"Hey." Gwen called as she spotted Eleanor standing by the window. She closed the door behind her and walked into the room towards the window. "Hey Elly."
She moved further into the room when she received no response from her. "Eleanor?" She called again and tapped her shoulder.
Eleanor suddenly jerked and snapped her head towards before taking a deep heavy breath. "Oh, hey Gwen."
"What's wrong?" Gwen asked, staring at her suspiciously.
"Wrong? No, no I'm fine." Eleanor replied shrugging her shoulders.
Gwen folded her arms together and stared at her with a serious look on her face before speaking. "We're not doing this again Elly. Now tell me what the hell is wrong with you."
Eleanor turned to face the window again, heaving out a sign. "It's.. it's the prince."
Gwen raised her brows at her in confusion. "Mm-mm what about him?" She asked, urging her to continue.
"He came to me today."
Gwen stared at her with her brows quirked in confusion and curiosity lingering in her eyes. "So what happened?"
"It's weird Gwen. It's really hard to say."
"Everything about the prince has always been weird. So spill it." Gwen urged, tapping her foot impatiently.
"He told me he loves me." Eleanor said under her breath, almost like a whisper.
"Wait, wait, he told you loves you?! Wow! That's really great! I can't believe this. So what did you say?" Gwen asked with curiosity lingering in her eyes as she swayed from one foot to another giddily.
Eleanor took a deep breath before answering. "I said no."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"I said, I said no." Eleanor repeated, signing exasperatedly.
"What?! Why would you do that?!" Gwen yelled with wide eyes, staring at her with disbelief evident in her eyes.
"Gwen.. I... I.. just.." Eleanor stopped and took a deep breath, staring around.
"We talk about this. Didn't we, Elly?"
"Yeah, I know but.."
"There's no 'but' here, Eleanor. We already talked about this. You love the prince and he loves you, so why do you wanna keep lying to yourself!"
"Gwen, it's just not right."
"What's not right Elly." Gwen suddenly yelled in anger. "I thought we agreed on this."
"Gwen! You need to understand how I feel about this! It would put me in more danger!"
"What danger Elly! Tell me exactly! Sabrina?!! Who?! Everybody knows the prince is in love with you! So who are you hiding it from?!"
"Gwen!" Eleanor yelled out loud, panting heavily while staring at her in disbelief. Silence settled in the room as both friends stared at each other breathing heavily. "You're my best friend, you're supposed to reason with me."
"Do you know how it feels to have your life at stake? Everybody in the goddamn castle hates me, so how do you expect me to love the prince with no insecurities attached." Eleanor explained tearfully. "He's getting married soon. So where would I be? Did you even think about that? Did you even think about the fact that the prince has a mother, who detests me. Who could order my death at any second from now. What will he do then? You just think it's nice to have the prince love me without thinking of the dangers attached."
Gwen took a deep calm breath staring around the room guiltily.
"I'm scared Gwen." Eleanor said lastly before bursting into tears. "I'm so scared. I don't wanna die yet."
Gwen shook her head lightly before walking to her, engulfing her in a comforting hug. "I'm sorry." She whispered, stroking her hair softly. "I'm so sorry Elly."
"It hurts so much to find out you're not thinking about me." Eleanor sobbed against her shoulder, shaking lightly.
"I'm sorry. I thought.... Gosh I'm so stupid." Gwen said to herself leaning down to kiss her hair. "It's okay to get mad at me."
Eleanor sobbed heavily against her shoulder, not saying a word.
They stayed like that for a few minutes before disengaging from the hug after Eleanor had stopped sobbing.
"I'm sorry." Gwen muttered again with guilt evident in her eyes.
"It's okay, I'm fine now." Eleanor said, using her hand to wipe the tears off her face.
"I'm sorry, I should have thought about that. You know, it just felt like a miracle to find out the prince actually loves you. I didn't think about the danger. I'm truly sorry Elly." Gwen apologized once again.
"It's okay Gwen. I understand." Eleanor reassured her. "But what do you think he's gonna think about me? I mean, I totally rejected him and... Walk out of him.. do you think he'll hate me now?"
"I really don't know Eleanor, but let's wait and see what happens."
"Oh god." Eleanor muttered under her breath, taking a deep breath.
*
*
"Luciano you have to wait, lets-"
"No. Leave."
"Brother-"
"Leave now Nikolai." Luciano ordered in a cold voice.
Nikolai took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders defeatedly before he turned around and exited the room.
Luciano stared up at the ceiling, with different thoughts running around his head.
He felt totally disappointed and mad at himself.
"It can't.. I'm sorry but this is all wrong."
Her words rang in his head again. He placed his hand on his head trying to erase everything she said.
"It's not right, you're the prince who's getting married soon and me, I'm just a slave here. It's not gonna work out."
He groaned out loud slamming his hands on the table repeatedly in anger.
He panted heavily, staring around with pain, anger and regret evident in his eyes.
Maybe it wasn't love he felt all along.
*
*
"Stop thinking about it Elly. Everything will be fine."
" I know, but it's hard. What if I hurt his feelings?" Eleanor asked, staring at Gwen guiltily.
"Well, you made your decision Eleanor. And you know, whatever you do, I will always support you." Gwen assured her, placing her hand on her shoulder as they both sat on the bed.
Eleanor's lips stretched into her small smile as she leaned to rest her head on Gwen's shoulder. "Thank you Gwen."
"You're welcome." Gwen replied, stroking her hair softly. "Let me go get something for us to eat." Gwen offered getting up from the bed.
"Let me come with you."
"Nah, take some rest. You need it." Gwen refused as she walked to the door. "See you in a minute." She said lastly before exiting the room.
Eleanor heaved out a sign of relief, plopping down to the bed. She was about swimming into her pool of thoughts when a knock came on the door.
"Why would Gwen be knocking?" She thought within herself before asking. "Who's there? Gwen just come in, I'm not in for jokes."
When she received no response she walked to the door, swinging it open to behold Sabrina standing at the door, looking like she could punch a hole into the wall right now.
"Uhh..hi." Eleanor greeted slowly in a small voice.
"Tell that to the devil." Sabrina spat out before grabbing Eleanor's head unexpectedly and smashing it hard against the wall.
Eleanor let out a short scream before slumping down to the ground unconsciously, blood oozing out of her head.
Sabrina stared at her unconscious figure with a satisfactory smirk plastered on her face before she turned around and exited the scene.