CH 18 ~ Peaceful

After a few moments passed, the hot tomato stew was served for them and Alexander carefully feed the little girl on his lap gently.

He has never seen her like this.

She was so cheerful but in pain at the same time.

From the moment she opened her eyes after falling on the lake, he has seen so many different expressions on her face.

Confusion, panic, proud, cute, afraid, but the current look on her face pained him the most.

Why does she look so sad?

What is hurting her?

Alexander wanted to know it all and tell her that it's okay, he is right beside her.

But he doesn't know the reason for it.

In the end, he kept silent and continued to feed her.

Her round jewel like blue eyes had turned puffy, even her white face looked red.

A vulnerable and weak look was imprinted on her face as she continued to drink the soup without any protest.

Alexander was far more than happy to spend time with her like this.

It's been s long that he has been this close to her and there is no awkwardness between them.

In the past, she only knew how to stay close to him but didn't know how to make a conversation or what to do when he would finally step towards her.

Then, she would just grab the hem of her dress and run away.

This was why he never exposed her secretly following him to work, even when most of the people around her knew about it.

Alexander wiped out Eleanora's face as she finished the soup in an unconscious state.

She was so lost in thoughts that she didn't even realize when she has finished the soup.

The sun was almost setting down by the time they stepped out from the restaurant.

The sky was getting darker and everyone was returning home.

Unlike the view she used to get from the luxurious mansion of the Montogamy Mansion, this sun and breeze felt warmer to her.

She felt lonely in both place, but at least this place didn't make her feel burdened for some reason.

She always used to feel like there was something missing in her life there, and now she seems to find that missing piece here.

Pain

She didn't felt any pain there…

She forced herself to be happy, but deep inside she was empty.

But now she doesn't pretend to be happy.

Eleanora didn't know what had gotten into her to feel like this.

But she couldn't help this feeling; it seemed like a large part of her soul… which completes her.

Suddenly she didn't wish to care about the world anymore and felt tired.

Like she is living for many years and gone through a lot of things.

So, she wished to stop here.

There was laughter of people's, giggles of children's, and a happy atmosphere.

But she hated it.

Why is everyone so happy?

The surrounding sounds seem to hurt her head and without knowing, she had already paused on her steps as her tiny hands slid down from her father's grip.

"Eleanora?"

Her father called her in a confused voice but she couldn't response.

Her mind is in a mess now.

She doesn't want to listen or see; she just wants to stop and rest.

She felt too tired and too painful to breathe.

Why is she being like this?

Everything was fine this morning.

She was going back to her parents, and then broke of the engagement between her and Cathain… but why is she here now?

Why?

She had finally realized that you can't take the things that aren't mean for you.

Just like how she could never make a space in his heart.

[A/N: She is talking about the modern life]

And one thing isn't enough to keep living on.

Just like how her father's love can't make her feel complete and living.

Eleanora just felt too tired all of a sudden.

But right at that moment, her ears gets sharper as she seem to hear someone pulling a string or something.

She shouldn't recognize this but she still did.

In an instant, tens of the Dalton Knight's were taken down in one strike with arrows and Alexander abruptly shielded her in his arms while blocking the arrows with his sword.

He gritted his teeth as he scoops up Eleanora on his embrace, while the crowd becomes chaotic with fear.

Damn it!

He knew something like this would happen!

Alexander was caught off guard as Eleanora suddenly let go off his hands and the intruders took advantage of that moment.

The brutal fighting scene in front of her finally forced her come back to her senses and she gasped.

Since when did this all started?

Why can't she recall anything properly?!

Eleanora thought with her widened blue eyes as Alexander killed every intruder whom tried to block his path without even batting his eyes.

He doesn't want to let her see such a bloody scene, but he had no choice either.

This is a public place and he can't fight all out here by using his magic powers.

So, he can only push them back while carrying her to a safe place.

'As I had expected… I shouldn't have gotten closer with her and maintained my distance…'

'This attack must have been planned for me, but dragged her in this mess!'

[A/N: This attack scene didn't appear on Season 01 as at that time, Alexander left the imperial palace at early morning and didn't return there again.

So the assassination attack couldn't happen as it was actually planned at the time he leaves the imperial palace and crosses this street.

But as he return to the imperial palace this time and left at the normal time, this assassination occurred.]

After running in a little distance, Alexander discovers a small cabin and pushes Eleanora inside of it as he stares at her fearful shocked gaze.

"Stay here and be safe… Papa will protect you."

Alexander speaks with a smile as he closes the cabinet's door before standing on guard to face the assassins.

But as he walked away from her, another memory flashes in her mind and it changes into something else.

A beautiful woman with dark blue hair and golden eyes had once stared at her in the same way, with a painful smile on her face.

'Run Nora… Run to your papa…'

'Papa will always protect you…'

And as that voice told her, Eleanora already found herself pushing open the cabinet's door as her blue eyes stayed glued on her father's back.

Yes…

She just has to run to her father, like before.

Then she will feel fine again.

This time, she won't run away leaving her father, just like she did with her mother.

She escaped while leaving her mother to face death.

Yeah, she can't repeat the same mistake again.

Her mind resonates with her inner thought as she took each step towards her father absentmindedly.

She watched her father's expression change into a horrific expression and he seems to rush toward her direction while yelling something.

But she couldn't hear.

And then her vision turned red as blood splashed on her white face.

Making the time around her stop and her body froze on its spot; the world finally felt peaceful to her… just like how she wanted it to be.