chapter 35

Eleanor ran and blocked his path. They were on the large corridor. "please my husband I begged of you. Let me go back to my kingdom… for my father's sake".

She was panting and crying. "was he telling me the truth that my father was dead or he just wished to see how vulnerable I shall be with the information. But how about the other two men. It didn't seems as though they lied". Eleanor thought and wept.

"Get out of my way". He ordered

"please". She knelt. Not minding if they were servants staring at her or not.

" guards " the prince call. His hands were still behind his back as Eleanor knelt and hugged his thighs. Her head was beginning to ache again. Once she was seen taking her hands there and bringing them to wrapped back around the prince's thighs.

"you want to create a scene here". He gave a small laughed. "you wished to go back to show your miserable self to them so that you shall tell them how wicked I am. Right!".

The guards were present at his call. "locked her up in her room". He commanded. They wanted to yanked her up and dragged her along but she told them not to touch her.

She stood up and took a deep breath. Staring into the prince eyes, she bite her lips.

"A day shall come when you shall kneel before me for a request". She told him and left.

He was boiling but she was already gone. She didn't give him any room to talk.

Eleanor went back to the room. The door was locked after her and two guards mounted behind the closed door so that she wouldn't escape.

Eleanor was more than sad. She kept calling her father's name. "is it true that you are no more". She paced the room with burden too heavy for her to bear.

She had called a million times on her supernatural friends to get her out of the room. None came. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't.

Not while she is still in the kingdom that is immune to their magic. To rubbed more salt to her injured, they most powerful of them all was critically ill. If lord Zane shall survived it was impossible for her to know.

They was none that she knew of to asked how he was faring. After much cries and worries Eleanor reclined on the bed and slept off.

When she woke Kate was watching over her.

"Kate" . She stood up. Kate went to her. They hugged. She pushed Kate slowly and looked at her face. Kate look down. She tilted her chin up.

"Is it truth?" . She asked Kate. "That the king, my father is dead".

Kate hugged her again. She didn't say a thing, instead she was comforting her. Eleanor let out a low cry.

Earlier, Kate had heard the two older men who were waiting on the prince. They were discussing about it. She was cleaning the hall by the time they arrived. Kate choose to assist Sandra in cleaning the hall.

Immediately they made mentioned of Golden Hill, her ears opened widely.

It was of the truth that king Ephraim of Golden Hill kingdom, Eleanor's father was death.

Eleanor slumped on the confirmation. Kate screamed and called on the guards to helped her. That her lady had passed out.

"That has been her meal ever since we knew her. Beginning from the road and until now. She has passed out thrice now if I'm not mistaken, so this one shall not killed her. Go back and stay with her till whenever she wakes".

One of the guard said and both of them laughed. Kate was so disappointed. She went back to Eleanor and began to massaged her.

Meanwhile king Edward, prince Raymond's father had earlier commanded that the princess be brought before him.

He wanted to see and speak with Eleanor but because she was wounded and sick prince Raymond refused to presents her before his father.

Especially now that king Edward heard her father was dead. He wanted to commiserate with her.

"where is she… son?. I have been asking after her, ever since she arrives here. Will I also marry or make her to become one of my mistress that you have kept her hidden from me". The king thought out of the box. The possible reasons behind the actions of his son. Why he was preventing his wife from meeting with him.

"No father" prince Raymond bowed.

"then what?". He didn't have a good reason to give.

"Since you have refused to bring her to me. I shall go to her".

"Father". The king was already on his way. He can't stop or tell the king what and what not to do.

King Edward held Eleanor and everything that has to do with her kingdom in a very high esteem. He didn't understand why his son was acting otherwise.

He had heard how the late king Ephraim has supplied kingdoms with material things after Black Dust Empire raid them dry.

Even welcoming most of them to take refuged in his kingdom. It takes a brave King to do that as most king's were scared of the emperor.

King Edward was led to the quarters were the princess was as commanded.

The guards at the door were shocked to their marrow. The quickly knelt. They knew their little deeds shall be brought to light if Kate ever complain to the king.

They spoke mockingly to Kate about the princess's condition meanwhile they knew too well than be told that the penalty for such was death. Since the prince, her husband didn't regard her, this gave them the room to speak ill of her. The news of the princess kneeling and crying and begging the prince had gone round the castle. None of them admitted that their prince put her through all that.

"opened the door". The king commanded. He saw how the door was locked from outside. His eyes dilated. He turned to looked at his son. He looked away.

Kate heard the door was opened. She was seated on the bed. Turning her thighs into a pillow for the princess after giving her the massage. The princess was still not awake.

