Behind the Mask

The Letter

Leo Pov

I walk out of the cave where we kept the princess. I looked around and saw my people struggling to get by. It reminds me of why I am doing this. “ Your highness!” My best friend Mark said in excitement.

“ Mark, we talk about this. I am not royal anymore. I am just here to get back what belongs to my people and step down.” I said to him. He looked like he was going to argue about it but didn’t. “But what is it?” 

“ The Golden Rose made contact!” he told me and handed me a note. I took it in excitement they were late, but I am glad they made contact. I opened the letter it read… 

“ Dear Silver Lotus,

The King and Queen have no idea I am writing this letter to you. I am offering you a deal. I will restore your kingdom and offer you anything else you would like as long as you keep my sister safe. She is no longer safe at the castle.  If you harm her in any way, the deal is off, and I will hunt you down.

Singerly 

The Crown Prince of the Golden Rose”

“ What does it say?” Mark asked me, hoping for good news.

“ The Crown Prince is desperate to keep his sister safe that he is willing to offer us anything as long as we keep his sister safe.” I hand him back the note for him to read. He quietly read it.

“ What are you going to do, and can we even trust him?” He asked

“ I think we are going to need more information to make a decision. I doubt Lizzy is willing to tell us. See what you can find out from the spies. If what the prince is saying is true, then we can not count on his word.” I told him, and he seemed to understand.

“ Leo! She broke my fricken nose!” John yelled as he ran out of the cave. I looked at his nose, and it was crooked and bleeding.

“ How did this happen?” I asked him

“ I am not sure it happened kind of fast. I untied her hands so she could eat, and she went and punched my nose! So I tied her back up and gagged her.” I left to go into the cave to see her and get her side of the story if she had one. I have her in the cave, the only light we have is shining above her, but it is dark everywhere else, so she can’t see me or others.

“So the princess knows how to punch. So Lizzy, why do you think it is ok for you to punch my men?” I asked.

“ Why do you think it is ok to kidnap girls?” She asked me with the same tone. This girl is going to get herself killed one of these days. Just to get under her skin, I went and picked up a pitcher of water and a glass. I poured really slowly into the cup so it could be heard in the cave. Once the glass was full, I took a sip.

“ water is refreshing, isn’t Lizzy? Sorry, where are my manners? Do you want some?” I said with a light chuckle. 

“ You are Jerk, and My name is not Lizzy!” She yelled at me.

“ You have such words for a beloved Princess,” I said with sarcasm. 

“ Yeah, this beloved princess’s parents are out looking for me, and once they find me, they will kill you!” she said, trying to scare me. I gave out another little chuckle.

“ Really, Lizzy, then why did I get this letter from your brother? Would you like me to read it to you?” I asked her I went and said it to her before she could even respond. “ now that does not should like a beloved princess, now does it. So Lizzy, why would it not be safe for you at the castle, hmm?” I asked her. She didn’t respond. “ How about this princess? We call it a truce, and you help me get what I want, and therefore I will help you.” which sounded reasonable to me even though I wouldn’t want to work with her to save my life, but I could live with it.

“SCREW YOU!” she yelled at me.

“Fine, you can be in this cave. Ask me if I care, but when you are ready to come out of here, then we will talk.” I said and walked out of the cave. Mark and John waited for me to get out of the cave, “ cut her loose. Have food and water waiting outside the cave if she leaves the cave, then bring her to my tent. Don’t tell her about the food and water, and just in case she tries to escape, place two of the best guards outside the cave.” I told them. 

“ Yes, sir!” They said together. I went to do my routine checks on everybody when a guard came up to me.

“ Sir, I saw the king and queen’s knights heading there way here,” he said 

“ Thank you, around everyone up. We are leaving tonight.” I told him

“Where are we going?”

“ Home.”

Author's note

Just created a f*******: page so you guys can be kept updated on when I am going to post new chapters and new stories. My f*******: page to look for is called Amy Ludington's stories on Dreame. Thank you for reading my story.

Amy