chapter 27

"that's why you are my favorite among royalties".

"and you are the best among all. You seem to have a high sense of humour which I admired so much". Eleanor said.

" Thank you my princess"

They laughed. She was done washing her hair. Beatrice started scrubbing her back. This was the very first time she was helping the princess to take her bathed.

Eleanor never objected. She felt good having Beatrice scrubbed her on odd places she would never have permitted if it was years back.

"So my princess who is this guy that made you dripped. Is he the one that took you fishing?. Beatrice asked excited.

"Yes" the princess answered in a calmed tone. She was looking up at the opening in the ceiling directly opposite her bathtub.

"My princess isn't it strange how one could changed. Days ago you never wanted to see them. You wouldn't spared him a glance. But today, you are drooling over him like you just met him for the first time".

"You know one wouldn't know the value of a person from afar. Until you give him the opportunity to prove himself".

"and he has been weighed and tried!". Beatrice exclaimed

Eleanor swam across to washed off the foam when Beatrice was done.

"I can see how longing you are. Has he confessed his love to you" she dribbled her legs in the water while speaking in a loud tone to the hearing of the princess.

"He did asked me to court him days ago. Again today at the river before we heard Ken voice pinched us out of our fantasy. The sudden ambushed jeopardized everything. I never had the chance to replied him".

"I'm sure after all this. You shall my princess".

She nodded. The princess was not happy. The picture of lord Zane kept intruding her little fantasy with Francis's memories.

She saw the hurt in his eyes when he asked after Francis. Eleanor assured herself that she would never love lord Zane. We was a demon after all.

She was tired and needed some rest. She left the bath.

***

Princess Eleanor stayed in bed the next morning. She has never stayed that long, apart from the night she tarried with lord Zane unknown to her that the night was far spent.

She was stretching and rolling on her massive bed. Her bedchamber was grand and spacious. Her bedspread and duvet were silver colour. A dangling canopy above her head and chandelier at the right distance.

Dark purple and silver drapes gave a royal blend. Every other furniture gave the room a quiet elegance except the fireplace which needed the maid's attention.

She opened an eye and shut it back in a yawn before she finally opened it to see the light.

The sun rays that penetrated through the thin drapes invited her to looked through the windows. She thought she had cover the blinds before she slept.

Eleanor went to looked at the sky. She looked away almost immediately because her eyes didn't adjust well to the gleaming sky. The blue sky harbour mountains of clouds. She stretched some more and turned around

"Good morning my princess". She jerked.

"Kate! How long have you been there?".

"Long enough to watched you sleep my princess".

"where is Beatrice?".

Princess Eleanor walked back to her bedside and sat on the bed. Kate stood by the wall beside the bed with her hands behind her back.

She was tall and lean. Beauty didn't treat her well. Kate blonde hair was always held in a ponytail. It wasn't her fault she had hyperpigmentation.

Her face folds and wrinkled like she was an aged woman. She was just nineteen. Looking at the princess with her squint eye that made the princess wondered where she was looking at.

The King wanted to relieved her of her duties in the palace but princess Eleanor insisted she stayed.

Kate had earlier pleaded with the princess to speak on her behalf. She had a sick mother whom she is supporting from the pay she get working as one of the palace maid.

"Queen Charlene sent Beatrice on an errand " Kate answered.

"Beatrice had mean to take permission from you but you where still asleep and she didn't want to wake you. So she asked me to watched over you until you are awake my princess".

Princess Eleanor arched her brow. Talking about the queens. She had been fire and water with them.

They were never in good terms. Especially queen Charlene. She is always picking at her.

Queen Daniella is sometimes on and off. One time she would be nicer than a gentle breeze another time she would yanked you up like a whirlwind and smashed your head on a stone. She could be laughing with you but harming you behind.

Queen Margaret. Yes queen Margaret. She liked her. No, love. She loved queen Margaret. They were friends, who do all sorts of things together when ever time permits.

They would throw different strained of smiles at each other. Queen Margaret was the mother she never had.

Furious! She was, how queen Charlene would send one of her maid on an errand when she was not aware.

Kate was preparing to served her tea on bed. Eleanor sat on the middle of the bed. She placed the bed tray table above the princess's thighs.

"Why would queen Charlene send my personal maid?".

" The king relieved her of all her maids my princess".

"Why is that? . She asked Kate who just poured the hot tea into the cup.

She placed back the teapot carefully.

"forgive me to say this of the queen. She was maltreating her maids".

Princess Eleanor heaved. She took her tea sluggishly. The was pancake, fried egg, oat and garnished roasted fish. And different fruits juice for her to choose from.

The princess missed Beatrice, she must admit. she hasn't been this quiet while taking her breakfast.

This maid stood like a monument waiting for her to finished so she could go with the tray.

She was already loosing her appetite. she remembered she needed to met with the king. She hasten up.

