Chapter 16
1064 Words
"Alright! You don't seem so bad, I guess. But how long are you planning to stay here?" Tucky asked with a bit of bitterness.
"Well, I want to help out in any way I can, so I could return Scarlet's kindness to her. Just tell me how, and once I'm done, I'll be on my way, I promise." I stated.
"Oh alright, that'd be fair enough." Tucky said in a slightly nicer way this time.
"So, how can I help you out, Scarlet? Just tell me, anything at all, I sure will help no matter what." I willingly asked her. I sincerely want to help her back and I get to spend longer time with her.
"Well, are you certain we can trust him, princess?" Tucky asked with his mouth trying to move on one side of his face, his one hand slightly covering it. He was attempting to whisper but he's doing it loud enough that I could hear.
"There!" I suddenly yelled out. "You called her princess the second time!" I have been getting hints ever since Tucky came in.
Tucky then looked at Scarlet as if he was apologizing to her with his face. "I thought he knew." He whispered again.
"Are you the princess you were talking about a while ago? Were you really the one that those soldiers were trying to hunt down?" I asked with too much concern because if she was then I'll have more reason to stay.
Finley's POV
"Prove to us first that we could trust you before I answer that question." Scarlet said with a firm voice while squinting at me.
From the looks of it, she really might be the princess and with the situation she is in, which is in a lot of danger, she would need protection or at least some help from more people. I could grasp the opportunity to make quite an impression to her.
I guess I couldn't reveal to her now that I'm from Canada, because she might not even know the place as well, like Varan, in fact no one in this kingdom might even have heard of it at least once in their lives.
I've got to think fast!
Maybe I should play the reverse card now.
"Let me ask you the same question, how can I trust you as well? How will I know that you're not the real bad guy in this kingdom? What if they're hunting you down because both of you has done something?" I asked with suspicion.
'Well, that's just great, Finley. That's a nice way to impress her, really' a voice sarcastically uttered in my head.
"Wow, I can't believe you would even ask that question." Tucky said while his eyelids drooped. I know, Tucky, I can't believe I would ask something like that as well, such a foolish thing to ask.
"For starters, I just saved your life, Finley. I saved your life and I don't expect anything back from you."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I asked such a foolish question. I should be grateful instead of questioning such a noble deed done in my favor." I scowled in shame.
"It's just that, you see, I cannot say something right now that would make you trust me instantly. Trust is earned and as my life saver, I would like to earn your trust in any way I can, no matter how long it takes. I am quite invested in helping you if you're ever the princess, not because you're a royalty but because I know that your life is on the line here, I mean if you were telling the truth about those soldiers in which I believe that you were." I candidly stated to her.
"You're right, what was I thinking. Trust is definitely hardly earned and from what you said, I can give you a chance to earn my trust but I've already told you that what I did to you is out of a good and purely intentional deed and I'm not expecting something from you, really. Helping others who needs it, is already a reward in itself." Scarlet genuinely replied. Such a beautiful face with a beautiful heart and I can't help but admire her with only few minutes or I think an hour spent with her.
I smiled at her upon hearing her words.
"I know, Scarlet but I choose to help you as well, as a man of integrity. Don't look at it as a pay back but rather as a friend who wants to help." She then smiled back at me.
"Well then alright, I guess we can tell him, Scarlet." Tucky said nicely.
"Are you sure, Tucky? I know you've been nagging me about trusting people easily. Are you really sure now?" Scarlet asked him.
"Yeah, I know a bright man when I see one and I guess the truth's already obvious. And Finley, sorry about earlier, I just wanted to protect Scarlet." Tucky implied.
"Yeah, I think we're quite obvious back there, Finley. You know me, asking how we can trust you and all." Scarlet told me with a slightly grin on her face.
"Tucky, it's fine, really. I understand why you were trying to kill me awhile back. And yeah Scarlet, I'm quite convinced that you're the princess already. I had a lot of hints along the way especially when Tucky came in."
"Well, I didn't know that you didn't know, you know?" Tucky shrugged.
"So what really happened, if I may ask? Why are they tracking you down?"
"I am the princess of kingdom Avery and I am ruling it along with my mother. Then Demetrius came into the picture and ruined everything. He took the throne and now I'm just a fugitive who managed to escape the hands of such a heinous creature." Scarlet explained.
"Where's your mother?" I asked my brows knitted with pity.
"She's..." her head lowered down and she can't even finish her words and that's when I already knew.
"I'm sorry, Scarlet. I didn't know."
"It's fine, it's not even your fault." She said with her head still looking down on the ground. Tucky seem to be very down as well for the matter.
"Well now that I've told you, tell us where you're from. I've been asking and something kept on interrupting your response. So, please do tell us now."
- Writer
