Chapter 8: Planning
1266 Words
-Jonah-
I had to admit, the princess surprised me. She was braver and smarter than I’d thought. I had always assumed she relied solely on her looks. But no. She was much more than I’d given her credit for.
“So, how did you get in last time?” she inquired, taking a bite of the bread in her hand.
It was still strange to think of her as the princess. She looked nothing like the person I had met in that small cell after I’d stolen her jewelry.
As she asked her question, I just stared at her, trying to determine if this was all some sort of bizarre dream.
“Jonah?” she called.
I shook my head, snapping out of my thoughts. “Sorry?” I inquired.
She laughed, a sweet, light laugh that somehow made me laugh too.
“I asked how you got inside last time,” she said.
“Oh…”
“If you need a moment to wrap your head around everything…” she began.
I shook my head, put down my drink, and forced myself to focus on the situation.
“No, I think it’s better if I try to think about something else. It’s just strange knowing you’re the princess when you look nothing like her,” I said.
She nodded, her eyes growing a bit sad. She stopped eating, setting her bread down, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her. No one believed her. I was the only one she had managed to convince, and we barely knew each other.
“So, I snuck into the castle by pretending to be one of the servants. I’ve actually been there for quite a while, serving you and learning about everyone,” I explained.
“You have?”
I nodded. Her expression turned wary, probably wondering how much I knew about her. I chuckled and held up my hand in reassurance.
“Calm down, I was just learning your routines so I knew where you’d be and when. I didn’t stalk you in your room,” I told her.
“No?”
I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips. I noticed a small smile spreading on hers as well.
“Then can you get us inside?” she questioned.
“I can try, but pretending to be servants might not work now that you made that scene at the audience,” I said.
She sighed, resting her elbow on the table and burying her head in her hand, looking utterly defeated.
“But I think I know a way we can get inside the castle so you can see your brother,” I admitted.
“Really?” She lifted her head and smiled, and I nodded in response.
“But I won’t be going with you to see him. I’ve been seen by your guards now, and I’m not risking anything,” I added. “Besides, I’m wanted.”
I gestured toward a small poster on a pole deeper inside the tavern. She glanced over and saw the wanted poster with my face and the reward for my capture. It wasn’t a substantial amount—nothing to make people actively search for me, though it was enough to be a slight inconvenience.
“You really are,” she whispered, looking back at me. “Why are you smiling?”
I picked up my drink, shrugged slightly, and took a sip.
“You’re proud of it, aren’t you?” she asked, incredulous.
“Maybe,” I said, setting my drink down.
She crossed her arms and shook her head in disbelief. But how could a princess ever understand? Her family made the rules, and she had likely been taught to follow them and set a good example.
“You’re unbelievable,” she groaned.
“No, princess, it’s called survival—something you might not understand,” I told her.
“Why not?”
“Look at you,” I said, gesturing toward her, only to realize she didn’t resemble the polished princess with milk-white skin who had probably never had a scratch in her life. “I mean, look at the real you.”
“What’s wrong with the real me?” she inquired, leaning closer and shooting me a hard glare.
“Well, you can’t really say you’ve ever gone hungry, can you?”
She looked a bit guilty and shook her head. “No…”
“Have you ever worked to earn money?”
She shook her head again. “I… can’t say I have.”
“My point is made,” I said, smiling a bit smugly and leaning back in my chair.
“But I’m not a bad person,” she told me. “I don’t hurt people or try to make them feel less. I try to help where I can. I do!”
“Good for you. Want me to clap?” I inquired.
She groaned in irritation and leaned over the table, holding my gaze with her striking green-blue eyes. “You don’t have to be mean, you know.”
“No?” I replied, raising an eyebrow.
She shook her head slowly. “No!”
“Well, I can’t say I like you or your family very much, and if it weren’t for owing Ralph money, I wouldn’t even be helping you.”
“Then tell me, who here is worse? You or me?”
“You.”
She sneered, clearly irritated. “You’re the one who was ready to walk away after I told you what happened to me. That’s pretty cruel! I would have helped anyone who asked.”
“Ah, so you’re the saint here?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“It’s fine if you don’t like me, but you need to understand that Elisa could cause real damage! As the princess, who knows what she’ll do?”
I couldn’t deny she had a point. The new “princess” had power, and King Cole cared deeply for his sister. It was well-known how precious she was to him, and if Elisa made demands, he would likely oblige.
“Well, I’m still helping you get inside the castle, aren’t I?” I challenged.
She leaned back in her chair, arms still crossed. “I’m not so sure,” she mumbled. “You haven’t exactly proven yourself to be very honorable.”
“Honorable?” I laughed. “Oh, sorry, I’m not your loyal knight… what was his name again? Gavin?”
“It’s Sir Gawain!” she corrected me.
I chuckled. “Oh yes, much better. Sir Gawain, a name that must strike fear into everyone’s hearts,” I taunted.
“It isn’t meant to be feared! He’s a knight. Knights are supposed to make people feel safe and protected, not that I expect a thief to understand that!” she said.
“This thief is your only chance to get inside,” I replied. “Maybe you could be a bit nicer to me.”
“This thief is only helping because his ass is on the line.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Not very princess-like to use such a word,” I teased.
A smile spread across her lips, and she folded her hands on the table.
“Well, you must understand that I’m not like other princesses, and I’ll damn well swear if I want to,” she retorted.
I nodded slowly, doing my best not to laugh. “Of course, Your Highness,” I said. “Now, eat up, and let’s get going.”
- Writer
