Day 1: I wanted to see you again, Royalty
Excitement filled the air as the annual festival approached.
Colorful banners were hung on the streets, people were busy setting up stands to sell food, handmade crafts, or trinkets, and even conversations between the men asking the ladies to accompany them could be heard.
All are preparing because once the sun dips below the horizon, the first night of the evening festivities will begin.
Even the empire's crowned prince was.
Tooru put on simple clothes, ones that would help him blend in with the common folks; he got them by bribing a maid.
After dusk, he manages to successfully sneak out of the castle.
He made sure that his face was well covered with the hood of his cloak, just to make sure that no one recognized him before finally reaching the town square.
The laughter, people dancing, the shows, and the music of the festival drew him in.
Tooru couldn't help but be amazed. He danced, laughed, and sang with everyone, and for the first time, he felt like a normal person rather than the future king.
But as the night went on, danger seemed to seep into the festive atmosphere.
After buying a small souvenir from a booth as a reminder of his outing, someone from the crowd tried to snatch his necklace, a cherished gift from his late mother.
Tooru was quick to shield himself, preventing him from taking his necklace, but the thief seemed determined as he was still trying to pull the necklace from his neck.
The people around seemed too preoccupied to notice his situation, and he is thinking twice about shouting for help, because if the knights tasked with patrolling during the festival recognize that he is the prince, they might punish the man by taking his life right there and then for harming a member of the royal family, ruining the merry event.
Just when he thought his luck had run out, a determined voice cut through the chaos.
A man rushed to his side and fought the thief with deft movements.
The commotion of the two fighting seems to have caught attention as he hears the knights shouting from the distance, so he hurriedly grabbed the man's hand and pulled him away, running as fast as he could, dragging the man with him.
When he finally stopped, they were both breathless.
Tooru turned around, wanting to thank his savior, but his relief turned into worry when he saw the man's lips.
"You're hurt!” he exclaimed.
"I'm fine; it's just a scratch."
He waved off his concern, trying not to wince through the pain.
Without thinking, Tooru reached into his pocket, handed the man his handkerchief, and urged him to use it to wipe the blood off his lips.
The man stared at the delicate fabric and back at him, then immediately bowed his head.
"Your highness! I greet the crown prince, the future sun of the empire."
Confusion and then realization hit him when he noticed that the hood was no longer covering his face and remembered that the family crest was embroidered on the handkerchief.
"Oh no, please lift your head," he said, almost pleading.
So, the man did, but tried not to meet his eyes.
"May I know your name?" he asked.
"It's Wakatoshi, your highness."
He gave him the brightest smile he could, truly thankful for what he did for him, and chuckled when he noticed Wakatoshi's ears were bright red.
"All that running made me hungry. Do you know any stalls with delicious food we can go to?"
"Tonight, I am only Tooru."
Wakatoshi laughed, understanding what he meant.
It was the most beautiful and genuine thing he had ever heard.
Wakatoshi stepped closer to him and carefully covered the hood back on his head.
This time, it was Wakatoshi who held his hand.
"Let's go, Tooru. I know a good one."
Together, they wander through the stalls.
As the festival continued around them, Wakatoshi kept close to his side, ensuring he was safe, and made it his mission to show him the magic of the festival.
Their night ended with Tooru jumping with glee when the fireworks exploded in the night sky.
"Thank you for tonight,” he said softly as they arrived near the castle grounds.
Wakatoshi smiled and bowed his head slightly, but just as he was about to go his way, the latter said something that made his heart flutter.
"I won't forget tonight, either."
It was no surprise that his father found out immediately what he did the next day. Tooru was scolded for being irresponsible and putting himself and the future of their empire in danger.
Knights were stationed right outside his door, making sure that there would be no more successful attempt because he didn't stop trying to get outside the castle walls.
So here he is, still stuck and sulking inside his bedroom on the fifth and final night of the festival.
He was already on the twentieth sheep, trying to just sleep his dismay away, when he heard soft knocks on her balcony doors.
He tried to ignore it, as it may just be the wind or a bird, but got curious as it continued.
He got up from bed and anxiously opened the door.
To his shock, there Wakatoshi was—leaning against the stone wall of her balcony, a half-smile on his lips, a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand.
"Hello, Your Highness,” his voice laced with warmth.
He's at a loss for words. Baffled at how he managed to reach his balcony or even enter the castle.
"I wanted to see you again."
A smile broke across Tooru's face, unable to hide how his words made him feel.
Amidst the laughter of the kingdom below, their hearts racing, and the connection they built during a single stolen evening, they both know that something more beautiful is about to blossom.