Note: I made some minor revisions on the previous chapter so that everything could flow better and responded to previous reviews! Please check the new, updated previous chapter if you'd like to see those! ^^
Review Responses:
pretty-on-point: If you've ever had a rough day - or in Alice's case, a rough few MONTHS - then it makes sense that you'll start to disassociate after awhile, lol. And really, can we blame her? If I had to go through Lync and Hydron, I think I'll cry. And keep reading to find out who she bumped into! (p≧w≦q)
Innocent-Diamond: Alice NEEDED that champagne, lol. And don't worry - she's just been sipping it, so she isn't THAT drunk! And keep reading to find out who she bumps into! I hope that it won't disappoint! (*￣3￣)╭
MagicxMusicxMelody: Keep reading to find out who she bumped into! And she won't be 'kidnapped', so don't worry about that! (´･ω･`)
cherry-tree-of-life: Please keep reading to find out who Alice bumped into! And you'll get an idea of what Shun is planning in the future chapters! (^/^)
Chapter 17
"Lady Alice." A strange, yet familiar voice said her name with such fondness and reverence that it took her by surprise, causing her to look up to meet the stranger's eyes.
"Do I...Do I know you?"
"Not yet." The unfamiliar man stepped closer to her, causing her to take a step back. Even then, it did nothing to add any distance between them - they were still rather in close proximity to each other. Though he was simply donned in an emerald green suit jacket and cloak with a black undershirt and pants, the man in front of her was mesmerizing. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a lean frame while his black hair sat at his shoulders. But what caught Alice's attention were his eyes. His hazel eyes were like the color of rich honey, and she wanted to melt in them, especially with the way that he had been looking at her. His eyes held a soft and adoring gaze at her, almost as if he knew. Almost as if he loved - "But you did, then."
"Wh-What?" His words tore her away from her reverie, as the weight of his words slowly started to sink in. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand - "
"How about we leave this ball, hmm?" The man interrupted her, causing her to simply flounder. What did he just say?
"Wh-What?" She could only repeat.
"We should leave. It's rather stuffy inside, and I'm sure that you wouldn't want to spend the entire evening out here." He continued on, as if he hadn't heard her. "Here, take my cloak. We wouldn't want to make a commotion if you were to go back in the ballroom and take your own cloak - imagine the rumors that will spread if they found out that you left Prince Klaus' ball early." With one swift motion, the man took his cloak off his shoulders and around hers as he tied a neat bow to fasten the cloak around her shoulders.
"I - I can't leave the ball! My guardsman and lady-in-waiting would be so worried about me, and they must be waiting for me and -" Alice protested, weakly.
"And so would Prince Klaus. Do you really want to spend the rest of your evening with him, Lady Alice? Or would you prefer to spend it with me?" A smirk graced his lips, and while it should have came out as a warning, all it did was make him look much more handsome.
"But I...But I don't know you." She said softly, averting her eyes as her cheeks burned.
A warm hand cupped her chin, tilting it ever-so slightly so that chocolate brown eyes met hazel brown. "But I do. Do you trust me?"
xoxo
"It's so beautiful." Alice could only gasp in awe as she observed her surroundings. After some courage - on Alice's part, that is - the two of them managed to sneak out of the balcony and into the forest, where a horse was waiting for them. While she should have been suspicious about the horse and how this must have been planned, she was much too preoccupied with another issue - the method that they snuck out of the balcony. The process proved to be much easier than she thought, as he was agile and strong enough to not only carry her, but to even jump from the balcony to the ground, maneuvering whenever he needed to.
"Are you a ninja?" She asked when he helped her to her feet as he set her down.
A small smirk graced his lips. "I can be whatever you want me to be."
A chuckle brought her attention back to the man walking in front of her, who was guiding the horse that she was currently riding on. "I take it that you don't see the town very often?"
"I hardly ever. I forget that Wardington is beautiful, sometimes." She responded, taking in the town center. While she had taken carriage rides around the kingdom, she very rarely ever got to see the town where the commoners lived in. So to see it this up close was an experience for the redhead duchess. Everything was much simpler than those of noble blood, but Alice found that she didn't mind - if anything, she would rather be a commoner than a noble. The life would suit her better, she thought. There would be no rush for her to get married and no ninjas that would come to her rescue (though it was much appreciated) that would spark rumors about her.
"I forget that Wardington is beautiful, too." He agreed, though Alice thought that he didn't mean it the same way she did since he was looking at her so adoringly that she couldn't help but think that he was talking about her. She quickly brushed the thought away - they just met, there was no chance that he would be thinking about her in a romantic sense.
"Thank you for bringing me here, I really appreciate it. This is the most fun I've ever had in a long time." Alice smiled, sincerity in every word.