"What is going on here?". The king asked. Kate didn't answer. she was still mourning. None has dare kept mute when the king had ordered such a person to speak. Kate's case was different. The king pardoned her. He went closer.

He took a look at Eleanor. He saw a young lady who was weary of life. She was red and pale. She lay lifeless on Kate's thigh and on the bed.

His heart bled. He sent the guards to get a physician immediately.

Kate came down. She knelt before the king.

"my king" she bowed. "I'm only a maid in my kingdom. The maid of my lady". She pointed at the sleeping princess.

The king acknowledged her. He went and sat in one of the white couches.

"I know when a person's life is at risked. Please forgive me because it is not in my place to say".

"Then shut it". The prince order. "go ahead". The king commanded.

"The prince makes life a living hell for my lady within one week. She had fainted fourth times ever since we began this journey. Each of this times she hasn't stay this long without opening her eyes. I'm scared for her life even her breath is too slow. I fear I might loose my lady because of your son".

Kate was not scared. She needed her lady back. She knew she shouldn't be saying that but she also needed justice for Eleanor.

"The prince my king has hit her so many times on our way here. If I lied check her body. Her head my king has a deep cut. I have never seen or heard that my lady was hit before. Why now?". She heaved.

" Even now I pleaded with the guard to called the physician since they won't let me out on the prince order".

The guard who went to called the physician just entered. He bowed.

The physician also bowed before the king and the king asked him to examined Eleanor.

King Edward wanted to hear all the details. He told Kate to continue. "They disregarded my lady because the prince, her husband has no regards for her".

"Father I saw her with another man in a closed carriage". The prince tried to defend himself.

"And who was this man" . The king asked.

He gulped. He couldn't bring himself to say it.

The king ordered the two guards outside to come in. Immediately they entered the room they prostrated. Knowing the punishment of the crime might be their head. But king Edward was kind enough. They were told to take themselves to the dungeon.

Shortly after! The king stood up to leave, Eleanor moved her hands. Kate rise and ran to her. The physician told her to halt.

"She need some rest. Let her be left alone". Kate bowed. Smiles was on her face that Eleanor was not going to die after all.

Kate knew of Jessica and Beatrice that they were from Serpent Land. Beatrice had revealed to her, her true self.

Queen Margaret and Beatrice picked her to accompany the princess because if it was Beatrice, immediately she would stepped her foots on the boundary of Mistletoe.

Her true self must popped up just like queen Margaret, Jessica would be revealed because queen Margaret was a disguised and the Mistletoe kingdom was no land to condoned magic.

"They would have taken you away from here my lady". Kate had earlier reasoned. Now their fate was in the hands of king Edward. Kate hoped that king Edward would not be like his son.

Eleanor was awake now. She beckoned on Kate to help her to sit up right. She looked around the house. Her vision was gradually becoming clearer. She saw the prince standing by a couch where another was seated.

"That must be the king. She thought. She tried to stand but the physician and Kate pinned her still.

The king rise to meet with her.

"My king". She bowed on her sitting position on the bed.

"Please forgive my son". The king said. "A lion beget a lion but I beget a donkey".

Prince Raymond bite his inner cheeks and clenched his fist. His father had just disgraced him before his subjects. He knew his father was going to do something to make him pay for what Kate said against him but he never expected him to speak lowly of him before their subjects.

He signaled the physician and Kate to leave. They guards too to closed the door behind them.

Kate felt reluctant at first. It wasn't about obeying the prince order but she felt reluctant leaving the princess alone with this people she didn't trust. When she made a move. The king asked her to stay and the physician too. His work was not done.

The king looked behind Eleanor's head to see the wound. He was burning with fury against his son. Prince Raymond started sweating because his father even though he didn't say another vague words against him. He kicked against his deeds with his eyes and actions

"I wished to go to my kingdom" Eleanor said. "I heard my father is death".

The king shook his head in agreement. Eleanor wept the more. Another has confirmed it to her.

"They sent messengers to informed us. I now know why my son prevented you from meeting with them".

Eleanor couldn't believed this. People from her kingdom visited Mistletoe because of her and she is just hearing that after they were gone.

"I shall not denied you of your wish my child. But I shall keep you here for a couple of days to heal before letting you go. I wouldn't want to let you go like this.

No sane kingdom would returned their child again to her husband's kingdom, if in just seven days of her stay, her body became like seasoned meat and her breath threatened to leave her.

Only unless they don't value her. But you are the only child of Golden Hill. Your kingdom shall come to war against mine if you go like this. Let me watch over you to heal. I shall surely let you go".

