At Your Service

Chapter 30- Out This Bitch

I'm at the entrance to the palace. It's six thirty in the morning. The wedding is at five. More than enough time to get Aria out of here. Aria had sent the carriage to my neck of the forest to get me. Catfish came with me too. I couldn't leave him out there after all those months. He's the perfect companion. "You gotta be quiet okay? I'm not supposed to be here," I told him. Aria gave me specific instructions on what to do, and where to go. Aria texted me and told me that Felix would be up early in the morning. He's going to be super busy all day so he's out of the way for us. "Come in through the front of the palace at seven, wedding prep doesn't begin until eight," I remembered her saying. There was one place I wanted to visit before I left, long before everything is about to take place. I have to see him one more time.

I walked through the front entrance, being as discreet as possible. As I made my way through the palace corridors, I couldn't help but have flashbacks of all the memories of being here. All the talks I've had with Marianne and Florent, hooking up with Felix. All the hours I spent training to become his retainer. All those moments I shared with my dad before he died. Like the Celine Dion song said: "It's all coming back to me now." It's hard to believe that I'm leaving all of this behind. Everything I've ever known is here in Elodia.

I arrived at the back of the palace. Familiar scenery is around me. I see him, all the way behind a tree. Far past the fountain. Farther then eyes could notice. The truth is, I didn't have to see him because I already knew he would be here. This is where he goes whenever he's feeling apprehensive, or upset. 

"Hello," I greeted him. He turned around surprised. Before I could even register that I'm looking into his eyes again, he smothered me in a hug.

"Baker, what are you doing here?!" he asked, a mix of confusion and happiness was in his tone. "Have you come to see me?" he asked.

"I'm sorry Felix," I said.  "I had to come to see you, just one more time," a teardrop fell from my face, but I wiped my eyes. I had to be strong.

"What do you mean?"he asked, taking my hands in his.

"Me and Aria are running away today," I informed him. He dropped my hands, trying his hardest to process this information.

"Running away? I-I don't understand," he stammered.

"Aria doesn't want to get married to you."

"I know that, but why run away?"

"Monette and her parents refused to reason with her about the marriage. Running away is her only way out at this point. She asked me to help her escape," I revealed.

"But why must you go with her?" Felix asked.

"It's not safe for me to stay here. That's why I have to go with her. And that's also why I had to come back here. I had to come see you for the last time." I took his face into my hands, pulling him in for a kiss. He kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me and pulled me in as close as possible, refusing to let me go. I could see tears stinging his eyes. Those beautiful, lavender eyes. This is the last time I'm looking into them. I pulled away, swooping him into a hug, where we stood in silence for a while. "Felix, I want to give you this," I slipped my bracelet off my hand. "This belonged to my dad," I held his hand up to mind I slipped the bracelet on his wrist. "It was given to him by the king himself. With this bracelet, I'll always be with you. I hope you don't forget me," I sniffed, trying not to break down here.

"Baker, I could never forget you," he sniffed, smiling. He lifted his coronet off of his head. He adjusted my curly hair, giggling. He placed the coronet on my head, planting a soft kiss on my nose. "I hope this royal crown will remind you of all the memories we've shared. You mean everything to me."

I hug him one last time, squeezing him as tight as I can.

"I love you Felix. I always will," I whispered.

"Forever and always?" he replied.

"Forever and always," I kissed him. I turned to leave, taking one last, hard look at him before I'm gone. I turned around, letting the tears fall to the ground.

I made my way to Felix's room where Aria is. She opened the door, before I can even know.

"There you are, where were you?" she asked.

"I was uh... taking in the scenery," I lied.

"Oh uh alright? Let's go! We have to leave now! Kiyoshi's airplane is at the hanger," she informed me. I turned to Catfish, who was still perched on my shoulder.

"Hey Catfish, we need you to scout for us. If you see ANYONE, just caw alright?" I told him. He flew off of my shoulder, flying ahead of us. We speed walked down the hall as quietly as possible. Aria was wearing a pair of sunglasses. Her hair was tied back into a high ponytail. Clearly, she was in stealth mode. Catfish let out a cry, and we ducked behind a nearby pillar. I checked my phone, It was around 7:20, the palace is starting to get a lot busier. 

We heard the rolling of cart wheels. I took a small peak out and saw a line of cooking staff with empty plates. Reception ceremony. As soon as they were out of earshot, we ducked out of hiding, taking a flight of stairs to the third floor, where we could hear chattering of the staff. Everyone was anxious for the day to go perfect. We rushed as fast as we could to the other staircase when suddenly, I heard a pair of heels. They clicked against the floor in a slow, poised manner. "Aria, hide quick!" I whispered.

As we ducked into a dark crevice, just barely out of eyesight a familiar figure crept in my line of sight. It was the queen. I could feel myself holding my breath, trying not to make the slightest sound. For some reason she was alone, which I found strange. If Mila wasn't with her, usually someone is.

"What in the world was that sound?" she said, looking toward the area we were hiding. I crossed my fingers hoping she didn't notice anything suspicious. Suddenly, there were rushing footsteps as someone approached the queen, out of breath. It was the royal appearance coordinator, she's doing (or was supposed to do) Aria's hair and makeup for the wedding. 

"My queen! Your highness!" she panted.

"What is it?" Monette replied sternly.

"It's the princess. Lady Aria is nowhere to be found," she said.

"You've checked my son's room?" she asked.

"Yes your highness!"

"The guest room?"

"Yes!"

"What about the courtyard?"

"She's nowhere to be found."

"Get all the knights to search. Tell them to search every inch of the palace, we must find her at once!" she demanded, walking off swiftly.  Me and Aria went out of hiding, I was freaked out.

"We have to get out of here now! If the knights are searching, they'll find us in no time!" I exclaimed.

"Agreed, let's hurry!" We immediately change our pace from a speed walk to a sprint. We make it down to the first floor, where we nearly make it to the exit. All we have to do is make it out this door and we're free. Suddenly, outside I notice something. The knights, they've sealed off the exits. There's no possible way to escape! My heart is pounding, sweat drips from every inch of me. 

"Princess! Is that you?" I hear someone call from behind us. I hear them approach us. It's not a voice I've heard before, it is most definitely a knight. "Who is this that you're with?" they ask.

"Baker, I'm so sorry...," Aria sniffed, turning around. 

"No, I'm sorry," I turned around also. 

"Baker Kingsly?! But... you were executed!"

"Obviously not," I sneered.

"Trying to kidnap the princess I see. Get me the queen immediately!" the knight called out. I'm strapped in handcuffs and dragged out as Aria is escorted away from me. So this is it. This is the end of the line for me.