"Mother," Sabrina cried out, immediately she stepped into the queen's room. She leaned her hands on the wall and walked fully into the room, her face filled with tears.
"Oh gods, Sabrina," The Queen stood up from the chair where she sat and walked to the weeping Sabrina. She placed her hand on her shoulder and directed her to the bed. "Darling, what happened? What's wrong?"
She asked, but she responded with only sniffs and light hiccups. "Oh my god Sabrina, tell me what's wrong?" The Queen sat on the bed beside patting her shoulders lightly.
After a few minutes, silence sat in the room with only a few sniffs from Sabrina.
She raised the cup in her hands filled with water, given to her by the queen's maid to her mouth and took one last gulp of water down her throat.
She dropped the cup on the table and took a deep breath, glancing at the Queen who sat beside her, staring at her with concern in her eyes, before taking her eyes to her laps, fixing her gaze on it.
"I'm sorry I came to disturb you, I just needed someone to talk to." Sabrina began, speaking in a low voice.
"It's okay." The Queen smiled warmly at her. "So... Care to tell me what happened?"
"It's just..." Sabrina took her gaze round the room, taking in a deep breath as she tried to stop herself from bursting into tears. She blinked her eyes repeatedly to stop the tears threatening to come. "Luciano.. he doesn't even.. he behaves like I'm a nobody... Everything he thinks and talks about is that stupid slave. He doesn't even respect my presence here. Everything is just about that slave.. It's so disheartening." Sabrina sniffed as tears escaped her eyes and ran down her face.
The Queen drew close to her, placing her left hand around her shoulders, before speaking to her in a comforting manner. "It's okay Sabrina, I understand how you feel. It's okay." She used her hand to wipe the tears off her face.
"It's... You don't know... It feels like he's rejecting me..."
"No! No! Don't say that honey! He'll come around."
"With that slave around?" Sabrina scoffed, wiping her tears completely off her face. "I don't think so, all he thinks about is her. Look mother, after you punished her for stealing the bracelet as part of the plan. He released her and took her to his room to take care of her. He never shows such affection to me, Never! Maybe I should just return to Stockhem."
"No, darling. I would do something about it okay? Don't be sad, I'll make him realize himself and love you like he should. Don't cry anymore okay?"
"I'm trusting you mother."
"It's alright. Come on." She used her hands to place Sabrina's head on her shoulder, patting her hair softly.
Sabrina took a deep breath and closed her eyes, she opened it again with a smirk plastered on her face.
*
*
Eleanor yawned, scratching her head as she walked down the stairs. She had woken up about an hour ago when the royal physician, Mabuse, came. He had given her some herbs and even rubbed some on her back saying it would help heal the injury faster.
After he left, the prince finally let her go after a lot of persuasion and assurance to him that she's fine.
Eleanor moved her hair from her face as she stepped on the last stair case, she gasped loudly as she sighted Gwen coming from one of the rooms in the castle.
"Gwen!" She called and wasted no time in rushing to her.
Gwen turned her head just in time to see Eleanor rushing towards her, she smiled as Eleanor engulfed her in a hug, laughing heartily.
"Oh my god! Gwen! I've missed you."
"Me too, Elly." They disengaged from each other with smiles all over their faces. "I was so worried about you."
"Yeah, I guessed that. But I'm fine now." Eleanor assured her with a smile. "Come on, let's take a stroll."
"Okay, Great idea."
*
"That's it Gwen. I don't know what to think again."
"That's so weird, how could he just change all of a sudden. Well, maybe what you said the other day got into him."
"Nah, I don't think so. He barely takes people's advice, talk more of mine. I don't think he would."
"Come on," Gwen rolled her eyes, and waved her hands dismissively at her. "What else would make him change his mind and character to you?" Gwen raised her brows questioningly.
"Don't know. But I don't think it's-"
"Wait a minute! But you said he apologized to you."
"Urr, that's true. But do you really think so?" Eleanor asked, squinting her eyes due to the sunlight.
"I don't have any other ideas apart from that."
"Uhm, okay so end of that boring topic. How have you been Gwen?"
"Me? Ohh! I've been good, really good." She replied quickly, smiling at the sky.
Eleanor furrowed her brows at her in suspicion. "What's it?"
"Huh?"
"What's on your mind?"
"Uhh, nothing."
Eleanor stopped walking and folded her hands together before speaking. "Spill it Gwen, I know there's something on your mind."
Gwen looked around before speaking in a low voice. "It's the prince." She spilled and continued when she saw the look of confusion on Eleanor's face. "The second prince."
"Ohh, Nikolai!"
"Shhhh, don't say it out loud, and... and how did you know his name... And did you just call him by his name?" Gwen's eyes widened in shock.
"Uhm, yeah? I met him and we became friends."
"Ohh, well, I also met him, and I kind of like him. He's so friendly." Gwen revealed shyly.
"Yeah, everybody likes Nikolai. He's nice and friendly, unlike the other royals."
"Yeah, I know."
"So that is what is making you act this way?" Eleanor quirked her brows at her in amusement. "You're so ridiculous."
"Ugh, don't make me feel stupid Elly."
"Sure, sure I won-" she had barely finished her sentence before she burst out laughing.
Gwen nudged her arms lightly trying to stop her from laughing but Eleanor only laughed harder bending lightly on her knees.
"Come on, stop it." Gwen whined, pouting her lips.
"Sorry, I just couldn't help it. It's so-" she placed her hand on her mouth as chuckles escaped from her mouth threatening to burst into laughter. "Oh my god! I've missed moments like this." With that said she burst out laughing, her laughter echoing around while Gwen stood there with her lips pouted.
*
*
Elliot sipped wine from the cup in his hand, nodding lightly. "Be ready. you all, be ready. It's almost time. Get ready to bear it. To bear it all, cause it would hit you hard. You all, be ready" He smirked, chuckled humorlessly before sipping from the cup again.