After a few minutes of walking and chatting about the competition, Leo and Liam would soon join, they reached the carriage.
"So what competition do you think we will have? Like battling?Cooking?Or maybe puzzles?"Leo asked, excitedly as he thought about the challenges, they soon would have.
"I don't think cooking will be in the competition..."Liam said, shaking his head."It seemed like a too easy challenge to give you a powerful pet. Just imagine the judge tastes your food and loves it, then gives you a rare and one-in-a-million kind animal."
"...Now that you say it. Yeah, who would give an exquisite pet just from cooking...Then, what do you- Oh the princess...Why is she there?"Leo stopped his conversation when he saw the princess sitting on a wood log, her golden hair shining brightly under the sunlight.
They still were just a few steps away from the carriage so why was she there? Why was she apart from them...and why a distance? Did they know she was gone?
Leo immediately dashed to the princess not wasting a second, the princess turned to look at him, revealing her ocean-blue eyes. She as usual was wearing an expressionless face, who knows what she was thinking at this time?
"Leo..."She whispered without showing a single emotion but the corner of her mouth lifted up a bit.
"Your Highness!"Leo said, panicking slightly."Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be with them?"
"I...I just wanted a little stroll...Can't I?"She replied, her eyes never looked into Leo's. She was looking away from them as if she didn't care about them but to Liam, he knew exactly how she was feeling, she was just too embarrassed to admit that she was waiting or searching for Leo, worried perhaps.
"Do they know you're out alone? If they knew shouldn't one of them go with you?"
The princess stayed silent, she didn't reply to him or look at him as if she didn't hear him. Luckily, the person she was talking to was Leo, or else if it was Liam, he wouldn't just stand there and let her be the boss.
"Let's head back," Liam said without a care for the princess."She wants a morning stroll, so? We shouldn't disturb her. We need to bring the materials back, remember? ASAP."
"Right, Ya, Let's go," Leo answered and turned to the princess."I'll be taking my leave then, Your Highness."
He did a small and gentlemanly bow and turned away from the princess, facing back in the direction they were going before this. Before he was able to move, a soft, warm hand grabbed him by the wrist.
"Wait!"He even heard the owner of the hand yell, it was the princess.
"Yes?"Leo turned back to her."Do you want to follow us back?"
"Yes!"She shouted and soon realized her unprofessional tone. She quickly switched back to her usual calm voice."Yes...I would like to..."
"Alright, let's all head back together."Leo said as he held out his hand in front of the princess while smiling, gently."Need a hand?"
Her face was blushing red as she quickly turned away from him, she didn't dare to stare at him in the eye as she knew she was blushing as red as a tomato. Even though she was shy, she still took her prince charming's hand. Leo then pulled her up and she lost her balance from the sudden force. Her cheek once again landed on Leo's warm, muscular chest.
She pushed herself away when she realized where she landed, she could feel her cheeks burning. She then suddenly groaned and sat back on the log again.
"Ouch!"She yelled and rubbed her ankle.
"Is something wrong, Your Highness?"Leo asked as he immediately squatted down to check the place where she covered with her hand."Are you hurt here?"
"Yes...I guess I sprained it when I was strolling the place."She said, pitiful as tears began to fill her eyes.
"Can you let me see it?"
The princess drew away her hand and Leo carefully lifted her foot to look at it.
"It... doesn't seem swollen..."Leo said, uncertainly.
"I knew it!"Liam yelled as he thought.
I know she is not injured, how can a royalty be so calm when they are hurt? They must be screaming and ordering for the servants to help them, not patiently sitting there to wait for someone to help them. She just wants to trick Leo into helping her, to get closer to him. What a waste of time...
"No, it is not!"The princess yelled back, even though it was obvious who was losing this fight."Umm...It's just...It's like this because I just got it..."
Leo obviously knew that was a lie but couldn't say anything about it.
"...Oh...ok...Let's get you back to the carriage and patch you back up. Can you still walk?"
"I'll try..."
She stood up, stumbled and fell on Leo again.
"I can't...It hurts too much..."
Liam tsk, annoyingly as he watched the princess's acting show.While Leo, who was dealing with the princess, made a quiet sigh and held her in his arms like a prince holding his princess. (just like in fairy tales)
The princess held Leo, tightly around his neck so that both of their faces were close to each other.
