Chapter 7

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 ever.

"It's that slave, Axel" she said trying to get the king to reason with her. "Just think about it, she might be using some kind of spell on him" she said raising her brows.

Axel kept on staring at her trying to take in the whole information. "I'm not gonna give any stupid slave of that wretched kingdom the chance to work out their evil plans" The King said with a look of determination on his face. "I'm not wasting anymore time, I'll make sure she dies. Where's Zane?"

"Will you calm your nerves down you mighty man?" The Queen snickered "just leave her to me, I will deal with her and by the time I'm done she wouldn't even have the perfect brain to think of any evil." She turned to look at the king with her signatory smirk on her face "what do you think? Do you trust me enough??"

The King stared at her for a while before speaking "as long as my son doesn't get hurt".

"Sure" She replied turning around to leave the room with an evil smirk in her face.

The King stood rooted on the same spot since the Queen left. He kept thinking about what Ariel told him, he couldn't bring himself to believe the maid would use some kind of charm on Luciano. She wouldn't dare it. He tried to reassure himself and even if she does he wouldn't hesitate to kill her himself.

*Eleanor's POV*

I handed the arrow to him as I panted heavily. I felt really dizzy. I still couldn't believe the stupid work he gave me. Anytime he shoots an arrow, I run to take it. If he misses his shot, that's one long journey for me and he insisted i run.

*Seriously* he should just kill me instead. No! I did not mean it, I'm not ready to die yet.

He packed the bow and arrows into the bag again, handed it to me and started walking out of the field. Oh I guess we're done for the day.

I followed him really tired. It took everything in me not to pass out. We got into the castle and were approaching the staircase, okay this is another battle of life. I really think these are situations where someone really need those motivational talks. I mean how I'm a supposed to climb this with the little strength in me. I just gonna have real big faith that I don't pass out at the end.

We got to the last floor and let me testify, that faith nearly worked cause when we reached the second floor I fell down exhaustedly, which caused the prince to look at me weirdly and I wanted to scream to his face that I'm not one of those horses they ride, even those horses get tired at most point. It was one of the guards that helped me up and I was really grateful because at that point I don't think I could get up myself.

So here we are on the hallway to his room, we entered the room and I dropped the bag where he took it from. He started removing most of the jewelries on his body starting with the bracelet and dropping them in the table.

"Prepare me a hot bath" He ordered, his voice grumpy as forever.

"I immediately walked to the bathroom to prepare his "hot bath" with the little strength left in me" By the time I returned, he was ready to have his bath. Most of his clothings removed.

"Go to Madam Helen and tell her to prepare my meal" He commanded "and wait there till it's ready, then you bring it up here"

"Yes.. your...yes master" I answered and stepped out of the room.

*

As I walked into the palace kitchen all heads turned to me, most of their eyes filled with disgust. I looked around the kitchen till my eyes fell on Madam Helen, I walked to her "Good evening Madam Helen" I greeted

She turned around with a smile on her face "good evening my child, I think my old brain can guess you're here for the prince's meal" She said with a wide smile on her face which forced a chuckle from my lips "well that old brain guessed right" I replied with a wide grin on my lips.

She burst out laughing before she turned and handed me a tray filled with plates. "I knew he would request for his meal so I made it just in time, hurry! go give him, his belly must be at war right now" She urged. I chuckled then turned around and took the stairs to the prince room. I got to the room and as usual he was sitting behind the desk but this time around, it was empty, no books or scrolls in it. I walked to the table and gently dropped the tray on it. I took a step back and awaited his command. "Move away from me" He growled

*Really?* I moved to the right end of the room beside the door and stood still.

As soon as he started eating, my stomach began grumbling. It was then I realized that I was really hungry. I bowed my head trying to control my stomach from grumbling so loud. After standing there like forever he finally finished eating and I carried the plates back to the kitchen.

After dropping the plates I walked out of the castle. There was not much work to do since the Queen and King are busy in the court room and the slave trainer sick, I guess I'm free, so I took a walk to the castle's garden. The fresh scent of nature hit my nose as I stepped into the garden. There were different types of flowers there, roses, ixora, marigold, moon flower, jasmine, dehlia, daisy and some other I don't even recognize. The sight reminded me of the little garden at the back of our house back in Narva. I would always climb the tree there and read one of those my fairytale books, and mother would go around the house looking for me.

I smiled at the memory of when she would find me and always scold me by giving me one of those boring speech on how to act like a lady.

I walked around the garden admiring the beauty of nature. I was about leaving when I turned and sighted Prince Nikolai standing in the balcony of his room. It was obvious he had been looking at me I raised my hands and waved at him with a smile on my face. He waved back returning the smile. Then I looked higher and spotted Prince Luciano staring at me from his balcony.

*Has he been here all the time*

*Should I wave or..* without deciding, I looked up, smiled in a weird way and waved at him, then rushed out of the garden.

*Writer's POV*

As she was rushing out she bumped into Gwen "hey" She said looking at her weirdly "what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Eleanor replied "so how've you been" She asked obviously changing the topic.

Gwen looked at her suspiciously "I'm good, was less busy so I decided to take a stroll"

"Ohh we can do that together, as you can see I'm less busy" Eleanor suggested.

"Sure" Gwen agreed.

They walked around chatting a few minutes and giggling, enjoying the sweet atmosphere. For the first time in fourteen months they were temporarily free.

"So how've you been" Gwen asked.

"You've asked me that a million times Gwen" Eleanor groused

"I mean with the the prince." She emphasized

"Oh that grumpy one." Eleanor snickered "well as you can see I'm doing just fine, at least no part of my body is missing yet" She said making Gwen chuckle.

"Don't get too sure Eleanor he might be planning on the best way to murder you" she teased with a playful smirk on her face.

Eleanor gasped and hit her arm "Gwen!!!!" Gwen laughed hard clutching her arm.

"Well, if I die, let's see how you're gonna live without me. I say two days later we'll both be on the same ship to meet our ancestors" Eleanor countered back.

Gwen was hell shocked "Eleanor?!!" They both burst out laughing.

"Oh my god!! I really miss moments like this" Eleanor said "me too" Gwen added.

They both walked in silence for a few minutes.

"How have you been?" Eleanor asked.

"Maybe good, maybe not good" She said looking faraway "oh! I haven't told you, I've been assigned to work mainly in the palace, I started today"

"Really??" Eleanor asked her eyes wide in surprise

"Yes!" Gwen answered

"Wow we're gonna be seeing each other frequently"

"Exactly" Gwen said nodding her head

"We should get back to the palace" Eleanor suggested

"Oh yeah"

They both turned around and started walking back to the castle.

*Eleanor's POV*

When we got back to the castle I noticed everybody was in a hurry and by everybody I mean the slaves, maid and guards in the castle. Madam Helen rushed to me and held me by my arm "hurry!! hurry!! We just got information that the King's brother is returning back to Cordenia tomorrow. They want to pull a surprise party for Lord Elliot. Hurry! we have lots of work to do" she said and began walking away.

I stood there looking confused *who is Lord Elliot*

Madam Helen turned and looked at me "don't tell me you don't know Lord Elliot," I nodded slowly. She looked at me with uncertainty in her eyes before saying "come on you'd recognize him when you see him" Then she urged me to go faster as we walked towards the kitchen

*Who the hell is Lord Elliot?*