After a long, yet short while, the carriage was finally fixed and ready to go. Liam and Pete did a few checks-up and everything was alright. While Leo sat on the log with the princess, the whole time when they were fixing the carriage. The princess was so comfortable with him, her head was leaning on his shoulder and Leo seemed really uncomfortable, very disturbed.
He was sitting there with his head fixed at Liam and Pete's location, his face begging them to free him from the princess. They noticed his facial expression and Pete called out to them.
"The carriage is fixed!"He yelled to them and the guard quickly stood up from his seat, which was another log since the princess didn't want to share her seat with him.
The princess did the same thing when Leo whispered to her about the carriage, she sprung up from her seat with no issue.
"Isn't the princess hurt?"Pete asked Liam when he saw her standing up without any support.
"Nope! She's just faking it!"Liam replied, forgetting about the stuff Leo told him to do, which was apologizing to the princess.
"But why would she do such a thing?"
"Well... It's a secret, she can't reveal."
"Oh...then, it's better if I don't know..."
They stopped their conversation when they heard Leo asking her about her ankle.
"Is your ankle not in pain anymore?"Leo asked, acting as if he believed her.
"Yes...just now my guard gave me a healing potion so I'm healed now."She said, still acting even though it was obvious she was lying because the guard confusedly looked at her.
She saw all their faces looking at her with doubt and she looked to the confused guard. She hissed at him and he flinched, then immediately regained himself back.
"Yes...Yeah, I did give her a healing potion!"He said as loud as possible for all of them to hear and hastily zoomed to the princess. He then guided her to the carriage. When she sat perfectly and comfortably in her seat, Leo walked to Liam.
"So?... Are you not going to...you know...apologize?"Leo asked and Liam glared at him.
"Why should I? You caught her lying red-handedly so? I don't need to say anything to her! She doesn't deserve it!"Liam exclaimed as he walked away, heading straight to the carriage.
Leo looked in his direction and sighed. Then, he noticed Pete, packing his stuff and he seemed ready to leave.
"Going already?"Leo asked him.
"Ya, I'm heading back home. Been out for too long, my family must be worried sick."Pete answered as he stood up from the ground while holding his bag with one arm.
"Oh, I see...Where do you live by the way? We can bring you there if it is in the path where we're heading."
"Thanks, well, I live in a town quite far from here. If you follow this path and meet a turning. Turn right and go forward and you will see it. Do you happen to go to that town?"
"Did you just say the town along this path?"
"Yes..."
"That's where we're heading to! Well, I guess you're going with us!"
"But...you have a princess in the carriage...Do you think she will agree?"
"Definitely! You help us after all! If not, I'll try to persuade her."
"Thanks!"
Pete and Leo walked side by side to the carriage and Leo opened the door for him.
"After you," He said and Pete entered.
"What is the meaning of this?!"The princess asked as she glared at Pete, who sat next to Liam.
"Your Highness," Leo said, he was still standing outside."He lives in the town where we're heading to, wouldn't it be nice to bring him there? He helped us after all."
The princess silently stared at him for some time before nodding, then turned to stare out the window. After seeing the princess's quick approval, Leo sighed in relief and entered. He sat next to the princess since that was the only seat there and the princess flinched.
"Is anything alright, Your Highness?"Leo asked, her reaction was extremely obvious.
"No, Nothing!"She replied quite loudly and rushy like she was nervous.
"Alright..."Leo nodded and turned his head to look at Liam and Pete with his head tilted in confusion at the princess's reaction.
Liam saw him and shrugged while Pete didn't do anything but smile, peacefully like he was just happy to be here. Then, silence filled the whole carriage like that time when they first set off the castle walls.
Leo stared out the window, he was exhausted by the early short trip to get their material. His eyes slowly shut down as he tried his best not to but soon he failed and tiredness overtook him.
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When he woke up, the carriage stopped, he knew they were already there but something was off. He saw Liam and Pete with his tired eyes and for some reason, they looked shocked. They were looking at him without saying anything.
While another strange thing was that he wasn't by the window side if he was, wouldn't his first sight be the outside world? He felt something warm on the side he was lying on, which was his cheek. He turned his head to look up and a golden strained of hair landed on his face. He was stunned for a second before realizing where he was. The princess was supposed to be on his right and he was lying on the exact same place where the princess was sitting.
He hastily withdrew himself back to the window, his tired eyes were replaced with shock and surprise. He then looked back and saw the princess was still looking out the window like when they set off, she seemed unbothered.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness!"He quickly apologized when he came back to sense.
The princess didn't reply and only stared out the window as if she didn't hear him. Seeing this, he switched his location back to Liam and Pete.
"Are we there yet?"He asked and both of them flinched.
"Ya..."Liam replied when he snapped out of his stunned state."We're waiting for the guards to let us in. He's on it."
Liam pointed to the front seat behind him and Leo saw the guard talking at the gate with another guard. They chatted for some time before the big iron gate opened.
After that, the princess's guard ran back to the carriage and sat back on his driver's seat. Then, the carriage began to move again, it entered the town and stopped, then, turned right.
