Chapter 4 Bold Step

Watching her sleep peacefully gave him joy. He left her a note "Your breakfast is just beside you, I am off to the gym 😊."

Isabella woke up an hour later feeling relaxed, with the rays of the sun bathing her skin. She slowly opened her eyes and immediately jumped up. "Where am I?" she said looking into the blanket with no clothes on her.

Turning swiftly "Oh there is a note" she said, reading it, she let out a sigh of relief. Thoughts of the previous night filled her mind and she wished for more lovely moments with him. Slowly sitting upright she pulled the blanket to herself.

She admired the shiny sun and wished all that happened in her father's house was only a nightmare.

Isabella loved sunny days because they often left her feeling fresh, like a day filled with so much promise and positivity.

Distracted by the knock on the door Isabella quickly looked for her dress. "Who is there?" She asked to buy time while wearing her clothes.

Walking in, Christiano greeted her with a big smile "Good morning Sunshine." "Good morning Sir," she replied with a smile on her face.

Isabella quickly went to sit on the only sofa in the room appearing to be shy. Christiano walked straight to the table and observed that the breakfast he prepared was the same way he left it.

"Are you hungry?" Christiano asked, immediately she nodded saying "I am famished". "Well then let us feast on this amazing meal that was made with love!" Christiano announced.

Christiano made two cups of coffee, Cappuccino and Caffe Latte. On the tray were varieties of freshly baked bread, crunchy almond cookies, light custard-filled cakes made with pine nuts, and sponge-like cakes dusted with sugar powder, fruits and yoghurt. They both ate silently admiring each other.

This is my first decent meal since the palace Isabella thought to herself. "Tell me about yourself," he said. Looking into his eyes she replied, "I am Isabella the daughter of Late King Anthonio Savoy and Late Cassia". Tears filled her eyes when Christiano came to hug her saying "I'm so sorry".

After washing the dishes, Christiano found Isabella sleeping peacefully. He observed bags under her eyes from crying and lack of sleep. "I am grateful I finally found the one," he thought to himself.

"Carlos, you are right on time, opening his car," he told him. "We shall be going to the store to get some things for the house but they must be very affordable," Christiano added. With a smile, Carlos asked, "Since when did you start caring about the price of goods?" Christiano smiled and said, "Since last night".

He searched his face to understand what he meant, but Christiano refused to give details. He only instructed him to find every detail about Isabella Savoy, the Princess from the nearby Kingdom of Sicily.

Carlos maintained his friendship with Christiano because they both knew when to draw the line.

Carlos did as he asked, he bought very cheap items and since Christiano's little house didn't have anything extravagant, he was able to ensure his commoner appearance.

Where have you been? Isabella said softly "Oh finally my Princess is awake" Christiano said with a big smile. Handing her a cup of Latte coffee he said "You have been sleeping all day since we last spoke, I can only imagine what you've been through emotionally" he pecked her on her forehead and said, "Rest my love".

"But I don't know you, who are you? Why are you caring this much?" Isabella protested.

"Call me Christiano, I am from this neighbourhood, and it pays to be a little kind" he replied. Touching her shoulders he added, "Relax, I am harmless."

Isabella slowly said "Okay, thank you," in disbelief.

Since she was thrown out of the palace, she had not been this relaxed and pampered. Maybe Father sent him to comfort his little Princess, she thought as she sipped her coffee slowly with her eyes closed.

"It is time to swim" Christiano announced holding up two swimming trunks. "Yes, yes" she replied raising her hands up in jubilation.

It was about mid-afternoon when they went out to swim. He watched her enjoy herself and he was grateful they met because his gut was telling him she was the one, but ignoring that feeling he went into the water and they both enjoyed the experience.

"Ha ha ha" she laughed while she dressed up, "you are funny" she said. "Anything to keep you happy my love," he said with a big smile.

I am not supposed to have anything to do with a commoner since I want to take over what belongs to my father and the palace, she thought to herself.

"A penny for your thought," he said, closely speaking into her right ear; this sent sensations down her spine, and she muttered with a smile "Nothing, I am just grateful".

Still holding her shoulders from behind he said "I know, I am a commoner but you are safe with me, I promise"

"Aww, that is so sweet," she said, forcing back tears from her eyes.

Carlos mailed him details about Princess Isabella Savoy later that night and seeing it gladdened his heart. Isabella slept while he took all night to study the mail.

Finding out that her parents died in a ghastly car accident and not knowing why she was chased out of the palace almost made him weep. "Poor child," he said

"Why are you still awake?" Isabella inquired standing right behind him.

"Oh my Princess you are awake, I was trying to pay my bills before they came knocking" he replied looking at her while he locked his phone. He reassured her that it was nothing.

"Come here," he said, hugging her and taking her back to bed.

By morning, Isabella was all dressed to leave his house.

"Why are you leaving?" Christiano asked. "It's been two days and I need to change into fresh clothing," she replied.

Entering her small home, feelings of the past filled her thoughts but she was determined to move on.

"I won't be humiliated by Rolando," she thought as she poured the warm water on her head.

"I will fight back and recover all that belongs to my father," she said as she sobbed.

Something is not right about the way everything happened at the palace she thought as she cleared the plates on her kitchen sink.

"I will do everything contrary to what Mara said to see where it will lead me since I have nothing to lose" she said smiling sheepishly as she cleaned her hands with the kitchen towel.