"Go, "The princess ordered and both of them began to walk back to the carriage in silence.
After making a few more turns, they were there, arrived back at the carriage. The two boys, Pete and the guard weren't at their post. They were supposed to try and fix the wheel but they were not there and instead, they were behind the bushes as if they were finding something.
"Looking for her?"Liam yelled before Leo could say anything.
Both of them looked back and saw the princess in Leo's arms.
"Your Highness!"The guard yelled with a relieved sigh afterward.
He jogged to her and Pete went back to what he was supposed to do, fix the wheel.
"Where have you been, Your Highness?"He asked and Leo and Liam answered at the same time.
"Going for a stroll, "They both said and Liam continued."She broke her ankle."
"What?!"
"Sprained it! I sprained it, not break it!"The princess corrected as she glared at him.
"Ya, Ya. It's the same..."Liam said, annoyed as he walked to Pete.
He squatted down and handed Pete the bag of nails and screws. Leo, who was still holding the princess sighed as he placed her down on a log, which they used to sleep yesterday.
"I'm sorry for my partner's attitude..."He apologized to the princess."I don't know what happened to him today, his usually not like this..."
"He spoke rudely to the princess!"The guard said, irritatedly."He must be punished!"
"It's alright, "The princess suddenly said with no anger in her eyes, which shocked the guard.
"But Your Highness-"
"No Buts! You are my guard and you listen to me!"
"Yes...Your Highness..."The guard said with his head lowered to the ground, like a sad puppy looking at the ground when it does something bad."Can I check your injury, Your Highness?"
"You may...Move along now, Leo."She ordered, softly with no force as her attention switched from the guard to him.
"I will be with Pete. If anything happens, please call me."Leo bowed down and heard her reply"I will."
He gave a gentle and warm smile before leaving the two of them and joined up with Liam and Pete.
"So? How is the wheel?"Leo asked Pete before deciding to ask Liam about his attitude.
"Oh...It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I just have to do a few more steps and check it for a while and you will be on the road again in no time."He answered, casually and friendlier to Leo compared to yesterday.
"That's good to hear and can I borrow Liam for a sec?"He asked as he placed his hand on Liam's shoulder.
"Sure, I don't need him for the time being."
"Thanks!"
Leo pulled Liam to the side and before he could even say something Liam spoke first.
"What? Are you going to talk about how rude I am to the princess?"Liam said with a face full of confidence as he had predicted what Leo was about to say.
"How do you know? No, is that even something you should be proud of?"Leo talked back, his voice for some reason wasn't in an angry tone but just his usual tone, his face did show a little seriousness though.
"Well, I don't think I need to apologize for that since you saw it too, she faked her sprained ankle...or did you really fall for it?"He replied, shamelessly with no care for anyone's feelings, even for a royalty.
"I know...I know she faked it but she is still a high-ranking person. We can't just say anything we want, it could cost our lives if she dislikes it."
"I know...it's just...I can't forget the story my mother told me...you know about the knights..."
"Yes...I remember but still, like I said not all royalties are bad, it's just some of them. Don't let your emotions get in the way of seeing everyone as bad people. See, you accepted me into your life, right? And look where it brings you now."
Liam stared at Leo as he said all the comforting words to him. He was smiling, gently, which made Liam want to cry but he didn't, he held his tears in.
"Please, apologize to her later...I don't want our journey to end so quickly, we still have a lot ahead of us, different places, food and creatures we haven't met yet. I don't want anything to get in the way of our adventure."
"Ya..."
"Well then," Leo said as he patted his shoulder again."I'll go check on the princess again. I hope you remember my words."
Leo walked away and toward the princess while Liam went back to the carriage as he felt a little happiness in his heart.
A friend...I got a friend! Is this what having a friend is? All of my village folks saw me like I was crazy...but he, when all the people talk bad about me. He stayed...he didn't leave instead he wanted to be my friend...my partner. He even cares about me like no one did except my mom before she died. He's really one-of-a-kind, now I get why the princess loves him...I'm glad I accepted him into my life...
He squatted down and helped Pete with the rest of his work with a smile on his face.