Chapter 4

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 sorry for the young maiden. Since she had told her her new duty her face went pale, she looked like she was having a mini panic attack. Eleanor was snapped back to reality when she heard Madam Helen calling her.

 "you should get ready, we have to get going."

Eleanor took a deep breath, took all the necessary equipment and was about to leave when she heard Gwen calling her "Eleanor," She turned her head to look at her "are you going to be okay?" She asked, her voice laced with concern. Eleanor nodded before following Helen out to the big castle.

     On the way to the castle, Eleanor was deep in thought. She never imagined something like this was ever going to happen. Was she going to survive in the hands of the heartless prince?

     They got to the entrance of the castle, the guards recognizing Helen opened the huge door and let them in. Eleanor would have stopped to admire the interior part of the castle but with the situation she is in right now good things would have to wait. They climbed up the long flight of stairs. By the time they reached the last floor Eleanor legs almost gave out. They walked down the hallway and stopped at a huge door with two guards standing at the front. Helen spoke to them for a while before one of the huge looking guards stepped in and after a few minutes came out and let them in. 

     Eleanor looked around the room and truly saw that it was a royal room. Then her eyes landed on a figure. PRINE LUCIANO!..She quickly bowed her head before greeting, "Good evening you highness." Silence. She was rewarded with silence. Eleanor looked up and saw the prince staring at her. Can't he respond, he's not dumb I think. After a few seconds Eleanor concluded that he has no manners at all.

    Maria spoke for the first time "She's your new maid Prince Luciano."

    "Slave." he said in a deep voice.

    "Huh?" Maria said, confused.

    "New slave." He repeated.

Maria nodded in understanding when she got the message correctly. Eleanor stood there staring at the both of them angry and pained at the same time. "I'll take my leave now, your highness." Maria bowed and left the room leaving just Eleanor just stood there with her head bowed not knowing what to do.

Then he spoke "you should get to work slave."

She lifted her head and looked at the prince then....."Eleanor."

"Huh?" the prince furrowed his brows in confusion

"My name is Eleanor." she said again

Prince Luciano was hell shocked. The fact that he was tongue-tied was what shocked him the most. How could an ordinary slave talk to him in such manners before he could get his senses back. She had already to work dusting and cleaning the room.

     Eleanor could his eyes on her, she knew he was watching her but she paid no attention and kept on cleaning the table. After a while there was a knock on the door, the prince answered "come in." Killian stepped in and bowed his head in greeting, he raised his head and was about to speak when he noticed a feminine figure standing by the right side of the room arranging and cleaning the table. One look at her he knew she was a slave, he turned to the prince and said "the King requests to see you."

     "For what reason?"

     "I really don't know my prince."

     "You can leave." The prince groaned.

     Killian hesitated for a while before saying "he said it's urgent." Luciano groaned silently before standing up and leaving the room.

    Finally, Eleanor heaved a sigh of relief before rushing to complete her work. She wasn't going to spend much time. There's no way she was going to see that prince again. NEVER!!!.

*

*

     "You requested to see me." Prince Luciano said standing in front of his parents in the throne room. They were both seated in the throne seat.

     "A little greeting wouldn't hurt Luciano." His father points out. Silence descended. Luciano still not saying anything. "I called you here for a very important discussion." His father King Axel began.

     "And that is?" Luciano asked impatiently.

     "Luciano! let you father speak at his own time." His mother the Queen snapped. Both father and son stared at each other for a long time before he continued "you're getting older and you have not found a bride Luciano." King Axel said calmly. Luciano signed heavily before speaking "so this whole talk is about finding a bride." he said with his brows raised.

     "Exactly!!!" the King snapped angrily "we're getting old Luciano and you need to take over the throne but you can't do that without an heir." The King roared, his voice echoing in the throne room.

     "I don't have a bride yet." The prince said, his voice calm as ever. "Then find one!!" The King's voice echoed.

     "I would do that at my convenience and when I find a suitable bride, I would inform you" The prince said not even disturbed by one bit. "Do that very quickly before I take decision in my hands and find one for you and you would have no choice than to marry her." The King said his eyes raging in fury. The prince looked at his father with a look that clearly reads "do not dare me."

     The Queen used her hand to rub the King's back soothingly. "you may leave." He said, waving his hand dismissively. The prince wasted no time in leaving, his guards trailing behind him.

*

*

     Luciano stepped into his room, the familiar fragrance hitting his nose. He looked around searching for something....or is it someone??.. ohh the slave. His subconsciousness reminded "not slave man, Eleanor." He looked around expecting to see her but there was no single trace of her. He checked his room well and observed it was neat, all the dust had disappeared and his bed was neatly arranged, the sheets also changed.

     He walked to the balcony and his mind went back to when she told him her name. She obviously didn't like being called a slave. He has never seen anyone who has the courage to correct him aside from his parents and uncle. But this slave maiden? Or was she just putting on a facade, was she pretending, he didn't think so.

     He's sure she might have heard about him, he the ruthless prince but still yet she has no fear. Who is she really??, who is this slave maiden to stand bold in front of him. His head was filled with different thoughts but his mind pondered on one question, who is she?