Arc 4: Chapter 77

Elenor was getting ready to head out to meet up and discuss with Lloyd about the slavery trading. Night had fallen and everyone was in deep slumber.

She wore a black hood that covered her face and hair completely. Opening the window, she looked around before leaving silently as possible. Thankfully, her room wasn't upstairs but on the ground floor.

Carefully, she walked to where Lloyd had told her to wait at. Noticing a figure, she hesitated but the figure had noticed and motioned her to come over. She saw that they were on her side and headed over.

"This way, Lady Elenor." they softly spoke as they led her towards a forest.

Just to be safe, she continued to hold her guard up until they stopped in front of a run down house. They stopped at the door and knocked it.

"I have brought Lady Elenor."

Without waiting for a reply, they turned back to Elenor and bowed.

"Please go inside Lady Elenor."

"Ah..uh alright." she nodded before slowly opening the door to the house.

There was a man with brown hair sitting down at the only table in the house. Her eyes darted around only to find a few knights, hiding under a black hood, standing guard.

She walked over to the seat opposite of the brown hair man and sat down. Then the brown hair man looked up and grinned.

"Hello Elenor~" Lloyd greeted.

Elenor sighed and shook her head before removing the hood over her head.

"For a second there I thought I was about to be drugged and kidnapped."

Lloyd laughed, "Sorry about that."

She waved it off, "It's fine. You must have heard everything from my brother."

"Yes. I must say, I didn't expect the young boy you decided to take would be from our kingdom."

"Me neither."

Lloyd leaned against his palm and chuckled. "Once you're in this, you can't back out now Elenor."

She smiled, copying his action and leaned against her palm. "Don't worry. I won't."

He returned a smile before glancing at the door behind her. "There's going to be someone else coming."

Elenor raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

"He should be here any minute." he answered, checking his pocket watch before placing it back in his pocket.

Just as Lloyd put his pocket watch away, a soft knock echoed through the silent night before a figure hidden under a hood walked inside. The figure froze at the sight of Elenor.

"..Milady?"

"Ah Alec? So you're the one Lloyd said would be arriving."

Alec stared at Elenor before coldly gazing at Lloyd who quickly straightened his back. He sent a wry smile over to Alec who glared at him.

"Don't look at Lloyd like that. I requested to be here." Elenor spoke, tugging on his coat.

"What's the reason?"

"I want to know the whereabouts of the trading." she straightforwardly answered.

"No."

"Why not?" she frowned.

"You know Ray is from Elaelind but he was sold in the slavery trading. People from our kingdom could still be there."

"Who the heck is Ray?" Alec grumbled, irritated from hearing another male's name from her mouth.

"The young boy I took when her highness told me to pick from the row of men she brought in."

"Oh him." Alec mumbled, huffing out a sigh.

"You know, I don't understand why you get jealous of any guy-"

Alec shot a look at Lloyd who immediately kept his mouth shut. He turned back to Elenor and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'll handle it then. You don't need to come with us." Alec said.

"No I will. I can take care of myself." she argued.

Alec heaved another sigh before looking at Lloyd.

"Your highness, I would like to speak to milady alone."

Lloyd glanced at Elenor and Alec before quietly leaving.

"Don't take too long, we don't have forever!" he reminded before leaving the two alone inside the rundown hut.

Alec turned back to Elenor and with a cold tone, he spoke to her.

"I know you think you are obligated to help because you know this world but you have to remember you live here too. You're risking your life."

Elenor sighed, "I'm not doing this because I feel obligated. I know I'm risking my life and I know what I'm asking is extremely selfish of me but I still want to help."

"Milady."

"Alec, I understand what you mean and I agree with your points however,"

Elenor grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I live in this world now just like you mentioned. If there is something I can do to help, I will."

"Plus I want to get revenge on those people who did those things to Ray and those who kidnapped me." she added with a chuckle.

Alec's frown grew deeper. He brought his hands to her cheeks and pinched them painfully. Elenor winced in pain, trying to get out of his hold but he continued pinching and stretching her cheeks until they were red.

"This is for always putting people before you." he mumbled.