"We're here, Your Highness."The guard said as he turned around to look at all of them.
The princess did a small nod and Leo pushed open the door. Bright sunlight shone into the carriage, which caused Leo to blink a few times. When he got used to the light, he saw a gorgeous red carpet standing in front of him, leading them(definitely the princess) to a huge handsome castle.
There were guards at all corners and beside the red carpet while dozens of people stood behind the guards, excitedly, awaiting the princess. Leo came down the carriage followed by Liam and Pete and finally the princess. All of them looked calm except for Liam, whose mouth was hanging wide open.
After the princess came down the carriage gracefully, she held her head high as her heels stepped on the red carpet. She then walked elegantly along it while the three boys followed behind.
After walking a few steps, the guard soon joined them, he was marching behind the princess, sticking to her the closest while the rest stood behind both of them with a small distance.
They walked as all the town folks cheered while the town's guards tried their best to block them, away from the princess. After walking for a couple of minutes, Liam began to feel bored especially how slow the princess was walking.
Even a turtle could catch up. He thought as he looked at Leo.
"When will this end?"Liam asked him in a whisper, which caught Leo off guard a little but soon he regained himself.
"Don't be like this...It's only a couple of minutes..."Leo whispered back while Pete saw them talking and got curious.
"What are you two talking about?"Pete joined in their conversation.
"Nothing..."Leo replied but then Liam pushed him away.
"It's so boring! And the princess is so slow!"He said, annoyed.
"Come on, don't be so rude," Pete said while Leo sprung back in.
"Ya...don't be so mean..."
"Fine..."Liam stopped his whining and continued to follow.
After some time, they were finally standing in front of another royal family. There was an old couple and a teen standing before them. The crowds were still screaming until the king raised his hand and silenced them all. Liam bet the King and Queen were the ones that were wearing luxurious big diamond crowns. While the teen that stood in front of them must be their son, their prince. He was quite charming with his blonde hair and his two blue ocean eyes, so serene and calm like the ocean with soothing waves.
"Greetings, milady."He greeted her with a kiss on her hand but the princess showed no interest."It's an honor to have you in our town. How long will you stay here?"
"Oh...well...one night and tomorrow I'll go back."She said without a second thought.
"Why should a beauty like you leave so early?"
"Because there's no reason for me to stay."
After the prince heard her reply he sighed but soon continued with the conversation.
"You're just like how the rumored say..."He said with a disappointed look."You have an angel's face but a bad attitude..."
"You Say What?!"The princess yelled back, her voice was ferocious like a lion's roar. She had resisted his confidential smugness and soothed flirting but this was way out of the line.
Leo quickly pulled the princess away, who seemed like she wanted to rip him in half while the prince's parents stepped in front of their boy.
"How dare you speak to the princess like that?!"The princess's guard said, he was standing behind Leo, who was holding the princess.
"Apologise for our son. He's not having a good day today."The King stepped in and said while his son was obediently hiding behind him with his hand crossed."He has a lot of paperwork and lessons today."
"That is still not an excuse to-" He was cut off by the princess.
"It's alright..."She spoke, calmly as she turned to glare at the prince's eyes."I'll be leaving this place today.Goodbye."
She flicked her hair as she turned around but was stopped by Pete.
"Your Highness, couldn't you at least stay here for a day?"Pete nervously said as he confronted the princess."You must be tired from your trip, right?"
"I will not stay here!"She yelled back and Pete flinched."This place is a totally disrespectful bunch. I will repeat myself again. I will not stay here!"
When she finished her obviously stated refusal, another person stopped her again and it was Leo this time.
"Your Highness, let's give this place another chance."He pursued and the princess stared at him, silently without objection."If you dislike the idea, at least let us stay here for the night. Everyone is tired from the trip and I know you are too...so, what do you say?"
The princess after hearing his prince charming's words, she immediately turned around, facing back at the royal family.
"I have decided to give you a chance."She raised her head, showing dominance."I will stay here for a day and that's it!"
She glared back at the prince with rage while the prince stared back at her and gave a playful smug, which set the princess in flames.
She then turned back to the red carpet and to the guards at the side.
"Where is your town's inn?! Do you not know how to treat a guest?!"She shouted and one of the town folks popped out to reply to her.
"I'll assist you to my inn."A gentle and soft voice said, which caught everyone's attention.
She was a gorgeous lady with black hair, her eyes were brown like most of the common folks. She walked in front of the guard, which made way for her to pass.
"Yes, yes...you bring her there."The King suddenly added in and said to the lady. Then, to the princess."She is our best here."
"I hope it is as good as what you all say, if not, I'll be right out of there!"
The princess then turned to Leo with her always emotionless expression but Leo and Liam could see that she was looking at Leo with a somewhat proud face, waiting for him to praise her.
Leo noticed her expression and sighed, which made the princess tilt her head a little. He then smiled at her and the princess hastily turned her head away. Leo next turned to Liam and both of them chuckled while the guard and Pete confusedly looked at their sudden reaction.
After a while, all of them followed the lady to their one-night inn.