Chapter 6: White Lies .1

Finley's Point of View

"Prove to us first that we could trust you before I answer that question." Scarlet said with a firm voice while squinting at me.

From the looks of it, she really might be the princess and with the situation she is in, which is in a lot of danger, she would need protection or at least some help from more people. I could grasp the opportunity to make quite an impression on her.

I guess I couldn't reveal to her now that I'm from Canada, because she might not even know the place as well, like Varan, in fact no one in this kingdom might even have heard of it at least once in their lives .

I've got to think fast!

Maybe I should play the reverse card now.

"Let me ask you the same question, how can I trust you as well? How will I know that you're not the real bad guy in this kingdom? What if they're hunting you down because both of you have done something? " I asked with suspicion.

'Well, that's just great, Finley. That's a nice way to impress her, really' a voice sarcastically uttered in my head.

"Wow, I can't believe you would even ask that question." Tucky said while his eyelids drooped. I know, Tucky, I can't believe I would ask something like that as well, such a foolish thing to ask.

"For starters, I just saved your life, Finley. I saved your life, and I don't expect anything back from you."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I asked such a foolish question. I should be grateful instead of questioning such a noble deed done in my favor." I scowled in shame.

"It's just that, you see, I cannot say something right now that would make you trust me instantly. Trust is earned and as my life saver, I would like to earn your trust in any way I can, no matter how long it takes I am quite invested in helping you if you're ever the princess, not because you're a royalty but because I know that your life is on the line here, I mean if you were telling the truth about those soldiers in which I believe that you were." I candidly stated to her.

"You're right, what was I thinking. Trust is definitely hard earned and from what you said, I can give you a chance to earn my trust, but I've already told you that what I did to you is out of a good and purely intentional deed and I'm not expecting anything from you, really. Helping others who needs it, is already a reward in itself." Scarlet genuinely replied. Such a beautiful face with a beautiful heart and I can't help but admire her with only a few minutes or I think an hour spent with her.

I smiled at her upon hearing her words.

"I know, Scarlet but I choose to help you as well, as a man of integrity. Don't look at it as a payback but rather as a friend who wants to help." She then smiled back at me.

"Well then alright, I guess we can tell him, Scarlet." Tucky said nicely.

"Are you sure, Tucky? I know you've been nagging me about trusting people easily. Are you really sure now?" Scarlet asked him.

"Yeah, I know a bright man when I see one and I guess the truths are already obvious. And Finley, sorry about earlier, I just wanted to protect Scarlet." Tucky implied.

"Yeah, I think we're quite obvious back there, Finley. You know me, asking how we can trust you and all." Scarlet told me with a slight grin on her face.

"Tucky, it's fine, really. I understand why you were trying to kill me awhile back. And yeah Scarlet, I'm quite convinced that you're the princess already. I had a lot of hints along the way especially when Tucky came in."

"Well, I didn't know that you didn't know, you know?" Tucky shrugged.

"So, what really happened, if I may ask? Why are they tracking you down?"

"I am the princess of kingdom Avery, and I am ruling it along with my mother. Then Demetrius came into the picture and ruined everything. He took the throne and now I'm just a fugitive who managed to escape the hands of such a heinous creature." Scarlet explained.

"Where's your mother?" I asked my brows knitted with pity.

"She's..." her head lowered down and she couldn't even finish her words and that's when I already knew.

"I'm sorry, Scarlet. I didn't know."

"It's fine, it's not even your fault." She said with her head still looking down on the ground. Tucky seems to be very down as well for the matter.

"Well now that I've told you, tell us where you're from. I've been asking and something kept on interrupting your response. So, please do tell us now."

My heart started to beat faster. Now, that I had time to think things through. I just can't really say that I am from Canada, a place found in quite a very different world from this realm and telling them about it will just complicate things.

Now, that I have a chance to protect her might as well give her the good impression I was aiming for a while back.

She did mention back there that she thought I was a novice adventurer which for the record is true, but I don't want her thinking I'm really as lame as I seem to be. I have been putting myself into shame the past moments and I need to redeem myself and come back as if I'm some type of a real warrior.

I could be a king! No, that would be too extreme and unrealistic. Oh, how about a prince? That'd be more reasonable. Or I could be a knight! What about both? Or like I'm a prince who knows how to fight. Yeah, that's going to be it but from where?? That's the big question. Oh, I know!

"The truth is I'm from Codor Kingdom. I'm a prince there and I'm known for engaging myself into real combats for our people. Basically, like a prince who's like a knight." I declared with a bit of confidence. But they might know I'm lying because I'm really a bad liar.

I read about this kingdom of Codor on some book I was reading back in Tynewt the first time I worked for Varan, and it really got my interest for some reason. It was a very interesting kingdom that I just read and read all about it. Now, I know almost all about the place that it's the perfect cover up for my pretty white lie.

"Oh, really now? How come I've never heard of you." Scarlet asked. I felt a sweat slowly drip on the side of my face.

"Uhm, well...I... I actually consider myself as a rebellious prince and I often doesn't conform to my parent's rules. You wouldn't see me often in my own kingdom or even hear my name because my parents , the king and the queen have grown ashamed of me for the past years. They like my brother better and they'll probably make him king already!" I said throwing my hands carelessly in the air. Then I let out a sigh.

~ To be Continued ~