"Now tell me what the hell happened." He ordered. "Everything." He added, staring deeply at her.
Was he really ready to hear her out?
Eleanor gulped down the lump in her throat, twisting her hands together. She took a deep breath before narrating all that happened to him.
A few minutes after Eleanor had finished speaking, silence descended in the room.
Eleanor shifted from one foot to another as tension filled the air.
She lifted her eyes up when she heard movement from the prince.
Luciano stood up from the chair and walked around to the front of the table and rested on it, folding his arms together. He let out a short breath, running his hands through his hair.
He can't believe Elliot would do that. Like, what the hell is wrong with that man? He knows how to perfectly step on his toe.
"You should have resisted him." Luciano said, staring at her.
"Huh?" Eleanor stared up at him in shock. How the hell could he ask her that after all she told him. "Maybe if I was so strong, probably like you I would have." She replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes at him.
Luciano quirked his brows at her in suprise and amazement. "You could have." He said again persistently. "Everyone has a choice."
Eleanor stared at him in disbelief. "You know what, maybe I shouldn't have told you anything if this is what you're gonna do. I mean, I just told what the hell happened in full detail and you're trying to blame it on me?"
"This is really unbelievable. Well, I don't blame you, I can't believe I was thinking you were gonna take sides for me. You'd always be the arrogant jerk you are! Ugh! You royals are just so annoying." She huffed under her breath and folded her arms together, pouting her lips.
Luciano stared at her in amusement as he began stretching wide into a grin which was kind of foreign to him. "I'm sorry, I'm not blaming you. You might have misunderstood my questions."
"No! Don't try to twist it!" Eleanor snapped. "You were clearly blaming me for it. It's not like you were gonna be against your all mighty uncle." Eleanor snickered.
Luciano tried to understand why he wasn't getting angry. It's weird that he's amused by her words, her expression, the way she pouts her lips. The way his heart is doing a happy dance just by her sight.
It's all weird and foreign to him.
*
*
Gwen sat by the riverside, picking up stones and throwing them into the water.
She drew her legs to her chest and rested her cheek on her knees sighing sadly.
She knew that there was something wrong with Eleanor and it's disheartening that she doesn't want to share it with her.
She understands that Eleanor might not want to disturb her with her problems but what are friends for?
They've been friends ever since they were little and never failed in sharing their secrets with themselves, even the deepest ones.
Gwen smiled as she remembered how they would sit on the tree behind Eleanor's cottage and talk about a lot of stuff. They would spend a lot of time there laughing like never before.
She really missed moments like that. But now, they are in real bondage where they have no say over themselves.
But, she really wishes Eleanor would tell her what's really bothering her, maybe there would be a way she can help.
Gwen smiled sadly and picked a stone, throwing it into the water.
"Hello beautiful." She heard a familiar voice say behind her.
She looked back to see Nikolai staring down at her with a smile on his face.
"Hello." Gwen greeted returning the smile and tucking her hair behind her head.
Nikolai whistled and dropped to the ground sitting beside her. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Just having a little... You know, quiet time." She replied, staring at him with a small smile on her face.
"Ohh." Nikolai picked a stone from the ground and threw it into the water.
"What about you? What are you doing here." Gwen asked.
"Ohh! Me? Uhh, well I come here most of the time when I'm, most times less busy. You know, I don't really have much to do at the palace. So I come here to have the... the little quiet time." Nikolai explained with his brows raised at her, chuckling lightly.
Gwen chuckled, turning away to stare at the river, as the waters moved around.
"What's wrong? You look kinda sad." Nikolai asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Me?!!" Gwen looked up at him in shock, blinking her eyes repeatedly. "No, no! I'm fine. Really fine." She muttered, resting her jaw on her knees focusing on the movement of the river waters.
"You know," he started staring fully at her as she stared intently at the waters. "You're really bad at hiding your feelings." Nikolai revealed, picking up a small stone and throwing it into the water.
Gwen's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at him from the corner of her eyes.
"Yeah, very bad." Nikolai muttered again, shaking his head side to side. "So, do you mind telling me what's bothering an angel like you."
Gwen chuckled lightly at his question before replying. "It's just.. it's nothing much actually.. just.. it's Eleanor."
"What about her?"
"I don't know. She's been acting weird like there's something wrong with her, like something's bothering her and she won't tell me about it." Gwen complained huffing lightly.
"Maybe she doesn't want you to worry about her."
"Then what are friends for?"
"It's okay, she'll come around, I'm sure she will."
"I hope so."
"Come on, cheer up." Nikolai said, flashing her one of his contagious smiles.
"Ugh." Gwen turned her head to the other side rolling her eyes.
"Come on angel. Smile for your prince charming." Nikolai sang, making Gwen burst out laughing.
"That's it, beauty."
*
*
"I'm sorry."
Eleanor was bone struck. This is the second time the prince would be apologizing to her and it's really weird.
You see, seeing the cold hearted prince apologize to a mere slave is not something you'd call normal.
"Ermm, okay." Eleanor scratched her head nervously. Now she can't wait to get out of here.
The prince stood opposite the room staring at the fidgeting Eleanor, shifting from one foot to another, occasionally glancing at the prince.
Luciano took a step forward walking towards her. He doesn't understand what he's doing but he thinks he'd just follow his heart like Nikolai said. He took another step forward walking towards Eleanor who was glancing cautiously at him.
Eleanor took a step back when the prince was already close to her and was not stopping.
What the hell is wrong with him?
Eleanor took several steps back as he kept walking to her until her back hit the wall.
Eleanor gasped, raising her brows at Luciano questioningly.
Luciano placed his right hand on the wall beside her head, he doesn't understand what he's doing but he's following what his heart tells him.
Luciano stared into her eyes intently like he was trying to look deep into her soul.
With one last thought, obeying his heart and mind, he dipped his head down and captured her lips into a passionate kiss.