I used my hands to wipe the sweat off my face. We just finished cleaning the ball room, which wasn't really dirty because we had been cleaning it a lot.
I threw the napkin I used for cleaning into the basin with a thud breathing heavily.
After washing and cleaning the dust off my body I went to the palace kitchen and assisted Madam Helen with washing the dishes.
"Things have really been hard for us." Madam Helen suddenly complained as she moved about the kitchen to get a few things done.
"Huh?" Eleanor looked up from the dishes in her hands and furrowed her brows in confusion at her.
"Things have really been hard for us ever since the princess got here." She explained making Eleanor understand little of what she's saying. "The girl is a brat. Never liked her ever since she was little. She's so devious and manipulative."
"Errm, maybe she'll come around." Eleanor shrugged her shoulders and continued with the plates.
*
*
"So how's the plan going?" The Queen asked Sabrina as they both stood in the hallway looking around to see if anyone was peeping on their conversation.
"It's going smoothly mother. There's no need to worry."
"Good." The Queen smiled and walked away.
*
*
Eleanor had finished working in the kitchen and was heading outside the castle when she suddenly bumped into someone. She looked up and was about to apologize when the person turned away sharply and walked out.
She was almost stepping out of the castle when an alarm was suddenly raised. Someone has stolen the Queen diamond bracelet.
The guards locked the exit door in the castle stopping anyone from moving outside.
All sighted the Queen walking down the stairs gracefully though with a frown on her face. The Prince's bride to be behind her.
"Search everyone! Quick!"
The guards began searching everyone's clothes looking for the missing bracelet. Eleanor felt eyes on her and turned to see the Princess staring at her with an evil smirk on her lips.
It was then Eleanor felt her heart beat. Something was wrong, definitely wrong.
The guards reached Eleanor and she stepped forward allowing them to search.
One of them dipped his hand into her pocket and gasped before bringing out the diamond bracelet.
"What?" Eleanor screamed in shock, her eyes widening in horror. "This is..... not possible... It can't...be.."
"Seize her!!" The Queen yelled at the guards.
The guards rushed forward and held Eleanor's hands just like the Queen had ordered.
Eleanor kept shaking her head in disbelief. How could this happen? She has never gone to the Queen's room, so how could this be in her pocket? This must be a set up.
She glanced up and saw Sabrina staring at her with a victorious smirk on her face.
"Take her to the dungeon!! Now!!"
The guards nodded and began dragging her to the dungeon. How can she tell them it's all a set up? Who would even believe her.
Nobody. Why?
Because she's a detested slave. A slave everybody hates.
Eleanor kept her head down as the guards dragged her away from the scene to the dungeon.
Tears fell from her eyes, freely staining her dress. What has she done to deserve this?
The guards threw her into the dungeon and locked it. They waited outside, probably waiting for the Queen's orders.
Eleanor sat on the cold floor of the dungeon, she hugged her knees tightly crying her eyes out, feeling her heart clench hard in pain.
Few minutes later, Eleanor heard voices coming to the dungeon. Fee seconds later the Queen and Sabrina stood in front of the cell where she was locked staring down at her hatefully.
"Open it." The Queen ordered the guards.
The gates of the cell made clanking noises reminding her of the last time she was here.
The both of them stepped inside and then Eleanor sighted another really huge guard standing behind them.
"Stand up." The Queen ordered her.
Eleanor slowly stood to her feet, keeping her head down.
"Now." Ariel nodded to two other guards who stepped forward and grabbed the confused Eleanor's hand and turned her to face the wall. They attached both of her hands to the rope hanging from the ceiling. Eleanor always wondered what that rope is for and now she's beginning to slightly understand its use.
"Now, I want you to give her 30 strokes, next time I won't be so merciful. Start."
Eleanor felt her heart sink into her stomach at hearing what the Queen said. Dear gods, she's getting whipped.
She shut her eyes tight when she heard movement behind her. For a few seconds, there was silence in the room until she felt the whip hit her back hard. Eleanor involuntarily let out a short scream, feeling her back on fire. Before she was able to recover from the first slash another one landed on her back making her scream out loud.
Then lot of slashes landed on her back hard, making her scream and cry out, begging the Queen for mercy, twisting her body frantically trying to get rid of the excruciating pain.
After a few minutes it was finally over, Eleanor, a crying mess. Her voice hoarse from screaming.
She felt a guard free her hands from those ropes before she dropped to the ground, groaning lightly. Her back on fire.
"Next time, you don't mess with the wrong person." The Queen said before walking away with Sabrina, ordering the guards to still lock her in here.
Eleanor felt tears pour from her eyes like a waterfall to the ground. She doesn't even know what to think?
How long would she keep asking herself why these people hate her so much?
They set her up and punished her badly, why? Because she's a personal slave to the heartless prince. How is that any of her fault?
Eleanor couldn't help the sobs that escaped her throat, she laid on the dirty ground pouring all her pain into the tears.
She could not help but ask herself again, when would she ever be free again?
When would she get to be treated with respect, like a human being with feelings not like an outcast from hell?
Eleanor wrapped her hands around her body, shivering lightly, her teeth were clenching against each other. She's definitely falling sick.
*Few minutes later*
Eleanor laid on the floor of the dungeon in silence. She had tried to control her tears which she successfully did.
Now, she just laid on the ground staring into nothing.
Eleanor knew the exact moment she was not alone, a few seconds later his cologne filled the dungeon hitting her nostrils. Then, she heard clanking noises of the gate which opened immediately. Then footsteps began approaching her.
"Eleanor?" She felt the Prince's hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him, his eyes were clouded with sympathy.
Eleanor doesn't understand what she was thinking of what made her do that, but she did it anyway cause she needed it. She drew the Prince closer to her by his shirt and hugged him, sniffing in his chest.
Tears filled her eyes again, rolling down her chin to his shirt.
She felt the Prince's big, hard manly hand wrapped around her waist lightly, trying to sooth her.
Eleanor couldn't control the sobs that escaped her throat, she just let everything out.
Luciano patted her hair soothingly, trying to get her to calm down.
Few minutes later, Eleanor had stopped crying, her breath was steady. Her eyes closed, her mouth slightly parted, snoring lightly. She had slept off, on the Prince's chest.
Luciano signaled his guard, Killian, to come carry her. Killian carried a sleeping Eleanor in his arms, bridal style and followed the Prince out of the dungeon heading to his royal chambers.