Chapter 69 - : Hide And Seek (2)

That person immediately gets me out of the building without taking his hands off my eyes. I just let that person takes me without complaint.

He stops walking and takes his hand off my eyes when we walk far away from the building. We're inside of one of the alleys. Although it's different than the mysterious alley. 

I turn to look at that person. I knew it! It's really Rufus. The reason why I didn't shout or do anything to harm the person is because I recognize his voice. How could I even forget Rufus, the red eye and red hair man? 

But why did he help me get out of that building? I am now dressed up as a man. Don't tell me he recognized me? But that's impossible. I made sure that my disguise is on point, and no one is supposed to know that I am Csille. So, why?

I am about to talk when he cuts me off. "What the heck are you doing there, Csille?!" He snapped at me.

I immediately froze on the spot. How the heck did he know I am Csille? What eyes does he have to be able to see through my disguise? I look around, trying to find a plausible excuse.

"Don't avoid me!" He walks closer to me and holds me in my arms. He then shakes the hell out of me. "What are you doing in there, Csille? Are you insane? That's a place not appropriate for a young lady like you. What are you planning again, Csille?" Rufus sigh and let me go.

"I'm sorry young master, but I don't know you. Maybe you're mistaking me for someone," I coughed and tried to make my voice manly. However, my efforts seem in vain since my voice still sounds feminine. Curse this! 

Rufus just looks at me as if saying, are you serious. I shake my head. Still trying to denies his claim. I couldn't get caught. What if he is with Prince Fraser? I'll be doomed for sure. 

"I'm sorry young master, but I still have a matter to take care of. So, if you'll excuse me," I tried to make my way out, but it looks like Rufus doesn't want to let me go.

"Really? You're still pushing that disguise? Only a fool will believe that." He then rolled his eyes at me.

It won't hurt that plot if I kick him, right? Sometimes, I regret befriending this guy. He's nosy. 

I sigh. "I'm sorry young master, but you're really mistaken. I'm not the person you are saying." 

"You're not? Really?" He takes another step closer to me, and then he lowered his head. He's way taller than me. That's why he does it to have an eye to eye conversation with me. "If you're really not Csille, then tell me, how come you have purple eyes? Everyone knows that only the daughter of the Count of the Vrawyth has purple eyes."

I knew it! Curse these eyes. If this continues, I'm afraid that even Prince Fraser would notice me, and I don't want that. Goodness gracious, no! 

I look at Rufus back to see if anyone is there, and when I made sure there's no one, I sigh and take a step back away from him. "Yeah, yeah. You got me. Happy now?" I sarcastically ask. I look behind him again. Afraid that Prince Fraser will pop out of nowhere. "I need to go," I tried to walk past him, but he caught my arms.

"And where are you going? Going back to that place? Csille, that's not a good place for someone like you!" He looks at me disapprovingly. 

I sigh and shake his hands off of me. "I'm not going back there, okay? I'll just stroll around the stalls. Can I not do that? Is it still not appropriate for someone like me?" I sarcastically ask him. 

This guy. He is really getting on my nerves. Like, come on, let me go. I still don't want to die. I frantically look around, trying to see if Prince Fraser would walk on one of the corners. Rufus immediately saw that, and he smirks.

"Are you hiding from someone? Is that the reason why you are in disguise?" Rufus laughs. "You know your efforts are futile, right? Everyone would definitely know you are Csille Lauretré with your eyes."

I glare at him. Can this guy not rub salt on my wounds? I know that, okay? 

He inched closer to me and whispered, "Tell me, Csille, are you hiding from Prince Fraser?"

My eyes immediately widen because of his question. How come this guy knows it? Am I that obvious? 

I immediately shake my head and avoid his eyes. I also made a fake laugh. "What are you saying, Rufus? Me? Avoiding Prince Fraser? Why would I do that?"

Rufus leans on the wall and looks at me like he is watching an interesting show. "It as if you didn't done it before. Remember, in the Vrawyth High School of the Nobles. You also avoid him that everyone thought you had a fight with Prince Fraser. So, tell me, why wouldn't I think you're not hiding from Prince Fraser? Aside from him, who other person made you anxious if they are around?"

I glare at Rufus. This guy definitely knows how to read people. It's a good thing he is my friend, or else I'm sure he'll tell Prince Fraser about what I am doing. 

I raised both my hand as a sign that I surrender, and he is right. "Okay, okay, you got me there. But I'm not anxious around him, okay? What's there to be anxious?"

Rufus snorts at me. "Really? You're not anxious? If you're not, then what are you doing here? Strolling around the busy street of Illorian City dress in a man's clothing?"

"Can't I just want to be in peace? My hair and the way I dress easily draw the attention of everyone. Can I just want to walk around the city without everyone noticing my presence? Also, it's much safer to stroll around a foreign city in a man's clothing. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a victim of harassment if I dress as Csille."

