Arc 3: Chapter 62

After that, Isabella often came over hoping to see Richard. Although he was the upcoming heir, he still often headed to the royal palace so he wasn't seen frequently like what Isabella had hoped for. Nonetheless, she continued coming over along with Rosina who found out and decided to tag along. Lloyd also found out about Isabella no longer having feelings with him which brought him more joy.

"..Why is everyone coming over to my place?" Elenor muttered as she stared at the three people sitting around her in the guest room.

"Elenor's place is the best!" Lloyd cheerfully answered, taking another dessert off the plate.

Rosina nodded while Isabella quietly drank her tea. Elenor sighed, shaking her head. She glared at Lloyd,

"Why aren't you at the palace working? You're giving my brother and your employees even more stress."

Lloyd showed her a thumbs up, "Actually they allowed me to take a break today."

"Lies."

"It's true! Rosina was with me before we came over. Right?" he turned to Rosina who nodded again.

"They even pushed him out of his office today," she added on, proving his innocence.

Elenor stared at them. They seem to be closer since they were now using their names. She nodded at the explanation before a slice of chocolate cake was placed in front of her. Raising an eyebrow she turned to her right shoulder. Alec flashed her a smile which caused her to look back at the cake.

She stabbed the cake with her fork and slowly ate it.

"How is it milady?" Alec asked, holding the tray in his left hand and his other behind his back.

"It's good,"

"I'm sure the chefs in the manor will be delighted with how you always love their food."

"Uh huh." Elenor nodded and continued eating the cake without saying anything else.

After she finished the cake, she placed her fork down and turned to her three friends. With a brief smile she glanced at the window before speaking up,

"It's getting darker. Shouldn't you all head back soon?"

"Eh but we just came over-" Lloyd's sentence fell short once he glanced outside.

The sky was getting darker as clouds began blocking the afternoon sun that was shining brightly a few moments ago. The three understood what was coming and nodded. They finished their tea time earlier than intended and Elenor went to see them out but as they were about to step foot outside, rain droplets began dropping.

It wasn't a drizzle as well, it was a full blown rainstorm which made them unable to get on their respective carriages.

"...." the four had no words, only watching as the rain continued pouring heavily.

"...I guess you all need to stay for the night?" Elenor smiled awkwardly.

Lloyd burst into laughter while Rosina excitedly nodded and Isabella kept quiet but had a small smile on her face.

And so, Elenor's first ever sleepover happened last minute. She asked a few servants to prepare three spare bedrooms for them. At first she thought of only preparing a bedroom for Lloyd while Rosina and Isabella could sleep in her room but she didn't want them to feel uncomfortable so she decided on a safer option.

Elenor found a few spare clothes of her brother's and handed it to Lloyd for him to change later while she gave hers to the other two.

Rosina seemed really excited, rambling on and on about how she was happy to be able to stay the night at her manor. Isabella only sighed but when she thought nobody was looking she would always have a bright smile on her face.

Regardless, Elenor was quite excited as well as night soon fell upon their world.

How long has it been since she had a sleepover? Probably around when she was in college or high school.

"In a sleepover, alcohol must be there!" she exclaimed as different wines and alcohols were spread around them.

Isabella sighed at the amount while Rosina gazed at all of them in amazement.

"Whoa..! I have never seen this much alcohol since the coming-of-age ceremony!!" she said in awe.

"You only turned sixteen this year and you already want to drink?" Lloyd asked, laughing but didn't object to it.

"Well my birthday hasn't passed yet but we're in my house so it's fine!"

Elenor poured the wine into each of the wine glasses before holding it up, "Now let's drink up, cheers!!"

"Cheers!" the three said going along with her whims.

By the time they were on the second bottle, Isabella and Rosina were already drunk.

"Wh..where?" Isabella mumbled, her face extremely flushed.

"Where what?" Elenor questioned, she was only tipsy but close to becoming drunk.

"Ric..hard..?"

"Um...not here?"

Isabella's eyes began tearing up, "B-but..I miss 'em!" she drunkenly spoke, crying.

Rosina patted her head, swaying left and right, "Ish okay Bell'a! Don' cry!"

