Chapter 47: Swords, Secrets, and Stolen Apples
It all began with an apple.
Prince Kimo was strolling through the palace courtyard, hands behind his back, looking every bit the mysterious royal everyone was now awkwardly afraid to approach. Then he saw it—one of the palace maids struggling to lift a heavy basket of fruit.
"Let me," Kimo said, his voice smoother than morning honey.
The maid gasped, dropped the basket, and tripped over her own skirt, knocking over two other maids who were just walking by. All three tumbled into a nearby water trough.
Kimo blinked.
"I was just trying to help."
A nervous guard tiptoed up to him. "S-Sire, it's the... effect you have. Women panic. Men flinch. Gardens wilt."
"Gardens wilt?"
The guard shrugged.
Trying to make up for the chaos, Prince Kimo reached down, picked up a shiny red apple from the spilled basket, and took a confident bite.
Just as Oki walked up behind him.
"Ohhh, so you're stealing now?"
Kimo choked. "Oki! You startled me."
"Not my fault you're guilty," she teased, arms folded. "That's Lady Mera's apple."
"I'll return it... in pieces."
Oki laughed. Then suddenly grew serious. "You're blending in too well now. What happened to the cold, distant prince with walls built taller than the palace gates?"
Kimo stepped closer, his tone softening. "He met someone... who keeps melting those walls one sarcastic comment at a time."
Their eyes locked. Silence stretched like silk.
Then—
"Your Highness!!" one of the younger guards came running in, breathless. "We've got a situation!"
Kimo sighed. "What now?"
"The royal chickens... escaped. Into the queen's private garden."
There was a beat of stunned silence. Oki blinked. Kimo groaned.
"Not again," he muttered. "Didn't we fix the coop?"
"You fixed the stable roof, sire."
"Right."
With the king watching from a balcony, chuckling behind his goblet of wine, Kimo stormed off, Oki trailing beside him, grinning.
They reached the garden just in time to see a guard get pecked viciously by a very angry hen.
Kimo raised an eyebrow. "That one has murder in her eyes."
"Reminds me of the queen," Oki whispered.
Kimo stifled a laugh. "You're terrible."
Oki leaned closer, her voice a whisper in his ear. "And yet... you're falling for me."
He turned to her slowly, his smile fading into something softer, more vulnerable. "Too late. I already have."
Oki's teasing expression faltered. Her eyes softened. Her hand brushed against his, lingering.
Before either could speak—
"BAWK!"
A chicken landed on Kimo's head.
And just like that, the moment was gone... replaced by laughter echoing across the garden, guards tripping over feathers, and a prince holding a chicken like it was a royal decree.
Oki was nearly on the floor laughing.
And the king from the balcony muttered, "This... is the heir to my throne?"
But for the first time in a long while, the palace didn't felagfel so hf anymore.
To be con...