LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 8: Emma
"Ouch, my head hurts," the hooded girl muttered, her voice weak as she cradled her head in her hands. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as the blurry shapes of her pursuers came into focus. Standing among them, almost too close for comfort, was the prince himself, watching her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Are ya okay? You hit your head really hard on the floor when you fainted," Junior said, his tone surprisingly gentle.
"Stay away from me! I don't want you to hurt me!" the hooded girl shouted, her voice trembling as she scrambled back, her wide eyes darting nervously between him and the others.
"Hey, calm down. I won't hurt you. I can't even hurt a fly," Junior replied, raising his hands in mock surrender, his tone almost lighthearted despite the tension.
"I don't think so!" she shot back, her voice quivering. "The rumors about you... they say you send people to their deaths if they so much as breathe the same air as you." Her body trembled, her fear evident.
"Oh man, I'm tired of fixing the dumb problems caused by the owner of this body," Junior muttered under his breath, his thoughts spilling out without realizing. His face darkened, his brows furrowing as irritation flickered across his expression.
The hooded girl noticed the shift and shrieked, instinctively pressing herself further away. Her sudden movement caused her hood to slip down, revealing her face, her delicate features framed by disheveled locks. "I'm sorry! If what I said made you angry, Prince Junior!" she stammered, her voice cracking as she tried to avoid his gaze.
Junior froze, her words snapping him out of his thoughts. His gaze softened as he looked at her fully for the first time, and one word slipped past his lips before he could stop it: "Beautiful."
Junior's breath hitched as he took in the sight before him. Her long, fiery red hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the faint light and giving it a mesmerizing glow. Her deep brown eyes, still wide with fear, seemed to pull him in like a hidden current, warm and mysterious.
Her delicate features were framed by a natural softness,high cheekbones, a small, slightly upturned nose, and full lips that trembled slightly as she tried to steady herself. Despite her evident fear, there was an undeniable beauty to her face, a radiance that left Junior momentarily speechless.
The silence stretched awkwardly, and the girl's cheeks flushed under his gaze. "W-Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, her voice shaky but laced with suspicion.
Junior blinked, shaking his head as if snapping out of a trance. "Uh, no reason!" he blurted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I mean, you just—you don't look like someone who'd be, uh, going around committing theft."
The girl's brows furrowed, her voice was low but sharp as she responded, "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but you wouldn't understand. You don't know the struggle of what normal citizens like me,without a family have to do to feed my siblings." Her eyes glistened, but she held her head high, refusing to look away.
Junior sighed heavily, the weight of her words settling over him like a storm cloud. He crouched down to meet her gaze, his tone softer now. "Look, I'm sorry if what I just said offended you. I didn't mean it that way, really."
He hesitated, then added, "I don't know what you've heard about me, but I'm not some evil guy who's out to hurt everyone. All that's in the past. I've changed, okay? And yeah, maybe my reputation isn't the best, but I promise you, I'm not here to do anything bad."
The girl studied him closely, her sharp gaze searching his face for any trace of insincerity. For a brief moment, the fear in her eyes eased, but the cautious edge remained. "Then why are you here?" she asked, her tone still laced with skepticism. "You aren't the type to come to the commoner city. Seeing you here today makes me doubt if the rumors are actually true."
Junior rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling slowly. "Well, I have something urgent to do here, that's why. But let's stop talking about me for a second." His voice softened as he continued, "You said you have siblings to take care of, and that's why you stole. Can I come and see how they're doing?"
Her body stiffened, and her expression hardened. "Never. I don't trust you enough to take you to meet them," she said firmly.
Junior nodded, his face calm but thoughtful. "I understand," he replied after a pause. "What if I said I'd give you a large amount of gold coins? Enough to help you stop stealing for good."
The girl's eyes widened slightly, and she stared at him, her brows knitting together. She looked confused, almost suspicious. "Why are you doing this? What do you want, Your Majesty?" she asked, her voice steady but with an edge of seriousness.
"Nothing, really. And can you please stop calling me 'Your Majesty'? By your looks, we're probably close to the same age. Just call me Junior, like everyone else does," he said, giving her a small, disarming smile.
"Your Majesty!" Helen, who had been standing nearby in tense silence, suddenly interjected. Her voice was sharp, but she stopped short when Junior raised a hand, signaling her to remain quiet.
Helen frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her eyes flickered between Junior and the girl, a pang of jealousy gnawing at her. She lowered her voice, muttering under her breath, "Idiot Junior."
Junior ignored her, focusing his attention back on the hooded girl. "Since we're acquaintances now," he said, his voice light but genuine, "can you at least tell me your name?"
The girl hesitated, her gaze lingering on him as if trying to decipher his true intentions. Finally, she relented. "My name is Emma," she said quietly, her voice steady but cautious. Then, after a small pause, she added with a hint of defiance, "Nice to meet you, Your Majesty."