Chapter 8: Misunderstanding

When Eugene finally regained his consciousness and opened his eyes slowly, his head hurt like hell. But, strangely, the pain was somewhat familiar.

His eyes needed some time to adjust themselves to the bright light but when Eugene wasn't seeing blurry anymore, he could see that he was surrounded by the kitchen staff. And they were armed with all kinds of kitchen utensils like knives, meat cleavers and Eugene even saw a kitchen boy holding a frying pan-

"You beat me with a frying pan!" he accused the kitchen boy.

The kitchen boy backed off, frightened by Eugene's reaction.

"You were lucky, that I haven't struck you down," a man like a closet told Eugene, waving with his meat cleaver angrily.

"Alright, I was just saying..." Eugene trailed off, lifting his hands in defeat.

"So, what do you want to steal this time, Rider?" the closet asked, his eyes narrowed.

"You know, it's kind of funny," Eugene said chattily," the one time I get caught is exactly the time when I'm not trying to steal something."

"Do I look like I would believe you, Rider?" The closet didn't looked convinced at all.

By and by Eugene felt uncomfortable being called by his fake name.

"News don't seem to spread fast here," he mumbled to himself.

"What do you mean?" The closet had an accurate ear.

"Well, I guess you know that the lost princess isn't lost anymore?" Eugene got impatient now.

"Of course!" the closet said. The rest of the kitchen staff murmured affirmatively.

"Good. And now guess who has brought her back home?"

The closet just shrugged with his shoulders.

Eugene let out a desperate sigh.

"Okay, I will give you a tip," Eugene said slowly, then pointed at himself with his forefingers hectically.

"You? I'm not falling for that," the closet droned deridingly.

"Do I look that stupid?" the closet added.

"Well, now that you're asking..." Eugene stopped, remembering that that guy had a meat cleaver after all.

"Are you calling me stupid?" the closet roared, stepping closer angrily.

"How about you guys just looking for the princess and then she can affirm my story or not?", Eugene suggested, changing the topic hastily.

"If she doesn't know me, you can turn me in," Eugene added, he was sure that idea appealed to the closet.

"You've got a point, Rider," the closet admitted.

"Steve!"the closet barked, making a wispy boy flinch.

"Yes, Sir?"the kitchen boy whispered intimidated, clutching the frying pan.

"Go, search for the princess! Then we're gonna see if that thief is telling the truth," the closet instructed.

"Yes, Sir," the boy, Steve, whispered and hurried out of the kitchen.

Eugene felt sympathy for the boy. It was already unpleasant for him to be in the same room with the closet for a few minutes but that boy had to work for that guy... wait! That boy had banged a frying pan on his head! Why did Eugene sympathize with everyone who banged a frying pan on his head?

"You seem to be very confident that the princess knows you," the closet mused.

"Well, maybe because I know her? I mean, I found her in that tower, we made a trip to Corona, saw the lanterns together and then..." Eugene listed but was interrupted by a confused Rapunzel:

"Eugene? What are you doing here?"

"Your highness!" the closet exclaimed, bowing low.

Then he pointed at Eugene: "He said, that you know him!"

"Well, of course I know Eugene," Rapunzel said, still confused," he saved me and brought me back to my family."

"Oh." Was all the closet said.

"Could you please put the meat cleaver away?" Eugene asked, now slightly amused.

"Oh sure, sure..." the closet muttered, putting it away quickly. Behind the closet stood Steve, trying to stifle a grin.

Eugene grinned back then, took Rapunzel's hand and led her out of the kitchen.

"Well, it was really nice to meet you guys but I have to attend a delicious breakfast with the princess here, so bye," he said, waving good-bye to the closet who just stood there dumbfounded.

As soon as Rapunzel and Eugene had left the kitchen, Eugene let out a relieved sigh.

"Why were you in the kitchen? And why did that big guy threatened you with a meat cleaver?" Rapunzel asked.

Eugene grinned sheepishly:" Well, I left your room through the window because I had heard someone coming and when I was on the roof I looked for an opened window to get back in. The only window that was open was the one of the kitchen and so I got in there. But unfortunately, that boy, Steve, saw me and banged a frying pan on my head because everybody thought that I was going to steal something. Then when I was conscious again I told them that I didn't want to steal anything and that you knew me. They didn't believe me and so I made them getting you to the kitchen so that you could tell them that I know you."

Rapunzel looked at Eugene in disbelief:"You were knocked unconscious with a frying pan?"

"Yeah," Eugene nodded," ironic, right?"

"And why would you get into the kitchen to steal something?" Rapunzel asked confused.

"Ehm, well," Eugene stuttered embarrassed,"I had stolen some croissants from there before."

"What?"

"You know, you get here the most amazing breakfast in whole Corona. I couldn't resist," Eugene said, looking at the floor in embarrassment.

Rapunzel smiled:" Well, you will get the best breakfast in Corona legal, now."

Surprised by her words, Eugene lifted his head. She wasn't angry with him?

Rapunzel still smiled and took his hand:" Now, hurry. Before my parents start having breakfast without us."

Then she hurried to the dinner room, dragging a dumbfounded Eugene with her.

At the same time, in the kitchen, the closet suddenly stand still:"Why did she call Rider 'Eugene'?"

END

So, this is the end. I hope you enjoyed it and I want to thank you for your reading this story til the end. I also want to thank you for the nice reviews I received from you; they made me really happy :D