Sakura passed the palace an hour later, when she spotted a young man and about a dozen guards clearing the streets.
"Everyone, clear off! These shops are being inspected for spies!" One guard exclaimed.
"Search the surrounding area." The man in the center said. His voice had a hint of authority in it, and Sakura wondered what his place was in this curious new world.
Sakura quickly jumped into a crack inbetween two buildings to avoid being seen. About thirty minutes later, the guards went back to the man.
"That is all. It appears that this was a false alarm. There is no foreign spy here. We shall return to the palace at once." He said. Someone had recognized her, and reported her presence! Not that the two countries were enemies. On the contrary, they were allies. However, who knows what had happened during Abigails reign. She needed an update, and she needed it fast.
She decided to follow the man and see where he would go. She stayed about fifty yards behind to ensure she wouldn't be seen. The man rouned a corner while his guards went the other way. He was not heading into the castle, he was going around it. After he had passed it, he crossed a small wooden bridge that creaked as he stepped on it. He ran a hair through his messy, uncombed brown hair and sighed. He stepped off the bridge and sat down on a stump near the edge of the forest she was looking for. She quickly jumped behind a tree to observe this stranger. He was fiddling with something in his pocket. It looked small and golden, a watch perhaps. He then slipped it back inside his pocket and stood up. He turned around and spotted her before she could go behind the tree again.
"Who Is there?" He said quietly. "Show yourself! Or I shall call the guards!" He exclaimed.
Sakura, not wanting any trouble, reappeared from behind her hiding spot.
He gazed upon her, acknowledging her strange beauty and her aura which gave off a certain sense of calm and independence. She looked straight back, unfaltering and defiant.
"Who are you?" He gasped.
The curse, which had prevented her from revealing anything about her heritage or royal lineage, kicked in. She was unable to say anything but what first rolled out of her mouth.
"My name is Sakura and I am a peasant in this country." Amazed at what she had just said, she looked around to see if she had actually just falsely admitted she was a peasant. He raised one eyebrow, looked up as if saying 'oh, another one eh?'.
"Well, what are you doing here?" He asked.
"What are you doing here? I was not aware that this was private property." She said. In fact, she was unaware, but given her strong nature, she was unable to succumb to the inferiority that came with being a peasant.
"Excuse me?" He said, shocked. Sakura was absolutely mortified. She hadn't meant to offend him so. Suddenly she was afraid. This man must have tremendous power. He could destroy me.
"Erm… I well… This is a forest… and I was just wondering why it is questionable that I may be here on a public domain." She said, narrowing her eyes.
"Ah. Well. You've got me there." He said, and he laughed. She furrowed her brow, wondering what on earth was funny.
"What do you find humorous in this sort of situation?!" She asked angrily.
"No, I apologize, it's just, I've never been addressed so informally." He said.
"Oh… Er…" She said, lost for words. She should be apologizing. She had no right to speak on equal terms with one of the main powers of such a grand country.
"I'm… sorry, I didn't… recognize you." She said stupidly.
"Hah. Well, I suppose it is rather odd for the Crown Prince of Feighrood to walk alone on the edge of forest."
So, he IS the prince. I guessed as much.
"I'm terribly sorry." I said, the first true thing I had said in quite a while.
"Don't be." He said, staring at her with such serenity that boggled her. What a strange Prince, I've never heard of a Prince who would speak so kindly with a Peasant.
"I… I must be going." Sakura said, suddenly, breaking the mood.
"Oh… erm.." He said, regaining his composure as he ran a hand through his hair once more.
"I'm sorry. Farwell." She said, as she dashed off into the forest before he could speak another word.
"What an extraordinary girl. I wonder… who could she be?" He said, and then turned on his heel, heading towards the palace. Perhaps he could discover her name, at least, for he feared that otherwise that could be their first and last meeting.