Chapter 41: Chapter XVIII Connections-2

"I want to try churros," I told him, making sure my hat was low and keeping my identity hidden. He laughed at my boldness. "Maybe not so late in the day. We'll get it at another site," he sounded amused, leading me to a fancy looking place. I could see the sun starting to set and realized how late it was getting. "Will we make it back to the palace?" I questioned, knowing that we drove an hour to get here form the palace. "I didn't think you would enjoy it here so much. The plan is that we eat dinner here and then we'll drive back and immediately retire. Does that sound okay to you?" I nodded, enjoying the smell of the place he took me to. It was a luxurious place and our outfits weren't really appropriate, but it didn't matter to us in the least. We were having fun and if we were outed here, then it would be fine really since we didn't plan on going anywhere afterwards. "So local Spaniard, what should I get?" I questioned him, our figures sitting at the back of the restaurant. "Try the croquetas," he answered, pointing to a dish on the menu. "It is the perfect local dish," I nodded and that was what I ordered. While we ate Alejandro told me the history of the San Fermín festival and how it came to be. Even after I heard it I still thought they were crazy. Deliberately running with bulls? Injuries were inevitable and yet these people called it a sport. They weren't right in the mind. Especially not their Prince. "And why are you going to take part?" I questioned, enjoying the Spanish dish that I didn't know I needed in my life until now. "It's comradeship. If the Prince takes part then it will only go to show the positive energy that the event sponsors. Also, I will be running for a goal," he told me, taking bites of his own food. Because this wasn't the palace we weren't as formal as we were brought up to be. "A goal? What? To impress all your fan girls?" I asked sarcastically, not feeling as awkward around him as when I first met him. I could now tease him without getting on his nerves. "Something like that," he chuckled, joking around. I looked around the restaurant, the diversity in people shocking. It was tourist time because of the festival, but to see so many nationalities together warmed my heart. I hoped that one day when I ruled, then I will be able to connect my country like this. I'm hoping to learn what people thought of the kingdom from another country, so that I can put forth the ideals and delete the discrimination. Well, that is my dream anyway. "Oh, I have been meaning to ask you but I felt it would be to be too weird if I asked you when I just met you," he stated, tasting at his drink before continuing. "A few weeks ago when you were 'outed' to the world, it wasn't under the best circumstances. You were really injured, and you're still wearing that brace. Are you okay to be here?" he asked, worry settled on his face. It made me almost feel giddy that he would worry like that for me. I nodded. "Yeah, my feet and hands healed up last week but my fracture is still taunting me. I can at least use cutlery now, but it stings really bad," I admitted, indicating to my covered arm. "Do you need it checked out?" I shook my head. "If it gets any worse I'll let you know," he nodded, trusting my intuition. "So what actually happened? Every news article said something different," I sighed a bit in annoyance. I didn't want to talk about this, but I guess the more I talk about it, the more I come to terms with it. "My boyfriend of three years cheated on me and I found out through my brothers' private investigator. I saw photos of them. I wasn't... in my right mind. So I hurt myself. Not deliberately, though. I went to confront him but I was stupid when I did it and didn't realize how bad I was hurting myself. I confronted him but he kept trying to dodge the question, so I punched him. He tried to fight back," Alejandro's brows furrowed deeply. "Did he hurt you?" "Physically? No. Emotionally? I'm still getting over that," I shook my head in annoyance. How long would it be before Caleb's actions leave me? How long will it be before I am free of him? "He was invited to the palace to sort everything out, but he made it worse. He blames me for everything," "How is that possible? You are the sweetest girl I've ever met," I blushed at his comment. "He says that I practically pressured him to continue dating me because I loved him. He didn't want to 'hurt' me. Too late for that, though," I had never disliked anyone as much as Caleb before in my life. "But you broke up, right?" I nodded in affirmation. "There's no way I'm clinging to someone who hurts me so much," "Did he know you were the Princess?" amusingly, I shook my head. "No. He looked so embarrassed when he learned about it, though," teaches him. I hope that Anna also leaves his sorry excuse, even if I didn't like her just as much. "Well, if I was your boyfriend, then I would treat you like the empress of the universe if I could. You deserve every piece of happiness that can come to you. You are a wonderful person with a great personality. He's a gilipollas," I nearly snorted up my drink at his comment. Wow, I had not expect that from the Prince. Still, I began to hilariously chuckle and he soon joined me. This was a man who's company I didn't mind one bit. "So, are you ready to go home?" he asked me, and I had to think for a second of where he was talking about. He must mean the Spanish palace. I nodded, excited to leave the public experience to return to my glorified solitude where my sense of security was resting well. Luckily no one had recognized either of us. In the car back, Alejandro brought up another topic. "So what happened to your purple hair?" "I don't even want to talk about it," he laughed at my tone, clearly seeing my irritation with the subject of my hair. "I liked it purple," he admitted. "Don't worry, you're not the only one,"