(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

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For a few moments, silence lingered inside the narrow alley.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Princess Indhumati continued looking at Devara with folded arms, waiting for him to explain why he had been secretly following her.

Behind him, the female royal guard still held her sword against his neck without lowering her vigilance.

Devara, however, appeared unusually calm.

He neither attempted to explain himself nor protested against the sword resting against his neck.

Instead, he simply let out a soft sigh.

The unexpected reaction made Indhumati narrow her eyes.

She had expected him to panic.

Or perhaps hurriedly come up with some excuse.

Instead...

He looked... disappointed.

Finally, Devara spoke.

"Princess."

His tone was respectful.

"May I ask you to return my pouch?"

The words completely caught Indhumati off guard.

"...What?"

For a brief second, she wondered if she had misheard him.

"My pouch."

Devara repeated patiently.

"The small money pouch."

"If Your Highness could kindly return it, I would be grateful."

Indhumati simply stared at him.

"...."

Even the female guard behind Devara blinked in confusion.

Meanwhile...

Inside his mind...

A mischievous smile slowly appeared.

’Got you.’

The entire time, Devara had known someone was following him. When started following the mysterious women.

The moment the mysterious woman disappeared behind the group of villagers carrying water pots, he had already guessed it was a trap.

That was precisely why he hadn’t reacted when the sword touched his neck.

If he had immediately restrained the person behind him, the one he had actually been following would have remained hidden.

So instead...

He waited.

Allowing the real person to step forward.

Admittedly...

He hadn’t expected that person to be Princess Indhumati herself.

That revelation had genuinely surprised him.

Still...

Since the princess believed she had successfully cornered him...

Why not enjoy the situation a little?

After all...

Even kings deserved harmless entertainment once in a while.

Indhumati finally recovered from her surprise.

She frowned hearing his words.

-Frown!

"What pouch?"

"My pouch."

"The one Your Highness took. I would appreciate having it back."

The princess’s eyes widened.

"...."

"I took your pouch?"

She pointed at herself.

"Yes."

"You!!!"

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

"...."

"...."

Then...

Princess Indhumati folded her arms even tighter.

"I refuse."

Devara blinked stunned for a moment.

"You refuse?"

"I refuse."

She lifted her chin proudly.

"Because I didn’t steal anything."

"I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about."

Her expression slowly changed into one of disbelief.

"And besides..."

She looked at him as though he had lost his mind.

"Did you just accuse a princess of stealing?"

Behind Devara, even the royal guard’s stern expression almost cracked.

This conversation had taken such an unexpected turn that she wasn’t sure whether she should interrupt or simply continue watching.

Devara looked genuinely troubled.

He slowly lowered his shoulders.

"Your Highness..."

His voice carried the sadness of a man who had just suffered a terrible injustice.

"That pouch..."

"...contains the savings my companion and I earned through many days of honest work."

He lowered his head slightly.

"We’re only humble merchants."

"We wake before sunrise."

"We spend the entire day standing in our shop."

"We bargain until our throats become dry."

"We carefully save every single gold coin."

He let out another sorrowful sigh.

-SIGH!

"It took so much effort."

"So much hard work. So much patience. And now..."

He looked at the princess with the expression of someone whose entire future had been ruined.

"...it’s gone."

The corner of the female guard’s mouth twitched.

She quickly looked away before anyone noticed thinking could it be princess really took to play prank.

"...."

Meanwhile, Indhumati stood frozen.

’What...?’

She looked at the merchant.

Then at her hands.

Then back at the merchant.

Her mind refused to process what was happening.

"I..."

She pointed at herself again.

"...stole your pouch?"

Devara nodded slowly.

"I believe so."

"I didn’t!"

She immediately protested.

"How could I possibly steal from you?"

"I’m a princess!"

"Exactly."

Devara replied with complete seriousness.

"That’s why I politely requested Your Highness to return it."

"I wasn’t accusing you."

"I simply assumed it must have been... a royal prank."

Indhumati stared at him.

"...."

"A prank?"

"Perhaps Your Highness wished to test whether I would notice."

"I assure you..."

He placed a hand over his chest dramatically.

"...I noticed."

For the first time in a very long while...

Princess Indhumati found herself completely speechless.

She looked toward the female guard as if asking for help.

The guard immediately looked toward the sky playing she didn’t hear any thing.

Which she would actually do when ever princess does her prank.

She had absolutely no intention of involving herself in this conversation.

Indhumati turned back toward Devara.

"No."

She spoke each word carefully.

"I... Did.... Not..."

"Take Your.... Pouch!!!"

Devara looked unconvinced.

"Are you certain?"

She almost stamped her foot.

"Yes!"

"I am absolutely certain!"

"I have never even seen your pouch!"

Devara frowned thoughtfully.

"Strange..."

He gently rubbed his chin.

"I distinctly remember having one."

"It disappeared."

"Then Your Highness appeared."

"So naturally..."

He shrugged innocently.

"...I connected the two events."

