Earlier...At Noon...
Where is he? Did they fake about coming back? How can they do such a thing?!
The princess thought as she stared out the carriage's window while biting her nail.
Are they not trustworthy like what my guards said? No...It can't be...He won't do such a thing to a beautiful princess like me, right? It will be a waste if he did...Such handsome sculpture face...and those buff and thick arms...I bet he looks good without clothes too...
She thought, dreamily for a while before seeing two silhouettes coming out of the forest.
Two people...It must be him! He's back!
She saw them, walking toward the carriage. She excitedly tidied her dress and sat, mannerly in her seat. Until she saw his face, she panicked, she suddenly thought about him, about his body, erotically.
Did...Did I just think about his...his body like that?!
She covered her face in embarrassment as her face flushed red. She peeked at him through her closed hands and saw his stunning face covered with his sweats. Some were dripping down from his chin and into his clothes, which made the princess sink into her seat as it was too alluring to watch. She was going to lose her mind if she continued.
She noticed both of them were talking while approaching her carriage, she didn't know what to do, she was panicking all over as her brain failed to think as he approached closer and closer. As they reached her doorstep, she unknowingly pushed open the door. When she knew what had happened she quickly acted as if everything was normal.
"You're late..."She said as she looked at him, her heart thumping, wildly in her chest.
Am I doing well? Saying this... does it make me feel like I care?*she was screaming in her mind*
Suddenly, a sound snapped her out of her thoughts.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness!"She heard a gorgeous voice say.
Her attention drew to the voice and saw her charming man.
His voice...She thought as she felt her heart fluttered. I don't remember his voice sounding so...so out of this world!
She peeked at him again and saw him still bowing in front of her.
Is he not coming in? Why is he standing outside? Should I call him to? I think I should...but how?! I'll try to not sound mean...
"What are you waiting for? We're already late, get on."She said as she proudly think, I did great.
Leo looked up to her and she was screaming in her heart. She couldn't stand him staring at her, it always made her feel like her heart was going to stop any minute from his determined, flaming gaze.
He walked closer to the carriage and she excitedly waited inside until he unexpectedly said.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness...I can't enter this carriage..."
"What?!"She splattered out the word before she could even stop herself.
She felt her heart sink as she stared, thunderstruck by his sudden speech. Then, she noticed all of them were looking at her with shocked eyes and that was when she noticed what she did. She quickly returned to her former self.
"Why?"She said as she forced herself through her aching heart.
"Our bags are wet...We just washed them by the river since they were really dirty...We can't make a mess in your carriage, Your Highness."
She looked at him, her heart began to flutter again.
Did he refuse because he care? He cares about me! My statues! I knew he is not the kind of person to go back on his words!
Invisible hearts were floating above her head as she stared at him, dreamily. Then, she remembered about their trip, their romantic date.
"...Don't waste any more time now. Throw them in the front, the driver's seat."She hastily said as she waited for him to hop in the carriage.
She saw him reach out his hand to the black-haired kid, which she just noticed he was there all this time. The kid gave him, his bag and other items, which he was carrying. After taking all his stuff, the majestic man walked to the front and began to do his arrangement job. She stared, dreamily at him.
How can he be so handsome? His flaming hair is like a burning fire, his eyes burning with determination. She sighed, will I survive this trip with such a hotty?
She heard a murmuring sound next to her but she ignored it, she was admiring his one-of-a-kind face. After some time, he walked away from there and to the carriage's door. The princess quickly sat up straight while her head faced the front, she didn't look at him because she wanted to look professional in front of him. (Make him feel like she is hard to chase)
She sat there for quite some time but didn't hear a step up the door nor the carriage shook from the weight when they enter. She looked at the door and saw both of them talking to each other. She couldn't make out what they were saying but the only thing she knew was they were standing rather close to one another.
She caught them peeking at her and suddenly the black hair kid pulled her sweetheart down to him and whispered in his ear. She felt her whole body burning with rage as she yelled.
"What are you two doing?!"She gripped a handful of her light pink dress in her hands while having a painful throb in her heart.
"What are you standing there for? Get in! You have already wasted enough time."She turned her head away to the window as she felt her heart shattered, she even wondered if he preferred boys rather than girls.
