THE GIRLS GOT dropped off by their carriage closer to Jimin's place this time, and as soon as Tahani's feet hit the floor, she began to feel the ropes tangle around her lungs yet again. They hadn't made even the slightest inkling of a plan; they were going in blind.

Rowan didn't hate it, though. She was definitely taking in her surroundings the same way Tahani did two days earlier, every tiny aspect of the village reminding her of their children's storybooks.

"Is it wrong to romanticise this lifestyle?" Rowan whispered, "Because I think I'm in love."

Rowan dazzled, as usual, donned in a dark rose gown that flowed out from her waist with puffed sleeves. Her stunning brown hair trickled past her shoulders and flew in the wind as she played with a couple of strands of it between her fingers.

The older sister shrugged as she reached out for the other's hand to drag her toward Jimin's bakery, "Let's not get sidetracked."

"Right, yes, let's go meet the handsome man who's got my sister all smitten over him."

"I'm not smitten!"

"Oh, please," Rowan snorted, clutching her stomach with her free hand, "Don't make me laugh."

"Wait," Tahani reached out to grab Rowan's arm before she could walk any further. "Wannie, how do I look?"

The younger cheesed a grin at her, lifting her hands to brush the stray raven hairs away from the front of her face and tracing her jimikki with her fingers.

"You look stunning, Nini."

She then moved her hand down to her shoulder as she straightened the girl's shawl and patted her grand necklace. Despite their differences in origin, Rowan absolutely adored her sister's cultural roots and even more so how she never let them go.

"Thanks, kanna," Tahani heaved in a deep breath, "Okay, let's go."

They approached the small establishment that Jimin had pointed out the other day as his bakery and hesitantly peered their heads through the door. The scent of freshly baked goods that wafted through the air caused both girls to groan inaudibly.

"It smells so good!" Rowan hissed, and Tahani nodded with a pleasant smile.

"And you know it tastes even better."

A sound suddenly caused them to shut their mouths and turn their eyes back inside. It would have been an understatement to say that the voice belonged to a man—for only an angel could own a tone such as that. His voice was grace, and it was syrup; it was the softest sound the world could ever witness.

Singing along to the words of a song Tahani didn't know, nor did she understand, a lean figure emerged from behind the back door. Still facing away from the two girls, he slapped some dough onto the bench and started kneading.

She could stay there forever, listening to his euphonious voice.

"No wonder you're head over heels for this man," Rowan hissed again, interrupting her train of thought. Tahani had to try with all her might not to reach over to slap the girl's shoulder for being so loud.

"He's going to hear you, you egg."

But she couldn't deny that the sight in front of her took her breath away, too.

He wore a russet cinnamon shirt like earlier, one which hung loosely from his body. It was tucked into a pair of beige slacks which lined his legs perfectly, stopping just at the ankle above his loafers.

He looked stunning.

A few seconds later, Tahani heard some shuffling from her right, and before she knew it, her little sister had bumped into a small flower pot behind her. The resounding noise caused the two girls to stare at each other wide-eyed before snapping their heads into the room where Jimin stood.

And when they turned to face him, he was already looking in their direction.

His eyes met Tahani's, and the confusion in his expression dissolved when he recognised her. It turned into some sort of mischief as he tilted his head to the side, cocking an eyebrow.

"Uhm," feeling a hand on her back, she was pushed forward into the store, "Hi."

A smile split his face as he dusted his hands over the small apron covering his thighs, "Hi."

They stared at each other as Tahani tried to steady her breathing, the silence starting to become unbearable as she wracked her head for what to say. "I'm back."

As soon as the words tumbled from her mouth, she wanted to kick herself. She could basically hear her sisters snickering in her head because, yes, that had to be one of the dumbest things she could have ever said.

"You are," this time; his own voice seemed breathless. Tahani thought for a moment that perhaps she was able to steal the wind from his lungs as he did hers. But didn't let her imagination run too wild, shaking her head.

"I-uh-my sisters loved your bread," she finally opted for saying, and this made his smile widen.

"They did?"

"They did. And they're hard to please, so I'd consider that a compliment."

Breaking eye contact, Jimin rested his gaze over Tahani's shoulder, and she jumped around.

"This is Wa—Rowan, one of my younger sisters," placing a hand on her shoulder; she introduced her, "She wanted to come along."

Rowan snorted at the last part, "Nice to meet you, I've heard a lo—"

Tahani pinched the girl's waist before she could finish that sentence, and she subtly jerked to the side in pain.

"Nice to meet you," she repeated then.

When the girls turned back to Jimin, he had on the ghost of an amused smile that he tried not to show as he reached his hand out to Rowan, "Nice to meet you as well, Rowan."

