A lady pushed open the door and all of them walked in one by one. The inn was quite big but seemed a little old, which made the princess dislike it a little. It was clean but not completely, they could see some of the corners on the walls and floors were dusty.
The princess, who knew it wouldn't be that good but still had high expectations for it, felt disgusted by the filthiness of the lobby. She didn't even need to step into the rooms to know the result of her choice. She was about to dash out of the place but she was stopped when she heard Leo talking to Liam about the place.
"This place is quite neat, to be honest," He said, which shocked the princess. (How could he think it's neat here?! She thought)"Even though it's a little dirty and messy but it's big and somehow gives off a friendly vibe. You know what I mean?"
"Yup, I felt that too when I entered."Liam replied but the princess didn't give much thought to his opinion."This must be the biggest inn I ever go to."
"There are more huge places."He said and Liam yelled 'Really?!' as Leo spoke but Leo didn't say anything and continued his talk." than this but since you like it. Let's stay here for the night."
"We can?"
"Yup! But I need to ask for the princess's approval first. Wait for me...Princess!"Leo shouted when he turned his head around and saw the princess.
He was shocked as he didn't see her, walking past them while they were talking. Both of them silently stared at each other for a second before the princess looked at the lady, who was the inn owner.
"I'm...I'm pleased with how spot...spotless the inn is..."She forced the words out of her mouth so as not to disappoint the love of her life."I want...want to stay here for the night..."
"Thank you, Your Highness! It is a pleasure having you here! I will give you the best room!"She thanked, cheerfully as she clapped her hands together and bowed in front of her.
Then, she ran to the inn's counter, which they saw was empty. She went to the festival and no one was there to guard the inn? All of them thought but their thoughts threw away when they heard her call someone.
"Dad!"She yelled when she placed her hands on the counter."We have guests! And by that, very important guests! Give me the room keys for the special room."
An old man sat up from his chair and a book fell down to the floor, they guessed he might have fallen asleep with a book on his face. He then slowly moved to a cabinet, his action seemed wobbly and tired, he must still be extremely sleepy.
The old man then came back to the counter and as he was about to place them down, the lady snatched it. She then held them up while the shiny silver keys dangled in her hand.
"Thanks, Dad!"She said before turning her attention back to them."I'll take you to your rooms. Follow me."
She walked into a corridor and climbed up a wooden ladder, they all thought it was just a joke before she called out to them.
"What are you waiting for? Up here!"She called them and shook her hand as if she thought they didn't see her but definitely they did.
"You want us to climb that?"Leo asked as he could feel a heavy hatred aura coming from his side, which was the princess.
"Yes!What else! I said I will take you to your room, so I am."The lady yelled loudly as if they were standing some miles away from each other.
"Do you expect me to climb that?!"The princess shouted she had enough of this nonsense."This is ridiculous!"
She stomped her feet and turned around, facing the door. As she was about to step out, she saw Leo standing next to her. She peeked at him and noticed him yawning.
Seeing the love of her life so tired, she decided to endure it and faced back to the lady. The lady was looking at her with a worried and nervous expression, waiting for her reply. Even with her worried face, she still looked beautiful and dazzling.
"What are you waiting for?!"The princess forced herself to continue.
Immediately, the lady's face lit up as she yelled "Yes! Please follow me!"She then held her hand out, waiting for the princess to reach for it.
Silence, silence was her only reply, she didn't go to the lady and only stood still at her place until Leo pushed her.
"Princess? Are you alright?"He said, gently, his hand was about to place on her shoulder like he always does to Liam whenever he thinks Liam was having a hard time, but stopped in mid-air. Then, withdrew.
The princess looked at him in his eyes and saw his deep eyebags as they were so obvious under his flaming red eyes.
"Fine! I'm fine...I just didn't know how to climb it..."The princess admitted, which shocked all the people who knew her personality, including Liam.
Even after she admitted, Leo smiled, softly, not showing the slightest shock in his face.
"I'll help you!"He said as he reached out his hand, seeing his kind gesture, gentle words and his charming smile, the princess couldn't help but feel fluttered.