Elenor massaged her cheeks in pain, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach as he spoke those words. "We should bring Lloyd back in."

Alec nodded, letting Lloyd who was waiting outside this whole time, inside.

Finally they were able to discuss what she came for.

"The auction is always held every Sunday beneath a hidden bar." Lloyd began.

"This is where the bar is located." he pointed at the location marked,

"If it's held under the bar, we would need a secret password in order to get inside right?" Elenor chimed in.

He smiled and nodded, "Correct. Fortunately one of my men who successfully infiltrated was able to find out the password."

Elenor raised her head, "Infiltrated?"

"He's acting as a slave trader." Alec said, helping her to understand.

"I see." she nodded to show she had understood everything.

Lloyd then continued talking about the plan. Elenor and Alec understood his plan and agreed, pitching in on and off.

"Also I think Princess Hera is closely associated with this." Elenor brought up.

There was a short silence before Lloyd spoke,

"I thought of that too, after hearing how Ray was taken in to her mansion, not long being sold in the slavery trading."

"Yeah. That's why."

"But we don't have enough evidence to prove it. Ray may be one but it is not enough especially since she is still a royal blood."

"For now, Alec you try to see if there's anything in her mansion or evidence." Lloyd ordered, glancing over at Alec who nodded in response.

"We'll keep this for another time after we execute the plan. Her highness, Princess Hera is another thing, right now it's more important to save those people from the slavery. Got it you two?"

"Yes." Elenor and Alec answered in unison.

Once the three all agreed on the plan, Elenor and Alec got up to leave, needing to return back before anyone realised they were gone.

"Ah before you two leave," Lloyd remembered something and rummaged around before dropping a few thin stacks of documents on the table.

Elenor picked one of it up to show Alec and herself. They glanced at it before looking over at Lloyd to let him explain.

"Those are the few people who often buy. We have the whole document list of who comes and goes but these are the ones that come almost every week." he explained, pointing at the documents.

"That's...quite a lot still." she commented, looking through all of them one by one.

Lloyd nodded and let out a deep throaty chuckle, "Precisely why we will seize them when they least expect it."

Elenor smirked, "You seem pretty excited."

"Capturing bad guys is fun!" Lloyd grinned.

Alec and Elenor made eye contact before rolling their eyes in unison. They bid Lloyd goodbye as they left the rundown hut.

"I'll head back to my room now." Elenor softly spoke and turned to leave.

Alec lightly held her hand, "I really prefer if you don't join us."

"Then I prefer if you don't either."

"I can't do that."

"There's my answer too."

"Milady." he frowned.

Elenor sighed, "Just think of this as I want my sweet revenge on those people who tried to harm me and those who harmed Ray."

"Then I'll do it for you."

"It wouldn't be as good as doing it yourself."

"Hyejin. I really don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't," she waved it off confidently.

She looked around before a grin was on her face. "Besides, didn't we agree beforehand that you would protect me if I ever was in danger?"

Alec pinched his nose bridge, absolutely done with his lover. "Yes but doesn't mean I can bear seeing you get a scratch."

"Psh, I can handle a scratch just like how I can handle a small stab." she whispered to herself.

"Pardon?"

"I said I won't get injured I promise! And seriously I can protect myself." Elenor said hoping he didn't hear what she previously said.

"You know I have good hearing right." he replied deadpan.

She gulped before awkwardly smiling at him. "...Hooray?"

"When.Did.You.Get.Stabbed."

"Oh wow look at the time! I really should hurry back to my room or else I might get caught haha!" Elenor took a few steps back.

"Milady if you run-"

"See you later Alec!" she winked before quietly making a run for it.

Alec was about to chase after her but hastily decided not to. He watched as her figure grew smaller and disappeared into the night.

He breathed out a sigh before walking in another direction, "I'll make you tell me another time." he muttered to himself, imagining a flustered Elenor explaining to him.

The thought of her made him smile and even laugh. Oh how he wished he could be in her embrace instead but as he remembered what she had mumbled, his happiness instantly washed away and only coldness was left.

When did she get stabbed?