Her words were all slurred and barely understandable but she continued comforting Isabella who continued sobbing until she finally fell into a deep sleep.

Lloyd seemed perfectly fine if it wasn't for how red his ears were along with his goofy smile plastered on his face but he was still slightly sober. Elenor kept bursting into small fits of laughter as she continued drinking until it was the third bottle that she was fully drunk.

"Loyd!" ELenor spoke with a slur, swaying her wine glass back and forth.

"Yesss?" Lloyd replied in somewhat the same manner as her.

"If ya ever get together with Rosina, ya betta tell me!!"

Lloyd laughed, shaking his head, "Then you must tell me if you get together with Alec."

Elenor stopped moving and kept quiet for awhile before a sad smile bloomed on her face. Her eyes were watering as she stared at the carpet they were all sitting on now.

"...Alec won't want me."

Before Lloyd could reply, she continued on, trying her best not to slur her words, "He will leave me… 'em not worth it. I don't... don't deserve him."

"..That's not true."

Elenor took another swift of alcohol before shaking her head. Lloyd stared at her drunken state. After a long pause, he spoke up,

"Elenor are you in love with him?"

He asked a simple question yet she blankly stared at him, no reply came out. Instead she drowned herself in alcohol once more until a knock on her door echoed before Alec emerged out. He looked at the terrible mess before sighing, feeling a headache coming to him.

He had left for some time in order to finish some things he needed to do and once he came back, a mess was formed. He stared at the four drinkers. 2 in a drunken state, 1 slightly tipsy and the other blacked out.

"I'll ask someone to bring Lady Isabella back to her room. I can bring Rosina back to her room since she's still conscious." Lloyd offered, slowly getting up from the floor.

He slowly held Rosina's hand in his and gently helped her get up. Rosina stumbled up to her feet and blankly stared at Lloyd with red cheeks before smiling brightly.

"Thank you Lloyd!" she beamed, putting some of her weight against Lloyd.

He flushed red before letting out a soft cough, "Of course.. now let's get you back to your room. You're going to have a bad headache tomorrow."

"Un! Carry me!!" she childishly said, extending her arms towards him.

Lloyd grew more flustered, not knowing what to do He glanced over at Alec who shrugged which meant he had to deal with this himself. He stared at her who had excitement written all over her face. He finally gave in.

He slightly bent down, letting Rosina climb onto his back so he could piggyback her back to her room. Another servant who was still awake, brought Isabella back to her room as well. Rosina gasped and quickly tapped Lloyd's head to get his attention. She mumbled something to him before he nodded in agreement.

He turned back to face Alec who was patiently waiting for them to leave the room so he could clean the mess up and bring Elenor to her bed.

Rosina pointed at him before speaking and since she was still quite drunk, her speech was very slow, "...You like..like Elenor..? Wait no….do you lo..love her..?" she questioned.

Alec silently looked at them before looking at Elenor who had passed out a few moments ago. That was all the two needed to understand what he meant. Rosina was still able to tell despite her state at the moment, she giggled, swinging her legs.

"I wish you both happiness!!"

"Alright, we have been here for far too long, let's head out now Rosina."

"Alrighty okay!!"

Lloyd and Rosina finally left the room, leaving Alec and Elenor. He looked around the room which was now a mess. He heaved a sigh and began cleaning up all the trash and bottles of alcohol lying around the floor. The extra alcohol was brought back to the kitchen which needed to be placed back in the wine cellar.

Once the room finally looked like how it was before, he turned to the next thing he needed to do.

Elenor's figure was slumped over the couch. Her upper body was on it while the lower was sprawled on the floor. The empty wine glass was still in her hand as she slept. He shook his head at the sight and prying the wine glass away from her hands, placing it on the table.

Seeing how she was in a deep sleep, he carefully carried her up. He then headed over to her bed to gently tuck her in but what he didn't expect was for her to suddenly awoke from her sleep. She blinked her sleepy eyes and looked around before up at Alec.

He had carried her princess style so she was close to his body. She stared at him in silence while he did the same. He knew she was still drunk since her face was still slightly flushed and her head was swaying back and forth.