She was stunned by his handsome image even though it was ruined by his eye bags but she didn't care, he was charming as ever. She didn't respond to him for some time before Leo spoke"Princess?"
It snapped her out of her daydreaming and she hastily responded.
"Yes!Yes...thank you..."She blabbered out randomly as she held his hand, she even thanked him, forgetting about her pride.
Leo's eyes widened a little, flabbergasted but soon calmed again.
"You're welcome."He responded.
He pulled the princess and walked closer to the ladder. The guard didn't say anything about it since he knew if he interrupted what the princess wanted, he would yet again be scolded by the princess. While Liam and Pete didn't show any reaction at all.
But the next action that Leo did shocked them all, he hugged the princess in his arms when he reached the ladder, then grabbed her from below her armpits and held her up. He held her like he was holding a cat and placed her close to the ladder, where she could grabbed the steps but she didn't. (maybe because of Leo's sudden action and she couldn't process what had happened yet)
"How can you hold the princess like that?! In such a disrespectful way!"The guard yelled, he was the first one to come back to sense after witnessing the scene.
"Do not yell at him!"The princess demanded, when she heard him scold Leo, she didn't even think of the situation she was in."He is only trying to help me!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for defending me. But can you please hold onto the ladder?"Leo disrupted her, his hands were shaking from exhaustion and it seemed like he was about to drop her.
The princess obediently held onto the steps, she didn't seem to mind how he rushed her but someone was not happy about it. And that was the guard.
"Are you saying Your Highness is heavy?!"He asked, mad or upset about how he insulted her. Even though he didn't.
"No! That's not what I mean!"Leo immediately defended."I'm just...tired...tired from the trip..."
The guard was about to open his mouth again when Liam covered his mouth.
"What's wrong with you?"He whispered, which all of them couldn't hear and continued what they were doing."Can't you see he is trying to help?"
"Yeah..."Pete joined their conversation, he was the only one who heard them since they were standing close to one another."He's trying to help even when he's tired-"
"Hey! What are you lots chatting about?!"A feminine voice called out to them.
They turned around and saw the princess, she was finally up on the second floor while Leo, who helped her was climbing up the ladder. After a few seconds when Leo reached the top, Liam and the guard approached the ladder. Liam was glaring at the guard and the guard returned it by glaring at him as well.
"Aren't you coming, Pete?"Leo asked and both the guard and Liam turned around.
Pete was standing where he was, not moving an inch.
"Oh, I'm not staying with you all. Like I said, this place is my home. My families are probably worried about me, I better head back."He said, sadly, he seemed like he didn't want to leave them but needed to.
It had only been a day since they got to know each other but somehow that one day managed to attach them all together.
Is it because of Leo's friendly magnet? Liam thought.
"I see, that's depressing...if possible let's meet tomorrow.Bye~"Leo waved at him and all of them followed while Pete bid farewell and left the inn.
He disappeared behind the door and all of them continued what they were doing. Liam climbed up the ladder and after that followed by the guard. When they reached the top, the lady began to move and all of them followed behind her.
She led them into a serene and deserted hallway, it was dim and their only light source was the opening where they climbed up. Even though it was dark, she didn't stop or bring out a lamb but instead, she kept going deeper and deeper, dragging them further into darkness.
"How long are we going to keep walking?!"The princess complained."We've been walking for hours!"
"Don't exaggerate, "Liam blocked back."We've only walked for just a few minutes. And here you are making a fuss about it."
"You little-"The princess wanted to tell back but was stopped by Leo and the guard.
"How dare you insult the princess?!"The guard yelled, offended by Liam's rudeness.
"Everyone, calm down!"Leo said as he stopped and stood in the middle between them with his hand held at their chest level, trying to stop everyone from causing chaos.
They both yelled and said at the same time so it was confusing for all of them to hear. Seeing all their confused faces, Leo repeated.
"Everyone, calm down...We don't need to fight, alright? We're here to rest for a night, just...let it go...please?"
All of them glared at each other then switched their view away, only the guard was still glaring at Liam. Leo sighed then, turned around and saw the lady, standing in the dark, waiting for them. He then dashed to her and apologized.
