*Eleanor's POV*
I breathed heavily but kept digging, beads of sweat were all over my head, running down my face and blurring my vision, but I kept digging non-stop, why should I?, I'm not thinking of spending the night here looking for some stupid gold. "Eleanor," I paid no attention to who was calling me "Elly!" still kept digging, "Eleanor!!" Gwen called and held my arm to stop me from digging further, I panted heavily.
"You should take a break." She looked at me sympathetically, "here, sit here." she said, pulling me to sit on a rock.
"Thank you." I whispered and sat down.
Fourteen months, it's been fourteen months since I've been here, fourteen months of sorrow for every last member of Narva, fourteen Months of being whipped and treated like an outcast from hell, fourteen months of suffering, fourteen months I started bearing the name "slave", I don't even want to know how I look like cause it would only break me more, I remember when I was assigned to clean a guest room in the royal castle, I entered the bathroom and saw a mirror and looked at myself in it, I was so frightened, why??, Because I could not recognize myself, my autumn coloured hair was a wild mess, dirty, ugly and smelly. There were bags under my eyes, why wouldn't there be after all the endless, sleepless nights of cries. my eyes were red, I mean it felt like the red had dominated my eyes, I was thin and fragile and looked like someone who had less than an hour to live, sometimes I would think where is that young beautiful maiden who makes all men's jaw drop just smiling, I would only laugh like a maniac and say to myself she's gone.
I looked around and saw the once happy people of Narva all looking like sorrow itself. My mother was never found, some said she was probably in the castle when it was set ablaze.
I took my hand to my neck and brought out a necklace with mother's and father's picture attached to it, opened it and stared at it for a while. I never imagined losing someone so dear to me again, tears were already stinging my eyes as I remembered that night several years ago.
*FLASHBACK* "14 years ago."
Racks of sobs escaped my throat as I watched my father fight against those men, I felt so scared. They wanted to kill my father, mother held me so tightly to her bosom. Father fought with all his strength to protect us. There were two of them, father couldn't take them down on his own. One of them stabbed him with his sword. I gasped in fear and screamed. He pulled out his sword and surprisingly they both left.
Since that night mother has been treating him herself because we had no money to call a physician. Unknown to us he was poisoned through that sword and was dying slowly.
The king heard about this and sent a royal physician to come treat my father, because my father works as a blacksmith at the palace and the king promoted him, so I guess that generated jealousy among some other blacksmiths. I knew within me that that was the reason for the attack that night. By the time the physician came it was too late. The poison had already started eating his heart. We tried herbs upon herbs but he did not survive it, he died one night with me beside him. The culprit was never found.
*End of flashback *
Now I couldn't believe and agree that mother was gone too, but I guess the truth is really bitter as they say.
"Eleanor!" Gwen whisper yelled my name."Hurry! back to work the slave trainer is coming". I hurriedly stood to my feet and started digging again.
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*Writer's POV*
IN A ROOM IN THE CASTLE OF CORDENIA
A man could be seen kneeling on the ground with two guards behind him. Prince Luciano could be seen sitting gracefully on a chair with a menacing look on his face. The man kneeling appears to be pleading and begging the prince.
At the corner of the room a man could be seen standing there in an expensive garment. One look at him would give an idea that he's of royal blood.
"I'm really sorry my prince....it wasn't in my intention to steal from you....it was a mistake....I was really tempted....I'm so sorry my prince....pleeeeease forgive me..."
The man's helpless cries were really disturbing to the prince's ears. How could an ordinary guard have the effrontery to steal from the prince. He seems to have no fears at all. "My prince pleeeeease have mercy. I have a pregnant wife and kid at home..." One deadly glare from the prince made him shut his mouth. For several minutes there was a deafening silence in the room.
Prince Nikolai, who had been standing at the corner of the room, looked at his brother with pleading eyes to forgive the man.
"Killian."
"Yes my prince." A huge looking guard standing behind the prince stepped forward and bowed a little awaiting the prince's command.
"Cut off his right hand."
Prince Nikolai's eyes went wide open, there was a shock gasp from the man.
Luciano glared at him before he continued "and for the record you have been banished from this kingdom, you are given three days to leave with your family or else you would be executed...and if I should ever see my eyes on you anywhere within Cordenia, I would kill you with my bare hands" He stood up and left the room, paying no attention to the man's helpless cries.
