Crown in The Mist (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER ONE

A SATISFIED GRIN escaped my lips as I beheld myself in the mirror of a small shop on the streets of Carnes. Perfect. Using the money I have left, I immediately bought the clothes the moment I first laid my eyes on it. Black undershirt, black hood, black pants, and shoes. I tied my hair using a rubber band. Hiding it completely, I wore my hood. 

Really perfect. I blend completely in the dark. After all, I was not known as Shadow for nothing. I blend in the darkness, with hands so fast you wouldn't even know they've been to your pockets. I am a thief. A notorious one at that.

I roamed my eyes around and went to a light post. Its body is almost covered with different kinds of posters--mostly advertisements. But only one caught my attention. It was not new to me. I have seen these papers all over Carnes. Nobody in Carnes doesn't know about the notorious criminal in the paper. It contained a silhouette of a face of a man. I grinned when I read what’s written on it. 

WANTED

SHADOW

REWARD: 500000

I nodded approvingly seeing another zero added. Nobody knows that the notorious Shadow wasn't a man, but a woman. As much as I want to be offended for giving all the credits of my magnificent steals to a man, I suppose it wasn't that bad after all. I need to lie low. The last thing I wanted was to get attention. So I let them think I am a man.

I folded the paper neatly and inserted it on my jacket. They've been hunting me for years. The royal guards of Carnes have been frustrated lately as my latest steal involved a very valuable object in the museum. They've already doubled their surveillance and when the news revealed the Lazuli Diamond got stolen, every street of Carnes is filled with at least three Royal Guards. And Christmas season is coming and many foreigners are going to have their vacation here. I suppose that's a good thing too. Because of my notorious steals, the Queen hired many men in the Kingdom to add to the Royal guards. At least, I've given them jobs.

I sauntered off to the main road. Christmas is coming and Carnes, being the Christmas capital, is packed with tourists hailing from different Kingdoms, even continents.

I smiled to myself. I might get a lot tonight. I survive in the streets by stealing. But I don't steal the poor. If I see you getting out of a shop buying expensive handkerchiefs, then I won't hesitate to rob you. If you can afford to sneeze into an expensive cloth then you can afford to feed me. If I see you getting out of a very expensive car, then expect my hands to be in your pockets. If you can afford to buy a huge piece of metal then you can surely afford to buy me five days worth of meals. That's what I do. That's how I judge.

I inserted my freezing hands to the pockets of my jacket. Damn, I forgot to buy gloves. Winter in Carnes is beautiful for people who have nice and comfortable homes. It's hell for people like me who lived in the streets. I managed to rent a room in a small tavern. The rent was cheap and the room fits the price. It's okay, though. All I need is a comfortable and warm bed, a bathroom, and a small closet for two pieces of my clothes. Thinking about it makes me want to just curl up there and sleep. Carnes wasn't called Christmas and Winter Capital for no reason.

I shook my head. I have to pay for my rent the next day. I clenched my coat when I felt the cold bite of the wind. And that's when I saw my first target for tonight.

He was leaning on the stone bridge, watching the couples kissing while canoeing or watching the water, or the moon -- I don't know. With my experience on the streets, I learned how to read people's body language. He's a tourist. Obvious. I have almost memorized the faces of Carnes but I have not seen this man. He keeps looking at his pocket watch, which gives me the impression that he wasn't enjoying his night, bored, or just checks it out of habit. He must be a busy man. And then I saw it. His pocket watch, shining under the moonlight. It was just a short glint but it was as though the metal winked at me as if to say 'come, get me'. 

Hell, I sure will.

I sauntered closer to the man, easy, calculated steps. And when I was near enough, he turned and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground. He knelt beside me in one fluid motion and unconsciously put his hand on my thigh and the other on my arm. And when I looked at him, my breath was almost knocked out of my chest. It was never my thing to swoon over males but I think I just did when I saw him. His brownish hair was ruffled as though the wind intentionally made it look that way. His stormy gray eyes were filled with worry and penetrated into me as if reading my whole life story, his slightly parted lips made me gulp. He is probably the most good looking man I've ever seen and it's as if the gods created him for the female species to swoon over.

