thє run, thє chαsє {PAFP} thє cαtch, thє rαcє

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Evelyn smiled as she ran her fingers through her long golden waves. She loved to let her hair hang loose, always keeping it soft and well brushed. She hated how tangled it could get beneath her black cloak, but that was a luxury that had to be left behind when you live a life like hers. She turned away from her small mirror, looking around the house she occupied. It belonged to both she and her father. He was gone already, like normal.

She picked up the small sack that held her money, the reward for getting a job done. It was small, just a spy job really, but it offered enough to get her food for the next few days. Her father would be gone to the neighboring town, so she was on her own for a little while. She looked at the money, feeling now sorrow or guilt for the ways she got money. No, she had grown numb to that long ago. When you're the daughter of a band of thieves, you had to learn how to push all feeling aside to survive and prove you could pull your own weight. Being a girl in this business was hard enough, being the leader's daughter meant things were assumed to just be given to you. She hated being seen like this, and worked hard over the years to prove it.

Now she is their best thief. She smiled at her titles she had received in the kingdom. "Runner". "Black bandit". It amused her. However, today she was neither. She would simply be Evelyn Fray, a commoner girl who needed to by some food to eat. She laced the bag around her wrist and grabbed her everyday, simple, brown cloak to lay over her shoulders. Her black one was hidden away in the forest, used only for nighttime thieving. Fastening it around her neck, she stepped towards the door, smiling at the warmth of the sunlight.

Today would be an easy day, no jobs needed to get done. A little down time to relax and then she'd be back at it within a few days. For now, she would enjoy being the commoner girl. No one ever suspected anything.

Evelyn looked up when she heard a voice addressing her, her green gaze landing on a young man coming towards her on a black thoroughbred. She immediately recognized him as the Prince. She had been trained at a young age to know who he was and who worked for him. She was to always avoid being seen by him and them.

She bowed slightly, knowing she was not the bandit today. He would not know who she is. "Your Majesty," she said politely, standing up after her bow. "How can I be of service?" Her gaze scanned over him, quickly making sure of where his weapons would be if he had any. A good thief had an eye for danger. She needed to know in case this went down hill.

Evelyn felt a small thrill run through her at the mention of her little name, but kept her composure. Years of holding a double identity wasn't going to be waited at this moment. He was the Prince. Messing up would doom her for sure. She knew she would die for her crimes, but she wasn't about to die this soon.

She shook her head slightly, strands of her blonde waves moving along the edges of her face. "No, your highness," she said, "I have heard of the rumors, but I haven't seen this 'black bandit' or know anyone who has." She tilted her head slightly, deciding to humor herself with a bit of information. "Is she as dangerous as I've heard?"

It seemed her reputation was serving her well. No, she had never murdered anyone, and didnt plan to anytime soon. However, there we're plenty in her gang that had. That seemed to be plenty to cause people to fear without her getting her own hands dirty.

She nodded to the Prince. "I'll keep that in mind, "she told him and then looked to the horse behind him. "He's beautiful by the way." Evelyn had her own horse as well, though she remained at the hideout, hidden away. Evelyn went to visit as often as she could.

Evelyn chuckled softly as the horse reacted to his comments. Her own horse, Gypsy, would react to her own words sometimes. She looked between him and his horse, seeing that there was indeed a bond between them.

She nodded at his words. "Fitting for a horse such as himself," she said as she smiled gently. It felt odd that she was still talking to the prince. Thieves avoided royalty as much as possible. Hopefully, none from her gang were watching them now. She surely wouldn't hear the end of it from them. As if proving her worth wasn't hard enough.

Evelyn paused as she took in his words, her haze showing her surprise at the offer. "Your Highness is inviting a commoner like me?" She truly did find it odd, however, he was also proving to be a bit different from royals she had come to meet over the years. Yet, he still didnt know her identity. This could all change if who she really was came to be revealed.

"I am truly flattered," she said, offering a smile. No thief has ever been within the wall of the palace, at least not by open invitation. Those who have tried get too cocky too quick She knew this would certainly grow her reputation among those who served her father.

Evelyn grinned at his small confession and drew a breath. Why not? A chance to experience the palace, to atually possess two opposite double identies? Sounded like fun. Besides, no one would know who she was anyways. What's the harm?

"Well, I guess I will try to find something suitable to wear, "she said, though surprised she was accepting. Besides, what did she own that would be acceptable at a ball?

Evelyn watched as the young Prince rode away and then continued on her way to the shops around. She found herself wondering how the night of the ball would play out. It certainly would be interesting. She just hoped that her father would remain blind to her interaction today. No doubt he would have some words with her for speaking to royals.

Evelyn looked through her small basket as she counted all the things she had gathered. Fresh bread, cheese, thread, cloth. A decent buy for the money she had. Besides, that was all she really needed. Evelyn had this commitment to getting only what she needed when she needed it. Most thieves thought that way to a point, but Evelyn usually carried it further than most thieves.

She began to make her way back home when she noticed some movement beyond her, close to the woods near the road to her house. She lived towards the outskirts of town, privacy reasons of course. She watched carefully with her trained eye. Oh no... She noticed soon enough that it was one of the thieves of her group. They've noticed me...