Indhumati stared at him in utter disbelief.

"...."

’Is this man serious?’

For one dangerous moment...

She actually began doubting herself.

’Wait... Did I accidentally pick something up while adjusting my disguises? When I fell?’

The thought lingered just long enough for her to instinctively check the small pouch hanging from her waist.

She immediately stopped.

’No! What am I doing?’

She mentally scolded herself.

’Why am I doubting myself?’

’Why would I steal this strange merchant’s dirty little money pouch?’

She looked back at Devara with narrowed eyes.

"No."

She declared firmly.

"I refuse to be fooled by you."

"I never touched your belongings."

Devara remained silent.

"...."

Then, with impeccable timing, he let out one more disappointed sigh.

"What a pity."

"I suppose my companion and I will simply have to accept that all our hard-earned savings have disappeared forever."

He looked toward the sky with exaggerated sorrow.

"We’ll probably have to skip meals for a few days."

"We may even have to sleep hungry."

The female guard immediately looked at princess strangely.

She could feel the how helpless the merchant was.

Meanwhile...

Princess Indhumati simply stood there, staring at the merchant as though she had encountered the most shameless man in the entire kingdom.

She had confidently laid a trap.

She had cornered him.

She had even placed a sword against his neck.

Yet somehow...

Less than five minutes later...

She was the one feeling as though she needed to defend herself against an accusation of stealing a merchant’s money pouch.

’What in the world is wrong with this man?’

She thought helplessly.

Princess Indhumati folded her arms tightly across her chest, refusing to yield even the slightest bit.

"For the last time,"

She said, emphasizing every word clearly annoyed by Devara,

"I did not steal your pouch."

Devara looked back at her with the same innocent expression he had been wearing throughout the entire conversation.

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Good."

"But that still leaves the mystery of where my pouch disappeared."

Indhumati blinked seeing the guy go back to the topic once again.

"There is no mystery!"

"There is."

"No."

"Yes. Because the one which got lost is mine."

She let out a deep breath, resisting the urge to argue further.

"You are the most unreasonable merchant I have ever met."

Devara smiled politely.

"I’ve been called worse."

The princess looked as though she had a dozen replies ready, but before she could utter a single one...

A loud voice echoed from somewhere beyond the alley.

"Has anyone seen a young merchant around here?"

Both of them froze.

"...."

"...."

The voice was familiar.

Far too familiar.

It continued without waiting for anyone to answer.

"He’s about this tall!"

"He has a face that looks innocent, but don’t be fooled!"

"That fellow is my student!"

"He skipped today’s sword practice again!"

"I’ve searched half the festival looking for him!"

"If anyone sees him, kindly tell him that his respected teacher is waiting!"

Devara’s face immediately darkened.

"...."

He didn’t even need to turn around to recognize that energetic voice.

’Kumara Varma...’

The prince sounded just as enthusiastic as he had the previous day.

If anything, he sounded even more determined.

A passerby laughed awkwardly.

"Young Master, why are you searching so desperately?"

Kumara Varma puffed out his chest proudly.

"Because that merchant possesses extraordinary potential!"

"He simply doesn’t realize it yet."

"I’ve taken it upon myself to guide him."

"One day he’ll become a swordsman worthy of standing beside me!"

Several nearby villagers nodded politely while trying not to laugh.

"That is truly admirable, Young Master."

"Indeed!"

Kumara Varma replied proudly.

"A teacher must never abandon his disciple!"

"I shall continue searching until I find him!"

His footsteps drew closer.

Much closer.

Devara slowly turned his head just enough to peek around the corner.

Sure enough...

Kumara Varma was walking through the crowd, questioning every person he came across.

He even demonstrated sword movements while explaining who he was searching for.

"My student has excellent posture."

"Although he doesn’t know it yet."

"I only need another few months of training."

"Perhaps six."

"No... maybe twelve."

"Great talent requires great guidance."

The more Devara listened...

The darker his expression became.

Inside his mind, he let out a helpless sigh.

’Why is this man so persistent? Yesterday wasn’t enough?’

’Does he truly intend to train me every single day?’

Without another thought, Devara quickly looked around the alley.

His sharp eyes immediately found a small wooden storage shed built beside one of the nearby houses.

Its doors were half open.

Inside, bundles of dried hay had been stacked almost to the roof.

Without saying a single word, he hurried toward it.

His movements were surprisingly quick for someone pretending to be an ordinary merchant.

He slipped behind the tallest pile of hay, crouched down carefully, and made sure not to disturb the neatly stacked bundles.

Only after completely hiding himself did he slowly exhale.

"There..."

he whispered to himself.

"That should be enough."

Princess Indhumati watched the entire scene unfold.

"...."

For several seconds...

She simply stared.

The image before her refused to match the person she had encountered until now.

This was the same merchant who had calmly stood with a sword pressed against his neck only moments earlier.

The same man who hadn’t shown the slightest trace of fear when she confronted him.

Yet...

