A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 22

Harry stared at Varian's back. She was wondering what he was thinking.

"Varian," she called.

She reached out to tap him, but before she could, Marcus grabbed her and hugged her.

"Our Princess is so kind!" he cheered.

"Alright, that's enough," said Cambrel as he pulled him off her. "Don't grab the princess like that."

"But," tested Marcus.

Cambrel glared at him.

"How can I not hug her?" he asked. "The princess is so kind! She reminds me of my nephew."

"Nephew?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Cambrel answered her. "Marcus comes from a family of five." he released Marcus, only for him to immediately invade Harry's personal space again.

"Mhm," he responded. "I have four nephews and three nieces." He rubbed Harry's head. "My second nephew is a lot like you, Princess. He's your age!"

"Really?" she asked.

Cambrel took Marcus's hand off of her head. "Yeah," he answered while fighting Cambrel's grasp.

"I see," Harry replied.

"Yup, the exact opposite of me! He's the wealthy son of Earl Marion."

"An earl?" Harry asked. Before Marcus could reply, someone started to shout.

"Hey!"

It was the crown prince, Kahil. All the knights got on one knee and bowed. "Greetings to the crown prince," They all said. Harry bowed too and awkwardly said, "Greetings to the crown prince."

"Never mind that," he responded. "What are you all doing?"

"Us?" asked an excited Marcus. "We're just-"

"Not training," Kahil interrupted. "You are the royal knights! It's your job and privilege to protect us, so if you're all going to stand around wasting time, for what purpose are you even here, hm?"

"Your Highness," Marcus called.

"Do you realize I could have your head?"

Both Kahil's words and his tone were scary and bitter. Marcus and Cambrel got on their knees and begged for forgiveness.

"Forgiveness?" Kahil asked. "You dare ask for such a thing so shamelessly? Where has your pride gone? Did you not hear what I said? I could have your heads."

Harry couldn't stay silent anymore, especially since she was the reason they had stopped training in the first place.

"Your Highness," she called out loudly. She dashed out in front of the two, shielding them from Kahil. "It was my fault," she spoke quickly, "So if you are angry, please don't be angry with them. I was the one who distracted them, so if a punishment must be given, I'll be the one to take it."

"Princess!" exclaimed Cambrel.

"Don't interfere, Princess!" shouted Marcus.

Her body trembled violently, and if she were to look Kahil directly in the eye, she would immediately lose her resolve.

"You."

Kahil reached his hand out, causing Harry to unintentionally turn her head and flinch.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked Kahil.

Harry forced herself to open her eyes. When she did, she gasped. Varian was standing in front of her, and what's more, he was tightly holding onto the prince's wrist.

"Varian!" she cried.

"You- don't you know that this could be considered treason?" Kahil asked angrily.

"Treason?" Varian scoffed. "How so? The job that was given to me by the king is to protect the second princess. I'm simply doing my job."

Kahil suddenly took a deep breath and said, "It seems you have misunderstood something; I only meant to remove the leaf from her hair."

"Leaf? What leaf?" Varian asked. He didn't believe Kahil's words, so he turned around and saw a green leaf stuck in Harry's hair. "Since when?" he asked, not quite believing what he was seeing.

"Now," Kahil said. "Would you please let go of my arm?"

Varian was very annoyed with the prince, but he let him go. Kahil then proceeded to take the leaf out of Harry's hair. "Here," he said, handing it to her. Harry was dumbfounded and took the leaf from him. She thanked him in a way that sounded more like a question. "It's nothing," he told her.

Harry tried to think of something to say back, but all that came to her mind were the knights and the basket.

"Um, would you like some of the candy I made?" she asked him.

"No, thanks," he replied, turning around. "I should head back now."

"Goodbye," Harry said quietly. She watched him get farther and farther away. When he was completely out of sight, she suddenly came back to her senses and remembered what Varian had done for her. She quickly turned around to thank him, but he had vanished.