14

When we reached the gate, Angelo and Saint were wearing their black suits. My eyes sparkled at Angelo. I guess my love for him won't easily fade even when he's ignoring me. I gave them a two-finger salute.

"Ruthy!" Althea called as she waves her fan. She was wearing a yellow high-waist dress with a white scarf on her neck. Simple and colorful outfits really suit her despite her age- not that I'm saying she's old or anything.

"We will be taking the train today since the bakery is located near your Uncle's house in the South-East, right?" Dad told Noah.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Noah answered as we sat in the carriage with Angelo and Saint outside odn their horses. 

The train station wasn't far from our palace. We had our own train that we can take anytime of the day. I sat at the window side of the train and Althea was beside me.

"Is the bakery filled yet?" Althea asked.

I giggled. "Maybe. Don't tell me you're going to take some food?"

She laughed. "Of course not! We already have the best baker with us."

I smiled at what she said. I'm glad she appreciates Noah's talent like I do.

The view from the window was beautiful. Rinovea was like a countryside because of how almost all of our people have farms. We are rich in vegetables and fruits. It amazes me how Noah and his Uncle managed to have a bakery in the village. The air is pure and the trees are big. I loved going outside because I can see what's happening in my surroundings. I feel connected to where I am and to my people.

"When we arrive, we can ride horses to head to the bakery since it’s about an hour walk from the station. Is that okay?" Dad said from the front.

"Yey!" Althea exclaimed.

I giggled. Why does it seem that Althea is more excited than Noah?

A few minutes later, we arrived at the station and there were already horses outside. We all had our own horses and we each had a guard beside us. The only thing is, Angelo was the one with me.

"Angelo, are you still mad at me?" I silently asked him when the group was a little ahead of us.

He looked in front, "I'm not."

I was quite surprised that he talked to me. I thought he was still going to ignore me because even when we were at the palace, he really kept his distance from me. He didn’t even bother greeting me.

I smiled. "I'm sorry if I said mean things to you and that I shouted at you."

"I'm sorry too, if I hurt you. I was just overwhelmed with my emotions."

I'm glad that he's finally talking to me. I thought to myself that if I'm starting to like Noah, it’s because we're like friends already. My heart still belongs to Angelo.

"That suit is my second favorite," I told him.

He looked at me and chuckled. "What's your most favorite?"

I smiled. "The maroon one."

About 20 minutes later, we arrived at the bakery. It was a two-level bakery and the window that sees the inside was like 8 foot tall. The door was also made of glass and there were already food inside.

"Your Majesty..." Noah whispered as he stared at the bakery.

"It looks amazing!" Althea and I said.

"Thank you so much," Noah said with a bow. Dad patted his shoulder then went inside. Angelo and Saint went with us inside and three guards stayed outside.

"Your Majesty!" Noah's uncle called from the cashier. He immediately bowed.

"I cannot be more grateful to what you have given us," He said.

Noah greeted his Uncle and we wandered in the bakery. There was like a lounge in the back where employees can rest and there were only 2 employees. It’s a new opened bakery anyway. Noah's uncle prepared us some tea. 

"Your Highness', Your Majesty, this is my Uncle, Ford," Noah introduced and Ford bowed again.

"You raised a good man, Ford," Dad said.

Dad and Ford were chatting and I was observing the lounge area. It was a large space for just a lounge area, but since there was already a mini kitchen and a refrigerator, I figured it was just right.

"Even the tea is delicious," Althea said as she drinks her tea. 

"I know right?" I said.

A little later, a guard suddenly entered from the back. He whispered something to Saint and Angelo then Angelo went outside.

"Your Highness', Your Majesty, please stay calm and follow us through the back door," Saint silently said as he went back. My heart pounded. I grabbed Althea's hand then stood.

"What's happening?" Dad asked.

"One of our guards recognized a terrorist outside, observing the bakery." My mind went blank. The next thing I knew, we were already quietly heading outside.

"What? Terrorists? How did they know the King is here?" Ford stuttered.

"I guess word spread that the King built a new bakery here," Noah whispered with his tone firm.

"The horses are already outside, Your Majesty. One of our guards already gave a notice to the station. The train will already be waiting."

I've never felt so nervous in my life. The King and the Princesses of Rinovea and Wierxia are here. My soul is about to leave my body.

Saint first went outside to check then motioned for us to follow. Dad immediately rode his horse, then Althea followed. Ford was beside Althea and Noah was beside me. When I was about to jump on my horse, we heard commotion inside.

"Go!" Saint shouted. Dad immediately let Althea, Noah and Ford go first and he followed, but I was frozen in my place.

"Ruthy!" Dad shouted. Suddenly, someone carried me from the back. 

"Saint! You have to protect them!" I ordered Saint. 

He nodded then ran back inside. My horse ran and followed Dad and Althea but they were already ahead of me. When I looked back, I saw that Saint, Angelo and another guard  were already behind me. Suddenly, an arrow went by my face and hit my horse. I fell and tumbled. I turned and saw that my horse was bleeding. I touched my ankle and it was painful. Please don't tell me I sprained my ankle here?!

"Your Highness!" Angelo called. He immediately jumped off his horse with Saint.

"Are you alright?" He asked with a soft voice. I guess he's trying to sound calm in this situation.

"I sprained my ankle," I said. Saint looked my ankle and gently lifted it.

"Ow!" 

He set it down. "It’s sprained alright."

"I'm going to carry you to my horse, okay?" He said and I nodded.

When he was about to lift me, there was a gunshot. I closed my eyes and ducked down. When I opened them, Saint was in front me, his rifle in his hands, firing at someone or some people in front of us. 

"Angelo, we have to-"

When I turned to Angelo, he was laying down. His eyes were wide open and his hands were covering something in the right side of his chest.

"A-angelo?" I stuttered.

I held his hands and saw that there was blood. Angelo was shot. My world stopped. I suddenly feared everything that moment I saw him laying down, with blood on his suit.

"S-saint! A-angelo got s-shot!" I managed to say. I grabbed my handkerchief from my pocket and placed it on the right side of his chest. I put a little pressure on my hands. One of the lessons my Dad told me is to never panic when I'm afraid or distressed.

"R-ruthy....You have to l-leave me..." Angelo whispered. 

I slammed my other hand on the ground. We were laying on the grass behind the bakery and the wind was strong. The trees were hustling and the sound of the breeze was loud. My hair was being flown to my face but my vision was clear.

"Don't you dare tell me to leave you!" I shouted at him. Hot tears started to fall from my eyes, the gunshots don't seem to stop.

"Ruthy! Where is he shot?" Saint asked while not looking at us. He was still firing.

I cleared my throat and tried my best to speak. "I- uh- t-the right side of h-his chest!"

"Okay. Is he still conscious?"

I looked at Angelo and he was only looking at me. His eyes seem tired and he was breathing through his mouth. I tapped his cheeks to keep him awake.

"Yes."

"I need you to take Angelo and help him ride his horse. You should be able to hop on his back with your other foot." I was a little confused with his instructions. 

"How about you?" I asked, looking at his back because he was still not looking at us.

"I have to protect you, Ruthy."

And then I realized, he wasn't going to follow us. He was going to stay behind.

"No! I will not leave you two here!" I shouted at him.

"Ruthy! Listen to me-"

"I will not!" I cut him off.

My mind was racing. I was panicking on what I should do. Then, my adrenaline was starting to kick in. I felt swift, I felt invincible, just so I could help them.

"I'll be borrowing this for a while. Keep your eyes open for me, okay?" I told Angelo as I take his rifle from his side.

The next thing I knew, I was firing at people who were firing at us.