WALKING THROUGH CENTRAL Remigore's crowded streets gave me a unique sense of freedom and peculiar excitement. Finally, I found the comfort I had always yearned for in the unfazed looks and less attention that I'm receiving.

So, this is how it feels to be a typical citizen of our nation, huh?

If I were to reincarnate, I would wish to be born as a nobody. It would be so much nicer than being the focus of a few eyes simply because you came from a noble family. Even worse, not just any noble, but specifically our nation's royalty.

I closed my eyes as the chilly breeze kissed my fair skin. Although the sun was at its brightest, the impending winter prevented the heat from overcoming the frigid northern winds.

Hindi pa naman nangyayari ang snowfall, pero halos lahat ng mga sibilyan ay nakasuot na ng kani-kanilang mga matataas na damit at makapal na bestida.

I had a cloak on as well. The difference is I'm wearing it not because of the cold, but to cover my real identity.

I continued to enjoy myself by the streetside, where there were numerous fruit and food stalls displayed. Gumapang ang isang munting ngiti sa aking mga labi habang tinitingnan ang mga nagtitinda. Months ago, the king had decided to clear the pavement by the Central City to minimize the waves of crowd. Plano sana nitong paalisin ang kawawang mga sibilyang naghahanap-buhay sa gilid ng kalsada sa kadahilanang hindi na naging malinis sa kaniyang paningin ang dakong sentro ng aming kaharian.

Fortunately, the crown prince intervened to save the people and persuaded the king to change his mind.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad sa gilid ng kalsada. I wandered my eyes on the stalls, until it stopped on one stand selling various kinds of apples. My feet halted when I arrived in front of it.

Nakatalikod sa akin ang matandang lalakeng nagmamay-ari ng stall kaya hindi nito nakita ang paglagay ko ng limang piraso ng gintong barya sa kinalalagyan ng kaniyang pera. I then stealthily snatched two red apples and one green apple with me before strolling away.

"Thief!"

A smirk crept into my lips.

I casted a quick glance back at the vendor, but my attention was drawn on two approaching figures. The next thing I knew, two thief catchers were chasing after me as I ran across the heart of the city square.

I ran around the Grand Fountain after spotting it from a distance to further distract them. Ngunit halos mapatampal na lang ako ng noo nang masilayang sinusundan lang nila ako. I mean, there were two of them. Why can't the other one go the other way around to trap and easily catch me? Goodness!

Hugo should've chosen better! The kingdom needed trained and well-screened thief catchers, not this bunch of dimwits!

As the chase went on, I couldn't help but be annoyed by these naïve men. I offered them numerous opportunities to catch up to me, including slowing down and stopping to run—but still to no avail. Instead, they were gradually slowing down as minutes passed, yet it didn't stop me from sprinting more quickly.

Pumasok ako sa isang eskinita at pumwesto sa likod ng isang gusali. Siniguro ko munang walang tao sa paligid bago ibinaba ang talukbong ng aking ulo at hinubad ang suot na makapal na balabal.

I threw it with a distant fling and swirled my fingers that left trails of green sparkles. From where I was, I peered down and observed how the cloak had been buried by the shifting soft ground.

Inayos ko rin ang nagusot kong damit sabay kuha no'ng berdeng mansanas sa loob ng bulsa ng aking vest at pasimple itong kinagat. The thief catchers showed up right in front of me. They were panting profusely, but as soon as their eyes landed on me, they tried to gather themselves. Ang kaninang inis sa kanilang mukha ay napalitan ng kaba at gulat.

"You two seemed lost," I uttered in a deep tone, fixing my gaze on the apple I was holding.

"Prince H-Hans."

"Your highness!"

Sabay silang napaluhod sa aking harapan, ngunit hindi ako nagtangkang balingan ang mga ito.

"How may I help you?" I asked instead, still staring at the apple and bit it again.

From the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of them standing with their heads bent. I noticed that the man on the right was nudging his companion. My brows knitted in response to that.

"W-Wala naman po, mahal na prinsipe. May hinahabol lang kaming magnanakaw kanina't nakita naming pumunta siya rit—"

"I've been standing here for more than five minutes now. I saw no thief."

