"Yes, it is Eleanor that I love."
The king stared at his son, his face void of emotion.He was supposed to be shocked but he wasn't. He knew this would happen. It was all the confirmation he needed.
"Luciano??" The Queen called in shock. "You can't possibly be telling the truth, are you?"
Luciano scoffed before speaking. "It's true mother, I love her. I'm done trying to hide it."
"You can't love her!!" The Queen yelled, getting up from the throne seat with eyes widened in rage. "You can't! I did not train you this way! You can't!!"
The king shook his head slowly, waving his hands dismissively. "Leave." He's heard enough and it's making him sick.
Without a second thought, Luciano turned around and exited the throne room.
*The next day*
Eleanor heaved out a heavy sigh of relief as they walked out of the garden after tidying it up. For the past two weeks, she has developed a habit of helping Gwen in whatever work she has to do.
Being close to the prince has helped relieve her of all her duties, so she spent most of her time helping Gwen or any other person of Narva do their work.
"Ahh, I'm so hungry I could eat you." Gwen groused as they walked towards the castle.
"Gwen!" Eleanor called in shock, chuckling lightly."How can you say that?"
"What? But I'm hungry." She whined, pouting her lips like a child.
"You ate this morning." Eleanor reminded with a small smile, raising her brows at her.
"Yeah, but working the garden stressed the entire food out of me." She explained, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever, when we're done with all our duties this morning, we'll get you something to eat." Eleanor reassured her with a smile.
"Hmm-hmm." She hummed, pouting her lips. Eleanor turned to her about saying something when a guard stopped before them, preventing them from walking any further.
"You must be Eleanor." He said in a deep cold voice.
Eleanot stared at him with brows knitted in confusion. She was sure she'd never seen him before. "Yes, I am. How can I help-"
"The king ordered your presence." He announced, cutting her off from speaking.
Eleanor's heart skipped a beat immediately. She and Gwen exchange glances, their faces filled with confusion and shock. The king wants to see her, this is really rare and weird. "Erm..ermm Okay."
The guard turned around before looking at her over his shoulder. "Follow me."
Eleanor gulped down a large lump in her throat and took a step about to follow him when Gwen grabbed her hand. "I'm coming with you."
Eleanor nodded before they both walked away, trailing slowly behind the huge stone cold guard.
Eleanor's heart kept racing fast as they walked into the hallway leading to the throne room. The king wanting to see is no good news. She needs no one to tell her, it's gonna be about her and the prince.
"What if they've decided to kill her?"
She felt shivers run down her spine at the dreadful thought. Gwe must have noticed it as she took her hand into hers, squeezing it reassuringly. Eleanor heaved out a shaky breath and she tried to steady her breathings and stay calm.
They finally approached the door to the throne room when the guard stopped and kept staring at them with a weird look on his face.
Eleanor turned to Gwen immediately she understood why the guard was looking at them that way. "You can't go in with me."
"But... But why?"
"You can't Gwen. It might be an offense, you know." Eleanor explained timidly. As much as she'd love for Gwen to go in with it, it was clearly impossible. She'd be doing this alone.
"Okay, I'll just wait right here for you."
Eleanor nodded before walking into the throne room with the guard
Eleany walked into the almost-empty throne room, immediately sighting the King and the Queen, sitting on their respective throne seats. She walked fully into the room, standing some meters away from them before she bowed. "Good morning your Highnesses." She greeted, planting her gaze on the ground.
Silence settled in the throne room for a few seconds before the king cleared his throat, speaking. "I'll make this really quick, because I don't like being in the same with a slave, especially one causing chaos in my house." The king began, glaring hard at her.
Eleanor kept her eyes on her feets as she wouldn't look up at them. She knew all they would have in their face is pure hatred for her.
"You are given a deadline of two weeks, to make Luciano renounce his love for you." The king ordered.
Eleanor's heart skipped several beats on hearing his order. What does he mean? Before she could continue her thoughts he added.
"Or else, you'd be executed."
Eleanor stopped breathing as shivers repeatedly ran down her spine. He didn't say that, did he?
Executed?
She blinked her eyes repeatedly as she tried to understand all he said. Make Luciano renounce hisove for her or else she'd be executed.
"Leave."
She turned around on hearing the king's order, walking out of the throne room. Her head filled with different thoughts making her feel slightly dizzy. How did they know Luciano loves her?
"Eleanor! What happened there? What did they say?" It was then she heard Gwen's voice she knew she was already out of the throne room.
"Eleanor," Gwen called, shaking her shoulders. "What happened?"
Eleanor swallowed the heavy lump in her throat before speaking. "Let's... Let's get out of here first."
*
"Oh dear gods, they can't do that." Gwen said in a shaky breath after Eleanor had narrated everything to her.
"I'm scared Gwen, I don't know what to do." Eleanor muttered, rubbing her arms.
"It's okay Elly, we'll figure-" Gwen stopped talking when they heard slow claps and chuckles from their sides.
They both turned around to see Sabrina standing a few meters from them with a sly smile on her face. "Looks like somebody's getting executed soon." She chuckled, walking closer to them.
"What do you want?" Gwen asked with a frown on her face.
Sabrina turned to Eleanor, ignoring Gwen's question. "Ooh, she can't talk now." She giggled lightly. "It pains you so much you're going to die soon right? Well, you should have thought about that before trying to take what doesn't belong to you."
"What were you thinking? A slave and a prince huh?" She scoffed before continuing. "You think this is some kind of fairy tale. Your stupid wish to have what does not belong to you is taking you to your early grave."
She stood close to Eleanor and bent down slightly to her, her face several inches from Eleanor's. "Well, guess what? She who laughs last, laughs best." With that said, she turned around and walked away but not without laughing hysterically.
Eleanor knew this was going to happen, but she did not know it was going to be soon. She wasn't ready for this, she'd never be ready for this. She turned and glanced at Gwen when she felt her place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
She knew this would happen but it came too soon. She stared up at Gwen as a single tear dropped down from her eyes down to her cheek before Gwen drew her close, engulfing her in a comforting hug.