The Prince arched his brows, he was surprised to hear what Lexa said again and wondered why she uttered those words.
" Why do you think that? To me, you deserve that, and that what I think."
Lexa chuckled silently and parted her lips to say something but stopped instantly. The young girl thought on what she said earlier, about she not deserving what he did. The young teen didn't get why she said those words to Arnold and immediately regretted it. It was weird for her to say those kinds of words to someone she barely knew, and it made her stomach turned.
" Hey, you are free to say anything," Arnold tried to encourage her, when he sensed her hesitation about wanting to express herself out.
" It nothing actually," she said awkwardly and shifted her eyes to one of the trees.
Arnold became confused and pulled his brows together, before his expression later returned to a normal one, and he stared at Lexa's emotionless face. He curled his lips as the young girl intrigued him more and wondered how she can act like this. It interested him, and he grinned.
" I still think you deserve every good thing Lexa, and it doesn't matter what anybody thinks about you. You need to start seeing yourself as someone good or better, it will really help you."
Lexa stiffened at his words and slowly lifted her face up. Their eyes meet each other briefly, before Lexa teared her face from him. She wasn't expecting him to say those words, and it somehow made her smile internally. Though, she really wasn't used to words like that, and it made her feel different.
" Uhm....thank you," she stuttered but managed to thank him.
" Well, I can say it is my pleasure Lady Lexa, and you look lovely today," He said and complimented her gently, his hazel eyes dazzling with delight.
Lexa just shook her head and sniggered lowly. She didn't know what to say, so instead she kept mute.
" Have an apple."
Arnold noticed how Lexa was a little bit shy on receiving compliments, so he decided to change the topic of their discussion and offered her one of the fresh apples on his hands.
" I will rather pass," she refused the apple but gave him a grateful look.
" Alright," He replied and begun to think about where the young girl was going to with the way she was dressed. Though, her dress was simple, but it wasn't what a servant would wear as a casual dress.
" Are you heading off to somewhere?"
Immediately his words came out, Lexa widened her eyes a bit and nodded while bitting her lower lip. She suddenly remembered she left Anatalia on standing, and she was definitely sure, Anatalia will be so mad at her.
"Damn!" She cursed under her breath.
" Is something wrong?" Arnold inquired, when he saw how worried she appeared.
Lexa wanted to leave the Prince but realized it wouldn't be polite of her to do so and at the same time, she heard Arnold's question.
She looked over to where Anatalia was standing and faced Arnold,
" Not really, just that we are off to the market earlier when I saw you and decided to say my thank you. In the process of our discussion, I forgot I left my partner on standing and that's why."
" Oh," Arnold said and chuckled.
" Am sorry I delayed you," he apologized.
" No please, it none of your fault," she tried to convince him.
The Prince also looked at where Anatalia was standing and curled his lips upward, when a thought appeared in his head.
" Can I come with you guys?"
The question came out of the blue, and Lexa furrowed her brows.
" What?"
" Yes, I want to come with you guys," He grinned and urged Lexa to lead the way.
The young girl stared unbelievable at Arnold but nonetheless, she turned and started ambling to Anatalia's side.
As soon as she got to where Anatalia was, she apologized sweetly, " Am sorry Ana, I didn't mean to."
Anatalia was literally forming, but when she saw Arnold was coming with Lexa, she kept quiet and ignored Lexa.
" Prince Arnold," she greeted and inclined her head slightly downward.
" We meet again......."
Arnold smiled at the two ladies in front of him and tried to get Anatalia's name.
" Anatalia," The female servant answered, not daring to look at the Prince face.
" Alright Anatalia, let's go to the market," Arnold clapped his hands and said with a happy tone.
" What?"
Anatalia was confused, when she heard Arnold's words and turned to look at Lexa, but the latter only smiled awkwardly.
Lexa shrugged, " It was his decision, not mine."
Anatalia sighed but said nothing.
**********
Soon, the trio all headed out to the market in the community.
They talked and laughed about different things, which Lexa realized Arnold was actually a very kind and funny person.
" Finally, we are here," Anatalia announced, and the trio all strolled around the market. Lexa tried to not stray away from Anatalia, as she knew nothing about the market. She gazed at the market and thought, if this was another life on it's own. It as if the pack was entirely another place, which was unexplored by the humans. This place was totally different from the mortal place. It wasn't refined and modern like the humans cities, but it was still okay.
The young girl watched how Anatalia negotiated different prices of goods with the seller, and she asked different questions about the goods. It amazed her, and she was excited to learn more.
Arnold stood at their back and watched how Lexa wore a solemn face, when inquiring about things she had no idea of from the female servant. He was really eager to know more about Lexa and wondered how many interesting things she had beneath her.
Some of the werewolves at the market recognized Arnold as the Alpha Prince of the neighbouring pack. They were excited to see him and they waved at him, of course he waved back and smiled at them.
It didn't take long, and they were done shopping. Anatalia and Lexa hands were filled with shopping bags
Anatalia didn't want the Prince to hold any shopping bag, but Lexa disagreed, which Arnold supported her.
" I understand you wanted to respect Prince Arnold but since it was his decision to follow us here, then it would only be right to let him help us with some of the shopping bags," Lexa argued, and some lines were starting to form on the crown of her head, as she scrunched her face slightly.
" I agree with her," Arnold nodded but didn't stop wondering about how Lexa can be really harsh sometimes, but it amazed him more, as he felt like she didn't fear him.
Anatalia stared at both of them and gave in to their words. She sighed,
" Alright."
The trio were all now carrying shopping bags, and they were now about to leave, until something interrupted them.