Sneaking Royalties (2)

"We seem to be connected by a string of destiny to continue to have this kind of accidental meeting like this," Laif said. His voice contained a tone of amused.

However, Amelia's expression gradually changed from surprised to confused. She took a brief second to compose herself and frowned as she threw him a suspicious look. "What are you doing here? Are you..." she paused to swallow. "Were you following me?"

"Wait," Laif raised both his hand, a gesture to tell her that he was not there to harm her. "I'm not stalking you if that what you were accusing me of. I got lost on my way to the training camp and got here somehow."

"You shouldn't be here." Her voice was harshed. Amelia looked around and heaved a breath once she was sure that there were no guards around. "This is the Princess's Garden. You will get into a lot of trouble if the guards found you here."

Laif swallowed. He didn't expect the girl to be angry at him. He looked around for the first time, he began to notice the flower bed and the small pond. "I—I didn't know that this is the Princess's garden."

Amelia gave him a look over, debating whether he was telling her the truth. "Follow me," she said after a while. "I will lead you back to the training camp."

"I can find my way to the training camp by myself," Laif said. "Thank you. But I don't need you to trouble yourself for me."

Hearing his tone, Amelia stopped abruptly. She turned to look at him and noticed his vexed expression. It was then that she realized that her tone earlier might sound harsh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you by accusing you of anything. It's just that... I wasn't expecting to see anyone here."

Laif stared at her face and shook his head when he saw her sincerity. "It's fine." His expression loosened a bit.

After all, she did apologize when she suddenly snapped at him. Laif also knew that he was also at fault in the first place for trespassing the Princess's Garden.

The girl was only doing her job as the Princess's maidservant—to protect the Princess from any form of danger. Clearly, she saw him as a threat for appearing in a place he shouldn't be at.

Amelia took a deep breath when she saw that he was no longer upset. "We should go before the guards show up." Her tone softened and she flashed a smile at him. "Come with me. I will take you through a shortcut."

Laif was stunned when she smiled.

Just a few seconds ago, the girl was so angry when she found him in the Princess's garden. Laif did not expect that her mood would change so quickly.

"It would be safer if I escort you back to the training camp. Or you'll get into a lot of trouble when the guards found you here," Amelia continued when he did not say anything. "At least I can help you to avoid the guards."

"Thank you," Laif finally gave in.

He watched the girl turned around and followed after her. As they walked in the garden, the two of them kept their silence. The only sound that could be heard was the whistling of the birds and the rustling of the leaves.

"I was wondering," Amelia chose to break the silence. She glanced at Laif briefly before she turned her head to their path again. "How did you get in the garden? Isn't the training camp in the other side of the palace?"

"I was trying to escape the guards," Laif said absentmindedly. He was scanning around the palace ground with hawking eyes as he tried to memorize every passage for his convenience later on.

Amelia stopped abruptly and look at him warily. "Why?"

Laif stared at her in dumbfounded. It was then that he realized what he had said.

"Why were you in trouble with the guards?"

Laif let out a nervous laugh and stopped when he saw her curious gaze. He hesitated for a while and said, "You have to promise that you won't tell anyone first."

Amelia stared at him incredulously but slowly, she nodded.

"The guard caught me when trying to sneak in into the palace," Laif told her. "I jumped over the palace wall and one of the guards saw me. I was trying to lose him and that's when I found myself in the princess's garden." He shifted his weight and looked at her skeptically. "You... wouldn't report me to the training camp would you?"

She thought over his question for a few seconds and shook her head. "No," She turned around and continued to lead him through the palace ground.

The silence between them resumed, but it did not last long.

"To tell you the truth, I would sometimes sneak in and out of the palace myself," Amelia said. Anyway, since Laif did not know of her identity as the Princess, Amelia did not think that it would matter if she spoke a few things.

Laif raised a brow. "You jump over the palace wall too?"

"No," she bought her hand to cover her mouth, laughing silently. "I could never do that. Jump over the wall, I mean. The palace wall is too tall for someone like me. But perhaps if I had more skill in martial arts. But I do have my own way to sneak out of the palace. A few of my trusted friends would help me to sneak out." She turned to look at him. "You can't tell anyone what I just told you."

He chuckled. "Of course. I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

The two made their way, passing every government's office without much hustle. It was when a palace guard stopped to bow his head to this girl while they passed him that Laif remembered how the ladies curtsied to her before they left.

Suddenly, Laif was curious about her identity. He was sure that this girl held a high position in the palace. Judging from the way she dressed, Laif was sure that he had guessed the right thing.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Amelia nodded. "Sure."

"Who are you? What exactly is your position in the palace?" he asked.