A small, genuine smile crossed his lips this time, though his adoring gaze never left hers. "Anything for you, Angel."
xoxo
"I wished that we had left earlier - that was so much fun." Alice sighed as they walked towards the balcony. After a few short stops around the town, which included the bakery that made the most delicious pastries she had ever eaten and the bookstore, it was time to return back to the palace before it was too late. Had it been up to her, she would have spent the entire evening exploring the town with him.
"Is that so? That's not what you said in the beginning." He teased, gathering her in his arms as he jumped, essentially getting the two of them back up on the balcony. It happened so fast that she hadn't had time to process it until her feet grazed the floor of the balcony. He turned to face her once he helped her down. "You should get back in - I'm sure Masquerade and Christina are waiting for you." He said, placing a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. "Goodnight, Angel. I'm glad you had fun."
"Wait, I...how - " Alice stuttered, confused. "How do you know - "
"Milady! There you are!" The redhead duchess turned around to find her lady-in-waiting and personal guardsman running towards her.
"Milady, where have you been? We've been looking all over for you!" Masquerade asked worriedly at the same time Christina exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're all right, milady! We couldn't find you anywhere, and I assumed the worst!"
"Oh, I was with - what?" Alice turned around to where he was standing, only to find the cloak that hung around was missing as well as his presence. "Where did he go?"
"Who, milady?" Masquerade asked, arching a brow.
"I - " She started, only to stop - she hadn't asked him for his name. "I don't...I don't know."
"Let's go inside, milady." Christina intervened, looping an arm around hers. "Prince Klaus has been looking all over for you."
"O-Oh yes. Of course." Alice stuttered as she took one last look around the balcony in vain whilst she was being pulled by her lady-in-waiting. She had spent the most magical evening with a stranger who knew not only her, but her guardsman and lady-in-waiting. Just who was he to her?
xoxo
"Took you long enough." Shun tore his gaze away from Alice's retreating back to the companion next to him. "Did you know how hard it was to keep her guardsman busy? Her lady-in-waiting was easy - some duke or other was flirting with her before he came in and broke it up. You should have given me and Fabia a warning next time - we almost didn't stall long enough."
"I got there before Klaus was worried, didn't I? Besides, it's not my fault Masquerade is so dedicated to his duty - it's just who he is." The Prince of Thieves smirked as Ren settled down on tree branch. "What do you two think?"
"Of Lady Alice? She surprised me - I didn't expect her to be this nice. Fabia thinks she's lovely but then again, she's just excited to see you smitten over someone. She's worried about Klaus - she thinks that he's interested in Lady Alice."
"He won't be an issue. I've dealt with far worse."
"Security may not be an issue, Shun, but his position. He's the crown prince - who wouldn't be interested in marrying a crown prince who's about to inherit the throne? I don't mean to be rude, but think about it. Who would pick a fallen - "
"Enough, Ren." Shun snapped, silencing Ren. "I know what my position is in society. But Alice isn't like that. I know her."
"Do you? You haven't talked to her in over a decade. People change - you don't know what she's like now."
"I know her, because she's mine. And nothing is going to change that."
End of Chapter 17.
Note: Happy late new year AND lunar new year (to those who celebrate) my friends! It's been awhile since I have touched this work, and there's a lot to unpack, so let's get right into it, shall we? \( ^0^ )/
After 17 long chapters, I finally stopped my teasing and got Alice and Shun to meet! WHOOO! ! ! Honestly, this was a long time coming. And while there is no kidnapping - sorry if that disappointed anyone - they did ditch the ball to have some alone time! And talk about a chill first date - just walking along the town, looking at books and eating pastries. I didn't get to mention it earlier, but Shun's outfit was inspired by the Bakugan: New Vestroia season with his cloak being inspired by the cloak he wore when he and Ace battled against the Dark Angels. And that Alice wore the hood of the cloak the entire time that they were in town so that nobody would notice that it was her. So yeah! (●'◡'●)
Also I should note that Alice is aware of stranger danger, lol, it's just that she didn't care at that moment and wanted to do something spontaneous. Or as spontaneous as it gets - she's obviously suspicious as to how planned it seems, with the horse and whatnot. And can we give it up to Ren and Fabia for being the best wingman and wing-woman for helping Shun stall Masquerade and Christina AND Klaus so that he can go on his date with Alice? That's true friendship right there. ＞﹏＜
As always, please leave a review, and I shall see you in the next chapter! Take care! （￣︶￣）↗
P.S: If you want to read a one-shot inspired by K-Pop song lyrics and of the original version of 'Somewhere Only We Know' ('Anywhere But Here'), please check out my new one-shot 'Nights Into Days'! It delves more into Shun and Alice's relationship in 'Anywhere But Here', with some moments being similar to 'Somewhere Only We Know'. ^^