𝑹𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 (𝑻.𝑵.)

𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏

"I've told you this like a hundred times, I don't know where she is." Ted told the guard again. After they brought him to the castle cells, they began interrogating him.

"Well then who did we see you run after at the theater?"

"A woman. She seemed freaked out as she ran so I went after her to make sure she was okay."

"Why was she freaked out?"

"She saw her ex. Crazy ex. She was scared he was trying to find her so she ran to make sure he didn't follow her home."

"I don't believe you. We'll be back later for more questioning." The guard said slamming the door behind him. Ted sighed as he leaned against the cell bars.

"So you're the guy who snuck off with the princess?" He heard a voice from the next cell over ask.

"Did you not just hear me tell the guards 'no that wasn't me' for like thirty minutes?" Ted scoffed.

"Yeah, but people are easy to read. And most guys don't go running after a random woman."

"Who are you exactly?"

"Johnathan Schlatt. Been in here for a month or so. Spoke against the king because I wasn't going to bow before him and he shoved me in here."

"Everyone bows for the king."

"I wasn't gonna be treated like shit though."

"Wait, Schlatt? Don't you co-own the armory with minx?" Ted asked before he stepped up onto a ledge to see into the other cell.

"Oh my god, Ted!?" Schlatt basically shouted before almost dying of laughter. "Now I understand why some guy would run after a random woman."

"Not just some woman." Ted said before stepping down. "I lied to the guards."

"Well no shit. How the hell did you meet the princess anyway?"

"I was walking the night she left. She told me she was going on an adventure and next thing I know I'm about to kiss her right before the guards start banging on the door." He sighed as he sat down on the bed.

"You almost kissed her? Damn I never knew you wanted to be king."

"I don't want to be king, I just want to be with her. I couldn't care less if my social class changes because of it. Hell, if it were vice versa I'd give up being a prince to be with her."

"Could never be me."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Thea paced the floor of Niki's kitchen as she waited for her to return. When the door opened Thea immediately turned to her. "Is he alright?"

"He's been taken. When I asked Kristin if he was home she said he was gone when they arrived." Niki sighed before walking over to comfort the woman.

"Oh god." Then a familiar brunette walked in.

"You." Charlie said through gritted teeth.

"Me?" Thea asked confused.

"You got him taken."

"You told him?" Thea turned to Niki.

"No, I found this!" Charlie said shoving the missing poster into Thea's face.

"Charlie look-" Niki started.

"No! Niki she doesn't care for us. She doesn't care for Ted either. If she did then she would've just turned herself in, instead she got him taken. So believe me, you don't want her in your house, cause she was in mine and now my brother is gone."

"Charlie just let me explain."

"No. Thea, get out." Charlie said holding open the door.

"What...?" She asked.

"Out. I don't want niki to get in trouble because of you."

"Char-" niki tried to intervene.

"Niki, you'll thank me later." Charlie said and Thea sighed before leaving. She realized that she was getting nowhere with Charlie. As she left the store she noticed how many more guards were in the town. Now she had to be extra cautious. She kept her head down as she walked towards the forest.

"Hey you! Stop!" She heard one of the guards shout. When she realized they were talking to her, she ran. Thea could hear the leaves crunch behind her as she kept running further from the guards. When she recognized some of the trees around her, specifically the one with the platform, she smiled. She quickly climbed the tree and thanked everything that the leaves were enough to hide her. "Where'd she go?" She heard a guard ask from below her.

"I don't know, she was right in front of us." The other said.

"She can't be that far, let's go!" Then they were off. Thea slumped against the tree trunk, out of breath. Then her eyes went wide, she had an idea and it was gonna save Ted.