The Reluctant Prince

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

         Izzy tapped her foot impatiently as she and Ellie waited for their bodyguards to show up. They were supposed to leave the castle grounds twenty minutes ago but neither of their guards had shown up yet – and they were on a tight schedule – so Izzy was a bit annoyed and very impatient to get going.

"Where in the world are Andrew and whoever's guarding me today?" Izzy grumbled under her breath, frustrated.

"Relax, your highness, I'm right here," Andrew chuckled, a cocky grin planted on his face, entering the courtyard and going to stand next to Ellie. Izzy glared at him: he knew how much she hated him calling her 'your highness' when they weren't in a formal setting. Andrew showing up took care of one problem but that did not solve the problem of who her guard was for the day.

"Why are you late, Andrew?" Izzy groaned, turning to face him.

"I'm afraid that would be my fault, my dear," George's voice said from behind her. Isabella couldn't help the small smile that formed on her face when she turned around to a bright and smiling George.

"And why would that be?" Izzy asked, actually somewhat amused. George rarely detained his employees, especially when the timeliness of castle errands were at stake.

"I needed him to get your official new guard up," he smiled. Izzy looked at him, confusion spreading across her face as he chuckled.

And for the second time in less than 24 hours Izzy gasped as her new guard strolled into the courtyard. "Nicky? Y-You're my new guard? As in officially replacing Rupert?" But he was so new, he had no training other than the academy. It was one thing for Rupert to be that new when he was in the same situation; she had only been ten. But now she was 22 and had a lot more danger associated with her. Why had George chosen him?

"Yep. Looks like you're stuck with me, Iz," he grinned but his eyes showed nervousness. He was the last person Izzy was expecting to replace Rupert, surprising her, Izzy froze. She froze, at least, until Ellie came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "Well? Accept it or decline, Iz. Do something."

"Um," Izzy breathed. "Well, are you ready?" She asked Nicolas, gaining composure once more, her in-control façade once more masking her confusion. "We do need to get going. We're on a tight schedule" she sighed. Izzy quickly turned, grabbed Ellie's arm, and began walking through the courtyard and to the gates to enter town, the guys following closely.

"What was that, Izzy? What is up with you? You never let shock freeze you like that," Ellie said, turning worried eyes towards Izzy.

"That's just it, I don't know," Isabella whispered, allowing confusion to momentarily break through her mask of control.

"Well, take a deep breath and get it together. We're entering the town. You're on display now," Ellie said lightly, a smile plastered on her face, as she linked her arm through Izzy's. She did as Ellie said and quickly put up the wall separating her confusion from her duty; Izzy would deal with that when they walked back inside those gates. "Thanks, El."

The four of them headed away from the castle and towards the main square, Ellie and Izzy leading the way, and, minutes later, they arrived at the first stop on their list: a cookware and spice shop to buy a couple of things Cook needed for that night, as well as look for a thank you gift for all of his work for the ball. As they walked in, the aroma of different spices—one of Izzy's favorite smells—and the cheery "Good morning" from the shop's owner, fifty-something, silver-haired Elizabeth, greeted them warmly.