The school Anise attends is prepared to start the second class. She is eating lunch under a tree while she waits for the bell to ring.
Leo is running towards the entrance and he sees her immediately. As he takes a breath he realizes that the girl shouldn't be seen taken by him. He needs to kidnap her so that Victor's plan will work.
There are many students outside playing. His mission seems impossible.
Anise packs her box where she had her lunch and heads to the entrance of the school.
Leo is gritting his teeth. How will he catch her if she goes inside?
He walks in a hurry with his hat covering his eyes inside the building. The students seem busy with their conversation and he enters unseen by them.
Anise is taking a right turn and Leo is preparing to do that too but a woman in her forty's is coming out of nowhere in front of him. He stops at the right corner and stares at the madam.
"May I ask what's your name? "The woman's voice is a little pitch as she looks over her glasses. Leo was taller than her.
"Hmm…I am visiting the school. My name is Mark Stanley." Leo grins and makes a small bow. He stretches his hand waiting for the woman to hand hers.
With a small kiss on her hand, the woman looks more favorable towards the boy. "Let me give you a tour! I am sure you will like our school. Maybe you can apply even now, it has been only a few weeks since the school started." She grabs him by the elbow and drags him around the school.
Leo looks panicked back as the woman just dragged him past Anise who enters her classroom.
'Damn this woman…. that's why I hate school ….' His thoughts are not visible on his face. He smiles at the woman who is explaining to him how he can enroll in the school.
'Dear Mark, I hope you had a good time visiting our school. I need to go to my class so, let me see you later in my class if you want to enroll." She hugs the boy and leaves him in front of her class as she enters it.
Leo waves at her and sighs after she is out of his sight. Now what?
Anise is in the classroom and he can't show his face there.
As he was preparing to leave and go down the stairs, Anise got out of the class and came towards him.
Her face is smiling." I knew I saw you …What are you doing here?" She holds her dress as both go down the stairs.
"I will explain to you in a minute but now, I need to to help me kidnap you." His face is serious and she stops from walking.
"How can I help you? "She giggles thinking that it must be a joke.
"Hmm…turn around." Leo smiles and waits for the girl to turn around.
When she is with her back toward him, Leo hits her nape causing her to faint. He catches her in his arms and carries her like a princess.
With big steps he walks out of school, then careful to not be seen he walks near the walls till he reaches the back of the school. A small forest is before him.
"Perfect …" He mumbles as he gets lost in the forest. No one saw them.
Good thing he knew the village like his right palm. Now he just has to cross the forest and his house will be there.
After a few minutes, Anise opens her eyes. She sees Leo's face and for a minute she thinks about how did she got in his arms.
"You awake?" He looks at her and smirks playfully.
"…How…no …I mean why am I in your arms? "Her thoughts were as tangled as she spoke.
"I made you faint …." Leo is looking in front of him so that the brunches that were on the ground would not make him fall.
Anise is flinching when she realizes that she can walk on her own. "You can let me down! Bet your arms are tired …" She wants to get down…
"You were not that heavy …. You are a feather compared to Ilona." He laughs and lets her down.
Anise is smiling and bushing at the same time. Something about this man made her wish that she was the one in his mind. She knows that he was having feelings for her sister. Maybe she has to stop herself from falling for Leo …. She feels that she might fall if she doesn't stop herself.
"How I wish I knew if Ilona is fine …" Anise mumbles but Leo hears it. He stiffens and he frowns. Should he tell the girl about her sister or should he make her faint again till he is on the road towards the village Victor guided him to.
"Hey, can you promise to do exactly what I tell you ?....no matter how much you will hate it?" He looks at her as they stroll the forest.
"Depends …I can promise as long as you have a good reason." Anise glances at him and she sees him smile.
'Good …. I will not have to make her faint …..' Leo takes a breath and stories her what Victor told him.
Anise listens silently while she follows Leo. He turns to see her face and he stops from talking. Her face is paralyzed and he can see tears forming in her eyes.
"Victor …the prince will save her …. I can guarantee!" Leo whispers as if he tries to make himself believe it too.
"She never told me that she goes to the army …. she never went to the army …." Her words are said with pain and she looks him in the eyes.
"There are many things she did but you don't have to know them. You …like me …we have to support her. Come here!" Leo opens his arms and hugs the girl who starts to cry. His head rests on her head as she buries her face in his chest.
After she calmed down, Anise pushed his a little and her eyes met his.
"Leo …thanks for what you are doing for me. Ilona did many things to ensure my well-being and I didn't know all she did for me. "She stops a little and continues," I hate to see her getting hurt because of me always and …. I don't wish to see you getting hurt either."
Anise wipes her tears and as a last word she says, "I can go alone there."
Leo listens to her and part of him knows how she feels. Ilona was the same to him. The girl treated Anise and him with the same care.
"You know, you can go alone but, this time allow me to do my job. I was the same as you are now. I wanted to do something for Ilona. But, she never let or tell me her all secrets. This time is my chance to show her that I will protect her through you till the end. So, let's both protect her in our way. "Leo smiles and puts her hat on her head.
"Why do I think that Victor protects her more than both of us? …this makes me a little angry …" Anise mumbles but Leo hears and laughs. He lifts a little the hat to see the girl sulking. Her face has a cute frown and her cheeks have a faint blush while her nose and eyes are red from the crying.
"Glad someone is feeling the same way as I do! We sure are similar …" The boy giggles and puts his hand on the hat that is on her head." We can't lose to Victor! "He glares and his wicked smile makes Anise frown too.
"Let's do it! Let's go into that village and let Ilona heal without having to worry for me. After that, we will save her from Victor ...Hmmm…we can kidnap her?" Her hand is supporting her chin as she thinks.
"Hahahaha! Good! We will kidnap her! "
Their laughs fill the forest while they stride towards Leo's house.
…..
Victor is going back and forth in front of the house. His worry rises the more time passes and the carriage is not yet. After his calculations, the carriage should have been here by now.
Two horses are stopping in front of the house. Victor looks and sighs.
"Your majesty! Are you in good health? "One of the knights is unmounting. The other is unmounting too.
Victor frowns." What do you mean?" Both of the knights are in front of him.
"We thought the horse run wild, Your Majesty."
'Stupid …. good thing they are stupid ….' Victor is ready to say something but stops when the carriage is seen in the distance.