The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 25 - 23: Their First Date (III).

Chapter 25: Chapter 23: Their First Date (III).

Chapter 23: Their First Date (III).

Rowan feels like her whole heart is being a little too happy when the princess accepts her invitation for a date.

The flowers were planned but the date was a surprise even to herself.

Moments before, when she was talking to King Aswold about his daughter he mentioned that Princess Camille has always been a little ambitious when it comes to matters outside of the palace.

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A few hours before in King Aswold’s office.

===

...

"You would always see her staring at the windows in her free time just to take a look at the city scape down below." (King Aswold) drinks his tea recalling the times that his daughter would question the most random things, her gaze would go onto the lower outskirts of the city. "It’s a shame that she’ll leave without properly experiencing it. She’s either invited to go out to parties but I could tell that’s not where she wanted to be."

"She wanted to go down into the city but I couldn’t allow her to. Who knows what might happen if she’s not careful? Even with the most trained guards it’s better to be safe than suddenly hearing your daughter is gone."

Rowan decided then and there that she’ll tour around the capital city to show the princess the joys of common life. She asked for permission and the King with another surprise agreed saying, "If it’s you then I have no doubt my daughter will be safe. Make sure to bring her back before sundown. That is my only condition."

...

"Hey- how are you holding up? Nervous for your first date?" (Jonathan) slides in closer with his white imperial horse, named Snowy the Destroyer.

He held the reins tight, glancing at the princess who seemed to be admiring the view in the carriage windows. The city people were also one to turn their heads upon the carriage with the royal emblem embedded on the side door, their curiosity piqued.

"Isn’t that a carriage meant for the royal family?" A woman tending her bakery asks a man that was a regular at buying bread.

Anyone who owned that kind of horse breed was either someone from the military, noble or a wealthy merchant.

The man places a hand on his chin, wondering as well. The carriage looks heavily guarded. "Could it be that one of the princes is going to go shopping again?"

"Oh dear, it’s a sight to see." A young woman who was walking around the streets saw Rowan and took out her fan gossiping with her companion. "That young woman with bright red hair seems so handsome. She’s wearing a war medal in her uniform! That’s meant for the heroes in our kingdom- could it be?!"

"Based on the hair, build and the news that the crimson general is visiting the palace perhaps that it is her in the flesh!" Her friend wanted to get close, but alas it seemed that the young woman had a much more important priority than mingling with other women.

"My cousin works as a servant in the palace, when she got home last time she told me that General Rowan Bonheur was given a reward to choose any of the royal princes she liked!" A middle-aged woman wipes the sweat off of her brow as she organizes the vegetable she was selling.

The whole stand was forming an audience just gossiping about the royal family and the young crimson general. "Gasp! And so who did she choose?!"

"She chose the eldest princess! And what’s even more surprising is that Princess Camille renounced her title to be next in line for the throne, she’s no longer the crown princess!" The vegetable stand over preached.

Everyone gasped, how ludicrous choosing for the general to choose another woman to marry!

"I thought those were just rumors but to hear it from an actual source..." An old man thought it was none of their business, but it’s just hard not wanting to dig up more about royal family gossip.

Everyone was taking a good look at the Crimson General as she rode her horse around the city.

"..."

Jonathan and Rowan were usually used to stares like these but ever since Rowan became continental famous...

"We’re almost at drop off. Did you think this date through?" (Jonathan) asks, looking around.

"I have... I wanted to just follow the princess wherever she wanted to go and accompany her. I don’t know my way into the capital city." (Rowan) thought she could just wing it like she always does.

Jonathan sighs, smacking his forehead and realizing it’s up to him to save his food friend. "It’s a good thing you have me then buddy. I scouted Polma city the past two days when you left me and found some of the best views that’d be perfect for some romantic alone time."

"But remember she’s a princess- the royal guards that were given to us won’t easily leave you two alone I think." (Jonathan) whispers.

The royal guards overheard what they were saying and honestly, he was right.

