Chapter 33
1469 Words
Harry was at a loss for words; this boy was indeed very straightforward. Harry asked her father for clearance to leave the palace. She didn't tell him about the date, but she was easily able to get permission. She hadn't intended to make a big deal about her date with Terrance, but Paula had other plans.
"This is a big deal, Princess," she explained. "This is your first date, right?"
"Yes," Harry answered.
"Your first date is the one you never forget. The young master of Branson is a very kind boy. I'm sure things will work out between the two of you."
Harry gave a forced smile. "I guess so."
"And if it's any consolation, his father, Earl Marion, is revered as a very handsome man."
"Really?"
"Yes! Many young girls cried when they learned about his engagement."
"Hmm."
Harry wasn't trying to say that she didn't believe in the earl's looks. She agreed that his son was cute, but she didn't feel attracted to him in that way. Paula seemed to have taken the hint because she added, "Listen, Princess, if you don't like the young master, then you just don't, but you should at least give him a chance before deciding."
Harry nodded. Although she didn't like Terrance romantically now, that could very well change in the future. Feelings are fleeting after all.
After Paula finished getting Harry all dolled up for her date with Terrance, she sent her on her way.
Harry was to meet Terrance at a restaurant. It was a fancy restaurant that was well-known and recommended by most of the nobles. Harry was excited to try the food at such a place, but she secretly would've rather had something simple. Her ideal date was to have a small picnic near a breathtaking view.
She entered in her elegant yellow dress with her hair all tied back and a purse dangling over her shoulder. The nobles who knew her face greeted her quietly, and the ones who didn't realize her identity ignored her. Harry was fine whether they greeted her or not. It didn't particularly bother her.
As she walked past all the other couples, she couldn't help but see Varian in all the men, but she couldn't picture herself as the woman beside him. She eventually found Terrance sitting in the VIP section. He had really gone all out for her.
Sitting in his expensive suit with his hair fixed neatly, holding a menu in his hand was her date. He hadn't noticed her until she had walked all the way over to his side.
"Hello," she said awkwardly.
"Oh, Princess!" he called surprised. "I'm so sorry I didn't see you."
"It's okay," Harry replied with a small laugh.
Terrance quickly stood up and pulled Harry's chair out for her. Once she was seated, he pushed it in for her too.
"You look stunning," he told her.
"Thank you," she replied as she watched him walk back to his seat. "You do too!"
Harry immediately regretted saying those words. She was certain no boy wanted to be called stunning as a compliment. Why couldn't she have said the word great or nice? Anything would've been better than copying him. She felt her face burning from embarrassment. As Harry fought her inner self, Terrance attempted to talk with her about the menu. After speaking for a couple of seconds and not hearing a response, he got louder and asked, "Are you okay, Princess?"
"Huh?" she asked even louder. Her volume made a few heads turn. "Oh," she said much quieter, "Yes, I'm fine." She looked around at all of the people. It was pretty busy in the little place. "Um," she squeaked.
"Yes?" asked Terrance as he lowered his menu.
"Umm . . . can you maybe not refer to me as 'Princess' while we're here? Just Harry will do."
"Hmm . . . I don't know about that," chuckled Terrance with a grin. "Your brother will probably get mad at me if he knew that I called you informally."
"He doesn't have to know," Harry replied quickly. It's true; he didn't. Harry didn't even tell him or her father about her date. "It'll be like a secret."
"A secret, you say?" Terrance's smile grew. "That'll be fun! I always wanted to have a secret with the princess-I mean Harry."
Harry was satisfied. She had always wanted to hear Terrance call her by name like he did with Kahil. It always made her feel like she wasn't part of their group whenever they were together. Terrance was so casual with her brother, but he wasn't with her. Even if Kahil made him do it, she still didn't like it.
"Should I still call you the same as well?" she asked.
"Of course," Terrance answered. "That's something I don't want to be changed."
"Okay, then."
After thoroughly examining the menu, Harry and Terrance decided to both get sandwiches, juice, and maybe some dessert for later. Harry had expected ordinary sandwiches to come out, but of course, they had to look just as refined as the people that came in to eat them.
"W-wow," Harry said.
"I've never had the sandwiches here before," said Terrance.
The two of them tried it, and while they weren't bad, they also weren't as good as they could've been.
"These are pretty good," Terrance remarked. "What do you think, Harry?"
Harry wanted to comment that they were okay, not that good, but still okay, but Terrance seemed so content that she didn't want to tell him the truth. She smiled and said the first thing that popped into her mind. "They're sophisticated."
Terrance laughed, "Yeah, they are, aren't they?"
After a few more bites, she heard Terrance mutter, "For such a fancy place, I expected something a little better."
Harry was so surprised by his words that she nearly dropped her glass. He didn't like the food either.
Terrance leaned close to Harry and whispered, "Hey Harry, do you want to go somewhere else?"
Harry didn't want to sound ungrateful, but since he was offering . . .
"Yes."
Terrance put the money on the table, and the two hurried out of the stuffy restaurant. They walked quite a ways away from it before Terrance let out a loud laugh and asked, "That place wasn't good, was it?"
Finally, now she could be honest. "No," Harry answered. "It wasn't."
They looked at each other both erupting into laughter as they walked towards the marketplace.
"I'm sorry it was so bad," said Terrance after their giggling fit.
"No," Harry replied. "It's not your fault. Coming from such a fancy restaurant I expected something . . ."
"Better?"
"Yes."
The two tried to hold in their laughter again, but they both failed and laughed aloud as they walked onwards.
They eventually stopped once they were in the middle of the marketplace, and they realized they had no set destination.
"Still," Terrance said. "It's such a shame. You got all dressed up and everything." He motioned at Harry's attire.
"It's okay," she replied. She wasn't the one who put in all the effort anyway.
"No, it isn't," said Terrance sternly.
"It isn't?" Harry asked confused.
"After getting all dressed up to come out and meet me, I need to at least give you a good time."
"You don't have to."
"I do."
"Then." Harry looked around at where they were. "Let's just look around the marketplace."
"Is that what you want to do?" Terrance asked.
"Yes," Harry answered.
"Then, let's do it."
The two walked around for hours talking and occasionally stopping to buy some sweets or small nicknacks. They were able to learn a lot about each other. Terrance had told her a lot about his life when he was a child. It certainly seemed to have had its ups and downs.
Harry told him a little about her childhood, too. She tried her best to omit the parts about her being a former commoner. She didn't know how he would react to finding out about her background, and she didn't want to know.
Soon, noon began to end, and with it was Harry's first date. Terrance found her a comfortable carriage to take her back. They would be going on their own ways.
Before he helped her in, he asked her, "Did you have fun today?"
Harry thought about her answer for a moment. At the beginning, she didn't, but after leaving the restaurant, the day had gotten funner. "Yes," she answered cheerfully. It wasn't a lie; it was the truth. She ended up having a lot of fun with Terrance. As she got in the carriage and it started off, she thought about them going out like this again. She would have to ask Terrance for a second date.
- Writer
