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Chapter VII: A (Not-So) Chance Encounter

His cousin put out his hand. "Can I see that jewel?"

Aiden quickly stuffed it in his pocket. "No."

Rudy frowned. "Oh, c'mon, I'm much more accomplished with jewels than you are."

Well, he wasn't wrong. Rudy was super accomplished with jewels. And music. Mostly music, but jewels and gems were more of his kind of thing. But this jewel wasn't ordinary. Aiden had to admit, this jewel was enchanted. But a lot of questions circled his mind. Where did it come from? Out of all the jewels, why was it specifically an Alexandrite? Did the. . .did the Thief place it there? No, the last one was ridiculous. He, no, she couldn't have. So, did the Thief have the same jewel with her? No, it was ridiculous as well.

One thing at a time, Aiden. First, complete the promise you gave to your father. Capture the Thief. More importantly, get a real-life view at what life outside the Royal Palace was really like.

Aiden knew that it wouldn't be super easy to capture the Masked Thief. He knew it would take time. He couldn't capture her at one go. But there was something else he could. At least he could get the first, honest look at life out of extravagant Royalty. He didn't need to trust the silver-tongued lies the ministers told his father. He could look at Azaryn for what it really was.

But first, he had to get out of the Palace. Which was going to be a whole another story. He glanced at his cousin and sighed.

If he went out, then all that would stand between Rudy's murder and Brynne's I'm-Just-Going-To-Casually-Pass-Out-And-Never-Wake-Up-Again type of death, would be the last thread of decency, sanity and feeling of companionship both of them had. And, of course, the uncountable guards and servants. But, then again, Rudy and Brynne were both known to be very, very determined. And stubborn.

He just hoped he wouldn't come back to the sight of one, heaven's forgive, even two, dead bodies.

Why me.

                                                                              ٭٭٭٭

Apparently, the streets of Azaryn weren't that horrible.

Especially the Night Bazaar.

Colorful tents were hitched up in two neatly formed lines on both sides of the main road, which had been paved with stones and bricks. Overripe plums, eye-catching flowers of a thousand different colors, arranged in impossibly (A/N: Ah, yes, the return of 'impossibly'.) stunning bouquets, dusky berries, warm honey, cold pears, elaborately designed silken cloth (the shopkeeper kept checking the cloth and muttering something like 'cotton'. Strange.), kefir cream, ripe tomatoes (this shopkeeper squinted at her tomatoes, talking about 'apples' under her breath. Odd.), and even gold and silver jewelry.

Aiden had only seen the Night Bazaar during the evenings of the Annual Elite Championships, when it would have been decorated in a charmingly appealing way. The place would have an air of anticipation and nervous excitement; the fingers crossed, trying their best to please the The King.

But now, when the Night Bazaar wasn't expecting anything, it looked even better. These people were at ease, conversing with their neighbors, watching the little kids run and play, the older kids going to the large, low, white building he assumed to be the vidyalay, (A/N: Ik, ik, I forgot to add the meanings before, but vidyalay means 'school'.) and the people of his age, the young adults. The general atmosphere was light and cheerful.

A few of the kids stopped to smile and wave their hands at him. How sweet. He couldn't help but smile at them under his mask.

A few of the ladies his age giggled and pointed at him. How not sweet. He couldn't help but walk faster from them.