The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 120 : New Offices

The Imperial Security Offices were shocked, as was Rusks. Catherine, being exceedingly sleepy made the mistake of not verifying who was at the door. She assumed Dusk had come back for some reason. But when she saw armed men, her training took over.

The officers crouched, pointing their weapons, but unsure since it was the Princess. Catherine, however, securely protected behind Rusks, while holding him tightly, exposed very little of her own body. She was mentally computing how to use the human shield to kill the 4 armed men threatening her.

Rusks rasped and managed to say, "Princess! It's me, Rusks! We are from Imperial Security!"

She saw the men were Imperial Security Guards and then recognised Rusks who took them around the previous day. She ordered them to put their guns down before she cautiously let go of him. Rusks decided he needed to go to Regis and get retrained if this kid could get the better of him even when half asleep.

With the standoff and hostage situation defused, he managed to turn around and seeing her annoyed face, almost laughed. But he held back because he did not want to antagonise her.

"Princess, your Aunt has been calling for you both for a long time. She got worried and set off a city-wide alert thinking you were lost or something!" he explained.

"What? Where is she?" Scarlet asked, standing in the next doorway with a handgun. She had woken up with the noise. She was not worried once she saw Rusks standing at the door.

"They are in the main apartment, of course."

"What do you mean, 'main apartment'?" Catherine asked annoyed. "Are we in some annex?"

"No, Princess, you are in a fake apartment made to fool people into thinking an ordinary student lived here." Rusks explained.

"Nopes!" Scarlet said, "Catherine already found the second apartment. I was sleeping in one and she was in the other."

"May I come in? I can explain." He replied. Then he went straight through to the end of the second apartment, used his access key to unlock a door hidden behind a tapestry...

They walked into the 4-bedroom suite, that was Julien's actual apartment. Lady Crystala was so shocked on seeing Rusks walk through the wall (followed by a pair of tousled haired girls in sleeping gowns) that she did not know whether she should cry with relief or laugh at the comical scene.

"Where were you girls? Do you know how worried I was?" Lady Crystala practically screamed. The other security officers were also looking incredulous. There were more rooms hidden behind a removable wall. It was truly unexpected. No wonder the systems showed they were still in the apartment.

"We were sleeping in the apartment... No one told us there were more rooms here!" Catherine cried. "Those rooms were so small, and the bathrooms are pathetic!"

Lady Crystala looked at them and started laughing. "There were more rooms there? You mean the three of you had to squeeze together in a small room all night? Poor things! Have you even eaten?"

The girls shook their head and collapsed on a sofa, glumly looking at the luxurious room they missed the previous night. For others, there was still a lot to be done. Rusks, for example, had to cancel the city-wide alerts that were issued. The Emperor had to be informed that everything was under control. And the plan for the day decided.

Fifteen minutes later, the Security Team had gone, as had Rusks (much to Scarlet's disappointment). The maids ran over to make breakfast for the Princesses. After that, they went to the other rooms and hauled the bags to the main apartment. They unpacked the things and put them in the cupboards. Both Princesses were thankful that they did not have to do it themselves.