He called out to her, "Milady-"

"Ehhh? Where ish Llo'yd?" she drunkenly asked, looking around.

"..He left moments ago, helping Rosina back to her room." he answered, displeased that Lloyd was the first thing she asked for.

Elenor hummed and nodded before she fell into a short deep thought, "He asked a question...what was it..?"

She continued to ponder about it while she comfortably rested in Alec's arms until she finally remembered.

"Ah! He asked if 'm in love with ya!" she exclaimed pointing at Alec with a goofy smile.

Alec held in his breath as he listened to Elenor ramble. He couldn't even move his legs to her bed, wanting to hear what else she would say. He felt his lips drying as he carefully asked,

"...What's your answer?"

Elenor quietly stared at nothing. The silence was unbearing but Alec continued waiting until finally she spoke,

"Of course. I love Alec." her voice didn't waver and was somewhat soft and gentle as she answered his question.

Warmness swelled up in his heart as he heard her answer but immediately deflated when he remembered she was drunk.

She won't remember any of this.

His eyes darken but it quickly diminished.

"Let's get you to your bed milady…" his sentence trailed off as he felt fingertips before a warm hand rested on his cheek.

Elenor's eyes were narrowed and a smile was on her face. It was sweet and lovely which pulled him more. Her scent was mixed with alcohol yet it was still intoxicating making Alec tighten his grip on her.

"Alec…" she softly said in a breathy voice.

Inching closer, he could feel her breath on his skin. He was frozen on spot yet anticipated what was happening. After many failed attempts, he finally got what he wanted. Elenor pressed her lips against his.

It was a clumsy brief and simple kiss yet it burned into Alec's memory. How her lips were soft and warm just like he thought. The kiss was mixed with the taste of alcohol but he wanted more.

Elenor's eyes slowly fluttered open halfway creating a docile yet dangerous look. Alec forced himself not to do anything rash and cleared his throat.

"You shouldn't have done that.." he muttered, shaking his head.

Her hand was still on his cheek but she brought her other hand on his other cheek as well. Holding his face in her palms.

"Why?" she mumbled, lips quivering.

Alec couldn't help but let his eyes sweep over her lips again. He licked his lips before answering her,

"..Because you won't remember any of this."

He felt her holding his face tightly before a stubborn look flashed onto her face, "Then help me remember it so tomorrow I'll remember everything."

Alec looked away, hearing her words was making this even harder for him. He could feel his chest tightening up. His pupils dilated every so slightly. He's about to lose his composure. Especially with how she was looking at him with that look on her face.

He felt Elenor poking his chest bringing him back to the situation at hand.

"You know there's a saying where drunk people's words are always true." she mumbled.

"So all my words right now, are all true." she said with no slur whatsoever as if she was no longer drunk.

Alec placed her down on the couch which made her show a look of confusion but before she could ask, his face was dangerously close to hers.

"Then will you take back anything you have done and said?" he asked, his voice nearly coming off as a growl.

Elenor chuckled before wrapping her arms around his neck, not afraid of how he looked at the moment, "Never."

As if all his restraint finally snapped, Alec dived in pressing his lips against hers once more, savouring it. Every kiss was longer and more passionate than the first. Alec only pulled away once he knew she was running out of breath but after she recovered he kissed her again.

Elenor's face was flushed every time he pulled away, letting her breathe. She placed her hands weakly on his chest, trying to stop him.

"E-enough…" she stammered.

Alec listened and stopped, instead placing his forehead on hers. His arms wrapped around her body, pulling her into a warm hug. Elenor began to feel sleepy. Being in his arms was comfortable and warm making her slowly drift off to sleep.

When Alec noticed her soft steady breathing, he pulled away just enough to look at her face. A smile formed on his lips as he continued watching over her. A smile he only used for her, nobody else. This feeling was bewitching. She was bewitching.

He placed lightly butterfly kisses from her forehead to her temple, eyelids, nose, cheeks and finally one on her lips. Finally after a long time, he carried her back to her bed and tucked her in.

"At last, I finally claimed you." he whispered to himself, a contented feeling surging up in his body.

He silently bid her a good night and finally took his leave, letting Elenor sleep peacefully before the storm that will happen tomorrow.