"I know... I don’t really care about us having a romantic alone time. I just want her to be happy, freely exploring the city she admires. Because I know what it means to be stuck in a house feeling the days go by with nothing to do but your usual repeated tasks." It all hits closer to home, the Voclain family household had her on a tight leash. It was only when the crown princess saved her that night did she muster up the strength to break her cycle and bravely asked the head knight to take her in a squire.

"It’s only when I enlisted in the military that I got to travel and met some amazing people. I hope for her to experience the same joy that I felt."

"Aw... that’s so romantic, General Rowan. I’m almost blushing. I wish I had a fiancé who supports me traveling wherever I like and brings me flowers just to make my day uwu." (Jonathan) makes a dumb face, raising his eyebrows teasingly making Rowan laugh.

"Shut up man." (Rowan) laughs a few more before noticing the sign for carriage parking.

"Ah drop off is here. Let’s get your princess out, General." (Jonathan) gets down parking his horse, Snowy the Destroyer and ties his reins into a pole.

"Mm." (Rowan) does the same. Comforting black beauty first before telling her to behave, she gets down and wipes her hands with a handkerchief before reaching for the carriage door.

Clack!

The door opens and the princess takes a step out.

"Princess Camille." (Rowan) offers her hand to the princess who was amazed by all that she was seeing.

"This... is my city?" The city smelled of life raw and unfiltered. She was too mesmerized by what lay before her.

The towering gates had opened to reveal a world she’d only glimpsed from the castle’s high windows. The streets were alive, a restless tide of people moving with purpose and chaos.

"Hey! Come get some apple pies that my wife baked this morning for only three silver coins a piece!" A baker shows his pies to potential buyers, giving them a little taste. "My wife is an amazing cook!"

"Can I get two slices for five silvers?" Men shouted over each other as they bargained in the market stalls.

Clank!

"Hmph!" A butcher waved his cleaver, his apron streaked with red as he barked at a boy trying to swipe a scrap of meat.

Nearby, a cart full of hay tipped dangerously to one side, spilling golden stalks into the road as its driver cursed. "Watch where you’re going!"

Princess Camille wrinkled her nose. The air was thick with odors- baking bread, acrid smoke from blacksmith forges, and the sour tang of waste.

She had never imagined life could be so... loud. A troupe of children dashed past her, their bare feet slapping against the stones.

"The last one to the fountain is a rotten egg!"

"No fair, I have really short legs! Hahaha!" One of them paused, staring up at her with wide, curious eyes before darting off again with a shriek of laughter. No one else seemed to notice her fine dress, the embroidered silks of her skirts catching the sunlight like spilled gold.

It wasn’t just the noise and the smells that stunned her, it was the sheer closeness of it all. Buildings leaned toward each other as if conspiring, their timber frames blackened with soot and age. Laundry lines stretched overhead, sagging under the weight of patched shirts and worn linens. A woman leaned out of a second-story window, shouting down at a man who seemed to be ignoring her entirely.

She’d grown up with sweeping halls and quiet gardens, a world of order and refinement. Here, the city pulsed with a vitality she hadn’t known existed, and it made her feel small, like a visitor in someone else’s story.

Japan’s... was also different.

’As expected of the European medieval fantasy setting of the Otome game. This world... is beautiful.’ (Princess Camille) looks around some more, her feet dragging her body unconsciously.

The sound of a church bell echoed from somewhere deeper in the city, followed by a distant cheer. The people were celebrating something, she couldn’t help but follow those cheers to see what they were all about.

"A church..." She sees at the distance where the church is, a woman and a man celebrating their marriage as the bride throws her bouquet of white roses.

"Congratulations on getting married!" The crowd clapped as the newly married couple rode their rented carriage.

Princess Camille’s eyes shined brightly after seeing a rare marriage happening that day, she couldn’t help but look over to Rowan who was also looking at the princess.

Rowan could tell from the princess’ look that she was happy. The general gave her a small, knowing smile. "This is your kingdom, Your Highness. The one we only ever see from above."

For the first time, Princess Camille felt the distance between her and her people and how much she had missed by living behind stone walls.