"Really? Is that the reason why? Also, who would dare to disrespect the daughter of the Count of the strongest Kingdom? People are not that ignorant."

I rolled my eyes at him. Can you just agree with what I am saying? Why do you constantly contradict me? Are you born just to contradict me? "You know what? Think what you want to think. I'm getting out of here."

However, I haven't even take a step when Rufus obstruct my way. I look at him irritatedly. "What? You won already. You notice me. Can you let me go now?"

Rufus laughs loudly. It's as if he just watched a hilarious show. Oh, so I am a clown now? "Why are you so mad at me? I'm not here to sell you to Prince Fraser. Like come on, how can I do that to my Purplany?"

I cringe with the nickname. "So, why are you here, Rufus? And I already told you, I am not in disguise because of Prince Fraser. Why do you always mention him?"

"Uh, because he is your fiancé and your future husband. Cs-"

I raised my both my hand at him. Jeez, what husband? Husband, my face. I still don't want to die. Does this guy want to die? To even think of me getting married to Prince Fraser. That's... that's definitely not going to happen. Not until the crows turn white, there's no way a wedding could happen between us. 

"I already told you before, right? There's a lot of things that could happen. Don't speak something like that, as if it's already decided. Changes can happen, Rufus. Who knows, maybe Prince Fraser will marry someone else in the future." 

I hope this guy could catch what I want to say. There's no way Prince Fraser and I would get married. I bet my whole life. I'm one hundred percent sure it's impossible for the two of us. 

Rufus shakes his head as if what I said is impossible to happen. "That will not happen. You also know the personality of my cousin. He is not indecisive, Csille. Once he put his word on it, he will do it. So dream on, Csille." He then looks at me. "Why does it seem like you don't want to marry Prince Fraser?"

I avoid his stare and laugh awkwardly at him. "What are you saying? Why would I not want to marry him? He's smart, he's handsome, and he's a crown prince. Everyone would love to marry him."

"And you're an exception?"

I sigh and look at him. "Rufus, it's not that I don't want to marry him. I do. I really do." 

Not. Come on, why would I want to marry someone who doesn't belong to me in the first place? I'm not a homewrecker. Also, I'm not suicidal. I still want to become a writer and return to the real world, okay. So, why would I? 

But of course, I cannot say that to Rufus. "But we also need to consider what Prince Fraser wants. We need-"

"But he wants you too," Rufus cuts me off.

Want your face. I am the only one who knows who Prince Fraser really wants, and that's not me. It will never be me. 

"I don't understand why we are having this conversation again. We've been through this before. Can we not talk about it again?"

Rufus sigh and nods his head. "Okay, okay. But I still have a question."

I groan at Rufus' words. "Not about Prince Fraser again, and I swear to you, Rufus, I'll walk out right here, right now."

Rufus laughs. "You really don't want to talk about him, eh? Do you hate him, Csille?"

"Rufus!"

Rufus laughs again and raises both his hands in the air. "Okay, okay. Calm down, will you? It's not about him, okay? I was just wondering, what are you doing in that place?"

My face immediately hits up when I remember the scene that welcomes me when I entered the building. "I didn't look at the signboard when I entered that building. I thought it's a safe place. Imagine my shock when I saw what's inside. If you didn't drag me out that place, I would probably be frozen in place."

Rufus shakes his head. He raised his hand to probably mess my hair which he usually does, but it stops midair when he realized he couldn't mess my hair because I am wearing a hat and a wig.

"Next time, look at the signboard before you enter any building. It's a good thing I recognized you immediately, or else your eyes will be tainted." He shakes his head and stares at my wig. "This wig. It looks real. You really have a plan to sneak, aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Can we not talk about it? I'm going back. I still want to stroll around the city." 

Rufus immediately follows behind me. I look back at him and glare. "What do you think you are doing?"

"What? I'm making sure you are safe," he points at his eyes. I rolled my eyes at him.

Okay, I understand it. We both have eyes that are recognizable. Even if we disguise ourselves, people will still notice us because of our eyes. We're alike.

I just continue walking and let him follow me behind. Rufus already said it, he won't tell me to Prince Fraser, and it's enough for me to let him follow me behind. At least I know I'm safe. 

I stopped at the sugar candy stall. It's also the shop where I bought the sugar candy I was eating a while ago. Too bad I let it go when Rufus drags me out of that place.

"Sugar candy?" He asked me.

I look at Rufus and smile. I remember a time when I was still nine years old Csille. Rufus and I sometimes sneak out just to eat these sugar candies. 

I nod my head at him. He then buys two packs of sugar candy. One for each of us. I take the pack. I am about to take a bite of the sugar candy when suddenly I heard the voice of the person I'm hiding from.