"Rufus? I didn't know you're here. Good thing we found you. We're going to have dinner. Do you wanna join?" I heard Prince Fraser ask Rufus.

Rufus glance at me and smirks. "Oh, but where's Csille? She's not with you?"

I glare at him. This guy got the nerve to ask that question even if he knows that I am in front of him and that I am running away from Prince Fraser. Does he want me to get caught?

"When I check on her room, she wouldn't respond. She's probably exhausted. I've asked the innkeeper to send her dinner when she wakes up."

Rufus nods his head and glances at me again. I glare at him in return. If Prince Fraser notices my existence because of what he is doing right now, I'll strangle him. I'll make sure I'm not the only one who is miserable.

I started to take a step sideways, slowly. Trying to blend in the background so no one would notice my existence. I'm a wall. I'm a wall. Please don't see me.

My back is currently facing Prince Fraser. I almost pass where Prince Fraser is standing when suddenly Rufus speaks.

"Are you sure she is sleeping?"

My eyes widen, and I start to sweat instantly. I swear, I'm going to kill Rufus. Does he really want me to be caught by Prince Fraser? I shivered just by thinking how angry Prince Fraser could be when he knows I sneak out.

"What do you mean, Rufus? What are you trying to imply?"

I take a deep breath and fix my hat before I walk normally. Avoiding everyone's gaze. That's on you, Rufus. I'm out of here.

Just walk Csille! Walk! No one would notice you. No one would recognize you. Your disguise is top notch.

However, Rufus seems like the devil reincarnate today. "Wait!" I heard Rufus said. However, I didn't listen and continue walking like I don't know him and I don't have any business with him.

Curse you, Astalieu! Curse you two Astalieus! I should not have trusted Rufus! If Prince Fraser notices me, I swear I'll drag you with me. Please, don't notice me. Not today.

"Wait!" Rufus said again, and just the last time, I didn't listen to him and continue walking like I own this street. "Hey! I said, wait. I thought we're friends?"

I rolled my eyes at his words. Friends, your face! There's no friend who would put his friend in danger. You're the one who irked the Crown Prince, and you want me to be your shield? In your face. I'm not suicidal.

I continue walking. I am about to turn to a corner when I heard Rufus yell. "Hey, you! The guy on a white long sleeve, brown trousers and a hat!"

I immediately froze, and I feel people looking in my direction. Curse you, Rufus!

Rufus laughs. "See that man?" Rufus said. I'm not sure who he is talking to, but I guess it's to Prince Fraser.

I nervously clenched my fist that is inside the pocket of my trouser. Is he going to sell me out to Prince Fraser? I anxiously wait for Rufus to continue what he is saying.

"That's a new friend of mine. Can we not talk about this tonight? I still promise him to tour around the Illorian city." He stops talking for a second. "I see. You have Sir Farren and Leander with you. You go ahead eating. I'll accompany my new friend first. If you excuse me, Prince Fraser."

I take a deep breath in relief. I thought he would sell me out. I guess, he's really a real friend of Csille. Thank goodness, Csille still has a friend.

I didn't hear any response from Prince Fraser. I just heard Rufus walking towards me.

"You should treat me to dinner because I didn't sell you out," Rufus whispered at me the moment he stands beside me.

We're about to walk out of the scene when Prince Fraser called us. The both of us froze on the spot. Oh, no. Did he notice? I elbow Rufus. It's his fault! Now we're doom.

"If you get to the inn before us. Please, check on Csille and make sure that she eats her dinner."

Rufus just nods his head and drags me out of the scene. After making sure that we're far away from them. We both lean on the wall.

"Damn, that was close," Rufus said.

I glare at him and elbow him again. He then looks at me confusedly. "What did I do?"

I rolled my eyes at him. This guy has the nerve to ask me what did he do. He almost sold the two of us to the tiger, and now he expects me to just let it go?

"You're really asking me what did you do? We almost got caught. Do you know what will happen if Prince Fraser knows that I sneak out?" I snapped at him. It's a good thing that I'm not the violent type of person, or else I would have punched him.

Rufus shrugs his shoulders. "That's on you. What does it have to do with me? You're the one who's avoiding him. You're the one who sneaked out. Not me." He said nonchalantly. It's as if he really didn't have anything to do with this.

I raised my eyebrow at him. This guy wants war. I'll give him war. I smirk at him. "Oh, is that so? Okay then, if Prince Fraser knows that I sneak out, then I'll tell him that you help me with it."

Rufus' eyes immediately widen. "Hey! You cannot do that!"

I scoff at him. "What? You want to leave? That's not possible if I'm going down. You'll also go down with me, and that's for sure. Remember that Rufus," I wink at him after.

Rufus makes a face. "It's as if Fraser would believe you. He knows your personality Csille. Have you forgotten?"

