Page 11 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"But I want to." He reaches out a hand as if he's going to touch me, but thinks better of it. "I want to keep her princess happy."

"She is," I assure him.

"Good."

There's something in the air that I'm not entirely sure I'm able to name, but there's something about it that makes me want to feel it more, and I know it's all to do with him. There's something about Arthur that calls to me. It's nothing like what I felt when I read his letters, though I can hear that person in his voice when he speaks to me.

Arthur clears his throat. "Are you hungry?"

I'm a little taken aback by the change in topic. "A little."

"Then we should find something to eat. There's a man who comes to the fairs who makes delicious roast pork, or a woman who makes a rice dish that's native to Rajaad."

"Isn't that across the sea?"

"It is, but a lot of their ships make port here. Well, not here, but in Porton," he says. "Some of the people have settled, and others come for things like the fair to share their wares and the food."

"Oh. I don't think I've ever had anything from Rajaad before."

"Isn't South Rajaad only a short journey from Someil?"

"I believe so, yes, but it's not something we serve at home. I think we were too inland to get much influence from the sailors."

"Ah, I see."

"Do you think I'll like it?" I ask, curious, but also a little wary.

"I'm not sure, but we could share?" he suggests. "If you don't like it, then we can get something else."

"All right, that sounds nice." I try to give him a reassuring smile. It's strange to be standing in front of someone who I feel like I know very well, and not at all, both at the same time.

All around us, the villagers are enjoying the fair without a care in the world, and they don't seem to realise that there are any members of royalty among them. Or maybe they do. Arthur and his sisters all seem very relaxed to be here, so it can't be the only time they've done this.

Arthur offers me his arm again and I take it, using it as an excuse to step a little bit closer to him. I'm not sure what makes me do it, but I catch him smiling in a way that makes it seem as if he's noticed.

He leads me through the stalls, nodding to the occasional person and revealing that some of my thoughts are correct and that the villagers do know who he is. I suppose he is dressed like a prince, and we're only a short walk from the main castle and still within the main walls.

A delicious smell that I don't recognise meets my nose and I take a deep breath, letting it sink in. A woman is tossing some rice in a pan larger than any I've ever seen.

She looks up and smiles at us. "Your Highness," she says, dipping her head towards Arthur.

"Evening, Jiya," he says to her.

"I've not known you bring a guest to the fair before, Your Highness," she says, her gaze straying to me. She's speaking in Falhavien, but has an accent I don't recognise. I assume it must be Rajaadi.

Arthur smiles widely. "This is Princess Solana of Someil, we're to be married."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I say quickly.

"The pleasure is mine, Your Highness," the woman responds. "How are you enjoying the fair?"

"It's wonderful," I respond. "I'm lucky that I have such a good guide to help me make the most of it."

Arthur's smile lights up his face and makes him look a little younger than before. Not that he ever looked old, he's very distinguished for twenty-two. "How are the lambs?" he asks the woman.

"They're good, Your Highness. Without your help, I doubt they would have been able to survive."

"It was my pleasure," he says.

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