Sneaking

Elric stared at the girl in disbelief, while her eyes were filled with both hope and fear as she looked back at him. Elric turned back to see the Earl coming towards them, and he crouched down to be on the same level with Freya.

He grabbed her chin a little roughly, forcing her to look up at him. Freya was taken aback at how he was acting, but she still stayed calm. Not like she could do anything.

"I like her." Elric said to the Earl. "How much will I give you to have her?" His thumb trailed Freya's chin in a sensual manner, and he noticed her shiver in fear and hopelessness. Tears filled her eyes.

"She's not for sale Duke Elric. I was only asked to keep her."

Elric gaze trailed her body. He could only see her back, as she hid the rest of her body to hide her nakedness.

"Has she been fed since she was brought here?"

"No your grace. I think she was under punishment. Lord Kruger said he wanted to have his way with her, and she denied him."

"A stubborn one." He then stood up. "I am surprised he didn't force her." He stated calmly, his eyes never leaving her.

"I think the plan is to starve her until she submits by herself." The Earl explained.

"I see. Too bad I can't have her for myself. I enjoy stubborn ones like this." Freya turned away from him in disappointment, but then he grabbed her hair and forced her to look at him again. After staring for a while, he shook his head as though he had lost interest. He then said; "I shall be on my way."

Before Elric could move, Freya grabbed one of his leg and looked up at him with eyes moist with tears. Perhaps she decided to be a little hopeful.

"Please." She whispered. Her voice was almost non-existent.

Elric kicked her hand away before turning to the Earl. "Come with me to my carriage. I have some documents I would like you to review."

The Earl nodded and followed Elric away. Freya watched as they left, eyes filled with disbelief, disappointment, pain and hurt. She looked like she was fed up of everything, perhaps life itself.

The moment the Earl entered the carriage, Elric entered after him, and ordered his coachman in urgency;

"Go!"

The Earl was confused. "Excuse me?"

The coachman seemed to understand the situation and he began to ride in full speed.

"Duke Elric where are you tak..." Before he could finish his statement, Elric held a hand over his mouth, making the man struggle to breath. He then out a dagger and stabbed his heart, before slicing his throat.

After riding for a while, Elric stopped his coachman. He came down from the carriage and went to the front.

Four horses were attached to the carriage, and he took one. He only exchanged looks with his coachman and the man understood what to do.

Elric rode back to the Earl's mansion, to meet Freya still sitting on that same position on the ground. He jumped down and picked her up, before placing her on the horse. He then took off his outer coat and draped it over her body.

Everything happened so fast, and before Freya could register anything, the horse was already running at full speed.

"I had to act like I did not know you to avoid suspicion." Elric explained his earlier behaviour to her, knowing she must have been very hurt by his actions.

Freya didn't say anything, or maybe she was too weak to answer. She just held unto the coat tight and leaned against the horse. Her eyes were closed, and tears flowed freely from the corners. Was she finally free?

*******

Raziel was a little bothered about the blood oath his father wanted to make him take. He wouldn't have been that bothered if Kazeera was not at stake. Now that everyone he had agreed to marry Dahlia, even if it was an act, his father would surely invade Kazeera if he refuses to take the oath just to punish him.

He decided to search for the documents. He had no idea where it was, but he would start with his father's quarters.

Raziel visited the king's quarters knowing that he would be in the throne room.

Two guards guarded his father's private chamber, and they bowed when he approached them. It wasn't a surprise to him that they were a bit shocked to see him there, especially when not invited by the king. He signalled to them to be quiet.

Raziel gently pushed the door open and entered. But what he didn't think of was that Evelyn would be there. Who would blame him for forgetting? Her presence was really insignificant to him.

"What are you doing sneaking into my chamber?" The queen asked. She sat on a sofa with her legs crossed and servants attending to her.

"You mean my father's chamber?"

"Raziel I know you are up to no good. You will not come into your father's chamber without an ulterior motive. He is not your favorite person."

"I came to see you. You know we have not seen each other since you married my father and became queen."

Evelyn smiled, thinking that he was finally yielding.

"You came to pay homage to your queen?"

"I did. But I changed my mind after seeing you."

She frowned, checking herself out, wondering if there is any part of her that was ugly looking. Before she could ask Raziel what he meant, he already zoomed off.

Raziel left his father's chamber to find Dahlia. He didn't know her room, so he asked a servant to show him.

He knocked on her door, and she opened in seconds.

"Your highness." She sounded surprised to see him. "What brings you here?"

"I need your help."

"Has it been up to three days since our agreement?" She wondered. "And now you are already needing my help." She smiled triumphantly.

"Don't flatter yourself. I need to sneak into my father's chamber to get the documents that involve the blood oath."

"How can I help with that? I should sneak in for you?" Dahlia asked in sarcasm.

"Remember our deal. I need you to help me do something now." Raziel then went ahead to narrate what he needed from her.

"I think I can handle that." She smiled mischievously. "And your queen would probably ask the guard to take my head if she sees me in your father's chamber."

"Why did you say so?"

"Isn't it obvious that she's jealous of me?"

"Jealous?"

"Of course. I am prettier."

Raziel shook his head, and left her.

On his way to his room, he met Luciana.

"I have been searching for you your highness. I wanted to speak to you about finding my sister."

"I have news concerning that." He said, and Luciana turned alerted.

"I have had artists make thousand of copies of her photograph. It would be ready in two days. We can then paste them in different towns and their councils too."

Luciana's eyes widened. "Really?"

"I promised to help you."

She gave him a smile filled with emotions, and he just patted her head.

"We will find her."

******

Dahlia wrote a letter and Raziel asked Lorenzo to secretly deliver it to Dahlia's handmaiden in her father's Dukedom, Woodrow.

Dahlia told him her name, and where and how he could find her, and Lorenzo went that night.

The next day, King Mikael and his wife got invited to Woodrow to celebrate the birthday of the Duchess.