THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

Chapter 5

Beverly's POV

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He was so handsome. The magical creatures in this kingdom are the most beautiful species ever but this guy in front of me was over the top. However, I was scared.

I stepped backwards, "Who are you?"

"Um, hi. Sorry to startle you. I'm Asher, nice to meet you", he said as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. His voice could shake a mountain, that's how deep it was. His eyes are the deepest green I have ever seen, I could drown in them. His hair was curly and very dark as the night. He was so tall, he could pass as about 6'7ft. He had the aura of a commoner but this voice and body language say otherwise. His hands were still stretched but I didn't shake him as I was very wary of him. He doesn't look like he is from around here.

"She's Beverly", Star said.

"You can speak to unicorns?", we both asked at the same time.

"Um, yes. My mother could speak to them, so I guess I inherited it from her. It is quite rare for us commoners to speak to unicorns so I like to hide it", he explained.

"Oh", was all I said." What are you doing here?"

"Um, I got lost. I was wandering around as it is quite late and I saw Star, so I asked her for directions and she led me here", he responded.

"You are not from around here. I would know. Who are you? What are you? What are you doing here this late?", I asked as I kept walking backwards. Star might have saved him but I don't trust him. He isn't from here, I know all the commoners in this kingdom because one way or the other, they will pass by my store. He could be a spy for all I know.

"As I said earlier, I'm Asher, a Triton( commonly known as merman nowadays). I am from the Fish kingdom, I came here with my friends earlier today to buy some enchanting unicorn dust, but we lost each other. You don't have to be scared, I really mean no harm", he stated. I believed him even though it sounds foolish. Mermen and mermaids can turn their tails to legs when they are on land so I don't doubt him, also there are many mermen and mermaids in Fish kingdom as the kingdom is majorly surrounded by water- about 80%. The kingdom is basically for water creatures and dwellers. Also, the fact that they came here to buy unicorn dust is also believable. Unicorns only dwell in this kingdom and their horn dust is quite powerful, it can be used for so many things. Only the Royals sell them. So, his story is believable

"Oh, okay, I believe you", I said, I noticed he sighed once I said that, "however, how are we going to find your friends? It is very dangerous here at night, especially for foreigners, because the night dwellers come out"

"I...", he began when suddenly, the leaves began to move. I moved backwards thinking the night creatures have found us. During all the introduction, Star had left. Asher moved towards the tree when suddenly, three men emerged, well more like fell out. I was about to run when one of them spoke.

"Asher, where have you being?", he looked a little bit like Asher.

"We looked everywhere for you", another one with brown hair said. He looked playful.

"We were worried sick", the last one said. He had blue hair. He looked like the observer.

I looked at Asher, "Um guys, you found me. Sorry, I got lost and I kept wandering around when it suddenly became late. A unicorn led me here", he began to explain to his friends. "Guys, this is Beverly. She was just about to help me look for you guys"

I smiled, "Beverly, these are my friends, Aiden( the one that looked like Asher), Steve( playful looking) and Collins(observer)"

"Hi", they all said.

"By the way, I'm his cousin, not just his friend", Aiden said with a smile.

I laughed, "It's nice to meet you. Though, I already noticed the resemblance between you two"

"But, I'm hotter, right?", Aiden said with a smirk. I laughed out as the rest of his friends rolled their eyes while Collins smacked him behind his head.

I pulled my cloak off my head since I felt I could trust them. They all had their mouths wide opened. I am quite used to that reaction. It has been like that all my life. Most people just gawked. Most times, that's why men come to my store. They don't just come to buy pies or clothes, they are also there to stare at my face. I know I am quite beautiful, but seeing Asher react the same way makes me feel different. I have always hated it when people stare at me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and awkward and I just want to yell at them to stop. However, Aiden looking at me that way, like I am the most beautiful thing alive, makes me happy. It sends butterflies to my stomach.

Asher is very attractive, I won't deny it. His eyes look like they have stories to tell. Like they have seen a lot of things. Though we have only shared a few words, he sounded very wise like he had always done a lot of speaking. Even though the clothes, he has on, his muscles are very obvious and they look well defined. His lips are very pink and heart-shaped and they well calling out to me. This is very strange. I have never felt this way to anyone, especially towards a stranger that I just met about 20 minutes ago. I am always around attractive men. I mean, come on, many very attractive Nobles have come to me before but I have never felt this way towards any of them. I feel drawn into his eyes, like they are calling me, pulling me in, sucking my soul. It is very weird and strange.

But I like it.

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Asher's POV:

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OH MY GOD.

That is exactly what is going through my head as I stare at her. I found her beautiful before because only part of her face was obvious. But the moment she took off her cloak/veil, I felt the life being sucked out of me. Literally.

