Billionaire's Hidden Princess by Alegna Ciee (most popular novels txt) 📖

Voluminous waves of light caramel brown hair, a pair of dark chocolate orbs, and a pale complexion – these lovely features were the first things that came into view as soon as Livius decided to snap back to reality and gather his cool once more. 

Busted by the girl he’d been tailing around for months, he was too emotionally devastated to pay any attention to the spectating crowd around him. He was benumbed all over. 

He could hear the chatters that sprawled all around the café. He could feel the swarm of prying eyes that were directed to him – mocking him, taking pity, and coming up with prejudiced assumptions. 

That’s until this dainty-framed brunette suddenly came into picture. 

Livius was caught off guard for a moment.

He never thought someone would approach him, and even offered him a towel. But then, all he could do was stare at her, too astounded to give a reply. 

After all, nobody really did this much for him in the past – not with such a plain, lousy appearance that just seemed to repel others and keep them from getting involved with some loser like him. 

"U-Ummm... Sir?"   

But then, she still went as far as asking him if he wanted to be taught how to wash clothes. Not only that, he could tell that she was so nervous that she’s stuttering. 

At such a surprising yet amusing sight, he can’t help but chuckle to himself. 

The brunette pauses the instant she sees him make a ghost of a smile. It’s faint, but she’s sure she heard him let out a small laugh all of the sudden. 

“Eya! What are you doing?” 

“Oh, Nessy...” 

Another brunette with sapphire blue eyes approaches the two of them out of nowhere. She looks a bit worried and baffled as she makes her way to her companion. He supposes that it’s because she talked to a shady-looking stranger like him. 

Then again, that kind of reaction is expected, and he also has the same question. He's a little curious about her real intentions here. If anything, she’s just probably taking pity in him like most others. 

“You can go ahead, Nessy. You still have classes, right? I’ll stay here for a while.” 

Yet once more, she strikes him dumbfounded. The side glance that she gave him while she was saying that was enough sign that he’s the reason why. 

Her friend seems to be taken aback as well, and that’s when she drops a revelation that makes him doubt his previous assumption about her merely taking pity. 

“Are you sure, Eya? Will you be okay? You're not really good with people, right?” 

Not good - which means she’s actually bad at dealing with others. Now, Livius has an idea why she’s stammering earlier. 

“Y-Yeah, I-I’ll be fine...” 

And even when she’s still stumbling with her words, she chose to stay and keep him company for a while longer.  

A moment later after her companion left, the two of them find themselves sharing a table at the same café. She asked for only a short amount of time, knowing that he couldn’t possibly stay in that filthy clothing for too long. 

“M-My name’s L-Leticia, by the way... A-And umm... This will be q-quick! I-I'll just tell you how to get rid of that coffee stain...” she started once more, visibly jittery. 

Too nonplussed by her true reason for inviting him over, Livius only blinks at her and fails to recall that he hasn’t really introduced himself yet – nor did he say any proper greeting to mark their first meeting. 

Heck, he didn’t even thank her yet. 

“You mean... To wash clothes?” was the most brilliant response he has thought of using as his first words to her – a sarcastic note to himself. 

“Y-Yeah...? Oh, wait... Did you not say you want to know?” 

“Huh?” 

At that, the two of them only exchange puzzled looks, gears turning in their heads. Once they finally remember their conversation earlier, and that he never really said anything to her yet, awkward silence only stretches between them - 

She seriously thought that he accepted her offer to tell him how to do his laundry. 

That’s when she blushes fiercely. 

At the sight of her burning face turning crimson in embarrassment, Livius can’t hold back his laughter anymore. He then finally bursts out in a fit of chortles, which came out like a melodious tune to her ears for some reason. 

She only arched her brows in surprise, astounded by the sight of his beaming frame. 

“You’re a cute girl...” 

Now, it only took ten mere seconds for her. 

...eight, nine, ten. 

And she knew she fell in love at that unexpected, mirthful display of his.