The mere sound of Kumara Varma’s voice had sent him diving behind a pile of hay.

She couldn’t stop herself.

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

Then another.

Soon she was trying her best not to laugh aloud.

Devara looked up from behind the hay.

"What?"

She shook her head while smiling.

"So..."

"The brave merchant..."

"...is hiding."

"I prefer the term strategically avoiding unnecessary trouble. Princess..."

She laughed again.

"-Hehe!"

"You make it sound so serious."

"It is serious."

"You fought with me arguing over your dirty pouch without fear."

"That was easier."

"You were calmer."

"Kumara Varma isn’t your typical one."

Princess Indhumati covered her mouth to hide another laugh.

She remembered yesterday’s sword demonstration all too well.

Her cousin had spent nearly an hour inventing techniques that seemed to involve more dramatic poses than actual swordsmanship.

Looking at Devara hiding behind hay suddenly made perfect sense.

Still...

An opportunity like this was too tempting to ignore.

A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.

She walked a little closer to the shed.

"What should I do..."

she murmured thoughtfully.

"I wonder..."

"If I were to tell Cousin Kumara exactly where his precious student is hiding..."

Devara immediately looked up.

"Princess."

His voice carried genuine concern this time.

"I wouldn’t recommend that."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"And why not?"

"Because he’ll spend the rest of the day teaching me."

She smiled innocently.

"Isn’t that what teachers do?"

"You’ve never attended one of his lessons."

"I have. And that will be my last."

"You watched."

"I survived."

"I had to participate."

She folded her arms again.

"I fail to see the tragedy."

Devara rubbed his forehead.

"Yesterday he tried convincing me that making loud sound effects while swinging a sword increases its power."

Princess Indhumati failed.

She burst into laughter.

"-Hahaha!!!"

A clear, cheerful laugh echoed softly through the empty alley.

She quickly covered her mouth again.

"I shouldn’t laugh..."

she whispered.

"But..."

"...you aren’t wrong."

Seeing her reaction, Devara smiled slightly.

"So?"

"Will Your Highness still reveal my location?"

The princess pretended to think seriously.

"Hmm..."

"I believe..."

She paused deliberately, enjoying the growing look of concern on his face.

"...I should."

She took a small step backward.

Her lips had already parted.

She was just about to call out...

When another familiar voice reached them.

This time...

It was even closer than before.

"Has anyone seen Princess Indhumati?"

The princess’s smile disappeared immediately.

"...."

"What?"

She instinctively turned toward the entrance of the alley.

Outside, Kumara Varma had apparently changed his target.

One of the royal guards answered him respectfully.

"No, Young Master."

"That’s strange."

Kumara Varma scratched his head thoughtfully.

"I’ve been searching for her too."

"I wished to show her the newest sword form I created this morning."

"I’m certain she’ll be impressed."

"I also need her opinion regarding my hairstyle."

"I believe today’s arrangement makes me look more heroic."

His footsteps began approaching the alley.

Slowly.

Steadily.

Princess Indhumati’s confident expression gradually crumbled.

"...."

She knew exactly what would happen if her cousin found her.

He would proudly demonstrate every technique he had invented since sunrise.

She would be forced to watch.

Smile politely.

Encourage him.

And probably spend the next two hours listening to lectures about the philosophy of swordsmanship.

She had no desire to experience that.

Not today.

Not during the festival.

Without saying another word, she hurried toward the storage shed.

Lifting the edge of her dress slightly so it wouldn’t catch on the wooden doorway, she quickly slipped inside.

The space behind the haystack was already small.

Now it became even more cramped.

She carefully crouched beside Devara, trying not to make any noise.

Only after settling down did she realize how close they were standing.

There was barely enough room for both of them.

The scent of dried hay filled the tiny space.

Outside, Kumara Varma’s footsteps continued drawing nearer.

Inside...

Neither of them spoke for several moments.

Finally, Devara slowly turned toward her.

A teasing smile appeared on his face.

"I thought Your Highness was about to hand me over."

Princess Indhumati looked away awkwardly.

"I changed my mind."

"How fortunate this poor merchant is."

"Don’t misunderstand."

She whispered quickly.

"I’m hiding for my own sake."

"Of course."

"I don’t wish to spend the entire afternoon listening to Cousin Kumara explain why his latest sword technique is superior to every style in the kingdom."

Devara nodded with complete sincerity.

"I understand completely."

She glanced at him.

"You do?"

"I’ve already survived one lesson."

She couldn’t help smiling again.

Perhaps...

For the first time in years...

She had found someone else who understood exactly what it felt like to become the unwilling student of Kumara Varma.

Just then...

The footsteps stopped.

Directly outside the wooden shed.

Silence followed.

"...."

"...."

Then Kumara Varma’s cheerful voice came from only a few feet away.

"Hmm..."

"I have a strange feeling..."

"...my student is hiding somewhere very close."

Both Devara and Indhumati instinctively held their breath.

"...."

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(Author note:)

I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.

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