Defending Left-Handed

Chapter 14

“I am going on a two-day trip,” the princess said and handed her schedule to Liriel. “And you are coming, too. So prepare your things.”

“What is this trip for?” he asked as he stood straight.

“Ah, it is for me to know more about our country. I will be living with the citizens and see if what are the problems happening in the area. I do not need to explain to you, though. No matter where I am, you should follow me without any explanation.”

“All right. I’ll pack my things and come back here.”

The princess nodded without looking at him. As soon as Liriel left, she immediately lay down on her bed and run her fingers through her hair. She’s supposed to be avoiding him. After what she did? Her face turned red as she rolled around her bed. Why did she do that? She asked to herself as she buried her head on her bed. She was so embarrassed. How could she avoid him now if they needed to be on a trip? She did not have the choice but to act as if that they did not happen. Right, she should just pretend. She’s a princess anyway. She was trained to have confidence and act normal despite an embarrassing moment. She should handle it with grace.

~•~

During the entire trip going to where she would be staying, she did not talk to Liriel or to anyone. She was accompanied by two knights, who were wearing commoner clothes to disguise themselves. Princess Slithen was just wearing a commoner’s clothes, as well. By doing the disguise, they could roam around free and talk freely to everyone. She would be living without any princess treatment, either. She would be cooking for herself, dress herself, prepare her bath, and other chores that she needed to do while staying in the house.

The carriage stop on a quiet place where there were no houses and just grassland. It was still dark, too. It was dawn. They travelled early so no one would notice them coming. Liriel opened the door for the princess. He offered his hand but the princess did not use it and went out of the carriage by herself.

“Let us go,” the princess said to Liriel and to one of the knight with them. The other knight walked in front of the princess while Liriel was in the back. He was carrying her things.

As they arrived on where would they be staying, they split up. The princess went inside to one of the houses while the other guard went on the other.

“I’ll just give the princess’s things to her,” Liriel said and followed the princess inside.

Once the princess stop looking around, she looked at Liriel. “You could just put my things on the table. And then you can go. I’ll just call you whenever I need something.”

Liriel followed Slithen command and left immediately.

Once Liriel was no longer around, Slithen let out a deep breath. She went to the sofa and sat. It was really hard to pretend as something that you are not, she thought. She shook her head and lightly tapped her face. It’s better this way. She nodded. Right, it’s better this way.

She roamed her eyes, again, on the room. It’s really not that big. It was just one fourth of her room in the palace. Maybe it’s just around 20 square meters. However, it’s already enough for one person. She wanted to stay here sometimes if she’s allowed to. There’s a bathroom, a kitchen, a bed, and a sofa. It was really indeed enough.

She lay down on the sofa and looked at the window. The sun has not risen, yet. Maybe it’s not bad for her to take a rest first before going out for breakfast. She woke up early to prepare for the trip and she has not gotten the chance to sleep in the carriage because the scenery outside the carriage caught her attention.

She yawned and her eyes were starting to get teary. Maybe she should really rest for a while. She closed her eyes and in just a few seconds, she drifted to sleep.

~•~

Liriel and the other knight was just standing near the window as they saw how the sun rises and the people were now going out preparing to open their stores or went to the market to buy some food.

“The princess is still not going out. We need to get out early so there would still be less people in buying our food.”

“Knock her door,” Liriel said. With that, the knight went towards Slithen’s door and knocked it.

“No one is answering.”

Liriel walked towards the knight. “Is her door open?” he asked.

The knight twisted the door knob and it really was open. The knight proceeded to open the door and the sleeping Slithen greeted them.

Liriel sighed witnessing Slithen’s clumsiness. She should be locking her door if she’s sleeping. She should at least told them she’s going to sleep. She had them worried for a second when she did not open her door.

“You should wake her up,” the other knight said.

“Why should I? Why don’t you do it?”

“You are her official knight. Maybe she would not freak out if it’s your face that will great her.”