She sat there with a mixture of anger and sadness, you could say it was more of jealousy. She suddenly felt the carriage shake and noticed someone was sitting across from her. She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes and saw her prince charming sitting there.
She felt her cheeks burning up as his legs touched hers. The carriage began to move as her thoughts flowed in her head.
Did he just touch my legs with his?! She thought while a ton of romantic sceneries began to pop up in her mind. Did he do it on purpose?! Did I mistake him for being homosexual? Well...now that I think about it they are quite close like who would want to help their friends in the presence of a royalty, which they know would lose their life in an instant...Now that I think about it...I don't know his name...Should I ask? Would that make me seem like I care?...No...since we're going on a journey together, it's only normal for us to get to know each other.
"What is your name?" she asked him, feeling a sense of nervousness.
"Pardon?"Her prince charming answered.
She noticed he didn't hear her and hastily turned away as dozens of embarrassed thoughts floated through her mind.
Did he not hear it?! That's so embarrassing! It must have confused him so much...I knew I shouldn't have asked but it's too late to go back now...
She forced open her mouth again and repeated her question while feeling her face burning up.
"I asked what is your name?"
"Oh...sorry, I didn't hear that, Your Highness. My name is Leo and this is my friend Liam."
The princess stared back at him with shock, she expected him to not answer.
Leo...his name's Leo...Such...Such a strong and manly name! His mother sure knows how to give a good name, especially to someone like him.
She suddenly heard a sigh, which snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked to where the sound was made and saw Liam. He looked back and the princess quickly looked away.
Who does he think he is? Does he think I stared at him because I love him? Well, if he thinks so, he better throw that thoughts away. I will never like him, I already have someone I love right in front of me-
The carriage unexpectedly shook, insanely and the princess lost her balance. She fell and hit something hard and warm and something gentle and warm pushed her into a hug from behind.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"She heard someone ask.
She looked up and met eyes with Leo, he was looking at her with a worried expression written on his face. The princess was stunned for a while before realizing what she just did.
She hastily sat up, back to her seat and stared out the window. She was blushing so obviously that she had to cover her face with her hand. Then, she muttered.
"I'm fine..."
She was not hurt but her heart and mind were. They were about to explode.
Did I just lie on his chest? It was so warm, so...muscular!And his grasp was so gentle!*she screamed in her heart again*I think I gonna faint...Will he ask me to marry him next?... Wait! No, no! This is not the time to think about this! Get yourself together, girl.
When she finally regained back to her current state, she looked out to the driver's seat and yelled.
"What's going on out there?! Can't you even drive well?!"
The guard looked back at her with a scared expression, knowing he had made the princess furious.
"Sorry, Your Highness..."He replied, his voice trembling a bit."The road was a bit uneven...I'm sorry for not giving you a warning beforehand..."
"You better be!"The princess yelled as she stared back to the window while feeling a sudden anger in her heart.
That damn brat! Why did they let him drive me to town? Letting a newbie!
Unexpectedly, the carriage shook again but just for a second.
What is it again?! She thought as he heard Leo and Liam ask each other."What was that?"
"What is that?!"She yelled and the guard for some reason had the nerve to ignore her question and hastily dashed to the back.
After some time, the guard suddenly opened their door.
"What is the meaning of this?!"The princess yelled and the guard flinched.
"Sorry, Your Highness...Something happened to our back wheel...The wheel broke when we were going on the hideous road."The guard quickly answered with his head down, not facing the princess, which made her more mad.
"Huh?!"She yelled with a sense of disappointment that his father hired such a guard."Did you not check the wheels before we left?! What is this wood made of?! Trash material?!"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness!"He quickly bowed down.
Why did my father even hire you?! You...you worthless prick!
As the princess was about to shout at him even more, Leo stepped in.
"It's alright, Your Highness..."He said with a calm voice as he stared into her eyes."There's no need to panic. I know a thing or two about carts, let me see what I can do about it..."
The princess soon relax by his soothing words and nodded, knowing she was in good hands. She watched Leo climb out of the carriage and hopped down next to the guard and proceed to follow him to the back.
After a long while, they appeared again.
