Juliana
We arrived home and to say I wasn't nervous was an understatement. I could tell me father was livid by what happen at the market. I went straight to the kitchen to start preparing dinner for the five of us.
"Jules do you need some help?" My brother startled me. I was cutting the vegetables and nearly cut my finger.
"That would be great Si. Can you start seasoning the meat." I just stood there cutting.. biting my bottom lip unsure of what to say.
"So the prince?" Silas said looking at me. "Have you heard the rumors?"
"I didn't even know he was the prince until today. He never told me that last night." I said the last part not realizing what I said until it was too late. I prayed Silas didn't catch what I said. I moved on to making the bread.
"You saw him last night? You didn't go to the meadow again! You know father hates it when you go there!" He screamed whisper but I could but feel all the blood leave my face. I felt light headed at the thought of father finding out.
"Shhhhhh." I panicked I didn't know what to do. "Si could you please not do this here. Let's finish and I promise I'll tell you everything later. Just don't tell father." I pleaded. Silas nodded then my heart sank to the floor when I heard his voice.
"Juliana, what are you hiding from me?" I could feel the anger in his words. I turned to see my father in the doorway of the kitchen. There was a knock on the door. Silas went to answer it but father was having a star off with me. I was terrified for what could happen next.
"May I tell you later since we have guest now." I whispers and was looking at my feet, tears threatened my eyes. Father walked closer to me and grabbed my chin to make me look him in the eyes and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. It could be from the pain cause by him holding my chin or the fact I was terrified that I would get the worst beating of my lifetime.
"This isn't over." He said shoving my face after he said those words.
Leo and his friend walked into the kitchen at this time. I was engulfed into a hug and Leo checking to see if I was okay. "Are you okay? What is wrong?" I shook my head.
"I need someone to set the table." I said choking back my sobs.
He simply nodded his head and started setting the table for five. He never once took his eyes off of me. His friend went to the sitting area with my father.
Silas stayed back with me and helped me finish cooking. It was more of me telling him what to do while I had a panic attack. "Don't let the meat sit too long on one side. The vegetables are going to burn if you don't stir them. Place the bread in the oven towards one of the cooler sides. You don't want it to burn the outside before it can cook the inside."
"I never new how difficult it was to actually do all the cooking." He said. I bet being in the royal army is easier than this.
"I rather fight than cook." Leo said from the corner of the room he was standing at. Silas and I jerked our heads in his direction. I had forgotten he was even in the room with us.
Silas smiled and said, "No kidding. I would rather do that too."
Leo got up and came to the middle of the kitchen. "Do you even know how to fight?"
Silas left the food and I jumped up to take over so nothing burned and then placed it all on the table. I didn't really want to get a beating for burnt food on top of the sneaking out I have to own up to later.
"You know, I always wanted to join the royal army, but father wouldn't let me after our mother passed." Silas finished his sentence and my jaw dropped. I had no idea he ever wanted to do that. I mean he was three years older than me. The earliest you could join the royal army is 18.
"Well it is never too late to join. If you want I could show you a few moves?" Leo offered.
"My lord, you don't have to do that." Silas said, but you could tell he really wanted to learn to fight.
"Please in private call me Leonardo. It would be no trouble at all." He said with a smile that seemed genuine. I couldn't help but smile too. This moment just felt so right. I didn't want it to end, but sadly dinner was ready.
I walked into the sitting room to see an intense stare off between my father and Leo's friend. "I hope I'm not interrupting but dinner is ready." I said it simply with as much confidence I could muster up. I didn't bother waiting for them to get up I turned around and came back to the table. Leo was standing behind a chair pulled out for me. I didn't sit yet. I simply stood in front of the chair and waited for everyone else. Leo sat at the head of the table with me to his right, Peter to his left, Silas sat next to me, and my father sat at the other end across from Leo.
"So, how did you two meet." Leo's friend ask with a sly smile. I could see my fathers face perk with interest with a hint of anger. I heard a low growl from next to me. I instinctively reached my hand out and touched Leo's arm. He looked down at my hand then into my eyes. I saw him relax and I began the story of how we met.