Eleanor nodded to the king's words even she herself knew that she was not fit to embarked on such distance journey. Or maybe if she is out of the Mistletoe kingdom her friends would shorten the journey but she didn't want to appear the way she is. Not before queen Charlene and queen Daniella. They would mocked her to stupor.

She held king Edward to his words. At least someone was being sane with her and the monster prince called her husband who had no regards for her nodded in disappointment.

Eleanor looked into his eyes if she would see an iota of regret, but no. She saw anger instead, boiled against his father for interfering in the matter.

He told the father that he wanted to have a word with Eleanor. King Edward gave him a warning look before he left.

When all had excused them and he was left alone with Eleanor.

"Don't feel because my father had come that you could escaped from my hands and continued with your waywardness with the demon of Serpent Land. I give you a limited time. I shall come for you if you don't return within these period".

He walked closer to her bed side and sat on the edge of the bed. He caressed her cheeks with the back of his hand.

"If you made me come for you, I shall make life unbearable that you would hate your father even in his grave for choosing to marry you off to me"

Eleanor didn't respond. She was too pained to try. She let it slipped. Everything. "I forgive you". She muttered but he was already at the door.

Eleanor stay for another seven days. Each day tarries like a whole year to her. But she was determined to get her health back. She relaxed a bit. Kate and the king was by her side.

In the day she was about returning to her kingdom. Prince Raymond reminded her to return to Mistletoe after three days.

Eleanor asked him to come with her. To be by her side when the burial shall be done and when her nobles shall look down on her for being a girl. He shall speak for her. Prince Raymond hissed, bowed to his father and left.

Eleanor said nothing to him. She was disappointed. What does she expected from a man who has been cruel to her. She thanked the king and departed with Kate and two guards king Edward ordered to drive her back.

When Eleanor arrived at her kingdom. A lot of things had changed.

It was two weeks after she left Golden Hill and it was as though she had been away for two long a time. It's been two weeks now after she heard her father was dead. Her world shattered and came to an end.

She was taken to where his body was but she couldn't recognized him. She stayed there and told everyone to leave them alone.

Princess Eleanor read the letter for the very first time. The letter given to her by her father which her mother left for her. It was when she was about traveling that the king gave it to her, just weeks ago.

She opened his eyes to search for something. She was not scared. The unknown she usually searched for in her father's grey eyes but his eyes was pale and blunt. It became the unknown.

Queen Margaret ordered that they bring Eleanor out of the room. She was brought out.

Queen Charlene was out there in the small corridor that led to where the king was kept until his daughter's returned before the burial can be done.

They had sent words to her that her father was death but she took long to returned. Before the king died he told them not to buried him if his daughter is not around.

Queen Charlene came and stood right beside queen Margaret, she tilted her head up and raised her shoulders.

"The king is death" she said in pride.

Eleanor was not ready for her. She was still in shocked that the father she left two weeks ago is now disgusting and frightening to look upon. The body has began to decay. Though it was being embalmed.

It was morning when she went to check on him. The guard had brought her out of the building to the outside where queen Margaret was.

Queen Daniella was seen talking to the Duke. She paused to look at the poor princess who was hugging queen Margaret like she was an imagined resurrected king. She felt nothing but pity for her.

The faces around seems like a good fate just happened rather than death itself. The king's corpse was in a building outside the palace walls. Small cobblestone stone building. They stood out there in the open space that was void of vegetation.

Queen Margaret pulled princess Eleanor gently away from the spot. She encouraged her to walk some distance.

Duke William who lean against the wall with folded arms just watched the drama. He called their attention with a mocking question.

"Dr. Marco! Are you sure the king is death?" He spoke in a loud tone that the queen and princess halted. Every other persons turned to look at him.

The king had died for two weeks now. Why would he be asking such a question now. They reasoned.

" Your grace such word as 'death' is not to be toiled with". The physician knew too well than to take the Duke's question for granted. Now that the king was no more he was the second in command while the queens were not given much value unless he was involved.

" Especially not with the king. I'm afraid to say your grace". He bowed "king Ephraim Alexander Wilson is death".

Princess Eleanor struggled to get back into the building, in the corridor and into the room but queen Margaret restricted and took her away.

It's was their plot. It is their deeds. King Ephraim was poisoned months ago Dr. Marco tried to tell the princess when he walked up to them.

"Why are you adding salt to her wounds". Queen Margaret taunted. " If you knew the king was poisoned. Why didn't you save him. Were you not his most trusted physician?. And why only saying this now that he is no more".

"I tried"

"Get out". Queen Margaret screamed.