"How was it?"She heard Liam ask, she thought he had gone down with them.
It's pretty bad..."She heard his sweetheart reply and she soon glared at the guard, who was standing, timidly behind Leo."But...We can still fix it but it won't be done till tomorrow..."
"What?!"The princess yelled in shock when she heard they have to stay here for a night.
Here in the middle of the night!No shelter and on the dirty ground with bugs and wild creatures around us, around me!
"I'm sorry to say this but it's true...we don't have enough material for it so we have to find some too...Is it alright with you? Your Highness?"
The princess saw his charming face and fell for it.
"Yes...Yes!"She replied while her dreamy thoughts began to flow in again.
Now that I think about it...if we arrive at the town sooner, wouldn't I never be able to see him again? They hopped on my carriage because my carriage is heading in the same direction where they wanted to go. I may as well just hope we meet a lot of accidents along the way just to be with him as long as possible. And now I get to lay under a tree with him tonight, watching the dozens stars hanging in the sky and the moon shining brightly. Such a romantic night!
She let her imagination run wild as the boys began to plan.
After some time, the carriage shook, snapping her out of her romantic imagination. She turned to the door and saw Liam, sitting back to his ordinary place. She looked out the window and saw no one outside, no Leo and not even her personal failure of a guard.
She turned back to Liam, finally decided to look at him and realized his existence.
"Where are they?"She asked, rudely.
"Finding material...Your Highness."He replied in a rude tone as well, which pissed her off.
"Do you know how to speak to a royalty?! How dare you use such a tone to me! Leo is far better than you!"
"Ya, I know, "Still with his rude tone."I even know your little affection for him..."
"What?!"The princess yelled, her heart beating hurriedly in her chest.
"Yup," Liam said with a smile on his face, not a friendly one."Leo told me, he noticed your feelings when you asked him all those questions about his love life. And not even one question was about his identity, not even his name."
"So what?!What if you know about it?!"
"Nothing, to be honest...I'm just curious what you like about him."
"Why do you care so much then?! What if I like someone lowlife?! Do you have any feelings for him too?"
"Huh?!No, no. I just don't want you to kidnap him away when we reach the town. I need him on this adventure."
"For what?"
"None of your business...It's only between us. Oh, and don't worry, you're not in it. We have nothing to do with your place or family."
"Then, it's none of my business!"
"Well...I guess it's too late to say this but I'm here to protect you while they're gone."
The princess turned away, ignoring what he said and the carriage remained silent till nightfall.
After a few minutes, when they knew the three men out of the forest were Leo's group. Liam chatted with them and the princess silently watched them until they switched their attention to her. Leo approached her and stopped in front of the door with his hand out.
"Your Highness," He called her with a gentle smile."Can you please step out of the carriage? We'll leave by tomorrow and it won't be safe for you to sit in your carriage alone."
Her heart racing as she held out her hand to him, which made her feel like any other Disney princess found their one and only prince.
Ahhh!*she yelled in her heart*My dream finally becoming true, we're going to sit under a tree and watch the beautiful night sky...What is this?!
She stopped and her expectation dropped when she saw the dirty, muddy ground. All her dreams shattered as she felt disgusted by the ground. She immediately stared at his guard, expecting him to do something but he didn't.
"Do you expect me to step on this filthy ground?"She yelled out to him when she noticed he was too dumb to realize.
Why did they even assign this guy to take me on this journey?
"Sorry, Your Highness...But you have to-" She heard him say before she was lifted off the floor.
Her legs were dangling in mid-air as she was pulled into a princess hug. Her cheek landed on a familiar hard and warm object. When she looked up, she saw her prince in shining armor stared back at her, then switched his gaze back to the road. He walked as the princess stared at his charming face, his dazzling red hair and his ruby-red eyes shone in the dark.
It felt as if they were the only ones in this world before he landed her down onto a cloak. She was still staring at him until he asked.
"Is it better now? Your Highness?"
She instantly snapped back to reality and flushed. She turned her head away and covered half of her face, she didn't want to let him see her embarrassed face.
"I guess so..." She said and Leo smiled, which made her feel like she could fly.
Leo walked off but she didn't notice as her mind kept replaying what had happened earlier.