Once they shook their hands, he faced Tahani again, "So to what pleasure do I owe this visit?"

"I had been sent on the mission of acquiring more bread," she replied, eyes leaving his face and started to scan the room. The bakery had a similar ambience to his home, small but somehow felt like it had everything he would ever need. It was cosy, and it was warm; it was the epitome of the lifestyle Tahani had been dreaming of after twenty-three years in the palace.

"Well," his voice drew her back, "I don't think I have as much as seven loaves to offer, as I was about to take some bread down to the village," he motioned to the crates beside him, "I have four in the oven right now, however."

"Oh, that's plenty!" she replied.

"Are you sure? You said—"

"It gives her more reason to come back," her little sister mumbled under her breath, and Tahani didn't know if she meant for them to hear, but they both definitely did.

Promising to kill Rowan when they got back to the palace, Tahani feared looking back at his expression. She knew the pink dusting her cheeks would definitely stand out, despite her chocolate skin.

She was surprised, though, when she looked up to him, for his own cheeks were slightly painted in rose, too.

"Four is enough," Tahani cleared her throat, "Would that be alright?"

"Of course," the man grinned, and she did too, "I might have to start calling you a regular."

"Oh, for sure. I'll be coming more often anyway," she once again said without thinking. Eyes flying back to Jimin in horror, the smirk playing on his lips made her wish she could reach out to grab the words from the air and stuff them back into her mouth.

A quiet giggle sounded from behind her and she remembered Rowan was silently watching her humiliate herself.

She wanted to dig a hole and hide.

"I would really like that."

THE NEXT HOUR was spent with Rowan and Tahani having a quiet conversation seated on a bench outside the bakery. Rowan was obviously teasing her older sister for the way her eyes lit up with a million stars as she spoke to Jimin, or how she stumbled over her words countlessly.

"You're a mess around him, Nini," Rowan giggled, "An actual mess."

"Wannie, you better shut up, or I'm asking Tovi to take away your seat at the council table."

Rowan gasped, "You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would," the older girl attempted being intimidating, "So, shut up."

But she couldn't help be self-conscious after hearing that. Did she really make it that obvious?

"Tahani?" the familiar voice said, and that caused a sharp intake of breath from her.

She loved her name, but when Jimin said it, she wondered if she was even worthy of such a thing. It sounded fit for a goddess when it fell from his lips.

Rowan took the chance to step on her foot to pull her out of her daze.

"He's calling you," she hissed.

"Ow!" she winced, "Was that necessary?"

"Go, get your man, sis."

Standing up then, Tahani walked into the bakery, just at the same time as he walked in from the backroom, heaving a crate in his arms.

"Hello!" he said upon seeing her, placing it on the bench, "Four fresh loaves of bread for the lovely ladies."

"Oh, thank you," instantly, she fumbled around for her purse, but before she could open it, a gentle hand was pressed to her own.

Instantly she felt some sort of flower; chrysanthemum, marigold, wisteria, something rooted from that spot on the back of her hand and travelled all the way up through her arm, growing into her heart.

"This time, you don't have to pay me, please," she watched him lift his hand away slowly, eyes falling as he stared at it. Honey-gold eyes gazing at his hand with an expression she couldn't grasp.

Although that was short-lived, coffee irises meeting Tahani's again, "I promise."

"But—"

"I guess it just means you can't break your promise of coming again," he merely shrugged before turning and picking up two baskets of bread, one on top of the other, "I'm really sorry, but I must head off now."

"Wait. Wannie!" Tahani called through the door, and in a second, her sister's frazzled face appeared. Shoving the box of bread she was holding into Rowan's hands, she turned back to Jimin, holding her arms out. "Let me help you."

"Huh?" Jimin's rounded eyes peering over the box at her made her heart melt, "No, that's fine, really."

"We're going that way anyway. Besides, I want to show my sister the bookstall I found the other day. We're coming."

"No, it's—"

Before he could continue protesting, Tahani had grabbed the handles of the top crate, bringing it closer to herself.

"Tahani, I'm serious, I could never ask for you to—"

"You're not asking, are you?" she tried to neglect the euphoric sensation she felt upon hearing him repeat her name, "Let's go. You'll have to lead the way, though."

Tahani then headed for the door, ignoring the look Rowan was giving her.

"Kanna, you're going to love the bookstall, I promise."

"Third-wheeling, you mean," Tahani heard the younger one mumble, "I'm going to love third-wheeling."

as always, thank you for reading!!

also, i edited the first few chapters and added a little bit of information about our princesses that might clear up a few questions you may have!

if you're still confused about anything, do let me know!