"Hey." Gwen looked up to see Nikolai standing beside her, his lips stretched into a small smile before sitting on the bench beside her.
"Hey." She replied in a small voice, taking her eyes back to her fingers.
"You okay?" His voice was laced in concern. It was easy to notice she wasn't fine.
"Hmm." She nodded without glancing at him.
It's been two weeks and being honest it's one of the worst periods of her life. It wasn't stress filled and hectical. It was supposed to be another best weeks of her life, considering the fact they were fed and relieved of some of their duties, but it was quite the opposite.
In fact, it was the worst. She had woken up every morning, filled with panic at the reminder that her best friend is in the most terrifying phase of life ever. And the prince wasn't helping this time.
Though he was supposed to, and he had the power to, but instead he chose not to. She understands how hard it is to deny true love but life matters here. What if this isn't a fairytale. What is she gets killed? Where is the happy ending?
Gwen was completed worried, she really wishes she has the power to do something. Most especially run far away from here. Start a new life somewhere else.
Nikolai surely heard the tragic news of what happened to Eleanor, but he wasn't happy seeing her sad and completely lost in thoughts all the time. He could swear he loves this lady so much and would do anything to make her happy, but everything he tried isn't working.
He really wish he could take the threat off Eleanor's head, because it seems that is the only thing that can make her happy.
He placed his arm around her and tries assuring her. "Hey, it will be fine okay?" She finally looked up at him. The sadness in her eyes made his heart clench. "Nothing's gonna happen to her, she'll be fine. I'll make sure of that. I'll do it to make you happy again. Okay?" He heaved out a deep sigh when she nodded and rested her head on his shoulder.
Dear gods for the sake of his love for her, make everything right.
*
*
The gods knows how much he tried to make her forget, even though he tried to make her forget. It was still ringing somewhere in her head.
She was going to be executed.
Her mind never fails to whisper it in her head. No matter how hard she tried to focus on different things, trying not to think about it. She breathed out a deep sigh, trying so hard to focus on the book before her.
He said reading books would help her forget, she has no idea what he was probably planning on doing but she tried taking every of his advice. He made her stay in his room most times, reading a lot of books, saying it helps lessen the fear.
She hasn't seen any effect of it though. Her heart has been thumping hard in fear non stop.
Eleanor looked up from the book she was reading when a knock came on the door.
Luciano looked up to the door, his brows raised in irritation. She has come to realize he hates being disturbed when reading a book. His cold gaze could send anyone six feets beneath the ground.
"Come in." He knew it must be a guard, coming at this ungodly time.
"My prince." The huge unfamiliar guard walked into the room and gave a quick bow before announcing. "The King calls for the slave in the courtroom."
If Luciano wasn't angry before he sure is right now. His nose flared in anger immediately the guard mentioned slave. "How dare you address her that way?" He voice echoed through the room. He never yells. But he did now. There was rage in his eyes.
The guard looked shocked but quickly bowed his head, apologizing immediately. "I'm sorry my prince."
Luciano settled back on the chair, though his brows still knitted together in anger. "So what did you say?"
"The king requests her presence in the courtroom." Eleanor's mind was quick to do a small calculation immediately reminding her that two weeks was over now. Her eyes widened immediately, and heart began thumping wildly. Fear already consuming her.
"Leave, she'll be there." Luciano waves his hands dismissively at him, his face scrunched in irritation like he couldn't stand a look of him.
"Ermm... Your highness, but the king said I come with her immediately." Luciano snapped his head at him, glaring daggers at him.
"What-"
"It's fine Luciano, I'll go with him." Eleanor cut him off immediately, glancing at the guard. If she was going to be killed, she doesn't want any chaos caused because of her.
Luciano heaved out a deep sigh, trying so hard to stop the anger running through him. "Then I'm going with you." He said in a deep determined voice.
If it were another situation she'd have totally disagreed with him following her, but she could only nod her head in response knowing she needs him more than ever.
