Chapter 18 - Who Are You? (2/2)

”Do you have to tease me?” I asked somewhat pitifully. This guy really knew how to get a rise out of me but somehow I didn't mind it.

”My apologies. I suppose you're too easy to tease.”

We went silent for a while, listening to the sounds of the waves and the seagulls soaring above us. It was kind of nice, sitting here like this with him. Almost like having a friend.

”You…won't tell my family about this, will you? That you saw me, I mean.”

He was so easy to talk to that I had nearly forgotten he was a noble and could tattle on me.

”No, I won't tell your family. Goodness knows I wish I could escape as easily as you did. I barely manage to make it out for excursions like this. If I were ever to run away, it would have to be too far for anyone to ever recognize me.”

I looked at him in confusion. ”Are you that recognizable? My brother didn't know who you were.”

He howled with laughter, practically rolling off the rock, before breaking into a heart-stopping grin. ”Really? He didn't? Fantastic!”

”No offense…but who are you?”

Al sobered instantly. ”Believe it or not, no one important. I have two brothers ahead of me to inherit so I'm little more than a puppet to the whims of my family.”

Hmm. Not important but too visible to eke out a living in the capital. He must be the son of someone who was a big deal here.

If I dyed and cut my hair and changed my name I could get away with it because my family didn't live here and only nobles, most of whom also didn't live in the capital full-time, knew who I was.

But Al grew up here. People knew him. He was right; he would have to go far away.

”Why not go to the countryside?”

”People still know of me, or at least my family, in the countryside. I'm afraid I would have to leave the country but I have no idea how to do it.”

”I don't know either or I'd say we should make a break for it together,” I said thoughtlessly, not noticing how he stiffened.

”Right now my only hope is getting a job replacing that bakery girl who is going to the palace to serve the second princess.”

”You would honestly want me to run away with you?” Al asked in a somewhat strangled voice.

”You realize I'm one of your suitors, right? Why would you ask a suitor to run away with you when you're running away from them?”