"Sorry for their behavior...They can be hard to cooperate sometimes..."He said as he looked at the still-angry group."Shall we continue?"
"Sure! Guess you're the leader here, huh?"She asked as they continued walking.
"Huh?!No, no...I'm no leader."Leo yelled, shocked but soon lowered his voice."Well, me and Liam are partners while the princess...It's a long story but simply put it, we just so happen to go to the same town. So...here we are protecting the princess."
"I see..."She chuckled, which made Leo confused."But why are you so nervous about the leader question?"
"Well..."Leo scratched the back of his neck as he spoke."It's just that I don't want to be a leader...I heard a lot of people suggest that I should be one but...I don't want to. I would rather be a side..."
"Oh, you're so cute even with such a handsome face like that."She complimented as she wrapped her hands around his arm.
Leo flinched and backed away a little from shocked. But when he did the lady only stuck closer to him. Liam and the guard stared flabbergasted at the scene while the princess stomped her feet and walked toward the lady and Leo.
"So, what he said was true..."Liam mumbled while the guard looked at him.
"What's true?"The guard asked, his eyes quickly switched back to the scene in front of them.
"Nothing, just watch the show."
"How dare you touch him?!"She shouted loudly as if she was stealing her man from miles away even though they were just there with her."Let go of him right now!"
The princess pushed the lady's hands away from Leo but she didn't let go instead she held on tighter.
"So what if I don't want to?"She said, smugly."You're not in love with him, are you?"
The princess wanted to yell back 'What if I am?!' but she couldn't as she remembered her identity as a princess. She went silent but luckily a voice saved her from defeat.
"What's going on up there?!"It sounded like an old man's voice."Why are there yelling noises?"
The lady hastily let go of Leo and a person appeared from the trap door. It was the lady's father.
"Is everything alright here?"He asked when he saw everyone standing in the middle of the dark corridor.
"Yes, everything's alright! Go sit back down, you shouldn't be standing up for too long."The lady replied, politely and worriedly.
"I heard shouting here though..."
"It's nothing! You must be hearing things!"
"I clearly heard some voices here, I must see how our guests are doing."
"You don't have to, dad. I'll do it later but first, you must go back to your seat...Wait there, I'll come help you."
She then looked at Leo and the princess then handed them the keys.
"Go to the very back of the corridor and you will see two doors, those will be your rooms."She told them then, ran down the corridor, to the trap door.
Silence filled the hall until Leo cleared the air.
"Well...You heard the lady! Let's go!"He said, happily and led them down the dark corridor.
The atmosphere was much lighter since all four people knew each other. After walking for a few minutes, they finally reached the end.
"I guess these are our rooms."He said as he reached to open the door with the keys.
When he unlocked the door, he pushed it open and switched on the lights. After staying in the dark for so long, definitely, all of them were blinded by the lights.
After blinking a few times, getting used to the lights, they saw a king-size bed in the middle of the room. It was quite stunning with its bright red blanket, like a royalty's bed. (At least to Liam and Leo that is...)
"Wait..."Suddenly the guard said."Don't tell me both rooms are like this!"
"I hope not..."Liam added.
Leo then opened the other room and it was the same. But the color of the mattress was gold.
"Oh no! How are we going to sleep?!"The guard asked while looking at everyone demanding them to answer.
"I don't know..."Liam and Leo replied but then someone voiced out.
"You two sleep together while Leo and I will stay in the other."The princess suggested, excitedly as she pointed from both of them and to Leo.
"Huh?!"The three men yelled. then, switched into two, which was Liam and the guard."No way! I'm not staying with this guy!"
"It's either this or I'm taking the bed all to myself."The princess said without giving them much of a choice while awaiting Leo's answer.
"I'll stay with you-"Leo wanted to say but was cut off by Liam.
"No way! I ain't letting you do whatever she wants!"Liam disagreed and the princess felt her heart sank in disappointment. Then, for some reason, Liam pointed at the guard."And you! You stay with the princess if she disagrees. I don't give a shit, you're staying outside then. Come on, Leo."
He pulled Leo by the wrist and entered the room with the gold mattress.