5

Sir Angelo was called to accompany some of the guests who were going to arrive soon so I was left alone. As I walk to the Ball Room, I saw some of the guards running toward the main entrance of the palace. Are the guests here already?

I followed them and waited patiently in front of one of the fountains. A warm welcome wouldn't be so bad.

"Your Highness! You have to get out of here!" shouted one of the guards who was now running towards me.

My brain didn't immediately process the situation. The next thing I knew, I heard gun shots from outside. I dropped to my knees and had a shock. It suddenly hit me that there are so many people here right now.

Then I heard commotion just outside the doors.

"Your Highness!" I heard Sir Angelo.

He came to me and pulled me back to my feet, taking me to the safe room.

"But everyone else in the Ball Room..." I said with a shaky voice. I just can't imagine the people getting hurt because of me, especially my family.

"I promise, Your Highness, we will protect your people," Sir Angelo said then headed to the door.

"Please, stay here," He whispered then left. I sat on one of the chairs, hugging myself. I can't remain calm. My family is out there, Keith is out there.

I jumped up when suddenly someone was knocking on the door.

"Princess..." a voice whispered. It sounded like a child. I walked to the door and hesitated opening it.

"Princess, please help me.... My father is sick." I heard him say and then he started to sob.

I took a breath and then opened the door. The child was…I think twelve years old, but he looked tall. I opened the door and he looked up to me.

"Can you help my father?" He asked between his sobs.

I smiled at him. "Yes, of course. I care for my people." I bent down a little then held his cheeks to wipe his tears.

"Stop crying. Come on now, let's find your father," I said and he nodded. As I was about to stand up, he grabbed something from his back pocket and without hesitation, stabbed me in the chest. I lounged backwards, landing on my back. Suddenly, a sharp pain was lingering on my chest and I just feel like all my blood are coming out. I felt like I was continuously drowning.

I saw him run and I held my wound to stop the bleeding, putting pressure. I hissed and shut my eyes close. I feel like I can touch my heart with this wound so deep. I started to lose consciousness, my head was starting to twirl. Then I felt hot tears run down my cheeks. Even after me getting stabbed, I can't imagine all the other people getting hurt.

A few seconds later, I heard running footsteps.

"Help," I called with the last mount of strength I can voice out.

"Princess!" it was Noah. He ran to me and was about to carry me when the pain in my chest just got worse.

"No! You're making it worse.." I stuttered and there he just noticed the cut I have on my chest.

"Jesus. I have to take you to the hospital wing." and before he can even say a word again, my vision flushed and then everything went pitch black. My eyes were heavy and I had a hard time opening them. The pain in my chest was no more but it felt heavy too, like there was a rock on top of it. I was blinded by lights as soon as I opened my eyes and then I realized there was something in my nose. An oxygen wire.

"Ruthy," I heard my Dad call and held my hand. "Are you okay?" his voice was full of concern and worry, I feel sorry for everything.

Then I remembered what happened. The gunshots, the child, Noah.

"Is everyone okay? The guests? Mom and Keith?" I immediately asked while squeezing his hand.

"Dear, everyone is fine. Your Mom and brother hasn't heard of what happened to you yet. They'll be here any minute," He softly said and smiled.

I felt my tears building up. "Dad, what happened? I was so scared," I said and embraced him. I felt his hand on my back, giving me a reassuring stroke.

"There was an invasion, it was all handled well until some people got in and threatened the guards. They all scattered and we were bought to the safe room near the Ball Room. Where were you dear? We were all worried about you," Dad explained.

"Sir Angelo brought me to the safe room on the ground floor. He told me to stay there when there was a child knocking on the door asking for help. He stabbed me in the chest," I said.

"A child stabbed you? B-but we thought it was..." before he could finish, Mom and Keith came running towards me.

"Ruthy! Oh my daughter. Are you alright?" came Mom then started crying. I hugged her back and assured her I was fine.

"Aw, Keith. Stop crying." I told Keith who was unbelievably crying right now. He gave me a tight hug and I kissed his forehead.

"Just be careful next time, Ruthy. We'll make sure Noah will pay for this," He said with a stern voice.

My brows furrowed. "Noah? He didn't do this," I said.

My Mom looked at my Dad and he stared back with an apologetic face.

"What did you do to Noah?" I asked. The three of them looked at each other.

"I exiled him from the country," Dad quietly said.

"What?! I have to go." I was about to leave my bed when Mom held my wrist.

"Dear, you're still hurt. We will fix this," She said and gave a warm smile.

"Mom, he was accused. He was the one who saved me," I said then took off.

As I was running, I was holding my wound because it was hurting. I saw the guards looking at me with wide eyes.

"Noah!" I called as I saw him with Sir Saint and Sir Angelo.

"Your Highness! What are you doing here?" Sir Saint asked, looking concerned.

"Where are you taking him?" I asked and Sir Angelo gripped his hand on Noah tighter. I noticed him flinch.

"He's being banished from the country, Your Highness. He's responsible for what happened to you." Sir Angelo was so angry, his voice was full of rage. He wasn’t shouting, but his voice was full and clear.

"No! He didn't do this! He saved me!" I said and ran to them.

"Let him go." I ordered and they both looked at each other.

"Is that true?" Sir Angelo asked Noah.

He then took a deep breath. " You guys didn't let me explain. I saw her near the safe room. I think she was stabbed and I noticed there was a child running off just as I ran to her."

"Did a child do this to you?" Sir Angelo said, suddenly speaking informal.

Sir Saint placed his hand on Sir Angelo's shoulder, asking him to calm down.

"Yes. He was about twelve years old, maybe? Is he still alive?" I asked.

"Follow me." Sir Saint said.

We all went to the back of the palace with Mom, Dad & Keith. The child was there with his father and mother, and they were kneeling with the guards pointing their guns at them.

"Your Majesty! Forgive us! We were desperate!" the mother screamed.

"Your child hurt my daughter! How can you teach your son like that!" Mom scolded.

"I'm sorry, Princess... I just wanted to help my family…" the child started to sob again. I don't know what to feel. He was confused.

"Let the child go. Send him to my orphanage." I ordered.

"You're letting him go?" Dad asked.

"The child was confused. He was ordered and didn't know what was happening. Give him a chance," I said with a smile.

The child was then escorted by two of the guards to the carriage and then left the palace.

"The both of you will be exiled from the country from now on. Leave at once." Dad ordered.

"Y-you're not going to kill us?" the father asked.

"No. My daughter has sympathy to your child who stabbed her. You should be glad she's still alive. If she wasn't able to make it..." Dad paused, his voice cracking.

"I wouldn't be able to have mercy on you."

We all then went back inside and I was ordered to come back to the hospital wing to recover. The nurse was baffled to learn that I left bed after being treated. As I lay down the bed, Noah sat in front of me.

"Thank you for saving me, Noah. How can I ever repay you?" I told him and he gave me a warm smile.

"No worries. Even though you humiliated me in front of so many people, the future queen deserves to be saved." He grinned.

"I'm sorry for that too. I can build a new and renovated bakery for you and your uncle. Will that be fine?" I asked and he beamed.

"That would be wonderful, Your Highness." He bowed a little and we both giggled.

I didn't imagine myself getting a little close with Noah. Looks like I have to be stabbed first.