Choice

Lady Gisella walked with Princess Eleanor out to the garden that was near her palace.

"Princess Eleanor, do you know why we are here?" Lady Gisella asked in a soft tone. Her eyes looked around to make sure that they were alone or at least they had some privacy.

"No." Princess Eleanor smiled as she answered and looked at Lady Gisella. She still remembered how Lady Gisella refused to receive anyone else's help when the King offered her a tour of the Palace. She had insisted on taking Princess Eleanor out herself.

Lady Gisella stopped as she looked around. Her gaze stayed on the Princess but her voice was in whispers. "Are you sure no one will listen to us here?"

"Then we should walk a little more. There is a beautiful rose garden here which is breathtaking. The plants there were especially planted there by my mother. It's a pity that people do not visit it more often." 

They both walked towards the direction Princess Eleanor was taking them to. Once they reached the place, the Princess looked back as she smiled innocently. "Nia, stand guard here." Her gaze shifted towards the man but she did not know how to address him.

"He is?" Princess Eleanor asked as she looked at Lady Gisella for an explanation. She did not know what she was supposed to say or ask if Lady Gisella did not reply.

"He will be your personal escort till the time the Princess reaches the Empire. You can call him Kit." Lady Gisella replied, breaking her silence.

But Princess Eleanor could see that before she replied, Lady Gisella's face lost all color. Knowing it was not the right time to question anything, she nodded her head and concentrated on the man. "Sir Kit. Can you stay here with Nia? Guards are not allowed to enter the place."

Princess Eleanor could see Sir Kit's eyes sharpen. His black gaze was emotionless but he still gave a short nod.

"Should we proceed?" Princess Eleanor smiled at Lady Gisella as she asked politely. 

Princess Eleanor knew that Lady Gisella was here because she wanted to talk about something private. The lady was an elder and knew that she could not do or say anything that would affect her plan in the future.

"The roses here are beautiful. So big and fresh." Lady Gisella moved her hand further in as she tried to touch the flower but soon, one of her fingers was pricked and a drop of blood welled up. "But they have thorns. Just like the life of the Princess."

Princess Eleanor did not know how to reply. What was Lady Gisella implying? Was her life like roses surrounded by thorns? 

A smile bloomed on the Princess's face as she saw the irony in those words. How beautifully they describe her current situation. She was the only survivor, a Princess in name and yet she was about to be sealed in a political marriage.

'It's not a political marriage yet. But it will be if I am chosen from among many others.'

"The lady wanted to talk with me?" Princess Eleanor took a stand and asked proactively. She did not want to play around with words anymore. There was no point in doing that. 

"I do." Lady Gisella smiled as he forgot about the small drop of blood on the finger. "The Angevin Kingdom has chosen you, Princess Eleanor. You'll be the one entering the Empire as the candidate for position of Crown Princess."

Princess Eleanor nodded her head. This was not some big secret. Almost everyone in the Kingdom would have known it at this point. 

"But we cannot just take any Princess to the Empire." Lady Gisella continued. Her eyes turned sharp as the corner of her lips curled up. "So I want to ask the Princess to make a choice within the next two days."

Princess Eleanor was silent as she listened carefully. She was eager to learn what was going to come next. Will she really be able to avoid going to the Empire and have an arranged marriage?

Princess Eleanor's parents had married for love. Her father was the King and even though her mother was also from an aristocratic family, she was not the one selected for marriage to the king. The one selected for the marriage was the current Queen, Princess Eleanor's Aunt.

But her father pulled back once he realized that the one he loved was someone else. It was difficult but they both still managed to get married at the end and create a loving family. Maybe that was why they had always told her to marry a man she loves.

"Choice regarding what exactly?" Princess Eleanor asked as she blinked her eyes a few times. She was eager to know as her heart was rapidly beating.

"Choose whether you will come to the Empire or not. And be very careful of that choice, Princess. Because if you do come to the Empire, then you cannot leave." Lady Gisella was straightforward with her approach. She did not try to sugarcoat things or give any false assurances. 

"And on what basis am I to make that choice? I am sure there is a reason why the lady had not said those words in front of the King." Princess Eleanor asked as she continued, "Is there a particular reason for that?"

Lady Gisella's eyes sharpened. "The Princess is not as naive as the rumors say."

"Rumors are called rumors and not facts for a reason." Princess Eleanor's eyes twinkled as she glanced at Lady Gisella. "They should not be trusted."

Lady Gisella burst out laughing as she nodded her head, agreeing with her statement. Her face was filled with pure joy. "What Princess Eleanor said is completely true." Lady Gisella managed to say once she got a hold of herself. "Rumors are certainly not facts."

Lady Gisella's eyes soon turned sharp. The playfulness that was playing across her face a while ago was nowhere to be seen. She was now serious and her aura emanated the same seriousness. 

Lady Gisella now stood straight as she took a step towards the Princess, "So let me tell you some facts now. Listen carefully, Princess. And keep it in your mind, because I will not be repeating it to you anymore."