Evander rushed forward and pushed the door to the Prince's room open. Luciano walked into the room and stood by the side letting Killian get in with Eleanor in his arms.
Killian glanced at the prince as if asking him where to drop her.
"On the bed." Luciano ordered answering the unasked question.
Killian glanced one more time at this prince as if asking for confirmation before dropping her on the bed.
Eleanor whimpered softly though she was asleep. "No, lay her on her belly." Luciano quickly said as he noticed her discomfort, she's probably feeling pain from her injured back.
Killian turned Eleanor on her belly before stepping aside, waiting for the Prince's next order.
"Killian, go to Madam Helen and tell her to come here and bring some of those healing herbs, all of it. Go."
"Yes my prince." Killian bowed and left the room.
"Evander, tell Mabuse to get here quickly with all his healing herbs. Tell him I said it's important and if he doesn't get here soon I won't hesitate to kill him." Luciano threatened in a cold voice that made it clear he wasn't bluffing.
"Yes, yes my prince." He bowed and exited the room with hurried steps.
Luciano walked around the bed and sat on it watching Eleanor as she slept, there were traces of dried tears on her face. Her lips slightly parted as she slept. Luciano stretched his hands forward and used it to caress her hair, she let out a soft breath when his hand touched her cheek.
"I'm sorry." Luciano muttered under his breath. He's tired of pretending to hate her, and if this is the only time he can be truthful when she can't hear him, he'd better stop lying and tell the truth.
"I'm sorry, you had to go through this. I'm truly sorry." He took his hand to her cheek using his thumb to wipe the dried tears off her face.
Luciano stood up from the bed and walked to the table resting on it when he heard footsteps in the hallway.
The door flew open and Madam Helen rushed inside, going straight to the bed. "Oh dear gods." She whispered and dropped the herbs in her hand on the bed. She drew close to sleeping Eleanor and used her hands to draw her dress down exposing her back.
Her hands flew to her mouth in shock, her eyes watering. "Oh my child, what have they done to you?"
She blinked her eyes repeatedly to stop the tears that threatened to come.
"I'm going to need water." She said to herself before rushing out of the room to get some water.
Luciano stood still, resting on the table with his hand under his chin staring at Eleanor's blooded back. He hurt him so much to see her this way. He thought he hated her, he thought he was going to feel happy seeing her this way but now, the only thing he feels is constant sharp pains in his chest.
His heart clenched hard in pain for her. He's suddenly wishing he could take the pain from her. He hurt so much for her.
Madam Helen rushed into the room with a bowl of water in her hands, she dropped the water on the ground and took her hands to Eleanor's cloth, pulling it to open wider so she can have free access.
"Madam Helen! Madam Helen!" She heard Gwen's voice yell from behind the door before it was pushed open and she stepped in breathing heavily. "You forgot the napkin." She said between heavy breaths raising the napkin.
"Oh, quick! Bring it."
Gwen handed the napkin to Madam Helen who wasted no time in dipping into the water, and squeezed a little before using it to mop the blood off Eleanor's back.
It was then Gwen looked back and noticed the prince standing by the table. "Oh! Your highness." She quickly bowed her head. "Ermm,, Madam Helen, I'll be going now." She said quickly. She immediately took a mental note that this was the first time she has ever been to the Prince's room and the gods can't tell how bad she wants to leave. She can't bear staying in the same room with the heartless prince.
"Not yet Gwen, come take this napkin and clean her up. Let me get the herbs ready."
At this rate she wants to badly leave this room but she can't. This is her best friend here and she would do anything for her even if it requires breathing the same air with the prince.
She can't even imagine how Eleanor manages to be around him and even work for him. She really can't imagine.
She took the napkin from Madam Helen and dipped it into the water and squeezed it before placing it on Eleanor's back, rubbing it around gently to clean the blood.
She can't even try to imagine the pain she felt when being whipped. It must hurt really bad.
This is real proof the Queen hates her.
Gwen felt her heart clench in pain as she saw the cuts on her back.
She moved away from her after completely cleaning the blood. Madam Helen moved close to her, she had squeezed some leaves with her hands and began applying the liquid from it on Eleanor's back.
A few seconds after she had finished, the door went open and Mabuse, the royal physician, stepped in with a sack in his hand, obviously filled with different herbs.
"My prince." His old voice called.
"Mabuse." Luciano called in acknowledgement.
Mabuse looked around the room and noticed a maiden laying on the Prince's bed, her back exposed, filled with different cuts.
*She must be the one who needs urgent treatment, cause the prince looks okay* he thought within himself.
He stared at the prince one more time before nodding his head and then set to work.
"You can leave Madam Helen." Luciano dismissed her.
Madam Helen stared at Eleanor one last before stepping out of the room with Gwen behind her.
*
*
Gwen walked solemnly out the castle, heading to the garden where she can have a piece of mind. She really feels sorry for her friend. She doesn't deserve this, none of them deserves this.
She was about heading into the route leading to the garden when she sighted Nikolai walking towards her. She bowed her quickly and hurried her steps.
"Gwendolyn," Nikolai called immediately after he got to her.
Gwen kept her head bowed before replying. "Your highness."
Nikolai suddenly burst out laughing, clutching his stomach at how hard he was laughing.
Gwen stared up at him in surprise. What's funny?
Nikolai stopped laughing when he saw the confusion in her eyes. He can't believe she called him that. Nobody calls him that, it's too formal to him
"You can just call me Nikolai." He finally said after a few seconds of chuckling.
"Errmm..." Gwen scratched her head nervously. "I don't think that's right." She said unsurely.
"Nah, it's okay." He waved his hands dismissively. "So I see you're heading to the garden Huh?"
Gwen nodded before taking her eyes quickly to the ground.
"Okay then, care for a walk?"
"Huh? Me?" Gwen placed her finger on her chest, looking around unsurely.
"Yeah, come on, let's go."
"Ehh... Okay."
She walked beside him slowly, keeping her head down to avoid seeing the stares she was given by people.
"Dear gods, this is not just happening."
*
*
"This was not supposed to happen!!! NO!! It was not supposed to happen!!!" Sabrina roared pacing furiously around the room.
"I thought the plan was working well!!! He was supposed to hate her for being a thief!!! For stealing from his mother!!! This was not part of the plan!!!"
"Keep your voice down Sabrina." The Queen hushed, rolling her eyes.
She's currently in Sabrina's room, they had both been surprised at the way things went. "You don't want people knowing it was a set up. Do you?"
"I DON'T CARE!!!" She yelled, her eyes red in fury. "He was supposed to get closer to me! Instead, he's getting closer to her!! Showing the affection he never showed to me to her!!! This is bad!!! I'm supposed to be the one!!"
The Queen stood up arranging her gown. "You know what? We're going to have this conversation later, when you are less furious." She headed for the door before adding. "See you later Sabrina." With that said she walked out, shutting the door behind her.
Sabrina grabbed the flower vase from the table and threw it to the wall making it break into pieces before falling to the ground.
She let out a frustrated scream pulling hard at her hair. This is not over. She's going to keep trying to get him close to her, to make him trust her. He would belong to her forever not that stupid slave.
Sabrina dropped to the ground before letting out another frustrated scream. "Aaaaaaaaarrghhhh!!!!!"