"P-Pero dito po siya pumunta—"

"Are you trying to say that I'm lying?" I finally turned to face the catchers and shot them a glare. They're giving me more justifications to persuade Hugo to throw them all away. People like them do not have the right to question the words from a royalty. Wala silang modo! At kapag sinabi kong wala, wala!

Besides, I was the thief they were looking for, but I couldn't consider myself one, especially since I paid more than the retail price for those three apples.

Nasindak ang mga ito sa pagtaas ng boses ko at mabilis na napailing. I sighed quietly and threw the apple. "Return to your posts. I don't want to see any catchers hovering around and not performing their duties."

"P-Paumanhin, mahal na prinsipe," sabay nilang sambit at mabilis na naglaho sa aking harapan.

Napasimangot ako pagkatapos no'n. I puffed out air to release the heavy feeling that was brewing inside of me. Imbes na mag-drama, minabuti ko na lang na umalis sa lugar na 'yon. I didn't bother digging up the cloak buried in the ground. It was useless, anyway.

Mula sa kalayuan ay nahagip ko ang dalawang batang namamalimos. I suddenly remembered the red apples that I bought. Kinapkap ko ang dalawang mansanas na nakatago sa aking pantalon at ibinigay iyon sa mga bata.

"P-Prinsipe," utal na ani no'ng batang babaeng sa tingin ko'y siyang mas matanda sa kanilang dalawa. Dahil sa gulat, iyong batang lalake na lamang ang tumanggap sa mga mansanas na aking inilahad.

"Maraming salamat po!" the little boy joyfully exclaimed, which made my heart melt. I smiled and gently patted their heads before taking my leave. Dumiretso ako sa bandang kakahuyan ng shudad. I made sure that no one was sneaking around before proceeding to the forest. Nang makalayo mula sa bukana ay kaagad akong sumipol.

A galloping sound immediately caught my attention. Sinalubong ko si Eros-ang aking itim na kabayo-nang nakangiti at marahang hinaplos ang kaniyang buhok.

"Good boy," I mumbled and delicately stroked its mane, before lifting myself onto its back.

Lilisanin na sana namin ang lugar na 'yon tungo sa kalapit na talon kung saan ko nais na magpahinga muna. Subalit, napahinto kami nang marinig ang sunod-sunod na pagtunog ng maliit na kampanang nakakabit sa itaas na bahagi ng malaking palasiyo ng Remigore. I sighed and clicked my tongue.

Why can't they just let me be?

Even though I didn't want to, I lazily pulled Eros' ropes and faced the other direction—towards the town. Walang gana kong pinatakbo ang kabayo at nakasimangot na pinuntahan ang dambuhalang tarangkahan sa harap ng palasiyo.

The townspeople made way when I arrived again at the Central City, this time with my façade off.

"Tumakas na naman siya?"

"Mabuti nama't mabilis nang nagpakita ang batang 'yan!"

"Nako! Nadadamay tuloy tayo dahil sa kalokohan ng pinakabatang prinsipe. Bakit ba hindi niya magawang manatili sa loob ng palasiyo?"

"Ang hirap siguro 'pag ikaw ang bunso, ano? Walang kalayaan."

As much as I tried to ignore their words, it still created a huge impact on me. Kaya nga'y ayaw kong lumalabas nang nasisira ang maskara ko! I hate it when people would talk about me again. Mas lalo lang nilang ipinapamukha ang aking kawawang estado sa aming pamilya!

When I finally got into the palace grounds, the soldiers closed the huge gates, and thankfully, the ringing bell stopped. May mga kamay na naglahad upang tulungan akong makababa, pero hindi ko sila pinansin at diretsong tumalon mula sa kabayo.

"Take good care of him," I told the guy holding Eros' ropes before walking away.

The palace's doors opened as I stepped foot on the marble tiles of the entrance. Yumuko ang dalawang kawal na nakapuwesto sa magkabilang-gilid ng malaking pinto nang ako'y dumaan sa kanilang harapan.

As the doors closed from behind, I held the first layer of a man's dark brown hair on my head and pulled it out, revealing another layer of long, wavy and golden blonde one that swiftly fell off on my shoulders down to my waist.

I languidly messed and flipped it out before releasing a sigh.

Finally, I'm free . . . temporarily.

HagaraSibs, 2022