When Star had pushed me out at first, her deep pink eyes had drawn me in. I didn't know what to say to her. I was very nervous and scared and I didn't know what to say. So when she kept asking who I was, I came up with the quickest lie ever. Well, it wasn't completely a lie: I did come with my friends. I knew she was going to believe my story of me being a Triton from Fish kingdom, who came to buy unicorn dust. The fish kingdom is known for its large population of water creatures and dwellers. The last time Aiden, Steve, Collins and I went there with my dad for a meeting, we were very surprised by the amount of water there: we literally had to use a boat to get to the king's palace. Everywhere we looked, we could see the different types of fishes, mermaids, mermen, hippocampus( which are half-horses and half-fishes. And they happen to be the symbol of the kingdom) etc. There were few houses as most of the populations were water creatures and they sometimes prefer to sleep underwater. Some of the few houses they have, however, we built on water.

Looking at Beverly, she was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I could feel my heart beating fast as I took in her appearance. She was about 5'8, with the longest, curliest and darkest hair I have ever seen. Her eyes were the deepest pink ever. She also had small and very pink lips. She was very curvy, with the right amount of curves in the right place. Through her dress, I could see the outline of her wide hips and tiny waist. Even though she was dressed in a very plain and boring dress, she still managed to look like a very beautiful princess. When she heard my friends ad I had lost each other, she showed that she was really worried. When three of them fell out of the bush, which I know must have been a result of them eavesdropping and pushing each other, she looked startled but relieved when she realized who they were.

"Where are you guys going to stay?", she asked, as she brought me out of my thought.

"What?", I asked.

"You said you are from the Fish kingdom. It is quite late now and very dangerous. I don't think you will be able to return tonight. So you must have a place to stay", she said as she looked around like she was waiting for someone to attack. The four of us looked at each other. We seemed clueless as to how to respond to her.

"Um, we didn't really know we would stay out this late. We thought we would just come, get what we want and return." Aiden answered.

She looked very worried at that, "Oh. I would have taken you guys back to my house. Though my parents won't mind, two of my friends will, if they see you the next morning. They are very protective of me. They act like my brothers", she said with a bright smile.

Seeing her react this way as she speaks about other men, stirs a feeling of jealously in me. This really surprised me, as I have never felt jealous.

"You don't have to worry. We'll figure something out", Steve said to her.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "I could take four of you to their house. The two of them stay together. They are ex-protectors and now warriors. I'm sure you'll be safe there". The four of us looked at each other in alarm. If they are really warriors, they would recognize us in an instant and our cover would be blown.

"Oh, no-no. Don't bother. Besides, guys, do you remember Williams, the one I told you about who moved here after he fell in love with a fairy? I'm sure he wouldn't mind us staying for the night and if we can't find his house, we can always sleep inside the river. We are Tritons after all", Collins said quickly.

"Are you sure? Don't you think it's unsafe for you guys to wander around here in the dark without knowing where you are going? Unicorn and Dragon kingdom is very huge, your friend might be anywhere", she said with a frown. She doesn't know us yet, she is extremely worried about us.

"I'm sure we'll be fine, Beverly", Aiden said with his charming smile.

She sighed, "Okay, if you say so. Did you guys have anything to eat tonight? You must be starving, seeing you spent the whole afternoon looking for each other. If you don't mind, I can hurry over to my house to get something for you guys".

"Oh no. Please do not bother. We are fine. I'm sure when we find Williams' house, he will offer us something to eat", I said not wanting to stress her.

"Okay, do you know anything that can lead you to his house?", she asked. I quickly shared a look with the guys.

"Um, in one of the messages he sent to me through an Aurai, he mentioned that he lived close to a Blue river", Collins quickly said.

"Oh, that's great. I can take you there. I will actually have to go through the blue river to get home", she said as she put the cloak over her head again.

"Thank you", we all said as she began to lead the way.

"Why are you covering your face by the way?", Aiden suddenly asked.

"I don't want Mike and James, the ex-protectors/warriors, to see me. They get worried very easily when it comes to me. They will be furious if they found out I snuck out this late." she explained.

"It's quite weird you have protectors as friends", Steve stated as he looked at her." I heard they don't hang around us commoners"

"Yeah, I know. It's quite weird. I'm also friends with a fire Noble", she said as she stopped walking. The four of us shared a look at the information. "This is the blue river. I hope you find your way"

Se began to walk away when I stopped her, "Wait, can we meet again tomorrow by the green river, same time?" I wasn't even thinking when I asked her that.

She looked at me shyly and nodded with a tiny smile and left.