"Luciano?" The King sat up right on his throne seat staring at Sabrina with surprise. "What about him?"
"Well, you see father, I'm really tired of Luciano's behavior and I would like to return back to my kingdom."
"Sabrina, what did he do?"
"Father, Luciano doesn't acknowledge my presence here, it's all about that slave, he's always with her. This evening I saw him walking to the riverside with her. That was supposed to be me father, not some random slave. Something has to be done father or else I leave." She deadpanned, folding her hands together with a frown on her face.
"You don't have to worry Sabrina, I'll do something about it." The king promised.
"Something better be done about it. I can't get married to someone who would act and treat me like I don't exist." She said tearfully.
"I'll do something about it. I'd make sure he stops whatever he's doing."
"Alright father, I'd like to take my leave now."
"Sure, you can go."
Sabrina nodded and walked out of the throne room smiling in satisfaction.
*
*
"Gwen!" Eleanor called as she sighted Gwen walking towards the slave quarters.
Gwen turned to look at her and turned away, walking non stop.
"Gwen! Hey! Gwen!" Eleanor shouted, running to meet her and tapped her shoulder. "Gwen!"
"Hmm?" Gwen hummed and turned to look at her with a bored look on her face.
"Hey! I've been yelling your name!" Eleanor said as she panted heavily.
"Hmm hmm." Gwen answered and continued walking in the slave quarters.
"So how have you been?"
"Fine." Gwen mumbled, facing away from her.
"What's wrong?" Eleanor asked, staring at her with concern.
Gwen raised a brow at her quizzically before shaking her head negatively.
"Uhm.." Eleanor scratched her hair nervously before speaking. "You're acting strange."
"Strange?" Gwen quirked a brow at her, rolling her eyes. "There's nothing strange with the way I'm acting Eleanor."
"There! You're acting weird." Eleanor pointed out. "You only roll your eyes and call me Eleanor when there's something wrong or when you're saying something serious. Did I offend you?" Eleanor said, giving her puppy eyes.
"Oh, Did you offend me?" Gwen says to herself, stroking her chin softly. "Oh yes! You did offend me!" She said, throwing her hands in the air.
"Oh! Eleanor, did you offend me?! Eleanor! What's wrong?! Nothing! Eleanor, what's wrong?! Nothing Gwen, I'm doing just fine." Gwen mimicked sarcastically and folded her hands under her breasts, staring at her angrily. "I was so worried about you! All you did was keep things to yourself! I know there was something bothering but you kept me in the dark! I'm your best friend Elly! You're supposed to share all your worries! Your thoughts with me! What are friends for?!"
"Remember that vow we made when we turned thirteen?"
"Hmm hmm."
"What was the first one?"
"Share our secrets with each other." Eleanor replied timidly, staring down at her feet.
"Which includes?"
"Our deepest secrets and worries."
"And what did you do?"
"I kept them to myself."
"Which is?"
"Breaking one vow."
"Which is really really?"
"Bad."
"And what I'm I supposed to do to you?" Gwen asked, standing straight with her hands akimbo.
"Hug me?"
"Ughh! You're so unbelievable." Gwen huffed and walked away.
"Okay! Sorry! Sorry!" Eleanor ran to her and blocked her way, stopping her from walking further. "Okay! You're supposed to get mad at me."
Gwen stood still folding her arms together and tapping her feet on her ground repeatedly. Eleanor smiled sweetly at her as she stared around angrily.
"Ugh! Don't smile at me! I'm trying! You know it's really hard for me to get mad at you. But I have to cause it's part of the vow-"
"-that you must get mad at me." Eleanor completed, still smiling sweetly at her.
Gwen glared at her, still tapping her foot on the ground before signing and slumping her shoulders defeatedly. She used her palms to slap her forehead lightly groaning under her breath. "I hate you Elly."
"And I love you too Gwen." Eleanor replied.
"Fine." Gwen spread her arms apart inviting her to a hug which she gladly accepted.
"I'm sorry." Eleanor mumed against her shoulder.
"Promise me you're never ever gonna do that ever again."
"I promise." Eleanor vowed, resting her head on her shoulder.
They stayed like that for a few seconds before disengaging from the hug.
"So now, you're going to tell me everything. Every single thing." She emphasized slowly.
"Okay." Eleanor nodded and rubbed her palms together, taking a deep breath.
"He kissed me." She blurted out.
"Huh?" Gwen furrowed her brows at her confusedly.
Eleanor looked around before speaking. "The Prince, he kissed me."
Gwen's eyes widened automatically in shock and her mouth went apart. "Dear gods of Narva, he did what?!" She yelled.
"Hey! Keep your voice down, someone might hear us. You know what? Let's get out of here." Eleanor said lastly and grabbed her hand, dragging a dumbstruck Gwen back to the palace.
Sabrina walked out of where she had been hiding. She clenched her fist tightly as she breathed heavily, fuming in anger.
She sure heard the girl's entire conversation.
She had been taking a walk around the castle when she came near to the slave quarters because she to show off to them, she wanted them to see their future Queen and flaunt her beauty to their ugly face only for her to hear this.
Sabrina turned around, heading back to the castle with all zeal in her to take a walk dead.
"That stupid slave has definitely bitten more than she can chew."
*
*
Gwen walked to the bed and sat on it as Eleanor closed the door and walked into the room to meet her. "Tell me everything."
They both sat in silence after Eleanor had narrated everything to her.
"There's something wrong on both of you sides."
"Huh?"
"He kissed you. One problem. You, thinking he's gonna kiss you again. Second problem. That's a great problem for the both of you."
"You don't have to spit it in my face Gwen. I know." Eleanor ran her fingers through her hair, signing exasperatedly. "But there's no great problem there. I already vowed I was going to stay away from him."
"Uhh, yeah, yeah, you already vowed." Gwen says sarcastically. "But then you're suddenly longing for his kiss."
Eleanor slapped her forehead groaning lightly before falling down to the bed. "Ugh! That's true."
Gwen stood up and plopped down to the bed, bouncing softly. "Oh my god, this is a really good bed. So soft." She moaned, pushing her head between the sheets and squeezing it in her hands.
"We have a great problem at hand Gwen." Eleanor whined, tapping her back.
"That can wait till later Elly; now, let me revel in the softness of this bed."
"Ugh! You're really so unbelievable."
"Just like you." Gwen replied, closing her eyes and sniffing the scent of the bed sheets. "Now, shut the hell up and let me enjoy this moment while it lasts. And you can also do that to yourself."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Eleanor quirked her brows in confusion.
"Well, I mean, enjoy your magical and mysterious moment with the prince while it lasts. Now I'm off to sleep. Goodnight."
Eleanor stared at Gwen as she lay on the bed. Maybe that's just the advice she has been waiting for.
She smiled and plopped down on the bed staring at the ceiling. "Enjoy it while it lasts." That is definitely what she's gonna do.
With that last happy thought, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.