cato walked towards Prince Lex with a serious face.
"Sir Lex, can you teach me how to use a sword?" Cato said with confidence.
"I can teach you, but it would not be easy. You have to work hard," Prince Lex said with a stern face.
"I can also teach you when Lex's busy," Sir Calisto said as he knows how busy the prince was.
"No need. Sir Lex is enough," Cato said as he still looked straight at Prince Lex.
"Why? I know how to fight using a sword too," Sir Calisto asked. He wondered what was Prince Lex had that he didn't. Why did the child choose Prince Lex instead of him?
"You look weak," Cato said with a flat voice as he turned his head towards Sir Calisto, feeling uninterested.
I couldn't help myself and laugh. Sir Calisto was shocked by Cato's answers. He, who was always competing with Prince Lex, found out that he just lost again. And Prince Lex, I could see a smile written on his face. I wish I could capture this moment. He doesn't know how attractive he was.
"No. I'm stronger than Lex," Sir Calisto said.
"Stop joking around, Calisto," Prince Lex said with a smirk.
"Draw your swords. Let me prove to you," Sir Calisto said.
"Don't be a kid," Prince Lex said.
"I'm not. Or are you afraid that you will lose?" Sir Calisto tried to ignite the flame. He knows Prince Lex was better with the sword than he was, but he just doesn't like it when people pointed it out to him, especially when it comes to his lifelong battles with Prince Lex.
"I'll teach you next time, after reading class," Prince Lex said to Cato and ignored Sir Calisto, who still feeling dissatisfied.
Then we all walked out of the field and back towards the town. I felt like I had achieved my goals for today. I had taught the children to read. My main goal for today was complete with flying colours. However, the most memorable thing that happened today was I could see Prince Lex smile.
"Deanna, let me sent you home?" Sir Calisto said.
"Are you sure? I am fine walking home you know," I said, feeling grateful.
"It was my pleasure, Deanna. Don't worry," Sir Calisto said.
"Okay, fine," I said.
As we walked through this town, I looked around trying to figure out how to let the others know about the sweet potato, how delicious it could be.
This time it was different than before. Both Prince Lex and Sir Calisto walked beside me. I felt like a Queen being protected by a knight. I felt so safe.