"But then you don't get to see their faces when they realize that they are absolutely helpless to stop you from doing these things." Javaid laughed.
He was faintly surprised that the woman, Kira, didn't try to leave. After all, he was a strange man in a dark cloak. But then again, these country people were much more trusting than those in the castle.
Eira wanted to say that some people had expectations to uphold, but stopped herself. A real commoner wouldn't say that, would she? She wouldn't have a kingdom on her shoulders if she weren't a princess. "I suppose you're right," she agreed reluctantly. "But consider this, making it look like someone else did that. Then you get the helpless expressions but not the blame." She grinned mischievously.
"That wouldn't work for me," Jav said with a snort. "I've already built up such a reputation that they just know that it was me, instinctively. Like they have a sixth Jav sense or something." He grinned. He wondered if she had realized who he was. It was long known that the eldest prince of the kingdom was a rogue, but she must not have. Maybe she just thought that he was just another mischievous guy.
Something about this guy seemed familiar, but Eira couldn’t quite place it. She shrugged it off. Jav probably reminded her of one of the stable boys. There were a few troublemakers, and it was well known around her family’s castle that most of the stable boys were somewhat rascals.
“You must have been making trouble your entire life, then,” she teased lightly. “You clearly deserve your reputation as a troublemaker. There are other joys in life besides stirring up trouble, you know.”
"There are?" Jav laughed. "Well, whatever they are, I have yet to discover them. I hope they have less consequences, though. I don't think I could bear to hear yet another lecture." He remembered his fiance's high pitched, shrill voice, scolding him, and winced. He really didn't want to see her ever again.
Eira giggled before seeing the look on his face. “Well, there’s good food, spending time with good people, good books…” she listed, trying to think of things. “Oh, and also, singing and dancing. Those are both heaps of fun and I can’t imagine you’d get in trouble for singing or dancing.”
"Dancing?!" Javaid shrieked, sounding horrified, although laughs started to explode from him. He managed to get ahold of himself and shook his head, chuckling. "I tried both singing and dancing. And I'm absolutely awful at them. And my dance instructor was a hag."