Liriel did not have the choice but to walked towards Slithen and lightly tapped her arm.

“Princess, we need to go and by something for breakfast.”

Slithen moved but did not open her eyes.

Liriel looked at the other knight. “What if we just let her rest for a while and let us just prepare her breakfast while she is sleeping?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” the other knight agreed. Liriel walked towards the door. “Just stay here. I’ll go buy some food for us.”

The other knight immediately stopped him. “Wait, you could not just leave me here with the princess.”

Liriel’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s wrong?”

“Maybe she’s going to freak out seeing an unfamiliar face as she wake me.”

“She already saw your face earlier, though.”

“No, she never looked at me even once, earlier. She was too very occupied looking around the area so, you stay here and I’ll buy us some food,” the other knight said and immediately sprinted his way out so Liriel would not be able to stop him.

Liriel looked at the princess for a moment then decided to go out of the house. He saw a fire pit and thought that maybe he could heat water as they wait. He started gathering the available woods and placed it in the fire pit. He gathered dried leaves and placed it below the fire pit. He brought out his lighter and lighted the dried leaves.

“What are you doing?”

Liriel looked at who was talking. It was Slithen who looked like who just woke up. “I am making a fire to heat you up some water for your bath and for your drink later. We are going to use this as well to cook our food for breakfast.”

Slithen walked towards Liriel and leveled herself to him. She wiped something on his face. “You have dirt on here,” she said as she’s still too focused on removing it away.

Liriel looked at her. The princess got to look at him in the eyes, as well. She immediately pulled herself away and turned her back to him. “I am sorry for crossing the line.”

Liriel stood up and walked passed her without saying anything. The princess sighed. Liriel went put again with a kettle on his hands.

“You can just seat there on the boulder while we wait for Tom,” Liriel said.

“Tom?” the princess asked confusedly. She did not know someone whose name was Tom.

“The other knight.”

“Ohh, how kind of him to go there to buy us some food.”

Liriel just nodded as a response.

“Do you want to take a bath now?” Liriel asked as the water from the kettle started to boil.

Slithen nodded. The air was chilly and it looked like it’s going to rain. It’s nice to have a hot bath.

“All right, go wait inside.”

Slithen immediately followed Liriel’s command. She went inside and prepared her clothes. Liriel also went inside and walked toward her bathroom. There was a barrel full of water. Liriel poured the water there. He checked the water if the temperature’s appropriate to bathe.

“How should I take a bath with this? Should I submerge myself there?” she asked as she pointed the barrel.

“No, you’ll use this dipper to fetch a water from this barrel and pour it to yourself.”

The princess nodded. “All right.”

Liriel nodded and went out of the house but before that he locked the door so no one could open it from the outside.

Princess Slithen was just staring on the barrel. She did not really know what to do. She usually submerged herself but it was too little for her. She reached for the dipper. She should figure it out on jer own. She could not call Liriel and make herself look like a fool. She followed what he said earlier. Dipper, check. Fetch some water, check. Pour the water on her body, check. Princess Slithen could not help but laugh as she figured it out.

Once she’s finished, she immediately dried herself with a towel and wore her clothes. When she was already set, she went back outside and saw that Liriel was already preparing some food.

“Your highness,” Tom greeted her as she saw him.

“Oh, you are already back. Thank you for buying our food.”

Tom bowed. “It is a pleasure, your highness.”

Slithen laughed. “You should refrain from calling me that for today and tomorrow. No one should know J am the princess. Call me Slithen for the mean time,” she said with a smile.

Tom smiled and pointed a boulder. “You should seat her, Slithen. The food will be ready soon.”

“Thank you.”

Liriel walked towards Slithen and handed her a grilled fish on a stick. She looked at Liriel, confused. “I do not—Ah, nevermind,” she said as she saw how Tom ate his fish.

“Liriel already removed the sharp fins and the bones so that you could eat it without worries, Princess. No wonder he is your personal knight. He cares about you.”