Ada could sense someone watching her, following her. Sure, she was always watched by the boys, especially Danton, the most boastful boy in the village, who was convinced he was going to have her as his future wife.
The idiot. He takes after his father. she thinks as she pushes a branch from her face, exploring the forest even further. She stopped in a small clearing, breathing in the fresh air the trees gave off.
She stopped for a second. Did I just hear a 'wow'? Her mind was racing. Now she knew she was being followed. Alright, playtime's over stalker. She thought with an innocent smile on her lips as she quietly padded back into the bush. She snuck a quick peek over her shoulder, and seeing and hearing that her pursuer was not close by, she quickly climbed up a tree, hoping that her mother wouldn't get too mad over her now slightly dirty skirt and messy hair caught in the twigs. Now, out of sight, she waited to ambush her stalker.
"Where did she go?" He said, barely audible. Why am I even out here? He thought. Mom and Dad are going to be so mad. A prince shouldn't be out in the forest chasing after some girl I don't even know! He mentally kicked himself as he continued after the girl.
Ben was grateful that he didn't have any royal outings or anything with his parents. While they didn't happen often, he was even more happy that he didn't have one today. This was certainly a lot more fun than staying at home with his younger twin brothers, Nicolas and Stephan, and Chip. He just had to be careful not to get too much dirt on his trousers, or his Mrs Potts and his parents would get suspicious. Better go back to the castle through the garden, as an excuse for the dirt on the knees of his trousers.
Ben knew that he was at a safe distance away from the girl, yet somehow, she disappeared. He stopped, straining his ears for some sound as to where the girl could be. She couldn't have vanished into thin air, so where is she?
He was just about to give up and go back to the castle when he was tackled to the ground from behind. With a knee pressed into his back and his arms held behind him, Benjamin knew he was dead meat.
"ALRIGHT, PRETTY BOY, WHO ARE YOU AND WHY HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING ME?" a voice, clearly feminine, bellowed at him.
Yep, here she is.
"Ben! My name is Ben! I'm sorry I just haven't seen a girl my age that's not formally dressed before!" As he finished, he hoped the quiet gasp that the girl gave was a good one, for he couldn't see her face.
"You've never seen a girl dressed like me before?" she said in a softer, quieter, slightly confused voice. "Man, you really need to get out more."
She released him from her firm hold and helped him up with an amused smile playing on her lips. "So, what are you doing in the forest with such fancy clothes, Ben? Are you a prince?"
Oh god… he thought with panic. He'd forgotten all about what he was wearing. "Oh, these are my Father's clothes. He used to work in the castle when he was a kid. He left when he met my mother." He hoped his excuse would work. "I was wearing them for fun when my brothers started being annoying, so I went for a walk. Then I saw you and started following you. So don't worry I'm not a prince, I'm a commoner, just like you."
She looked at him with narrowed eyes then smiled and said "Well, I've never seen you in the village, so you must live at least near the castle if you're not a prince."
Now Ben had a plan in his head to explain who he was. "Well, yeah, I live near the castle. That's why I've only seen girls my age in formal outfits." He said, beaming an innocent smile. "And I've never seen the village because I've never been. Only my father to occasionally get some meat for dinner if he doesn't catch anything that day."
"You know what, you should come to the village. You would really like it. Would you like to see it, because I can take you there if your parents allow you." She offered with a sweet smile.
He wanted to hug her and say thank you over and over again because he was that excited. But he remained still and said "I'm sure my parent's will allow me too. They've been meaning to take me for a while, but never got the chance."
"Meet you in the clearing tomorrow afternoon? I'll show the way to the village then." she smiled.
"Sure, sounds good" he said grinning from ear to ear "this will take the pressure off my parents."
They said their goodbyes and went their own ways, Ada to the village and Ben to the castle. After all, can't a prince go back home?
When he knew she was out of earshot, he breathed a sigh of relief and a quiet whoop of joy. FINALLY! A chance to go to the village! And with a pretty girl too! Ben caught himself on the last sentence and shook the thought out of his mind. She will never like me. I am not her type and I WON'T like her! He was having a mental war, one side of him cheering him on, the other arguing that if he continued liking her, she would eventually find out he's Prince Benjamin, son of King Adam and Queen Belle.
Well, at least I'm a good liar.