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The city market was buzzing with life, a clear and sunny summer day beaming down onto the cluster of tents and stands strewn about the brick roads and dirt pathways. People passed by to and fro, a mix of humans, hybrids, elves, and others making trades and buying goods. Baskets and boxes of fruit and bread stacked on top of each other, some stalls even shimmering with jewelry and bedazzled clothing. The air was coated with the scent of baked goods and fresh food, with the occasional hint of sweet and fragrant spices mixed into the street foods.
Market days were definitely one of the King's favorites, especially since he rarely got out of the castle on his own free time. He loved the ever-mixing scents of goods, and the dazzling jewelry shimmering in the sunlight with gems and jewels adorned to gold chains. It was calming in a sense, despite the constant noise of the citizens chattering and movement through the streets. In front of him, stood a small stand adorned with pastries. Various wheat breads and baguettes sat in wicker baskets, Atlas scanning each one to see which seemed the freshest.
His hand reached for a large loaf of multigrain bread, the steam still wafting off it as the tender had recently put the basket out. Just as he was about to grab it, the basket shook suddenly, toppling over onto the ground.
“What in the world-” He said briefly, before seeing a small hooded figure snatch up a loaf and dash into the crowd. The king stood still for a moment, assessing the situation before dashing off after the robber, pushing through the crowd of people idling by the stands as the hooded figure passed.
“Hey! Stop you thief!” He yelled after the small figure, watching as it looked back at him before ducking into a nearby alleyway. ‘Fuck’ Atlas whispered to himself as he quickly followed behind, trying his hardest to not trip over the strewn about boxes and garbage left on the curb.
The two had quickly approached a tall wooden fence, separating the properties between a crossway of houses which had given Atlas an advantage on the thief. Just as the king's hand reached out for the cape that was wrapped around the small figure, they knelt down and lept up over the fence leaving nothing but air between the king and the fence. His nose had crashed straight into the wooden planks from the momentum, causing a small stream of blood to run down his upper lip before he lept upwards, gripping onto the old wood with his claws and swiftly climbing over.
His eyes scanned the dark alley quickly, seeing the cape fly around the corner into another streetway. He quickly resumed his dash after them, swerving around the corner to find another dead end. Cobblestone reached up to the spruce wood rooftops, the walls of the surrounding houses creating a boxed space. Atlas swiftly made his way to the small figure, which seemed to be scanning the walls before turning around to find the king looming over them. His hand quickly reached up to grab the cape, his grip easily balling up the cloth and revealing the identity of the runaway figure.
What he saw stunned him for a moment. There in front of the king stood a small girl, holding onto a loaf of bread now crumbled and dented from her grip as she ran from the market. Her brown hair was long and tangled, dangling over her face and half-obscuring her features. Two little ram horns stuck out from her head, and pointed elvish ears were angled down towards the ground. Her eyes were coated in fear and guilt as she hid behind the damaged loaf, shaking.
“Princess Oriana?” Atlas said in a hushed tone, stunned by the young princess’ presence.
Tears seemed to well up in her eyes as she hid from Atlas’ gaze, hugging the loaf tighter as if it would make her disappear. The king quickly kneeled down to her height, holding a hand out.
“Come on. You can’t stay here, let me take you back to the castle.” He offered, watching as she finally lifted her gaze to meet his. Hesitating for a moment, she dropped the bread to the ground and took his hand. Atlas steadily stood back up to his full height, nodding his head to lead the princess out of the alleyway.
The walk back to the castle grounds was oddly silent, Atlas keeping his gaze straight forward and strangely blank. He barely let out a sound, other than a gentle ‘thank you’ to the guards that let him through the castle doors. Their steps echoed off the empty corridor walls as the pair finally made it into a spare bedroom, Atlas quickly closing the door behind him. He stood eerily still for a moment, as if he were a statue before finally speaking.
“Care to explain what you’re doing here, Miss Oriana?” He spoke, his tone deep and threatening. Ari sat on the bed with her hands neatly folded on her lap, her head bowed in guilt as the king's demeanor scolded her.
“Well?” He asked again, turning around to reveal his stone cold expression.
“...Please don’t take me back.” She said sheepishly, her golden eyes looking everywhere except where the king stood.
“What? Are you insane? Keeping you here on my soil, while your father is out there actively searching for you? He’d have my head on a platter Ari!” Atlas yelled, his eyes filled with anger as his fists were balled up at his sides.
“I- I didn’t mean to… I just-.” The princess tuttered, fiddling with her fingers nervously.
“You didn’t mean to? Do you understand the situation you’re putting me in right now?” Atlas said through gritted teeth, watching as the princess began to shake again. Guilt immediately flooded through him, his expression melting away into a remorseful one as he knelt down to Aris eye level.
“Hey- Hey don’t cry! I didn’t mean to raise my voice that much- I just-.” Atlas paused for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. “I’m just stressed. Alright? This is a tough situation, having you here… I just really don’t know what to do.”
“I-I’m sorry Mr. Lumine, I didn't mean it…” Ari said, sniffling and wiping her tears on the tattered jacket she wore. “I just- I didn’t wanna be there anymore and- and- I just… I don’t wanna go back home. P-Please don’t tell my father.” She said with a stutter.
Atlas let out another tired sigh, falling back onto the floor and placing a hand onto his forehead. “Alright… Keeping secrets from Stewart can’t be that hard. Even if he has a stick up his ass all the time.” He muttered to himself, eyes looking around and his mind raced.
Silence filled the room for longer than anyone would consider comfortable, only being broken by Atlas’ groan as he finally stood up.
“Fine. You can stay here.” He said bluntly, placing a hand on his hip.
“Really!?” Ari yelped excitedly, leaping off of the bed.
“-But, there are rules.” The king interrupted, crossing his arms sternly. The statement caused the small princess to lower her ears, letting out a small ‘aww’.
“You will not be stealing anything anymore. If you are to go to the market, I will be accompanying you 100% of the time.” He said, looking down at Ari. “In fact, you will hardly be leaving my sight unless you are within the castle walls. You will not be going into the west wing, period-”
“What’s in the west wing?” She interrupted, looking up curiously.
“Nothing that concerns you, Now do you understand that if you break these rules I’m sending you straight back to Midas. Understand?”
“Yes Mr.Lumine…” She said, looking down at the ground.
“Just- You can call me Atlas, alright? We’re not at a meeting so I don’t want to be all formal all the time.” He said with a sigh, pinching his nose bridge in between his fingers.
“Alright! You can call me Peach!” She said happily, beaming up at the king.
“Okay… Peach.” Atlas said hesitantly, not used to the nickname for the princess. Feeling a buzz from his pocket, Atlas took out a pager and glanced at the screen.
“Well, I have to go work on some documents real quick but I’ll be back in like- an hour or so. Be ready by then.” He said, stepping towards the large spruce door at the end of the room.
“Ready? For what?” Peach asked, tilting her head to the side.
“We're going clothes shopping. Goodbye Miss- I mean Peach.” He said, closing the door behind him.
Peach brought her hand up to her chest, trying to cover the excitement she felt in her cheat. Finally, some place she could call home.