As A Princess

It's colder today. Scientists have announced that it's going to snow tonight. Temperatures actually drop with cool breeze.

Avery kept his horse ready for the front hall. The man had already worn a thick coat of bear feathers. The white-haired coat contrasts with the color of Avery's horse, which is also white.

"Are you going anyway?" Ask Alice.

Avery nodded. "I have to keep looking directly at the pearl production area."

"It was very cold. There must be only a few workers there. Did not the king of Eden ask the workers to secure the pearls into the storehouse?"

"I only looked there for a moment, Alice. Give me that glove you're holding."

Alice had noticed that the glove she was trying to hand Avery had been holding her hand the whole time. "Ah, here's your gloves. Queen Berenice to send you her advice. You can't catch cold. Hurry back."

"Wait.. Aren't you with the bodyguard?"

Avery shook his head. "No. Pearl production area is just down the road. I just need to circle around to the right of green lake. You look worried Alice, what's wrong?"

"Oh no.. I'm only worried about you, prince." said Alice in shame. The girl didn't have the courage to look Avery in the face and just looked the other way.

Avery smiled slightly. "Will you come with me?"

"What?"

"Would you like to come with me to the production area?" Avery asked by rephrasing his sentence.

Alice blinked a few times. And Avery chuckled at Alice's adorable reaction.

"Ride with me if you want. I won't repeat this invitation line again if you don't listen."

"You mean I ride with you?"

"Can you count your own horses? If you could please go ahead. Follow me from behind."

Of course Alice shook her head. How can she ride a horse? Alice is no lady of the sport. Alice's daily duties are only as a royal servant. Helped in the kitchen, cleaned up, and served any duties in the kingdom with her mother.

Avery's left hand outstretched to Alice. "Hop in." take Avery.

Alice looked up. Looked at Avery unconsciously. "Is it okay? I'm afraid people will come looking for me."

Avery chuckled softly. "No way. I'll tell my mom later."

"Okay prince, I'll get my coat first."

Grep!

Avery held Alice's left shoulder. To prevent the girl from entering the palace again.

"Your dress is thick. You'll stay warm when you sit in front of me." Avery said.

Looks like Alice is having a hard time controlling her nervousness. The girl had a hard time swallowing her spit. And finally Alice welcomes Avery's left hand. All at once her body felt light as Avery pulled her up on to the horse.

The cold made Alice's body freeze up when she felt Avery's body behind her back. Alice's breath also had a cool breeze when she breathed.

Since Avery's fur coat was very thick and wide, the two ends of his coat were pointed forward. To cover Alice from the cold, too. All at once Alice's cheeks turned red as Avery's hand attached the hem of her coat to the front of her chest.

And now they're both in a thick coat. Avery ran the horse as soon as he finished his business with the coat.

Alice's heart felt so overwhelming. She clearly felt Avery's chest against her back. It's so warm. Avery's hands were on both sides of Alice's. Avery's bending the reins. They both went around green lake to go to the pearl production area.

For Alice, this was her first time out of the palace after being inside it for four years. Alice was never allowed to leave the palace to sit in on her kitchen shopping. Her mother said she shouldn't wander in and out of the palace as a teenager.

"Did you just come out this once?" Said Avery.

Alice nodded. "Yes. I was in the palace for four years."

"How will you feel when I take you out now?"

She couldn't help but smile, pleased. The girl couldn't hold her smile anymore. "Of course I'm pleased, prince. But I'm scared of getting scolded by my mom."

"No way. I told you I'd talk to my mom later. No one will scold you. You're my best friend now, Alice."

To be honest, the word 'friend' Alice didn't seem to like it much. Alice's feelings for Avery weren't just friends, they were more than that. Alice didn't know how long she had felt this way, but she wasn't being honest with Avery.

Of course Alice wasn't being honest. Does a servant love the crown prince? Ah, that doesn't sound right. Alice did not want to be butchered by the king of Eden. Even though it was only Alice's shadow, she knew that the king of Eden really wanted Avery to marry princess Ariadne.

Alice couldn't deny it. Avery was very handsome and hardly a match for him. Avery deserved a noblewoman of course more dignity and intelligence.

"What are you thinking about? Look Alice, this is the pearl production point." Avery said.

They've reached the pearl production area. It lay near sea reefs and coastal areas. It had become the official territory of the pearl kingdom.

Avery did stay on his horse while watching the production area. It's almost winter, so all the production shells will be transferred to the artificial pools behind the palace. The shells will be bred there. To avoid future frostbite.

"Wow.. So this is what the production area looks like? Do they fish?"

Avery nodded. "Yes. Some of them are fishermen. There, which was between the sea corals by boat. These are the same fishermen."

Alice followed it the way Avery pointed it. Several men on small boats were moving many shells into the net.

Avery and Alice stay on the horse. Actually Alice was anxious to get down and walk up to the workers. But of course it can't. There's gonna be a lot of people looking at Alice. Avery didn't want Alice to be in danger either.

"Prince, may I come again when you look at the production area?"

"Of course you can. But after this all production of shellfish will be transferred to the artificial pool at the back of the palace."

"So, till the winter is over you won't be here anymore?"

Avery nodded. "Yes. I just get to the back of the palace."

'Prince, may I go with you wherever you go? But I don't think I deserve to be around you.' Alice thought to herself.

***