A Princess and a Commoner: Star Crossed Lovers

Baked Lies

(ISADORA'S POV CONTINUED)

As I turned to leave the bakery, a flutter of uncertainty filled my chest. I had escaped the knights, but now I felt an unexpected pull to stay. There was something about Gabriel, something that made me want to linger just a moment longer.

"Wait," he called, stopping me in my tracks. I turned back to see his expression shift from playful to serious. "Are you really going to just walk away? You could get caught again. You should stay hidden for a while longer."

"I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself," I replied, my tone sharper than intended. "I can't just hide forever."

Gabriel crossed his arms, a challenge gleaming in his eyes. "And what do you plan to do? Run around the village while the knights are still looking for you? That's a recipe for disaster."

I felt my resolve falter. He was right, and it frustrated me. "Fine, then. What do you suggest? Should I just stay here and help you bake for the rest of my life?"

"Well, it's better than being out there where you could get caught," he said, his gaze softening slightly. "Besides, you're good at this."

"Good at baking? Or good at causing trouble?" I shot back, a smirk playing on my lips.

Gabriel chuckled, the tension between us easing just a bit. "Both, it seems. But look, how about this? Stay for a few days, help me out, and then we'll figure out a plan for you to leave. Just try not to cause too much chaos."

I considered it. I wanted to fight him, to insist that I didn't need his help, but the truth was, I didn't want to leave just yet. Maybe staying would buy me some time. "Alright, fine. I'll help. But I'm not going to become your personal assistant, Gabriel."

He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that made my heart race. "Deal."

Over the next few days, I immersed myself in the bakery's rhythm. We worked side by side, and I couldn't help but notice how easily we fell into a routine, teasing each other with playful banter as we kneaded dough and decorated pastries. The more time I spent with Gabriel, the more I learned about him, and the more I found myself drawn to him.

One evening, while we were closing up, I caught him staring at me as I arranged a tray of pastries. His gaze was intense, almost hungry, and I felt a rush of warmth flood my cheeks.

"Is something on my face?" I asked, half joking, but my heart raced as I realized how close we were.

He shook his head, his expression unreadable. "No, just thinking."

"About what?" I pressed, curiosity piquing my interest.

"About how you've changed everything in this bakery," he replied quietly, stepping a little closer. "I didn't know how much I needed the distraction until you showed up."

My breath hitched in my throat. "And what if I'm not just a distraction?"

Gabriel met my gaze, the playful spark in his eyes dimming as seriousness enveloped us. "Then I guess we'll have to see where this goes."

The moment stretched, charged with unspoken words, and I felt a pull toward him that I couldn't resist. But before I could react, the bell above the bakery door jingled, breaking the tension. A young boy burst in, clutching a crumpled piece of paper.

"Gabriel! I saw the knights!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with fear.

Gabriel's expression shifted instantly, the carefree air dissipating. "What did they say?"

"They're looking for Isa," the boy replied breathlessly, holding up the poster with my face on it.

My heart dropped as I recognized the words scrawled beneath: "Wanted: The Runaway Princess."

Gabriel's eyes widened as he glanced between me and the poster. "You lied to me," he whispered, a mix of shock and betrayal washing over his features. "You're not just some villager...."

My heart raced, and my mind scrambled for an explanation, but the look on Gabriel's face stopped me cold.

I took a shaky breath, guilt gnawing at my insides. "Gabriel, I didn't mean for you to get involved."

"But you did," he cut me off, stepping back as if he couldn't stand to be near me. "You let me believe you were just some villager, someone who needed help."

"I did need help," I pleaded, stepping forward, but he held up his hand, stopping me.

"You let me risk everything without even knowing who you are," he snapped, his voice rising in anger. "Do you know what would happen to me if they found out I was hiding you?"

"Gabriel, I'm sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know if I could trust you."

His eyes flashed with hurt, and he shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "That's the problem, isn't it? You didn't trust me. You've been working here, helping me, and all this time, you've been lying."

"I didn't mean to lie," I said, my heart aching at the anger in his voice. "I was scared, Gabriel. I couldn't just tell you the truth. What if you turned me in?"

His jaw clenched, and I could see the struggle in his eyes. "I wouldn't have betrayed you like that, Isadora. But now... you've made me a part of this without even giving me a choice. How can I trust you after that?"

I stepped closer, my voice trembling. "Gabriel, I didn't want to put you in danger. But I had no one else to turn to. You were my only hope."

"Yeah, well, maybe you should have thought of that before you lied to me," he said coldly, his eyes narrowing.

The weight of his words crushed me, and I could feel tears welling up. I had trusted no one for so long, and now the one person I had started to open up to was turning away from me.

"I didn't want this to happen," I whispered. "I didn't want to hurt you."

For a long moment, Gabriel said nothing, just stared at me with a look of betrayal that cut deeper than any words could. Finally, he spoke, his voice flat and emotionless. "I need you to leave."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Gabriel, please," I begged. "I didn't mean for this to happen. Let me explain—"

"No," he interrupted, shaking his head. "You've explained enough. You didn't trust me, and now I don't know if I can trust you. So, leave. Before the knights come back."

I swallowed hard, my chest tight with the weight of his rejection. I had known this was a possibility, but it still hurt more than I'd imagined. "Fine," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll go."

As I turned to leave, I felt the sting of tears threatening to spill over. But before I could take another step, Gabriel's voice stopped me.

"And Isa... OH I mean Princess Isadora," he said, his tone soft but still laced with anger. "I hope, for your sake, that you learn what trust really means. Because one day, you might find yourself completely alone."

I bit my lip, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I already know what that feels like," I whispered before slipping out the door.

The night air was cold against my skin as I stepped into the empty street. My heart was heavy, and the weight of Gabriel's words stayed with me. I had hurt him, and the pain of that betrayal was something I wasn't sure I could fix.

Thank you so much for reading!