I shook away the thoughts. I forced my eyes up to his brows. Damn, even his brows looked good.

I have one damn job to do and I can't afford to get swooned. So with his eyes still bored on mine, I started my job for tonight.

He cleared his throat and lifted his hand from my arm and leg. 

"Are you alright, Miss?" he asked.

Miss? I cursed mentally as I noticed the hood of my jacket fell down and the rubber band that held my hair snapped. Wow, if I rob this man tonight he'll know my face. But he is damn rich. I just knew. The way he holds himself and the way he speaks shouts elegance and staggering grace. He looked too regal to be just a simple tourist. I know this man is a lot more. 

"I'm very sorry," I answered. I did not feign the blush that crept across my face and I wanted to curse myself because of it.

"It's okay." He replied. I tried my best to hide my face by looking to the ground but my traitorous eyes cheated a glance at the regal stranger only to find him also staring at me. And damn me to hell, but I felt my cheeks burned with those storm gray eyes that seem to penetrate to my bones. I did not say another word as I walked away immediately.

Damn, damn, damn.

What the hell was that?

I walked faster, holding the pocket watch and his wallet tightly in my pocket. When I turned to an alley, I rested my back against the stone wall, breathing heavily. I clutched the things I snatched from the man. I have no idea why I’m breathless. I've done this deed countless times already.

Wearing my hood again, I marched against the cold night and back to the tavern.

* * *

I stood in the corner of my room. Unable to move as I stared at the pocket watch and the wallet, now open, on the bed.

"What in the actual—" I gasped as I looked at what's inside the wallet. I couldn't believe what I'm seeing.

I already had a hunch when I saw him, the way he stood, the way he talked, everything about him is different to be just an ordinary person, and yet I still stole from him.

“What were you thinking, Rain?” I swore as I looked at the ID again. And another series of curses as I read the name of the owner.

"Ares Lythwyn William Magnussen."

A f*****g Magnussen. 

I stole from a Magnussen. 

I closed my eyes firmly as I tried to digest what the heck was going on. Hoping that when I open them, the name in the ID will change but it didn't. It's still the same handsome face and the same name. Of all people I could have robbed tonight, why does it have to be the Crown Prince of Oregon? I stared at his ID and put it back inside the wallet as if it was a time bomb that might explode any second. 

He saw my face and if he reports this to the Royal guards, the image I tried to keep low will be out.

"f*****g annoying," I have no idea what the Crown Prince of Oregon looks like that's why I had no idea. Why on earth is he roaming in the streets of Carnes looking all ordinary?

Well, he wasn't really ordinary looking. Heat crept through my cheeks as I remembered how I swooned over him during that brief encounter. How I almost forgot to rob him. How I forgot to do my job for that night. How I got pulled by his stare and how I got captivated by it that seemed to read my whole life history, that seemed to penetrate through my soul, that sent a skittering feeling down my spine.

I shivered.

I need to return this to him. I need to find a way to return this to him no matter what. He won't be reporting me if he finds his belongings safe in his room.

But where is he staying at? At the Palace?

I looked at the clock and realized it's almost one in the morning. Most people would be sleeping now. But tourists are still out there enjoying the nightlife in Carnes. I should be out in the streets tonight, stealing. With all the tourists and locals roaming around Carnes tonight, I could have stolen thrice the amount I get on an ordinary day. But here I am, stuck in returning the only goods I stole for tonight. Talk about robbing the wrong person.

I got up and this time, I wore a mask covering my nose and my mouth. I tied my hair, making sure that this time, it's tied perfectly. I wore a cap to properly conceal it. I zipped my catsuit. I bristled at the cold winter wind as I opened the window. I have no idea where I could find him. But there's always a place to start.

I clutched my pockets where the stolen goods are.

Time to infiltrate the Palace.

* * *