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 arguing about before they both paused to look at me. I bowed my head "good morning your highnesses." Silence. Not like I was expecting any answer at all. I looked up and saw the Queen looking at me like I'm some kind of disease that would infect her.
"Who's this wretched thing Luciano?" She asked with a scornful look on her face.
"She's my personal slave." The prince answered with an expressionless face.
"Whaaaat!!!!" The Queen nearly screamed. Okay I'll rephrase that, she actually screamed. "How could you get a slave to work for you..!!!! in your personal space?" The Queen yelled her eyes wide open in fury. "How could you?!!.....after all they did to us!! To Eagan!!!...how could you take such a risk." Her voice boomed thunderously in the room. "You could've asked for a maid, Luciano!! a maid!!! not some scumbag!!" She yelled with her hand stretched towards me.
*ouch! that hurts, really hurts*
She laughed humorlessly turning to look at me with pure hatred in her eyes before saying "who knows, maybe one day she might murder you in your sleep."
*Ugh??* I bowed my head not wanting her to see the pain in my eyes I still don't know what king Conrad did to these people to hate us this way
There was silence in the room; only the Queen's ragged breathing was heard. "It's my decision mother, you don't have to worry about a thing." Prince Luciano said with a calm voice, I wonder how he manages to compose himself all the time.
"Worry?? it's my duty to worry Luciano."
The prince looked frustrated for a while running his hand in his hair. He was about to speak when the Queen turned around and pointed her fingers at me "you, if anything should ever happen to my son, if you dare lay a finger on him, I would not hesitate to kill you and every single last one of you." She spat out angrily before storming out of the room.
I would be the greatest liar in history if I should say I'm not hurt right now, why are we all being punished for something we know nothing about? What is really going on? What is the source of this deep bone of hatred towards us? Did King Conrad do something really bad to these people that was worth all this despair. I really don't know.
I looked up and staring at me, he stood up and said "you should get to work." and walked into the balcony. I took the broom and began sweeping the room.
*Luciano's POV*
I signed exasperatedly as I ran my fingers through my hair. What the hell is wrong with me? How could I forget what they did? How could I take such a risk?. Mother was right. I understand the pain she feels. How could have been so stupid to choose a slave from the kingdom that betrayed and hurt us? I made a deadly mistake by making her my personal slave. Well I'm not going to back out. If she thinks she can pull up any stunt I would show her who and what I am. I'm not going to let her be a threat to us, and if she thinks she can put on bravery I'm going to let her suffer, all of them would suffer what they did to us.
*Eleanor's POV*
I used my skirt to wipe the sweat off my face. I was through with cleaning the prince room and I'm really tired and hungry but what can I do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I walked to the balcony to inform the prince that I've finished cleaning his room. I met him standing there holding the railings, his back to me. "I'm through your highness." I said, waiting for his response. He turned around to look at me. I raised my head to look at him and dear gods why was he looking like he could kill me, did I do anything wrong? He had this deadly look in his eyes like I'm the cause of his misery. What is seriously wrong with these people today? He left the railings and walked to....wait!!...me?? He stopped right in front of me and with that deadly look in his eyes he said "Master."
*huh?? What did he mean*
"I am your master and you are my slave, from now you would call me master not your highness or prince. I am not your prince and would never be. Do you get it??" He said with venom in his voice. I swear if looks could kill, I would be 15 feets beneath the ground.
I bowed my head and said "yes...your....Master." It's not like I have a choice here. Without a word again he walked past me, I took it as a cue to follow him.
He got to the room, brought out a bag from beneath his shelf and threw it at my feet. He also took his sword and walked out of the room . I picked up the bag and followed like an obedient dog. We walked down the stairs and out of the castle. We got to what looked like a field . I saw warriors with swords and arrows. Wait..are...we are here to train. I snapped out of my thoughts when he stopped and collected the bag. He opened it and brought out a bunch of arrows. Oh I get it, he's here to train.
It was then a few people noticed us. I sighted a young man, who looked a lot like the prince, just a little younger, walking towards us.
"Hey brother." He looked at me "who is this?" He asked. Okay here we go again.
*
*
*King Axel's POV*
"I received a letter today." I said, opening the scroll in my hand.
"From who?" Ariel asked brushing her already brushed hair.
"Elliot." I replied.
"Elliot?" She asked surprised pausing for a while to look at me.
"Yes, he says he's returning to Cordenia." I tell her
"Wow, I guess we should get prepared to give him a welcome party, huh, what do you think?" She suggested.
"Maybe." I said focusing on reading the scrolls.
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
*Eleanor's POV**Two weeks later*I walked deeper into the bush, my vision a little blurry, my legs wobbling slightly but managed to keep going. I used my hands to angrily wipe the tears off my face. My body swayed slightly unable to keep steady. I walked further into the bush and finally arrived at my destination, a small river with rocks around it.I walked to a big rock and sat on it sniffing lightly. I was mad, crazy, deranged, anything just name it, so I had to stay away from the castle. I know this is a big risk, especially for a 'slave' like me, but at this moment I don't care.
"I would rather not say uncle" Luciano turned to fully face Elliot, his face clearly mirroring displeasure. Elliot walked into the balcony towards the railings ignoring the look on his face. "Why are you here?" Luciano asks, staring at the disturbance right in front of him. "Is it too bad to see my nephew?" Elliot replies questioningly staring at the garden. Luciano scoffs tilting his head to the side. "Very bad when that nephew doesn't wants to see you." Elliot chuckles humourlessly not saying a word. "Found a bride yet." He asks raising an eyebrow at Luciano. "That's not your business to know." Luciano scpffs angrily. He doesn't understand what this man wants, can't he just accept the fact that he never likes him and would never
"Brother," Elliot called walking into the throne room just after Axel had dismissed the council. Axel turned his head to see Elliot walking into the throne room. Elliot stopped a few meters from the stairs leading to the throne seat and bowed his head in courtesy. "Elliot." Axel said in acknowledgement after the council had gone leaving the room empty with just the both of them in it and two guards standing at the door. "How did the meeting go?" Elliot asked with concern lacing in his voice. "You don't look so good." "The crops aren't producing well, all the money spent on the farm is going down the drain." Axel explained rubbing his temple. "Aside that, I'm okay."