Chapter 23: Secret Hideout

Scarlett's POV

While holding Diana tightly in my arms, I run and jump around, going to my secret place.

I turn to the left after passing a broken library room and jump before landing carefully.

I could hear her yelping and feel her grip getting tight the moment I jump.

After taking right and left, we finally arrive at my secret place.

I carefully put down Diana on the ground.

"Don't open your eyes yet"-Scarlett

I said to Diana gently so as not to scare her. I look around and draw the curtain to light up the room.

"!!"-Scarlett

I was shocked to see the amount of dust accumulated in the room. As I was about to clean it, Diana's voice sounded anxious tone on her voice.

"I…is it okay to open my eyes now, Princess?"-Diana

Diana hesitates for a bit before questioning me, still not opening her eyes without my permission.

"Nope! Just a minute!"-Scarlett

I respond to her looking at her face with a smile on my face before walking toward the cabinet to grab a broom and began to clean the room at the speed of light.

Maybe because I'm creating noises Diana tilts her head to the side with a look of confusion on her face.

She looks cute when she acts like that.

Half a minute later, I finally finished cleaning. I lightly grab her wrist and lead her to take a sit.

"You can open your eyes now"-Scarlett

I said to her gently as possible and went to her side, looking at the scenery at the window.

"Where are we Princess?"-Diana

Diana asks in awe while looking around and the most time she stares was the desk at the end of the room.

"This is one of my secret hideouts, enjoy My Lady"-Scarlett

I took a step forward, turn to face Diana with a charming smile on my face, kneeled and took her hand, and kiss while looking at her.

"!!"-Diana

I could see Diana's face flush with bright red and steam coming out of her ears. She lowered her head and cover her face with one hand.

"Are you shy?"-Scarlett

I stand straight and let out a chuckle as I rub Diana's head. Heading to the desk to the back and taking a key, goes back to Diana and sit right next to her.

"Take this, in case you visit this abandoned building you can stay here and you might see me~"-Scarlett

I take Diana's hand and open it by spreading her fingers and carefully place the spare key in her hand.

Diana looks at her hand for a moment before looking at me with a confused look on her face.

"Princess…how can I come here If I don't know the direction?"-Diana

Diana asks with an innocent look with her head tilted to the side, her soft voice that matches her lovable appearance didn't match her appearance earlier when fighting the assassins.

I didn't interfere to see how Diana handle it and I'm happy that she handles it perfectly but…

I would choose a different option when it comes to that kid…

"Right! I can't forget something about that! Then I'll tell you, the moment you enter the entrance, go to the back door where it leads to the outside and don't go to the door but turn left and walk into the hallway"-Scarlett

I hammered the bottom of my fist to my other palm and spoke with a smile on her face before guiding Diana with enough details for someone to understand.

"You're following this right, Lady Diana?"-Scarlett

I stop and look at her with a smile on my face, asking her in a gentle voice.

I could see her face looking intently as if she was listening to me seriously.

"Ye—yeah Princess, I'm listening!"-Diana

Diana changes her words to causal and nods like an excited child ready to learn.

"Good~ now turn to the right and go to the second floor, although the stairs are broken I think you can jump on them? Then you have to walk down the hallway and take out a painting, there you can see a broken wall behind the painting."-Scarlett

"After you enter the room, turn left before jumping on the ruined floor then turn right again and you can see that door"-Scarlett

I added, pointing my finger at the door at the end of my sentence.

"I see, although I can't jump high but with you Princess, you can help me? Right?"-Diana

Diana places her hand on her chin looking serious as she looks at me and then asks if I'll help her.

"Of course! Just come to me and I'll help you anytime"-Scarlett

I reassure her with a cheerful smile on my face, looking at her in the face.

Just when Diana was about to respond, I heard some of the knights begin to call us from afar.

"Oh, they're calling us, let's go back"-Scarlett

Sadly, I have to interrupt Diana, standing up and looking out the window.

"Really? I don't hear anything"-Diana

Diana asks in doubt and stands up, looking at the window.

We both look out the window and saw no one looking for us and it seems like Diana still didn't hear anyone calling us.

"But since it's you who said it, I believe you Princess"-Diana

Just when I was going to tell her about my hearing, Diana spoke in a soft voice causing me to look at her with a stunned look on my face.

"You're making me flustered"-Scarlett

I chuckled as I tug the hair strands on the back of my ears while looking at her with a smile on my face.

"Thank you?"-Diana

Diana laughs at my word and thanks me with a question mark on her tone. The laugh she makes sounds pleasing to my ears and as I stare at her, I could see some tears starting to form from the corner of her eyes.

Hearing her laugh, I also began to laugh from the heart. Although she only said two words, strangely enough, it made me laugh sincerely.

How long has it been since I laugh from the bottom of my heart?

I can't remember.

Weird, my memory has been great, I can even remember when I was 1 year old.

Oh, now I remember.

It's been 6 years since the last time I laugh like this.

"Let's go! We still have things to continue"-Scarlett

I patted Diana's shoulder lightly with a big smile on my face and open the window as I spoke. After I finish talking, I stop my action and look at my desk.

