CHAPTER FIFTY
Tatiana did not expect her fiancé to do this.
She woke up this morning with Emma shaking her and telling her that she did not have to worry about the location and building of the orphanage. Tatiana could not believe it at first but when the sleepiness was slowly starting to wear off, the reality dawned on her.
She wore a commoner outfit, an off-shoulder long-sleeved partlet with embroidered cuffs and a long maroon dress that was laced in front of the bodice. She also wore a half cloak draped around her shoulders. Her hair was braided so it would not be sticking up in every direction and she also passed wearing accessories except a ruby ring that was from her late mother.
"Your highness, are you sure that you do not need me to come with you?" William asked while Emma and Tatiana are busy packing their bags to go to the location. His shoulders drooped down low and felt envious that he won't be able to go with them.
It is an exciting and important day for the princess and he won't be there to help her through it. He also noticed Elliot, who was standing beside him with drooping shoulders. It looks like he is not the only one who is sad about not going to the capital.
"Come now, Emma, we're running late. I don't want Bjorn to yell at me for being so tardy." Tatiana's heart was beating fast and it was not even from the excitement. She feels like Bjorn will scold her again for being late and decides not to go with her to the property.
All four of them went running down the hall with the things needed. Poor William was panting and Elliot was stumbling on the carpet. Emma was starting to get used to running since the princess ran all the time. It was very difficult at first but she had no choice but to get used to it.
"Is-Is that sir William?" one of the workers asked. They somehow thought of the power the princess holds that even Sir William and the young prince are running down the palace hallway because of her.
They finally arrived at the palace entrance and saw Bjorn riding on a black horse. Morgan was there was well and the carriage prepared for them. Even from afar, Tatiana felt like there was a dark aura surrounding the captain.
"I'm sorry!" Tatiana panted, holding on to the carriage door. Her face was as red as a tomato and the cloak was not helping her with the heat. "Did-did you wait long?"
"Good morning, your highness." Morgan bowed his head in respect but Tatiana was still panting so she just waved her hand as a greeting.
Bjorn looked down on her and shook his head in disappointment. She is such a mess, he thoughts, there is no way that he would have unnecessary emotions for her.
"Will I see home next week?" Elliot asked, "I'll miss you!"
Tatiana gave Elliot a pat on the shoulder and smiled, "I'll buy capital stuff for you."
Elliot's face brightened up and nodded in agreement. A week feels like it will be a long week when Tatiana is not there but keeping her in the palace won't make her happy. It will be a week that the princess will treasure because it will be a start at making her plans move in motion.
The king assigned Bjorn and Morgan to guard the princess. It was supposed to be at least twenty knights but Tatiana complained saying that it would bring attention when she's supposed to hide her identity. Her father had told her that no one should know about her plan, not until it successfully opened because it will drive controversy in the kingdom and critics will not stay still.
Aragon is not a fan of education for women and their view about men and women having equal rights to education is not that good, especially when commoners are granted these benefits. The nobles will not stand still when they discover what the princess is up to.
Tatiana waved goodbye at William and Elliot with half of her body outside the window. Emma immediately held on to the princess's waist worried that she will fall off the window. Elliot's eyes turned sad as he will miss his sister and William wiped tears from the corner of his eyes.
"It's not like I will be gone for too long," Tatiana said when she was finally seated inside the carriage. "Both of them are such big babies."
She sighed, deep inside she was also sad about leaving. If only she could bring them both with her at the location but it's not allowed because Elliot is only thirteen and Sir William is busy with the Palace affairs.
"You look like you'll miss them too, princess," Emma smiled as she watched the princess look sadly outside the window.
"I will," Tatiana whispered in reply while keeping her eyes out in the carriage's window. They passed by a familiar road where Tatiana strolled before arriving at the capital. She also saw the large building and infrastructures for the second time but it still amazes her every time. The scenery is breathtaking and this place looks livelier than the palace.
"This is your first time seeing the capital, princess. What do you think?" Morgan suddenly appeared beside the carriage window. He was also looking around the place, riding on his brown horse.
Tatiana let out a nervous laugh and glanced over at Emma, "Ye-yes, yes. It is really beautiful."
"The food is amazing and there is this bakery that's owned by an old couple. Their bread is warm and soft and melts inside your mouth," Morgan rattled on. Tatiana smiled while looking at him continue talking about the bakery and thought about why a nice and innocent guy like him pledged loyalty to the previous Tatiana in the original storyline when she was a villain.
Morgan, who was in the original book even risked his life in attempting to kill Agatha for Tatiana but only ended up getting killed by Bjorn instead. She wondered why Morgan was willing to do that for her. She never knew why because it was only written in the book that Morgan was Tatiana's loyal knight but not anything else.
Tatiana spaced out and when she went back to talk to Morgan, he wasn't there anymore. Instead, it was Bjorn and his horse trotting beside the carriage window she was looking out to. Her face immediately soured when she saw him but immediately shook the expression off because she owed him something.
"Where's Morgan?" Tatiana asked, looking around for her future knight. "He was here a second ago."
"He is at the rear of the carriage, guarding." Bjorn shortly answered, not even looking in her direction. "What do you need him for?"
Bjorn's eyes glanced over the princess's direction but the princess did not respond. She rested her arm on the carriage's window sill and rested her head there while looking outside. She looked much like a child while looking at the scenery.
An idea popped into Tatiana's mind. She looked at Bjorn with wide eyes that made him almost fall off his horse when she caught him looking at her but Tatiana did not seem to notice.
"Call Morgan!" she gasped.
Bjorn's forehead creased and asked, "why? I'm here. What do you need him for?"
Tatiana rolled her eyes and yelled, "Morgan!"
"Your highness, you must not yell!" Emma cried.
Morgan immediately galloped towards the other window, surprised by the shout. Even a few of the people they passed by looked.
Tatiana slid in her seat towards the other side and peeked through the window. Bjorn, who was taken aback by the princess's actions decided to also go to the other side. And Emma who was observing them a few minutes ago smiled and shook her head.
"Take us to the bakery you were talking about," Tatiana told him.
"Are you hungry, your highness?" Morgan asked, "there is a famous bakeshop around the corner."
Tatiana shook her head and said, "No, let's go to the place you were talking about."
Morgan was hesitant at first. Why would something like the princess go to a mere bakeshop like that?
"Let's go," Tatiana insisted. Morgan was still confused but he decided to follow the princess's orders. They went to a less populated part of the capital where commoners shop and live. Unlike the place they passed by a few moments ago, this place has smaller roads and the stalls are not that colorful and vibrant but people are still busy the roads are still filled with people.
Turns out that the carriage will not fit the road so They have to go there on foot.
"What do you want to try, your highness? I will buy it for you. You just have to wait here." Morgan got down from his horse and handed the rope to the coachman.
To his surprise, the carriage door opened and the princess climbed down with a 'hup'.
"Princess, what are you doing?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" the princess asked while straightening out her skirt, "dresses are so hard to move in."
"You should just wait inside the carriage, your highness."
"What do you mean? How can I choose if I won't see it?"
Morgan looked at Emma helplessly for help but Emma only shrugged her shoulder and shook her head in defeat.
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END