I laugh at Rufus. "And he also knows yours. He knows how you like to drag me on scenarios that would put the both of us in trouble. If he knows that you're the one who invited me to get out at night and give me man's clothing so I could disguise myself. Do you think he would be lenient on you? Tell me, Rufus, will he?"

Rufus shakes his head and smirk. "I never win with you. This is unfair. Will, you really put me in danger? Fraser might look nice, and all, but you know his attitude when he's mad or irritated. Do you really want to bait me to the tiger? I'm your childhood friend Csille."Rufus looks at me pitifully and pouts his lips.

"What? You said it's on me, right? And now you're using the 'I'm your childhood friend' card at me?"

Rufus takes my arms and gently caresses it. "I'm only joking, okay? I didn't sell you out a while ago. Do you think I will really sell you out on Prince Fraser?"

"Yes," I answered instantly.

Rufus pouts and drags me to a pastry shop. "That's unfair, purplany. I wouldn't do that to you. How can I do that if you're-" Rufus didn't continue what he is saying.

I frown and elbows him. "I am what?"

Rufus shakes his head at me. "What do you want to eat? I'm not sure if they have prinsesstårta in here. Lemme check."

I squint my eyes at Rufus' back. This guy. What is he hiding from me?

______________________________

I woke up early in the morning. The sun hasn't risen, but I'm already waiting for someone to knock on my door.

After ten minutes of waiting, I heard someone gently knocks on my door. I immediately walk towards the door and let the person inside.

"I don't understand why you are avoiding Prince Fraser. It's still five in the morning. I haven't even enjoyed my sleep," Rufus grumbles.

I put my hand to his mouth. Although the walls in here are thick and it could only pick up noise from the outside and not from the inside. I'm still afraid that someone might wake up because of Rufus' voice.

"Can you not grumbled. Did you find the thing I ask you to look for?" I whispered to him.

Last night when we were eating at the Pastry shop, I ask him to look for something. The hide and seek just started, and I need to gear up, or else I would have no choice but face the final stage. And I still don't think I have enough skill to fight the boss.

Rufus sits on the bed and looks at me with his sleepy eyes. "Can you tell me first why are you avoiding him? I already have the item in me. I'll give it to you, but in return, you need to tell me your reason first."

"It's nothing. I just want to take a breather, okay? Everyone in the Vrawyth Kingdom links his name on me. Saying I am the future Queen of the Vrawyth Kingdom. That I am Prince Fraser's future wife. Is it wrong if I want to have my own identity? I don't want to be known as the future Queen or the bride of Prince Fraser. I just want to be me. To be Csille Lauretré. If I continue to get close to Prince Fraser, I'm afraid people will forget that I am more than Prince Fraser's bride or Queen."

I know lying is a bad thing, but I couldn't tell Rufus my reason. Also, I'm quite getting sick hearing people to address me using those words. I want to feel at least that I am Csille Lauretré.

Rufus looks at me for a moment before he takes something from his pockets. He then hands it to me. "And what will you with that lemon?"

I just smile at Rufus. He doesn't need to know. For now. "Why don't you make me a lemonade first?" I hand him the lemonade again.

Rufus looks at the lemonade and hands it to me. "So, you let me wake up early in the morning just to make you a lemonade drink? Csille, are you joking with me?" He snapped.

I raised my eyebrow at him. His temper is quite similar to Prince Fraser. They are truly cousins. I shake my head at him. "Can you just do it first? You'll understand later. Please?"

Rufus sigh and went to my bedside and took the glass on the table. He then takes a knife He is hiding from the waistband of his pajama and cuts the lemon into two. He then immediately squeezed the lemon juice out of it and afterward gave the lemon juice glass to me.

"You know I love you," my hands that are about to take the glass froze midair. I look at him dumbfoundedly. Even he was stunned by his own words.

He what? Did I hear it right? My ears are probably playing tricks on me again. How can he fell in love with me? Rufus will fall in love with Princess Paislee and not me. So, it's impossible.

He cleared his throat. "What I mean is I love you as a friend and as a younger sister. But I hope you won't drag me down with you."

I sigh in relief at what he said. I'm right. There's no way Rufus would develop feelings for Csille. They look like a brother and sister to me.

I playfully punched his arms. "Don't worry. You wouldn't be involved in this. I just need you to do something later."

"What is it?" Rufus nervously asks.

I raised my eyebrow at him and laughed. "Why are you so nervous, Rufus? Calm down, will you? About what you need to do, I'll tell you later too," I wink at him.

I took the glass of lemon juice from his hands and drank it in one gulp. I miss the taste of lemon juice. Back in the real world, I often made fresh lemon juice, but after coming here, this is the first time I have drink this again.

I walk to my bed and lay on it. In just a few minutes, my excuse will come. In this hide and seek, I make sure that I would be the winner.