I turn to face my desk and walk towards it. I couldn't help but feel ominous. I stand there motionlessly while looking at my drawer.

Standing there for a few seconds, before closing my eyes and looking at Diana to reassure her.

"Let's go"-Scarlett

I walk towards Diana and held her hand as we leave the room, before closing the door, I look at my desk one more time and then closed the door.

---

??? POV

The coast is clear.

Surely, she wouldn't come back in the meantime since she's accompanying Diana.

I waited for five more minutes before going to the open window as lightly as possible.

Patting my hands to get rid of the dust, I look at the desk with a smile on my face. Walking toward the desk and as I walk, I pass all of the windows and see my reflection.

Hmm, I don't really know if I look like this but this is what I see, though one thing is wrong my hair color is different from what it actually is.

I could say, I slay in this look. Totally going to brag to my followers.

Alright, stop being a narcissist and do your job.

Stopping at the desk, I look at the drawer with a smile on my face. Geez, this is getting fun.

[tap][tap]

I tap two times at the table before taking two steps forward and opening the drawer.

My eyes brighten when I saw what I wanted in the drawer. This looks much better than what I imagined.

Don't mind me, I'll just borrow your precious mask~

Seriously, I'm a genius when it comes to masking design. A sad face design is a right thing for her~

I'll just leisurely put this mask on my bag, she won't mind, right? Scarlett has soo many copies of this.

While walking toward the window I just entered to exit, I hummed a song known as "London Bridge" in a creepy manner that I strangely like.

I prefer the creepy "London Bridge" hummed song than the normal one.

Alright, goodbye. See you~ have fun.

---

Scarlett POV

I was the first one to jump down the broken stairs with Diana on the other side of the stairs, waiting for me.

"You can jump Lady Diana, I'll catch you! You can trust me"-Scarlett

I turn my head to face Diana and smile to reassure her, stretching out both of my arms, ready to catch Diana.

"You better catch me Princes!"-Diana

Diana clung to the broken railing at the side of the wall while closing her eyes and lightly yelled like a cute arrogant princess.

"Don't worry Lady Diana, trust me!"-Scarlett

I smile at her to encourage Diana to jump, taking a step forward to close the distance even just an inch.

The moment Diana heard my words, she jumped toward me with her eyes close.

I smiled as I saw her jump, catching her in my arms securely.

"Oof"-Diana

Diana let out a word while clinging to my neck tightly.

"It's okay now, Lady Diana"-Scarlett

I spoke softly while holding her back and the back of her knees, my fingers touching her smooth waist.

"Thank you, Princess"-Diana

After I put Diana down, Diana immediately thanks me with a sweet smile on her face.

"You're welcome! Then let me, Scarlett Lyons Perkins, lead the way, my lady"-Scarlett

I respond to Diana carefree with my hands on the back of my head and turn around to face Diana as we go down the stairs, held her hand, and left a light kiss on the back of her hand before turning back again with a grin on my face.

I can probably see Diana blushing face without looking at her.

Leading Diana back to the outside of the abandoned church, took us quite some time than earlier since I'm not carrying Diana this time.

"Your Highness! Lady Diana!"-Oscar

Oscar notices us leaving the abandoned church as they wait at the carriages, Oscar's voice attracted a lot of knights' attention.

The knights look at us when they heard Oscar's voice. As we walked toward them, they took a step forward to give us the way to the criminals.

"Is this all?"-Scarlett

I ask Oscar as I look at the criminals whose heads are lowered and ashamed to look at me.

"Yes, Your Highness"-Oscar

Oscar put his hand on his chest and bows a little as he responds to me in a gentle voice.

"Hmm…is that so"-Scarlett

I let out a hum as I look at the criminal with a smile on my face. Walking toward the head of the orphanage and picking him up by the back of his collar, held his chin to look at me.

"You know…before beheading them, let the commander interrogate them"-Scarlett

Placing my hand on my chin as I look at the headmaster of the orphanage before turning my head toward Oscar with a cheerful smile on my face and then letting go of his collar causing his butt to fall on the ground.

[thud]

'That was a loud sound'

I thought to myself.

"Yes, Your Highness"-Oscar/Knights

Oscar and the knights kneeled with her hand on their chest and respond to me.

"Good"-Scarlett

I hummed in delight, smiling then to look at Diana.

"Do you want to follow me to the palace to plan the execution? Lady Diana?"-Scarlett

I ask her as I took a step forward and grab her hand and smile at her.

"Eh? I can?"-Diana

Diana was dumbfounded at first and let out a cute voice before asking me a question with her head tilted to the side.

"Of course! you handle most of this!"-Scarlett

I respond to her question without hesitation and keep nodding with a smile on my face.

"Okay"-Diana

Diana nodded in agreement and let out a smile that makes the knights and sir Oscar dumbfounded when they saw her smile.

I guess they didn't expect the rumored "Wicked Princess" to have a gentle smile.

"Alright! Let's go!"-Scarlett

Hearing Diana's answer, I happily took her hand and gently drag her toward the carriage and headed to the palace while the knights put the criminals in the prison.