"Don't you think that was mean?" Nikolai asked as they walked down the hallway leading to the prince's room. He was rewarded with a deadly look from Luciano. "Oops sorry" He raises his hands in mock surrender. "Didn't mean to offend prince Wolfy.....pleeeease.have mercy my prince...don't..kill... meee!!!...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to offend the kingdom biggest baby cat!!!" He teased mimicking a helpless voice and laughed loudly clutching his stomach. They reached Luciano's room and the guards opened the door and they both stepped in. The room screamed ROYALTY. It was spacious, a little bit dark and well furnitured with a king sized bed at the left side of the room. A shelf occupied the right end of the room with a table and chair close to it. There was a door at the right side of the room leading to the bathroom. There was also a standing mirror purely made of gold at the right side of the room, besides it, a table filled with all sorts of jewelry made of expensive gold stoo
Maria took a deep breath before speaking "you have been assigned to clean and make sure Prince Luciano's room is in order." Eleanor could hear a loud bang in her head. *Prince Luciano!! Dear gods!!*. She looked at Helen with eyes wide open in shock. She could only nod her head. No words forming in her mouth. She was about to turn around and take a seat when Madam Helen added "you should get your equipment, you're starting right now." Eleanor felt her legs go weak, she had to lean on the wall to support herself from falling. *Prince Luciano!! Oh god please!!* Since her stay in Cordenia Eleanor has heard a lot about the cold hearted Prince. He has murdered a lot of time without any little tiny bit of conscience in him. How was she going to cope with him, who knows maybe one day might just strangle her or slice her head with those big swords he carries about. God, no, she was not ready to die yet. She was already panicking within herself. Helen felt really sor
I held my skirt as I raced up the stairs to the Prince's bedroom. It's my second day working as his personal slave. I was relieved of a few of my duties, I feel sorry for Gwen and the others because they still had to work the mines today. I stopped to catch my breath as I reached the last floor. Was I really ready to face the prince today? I remember yesterday when I hurriedly finished my work and literally ran out of the castle just to avoid seeing him. I guess I just have to deal with seeing him everyday. I reached my destination which was exactly in front of his room and met two guards there again looking like their faces were made to frown. I greeted them but they just kept looking at me like I'm some dumb fool. One of them, yes I recognized him, he was the one who came into the room to call the prince yesterday. He turned and opened the door for me. I opened the room and met the prince and the Queen in a heated discussion, i didn't even get the chance to hear what they were a
Eleanor's POV "Hey brother" he said looking at me "who is this" he asked *okay, here we go again* "My personal slave" He grunted in response before walking away to train with few of the warriors My heart was beating real fast...wanna know why...okay...the prince's younger brother has been standing here six minutes since prince Luciano left and has been staring at me...does he even know who I am? "Hey" he said *wait..is he talking to me* I actually wanted to ask but restricted myself. "Nikolai" He said, stretching out his hands for a...what??...handshake!!! I paused, staring at him like a fool.. wait..just wait..he wants to shake him...whaaaat!!!! a common slave like me?? He chuckled to himself before saying " hey c'mon I don't bite" He stretched out his hands again saying "I'm Prince Nikolai, but you can just call me Nikolai" *no way! Do I want to be beheaded?? maybe not yet* I tucked my hair behind my ear before stretching my hands to
So when would Elliot arrive here in Cordenia" Ariel asked "I don't know, he should have sent a letter by now" King Axel replied "I really can't wait, at least he would talk some sense into Luciano's head" She said, turning to face the king and helping him with the buttons on his shirt. "Luciano?? What did he do this time Ariel??" The Queen signed, finished the buttons and took a step back. She folded her hands under her breast before speaking "you would not believe what I'm about to tell you" She paused before revealing "Luciano assigned a slave of Narva to work for him as his personal maid" She said with a voice that clearly sounds like she's gossiping "What?!!!!" The King roared "how could he?!!" Exactly. That was the exact reaction she wanted to get from him. "What the hell is wrong with him?" He yelled, his eyes red in anger. "I don't think it's his fault though" She said calmly, causing the king to snap his head to look at her like she just said the dumbest thing eve
*Eleanor's POV* I heaved a sigh of relief as I walked into the empty kitchen. I leaned on one of the kitchen cabinets to catch my breath. Today has really been hectic, we have been cooking different kinds of meals. Why? According to what I heard, this lord Elliot happens to be a very powerful person and is very hard to please. The maids wouldn't stop gossiping about him, and I've been thinking if he's that hard to please, why are they wasting their time preparing a surprise party for him. Well the worst part is, nobody's attending the party aside from the king and his family. So why are they cooking all the kinds of meals I've never heard of before, talk less of eating them. I doubt they are going to finish it. Madam Helen rushed into the kitchen and literally dragged me out rushing her words. "He's here! He's here! We all have to assemble to welcome him, c'mon hurry!!" I almost rolled my eyes. We got outside the castle and I sighted Gwen looking around, probably searchi
*Eleanor's POV* I walked into the castle to assist other servants to clean the palace. I can say it again that yesterday was another worst day of my life. After the prince ordered me to get dressed, I went to my room and got dressed in another of my slave wears, which was neater and did not stink of sweat like the one I had on. I still wonder how I'm still alive today because yesterday my heart was pounding hard like it wanted to break out of its ribcage, and the deadly look the Queen was giving me did not help matters at all. I can't say the Royal family is one interesting family because the so-called 'party' or 'dinner' they were having went in total silence. Only the King and his brother were making small talks. It was just once Prince Luciano spoke, which was when his uncle 'Lord Elliot' was trying to be a good uncle and asked Luciano how he had been, he was like "Luciano! It's been so long since I last saw you, you've grown into a big man now." And Luciano's reply went
*Eleanor's POV* I woke up to the slight tapping on my arm and somebody calling my name. I groaned inaudibly under my breath tossing around on the floor. "Wake up Eleanor, you have a lot of work to do at the palace, remember?" I forced my eyelids open and looked through the small window. "C'mon Gwen, it's not sunrise yet." I shut my eyes, ready to drift off to sleep again. SMACK!! "Ow!!!" I yelped in surprise, jerking up off the ground and rubbed my head soothingly, trying to ease the pain. "What was that for?" I asked, scrunching my face in annoyance. "Well, that's a clear reminder that the Queen hates you." she replied, folding her hands under her breast with her brows arched. "Why would she ha--" I trailed off when I remembered the order from the Queen yesterday. "Oh dear gods of Narva, why me??" I grumbled wanting to rest my head on the wall but accidentally smacked it a little hard. "Ouch!!!!" I yelped moving away from the wall. Gwen stood up from the ground with hand