With her heart thumping heavily against her chest, she stood up walking after the guard, Luciano following behind her.
"I did not remember requesting to see you Luciano." King Axel said, immediately they walked into the room.
Luciano, as usual gave him no reply, as they stood in the middle of the room, before the king and queen sitting respectively on their throne seats.
Eleanor easily noticed there lot of guards around the room, quite unusual. Her heart skipped a bit when she noticed Elliot standing some meters beside the Kings. She can't really remember the last time she saw him. Not like she wishes to.
King Axel cleared his throat ready to speak when Luciano gave him no response. "It's been two weeks slave and your-"
"Don't address her that way." Luciano snapped, cutting him off immediately.
The King raised a surprised brow at him and took his eyes back to her. "Has it been done?" His voice was cold and emotionless, making Eleanor shiver.
She was tongue-tied and couldn't find a perfect answer to give him. What can she say? Any word might actually determine if she be killed or not.
"I asked a question." His voice brought her out of her thoughts.
She glanced up at Luciano, hoping he'd save her out of this. "I'm sorry, I couldn't." She took her eyes to her feets immediately she answered.
Nothing would happen to me. She tried to console herself, trying as much as possible to stop her heart from thumping so wildly.
Axel took a quick glance at Ariel who kept a menacing gaze on her. "Luciano, can you excuse-"
"No, I'm staying." Luciano replied bluntly, cutting him off.
"Eleanor." He cleared his throat before continuing. "You failed to meet the conditions which would hereby lead you to your grave."
Nice choice of words. Eleanor almost rolled her eyes, forgetting that she was expecting a death sentence.
"Today, you would have to face your punishment which is execution."
"Not under my watch." The king was taken aback when Luciano suddenly yelled.
"Luciano, I advise you step aside and let your father do what is expected of him for the safety of the kingdom and your own safety." The Queen waved her eyes dismissively, rolling her eyes.
"Eleanor has never been a threat to any of us, you're just making this up, 'cause you think that bitchy princess is the best!" His voice was deeper than usual as he emphasized on each words.
"Luciano, I would say there is no time for this, I have pass my judgement on her," Eleanor's heart skipped a beat when he spoke. Why was he being so adamant? She hated to think this was totally hopeless, it seems like his mind was made up already. "Which is death, so step aside and let the king do his duty." He deadpanned with a plain look on his face.
Eleanor stared between Luciano and the King, wishing a miracle would happen now. The king raised his hands and a guard beside, following the motion raised a bow, an arrow already fixed in it, to her. Eleanor wanted to run away from the room but her feets were glued, looking straight at the arrow. Her heart racing fast, she looked at Luciano, hoping he'd do something now. This was the height of it all, if nothing happens she'd be killed.
When the king rolled his hands into a fist, she shut her eyes closed, not wanting to see what will happen or rather waiting for the hit. She heard the slight sound, she heard movements beside her, then she heard a small grunt followed by a loud gasp.
She was waiting for the hit, waiting to feel life seeping out of her but when she felt nothing she slowly open her eyes, seeing a huge figure standing in front of her. Luciano? She held his arm, turning him around to face her.
Her heart stopped racing, she stopped breathing and remained frozen, her eyes fixed on the arrow planted in his chest.
"Lu... Luciano.." Her words came out in shaky breath, tears brimmed in her eyes. He took the arrow for her, he got hit for her. Her hands moved to his chest, whimpering as blood starting seeping from it.
"Luciano!!!" Ariel screamed and rushed down down the throne seat, tripping and falling to the ground.
"No!" Tears fell from Eleanor's eyes as he fell to the ground, his eyes went close immediately. She rested her head on his chest, already sobbing. Why did he go unconscious too soon?
"Get the physician!" She heard the king scream, followed by sounds of commotion. Her heart sank in her stomach when she heard the king command in a loud deep voice. "Seize her!!"