Within minutes she was ready to go and see her father.

Princess Eleanor was directed to the study room by Bernard, the king's personal guard.

There the king was with his nobles. She listen in to their conversations. They were discussing about the masked men who lay ambushed for them at the river.

They found something on their dead bodies that connects them to the Black Dust Empire. They had a mark on their right wrist. An hexagonal drawing with a mini viper in-between that emperor Cassius forced all his fighters to have on them.

"They came to kidnapped the princess, my king". General Frederick reveal his fear

"why would they do that?". Minister Mammon asked.

" According to the information I gathered from Francis, the Duke grandson. When he left Ken and ran into the woods to rescued the princess.

One of them had caught her. He said, she was needed alive. He grabbed and dragged her away. Francis wanted to attacked but another hit his head from behind and he was blank out.

When he recovered and looked for the princess again in the woods. She was just there alone. They men were no where to be found. That only means the came to kidnapped the princess. Anything that might have save her from their hands we should be thankful to it".

" It must have been the princess herself. We shouldn't forget what happened the other day at the battlement in a hurry". Minister Bridge Young said.

"Why is the Duke not here". The king inquired.

" My king, he must have been ill. If not, the is no reasonable enough reason not to appeared before you as summoned". Minister Mammon suggested.

He was seated next to the king while other nobles stood. King Ephraim was scribbling on a scroll. He constantly dips his quill in the ink.

When he was done. He handed it to the secretary. Minister Mammon to read to all.

"Let it be known this day that the Black Dust Empire has declared war against us, Golden Hill kingdom by attacking our princess, princess Eleanor Alexander Wilson in her comfort zone. What they seek is what they shall get. Let us all prepared for war for the Black Dust Empire is officially our enemy. They seek for our down fall but we shall ensure theirs". Minister Mammon read what the king wrote.

"And war shall we give them". General Frederick affirmed.

"My king!... My king!... My king!..." Minister Bridge Young called. This made all eyes turned to him. He was leaning on the large cabinet, above it was book shelves.

" We can't declared war against the Black Dust Empire. We can't win. There are big and powerful. They have more men and weapons and magic too".

He looked around for support.

Eleanor heard the squeaking sound of shoes from behind. She turned around. It was Duke Williams. His hair got her attention. He dyed his greyish brown hair to ink black. He was wearing a smile as he saw the princess taken aback by his new look.

She bowed before him. He responded instantly and walked in to meet with the others.

He apologized immensely to the king for coming late. Duke Williams found an empty seat and dropped on it.

"We do not have the protection of the kings' stone no more. Imagine what happened the last time. If the princess was not there to help us. We would have been doomed by now. I'm sure my king…". Minister Mammon bowed.

"We do not want to endangered our princess. She is an asset. We should know the emperor by now that he doesn't admit defeat. He shall returned well prepared especially for the princess who mocked him on that day. If he comes back. We all shall surely die".

"Never!" Some of them said simultaneously.

" Silence". Duke Williams said.

"Even if we don't go to war with them. They shall come to warred against us. They already did and still will. They need what we have".

He paused for a while to look back at the eyes which were staring at him.

"But I don't understand why they are coming for the princess or do they want to used her as baits to get the Kings' stone". The Duke added with a slight bow to the king.

Minister Mammon coughed. The king signaled Steve to get the maid to get water for him.

"This meeting has come to an end. I want each and every one of you to prepared for a battled". He turned

"Duke Williams gathered all you could in the provinces under you. Make sure the other ministers and their ruled are well equipped. We shall not attacked first but prepared ahead for any further surprises from our enemy".

" So says the king". They said and bowed.

One after the other they left until it was only general Frederick and the king.

He drew closer to the king's table.

"My king! I have done has you have earlier instructed. The criers have gone round the city to passed the message across, for the training of the art of sword for all. I have also added more knights to guard the palace. We shall anticipate for any attack". General Frederick humbled

The king nodded. He turned around to see the princess who stood in the middle of the door.

"General Frederick you have done well". The king compliments.

" my king, it an honour to have such accolades"

"Come here". He beckoned on her. He looked at her with a fixed gaze as she walked up to him.

Eleanor hurried to hold the hand of the king which was still in the air for her. She held it and kissed it.

"Father!" she called afraid at her father's mood. He was a shadow of himself.

"I hope all is well with you".

"All is well. My child. He heaved a sigh of relief.

"I shall take my leave my king". The general bowed and left.

"Sit my child"

She did. They waited for the general to be out of sight.

" I need you to tell me what happened at the river when the enemy got hold of you. Who saved you before that boy call Francis came".

Eleanor hands got wet and feet went cool. Nothing came to her mind to tell the king. "Why would Francis say someone helped her before he arrived".

"F... father..." She gulped.

"Did the powers which manifested through you did the second time".

She blinked and looked away. Cleaning her hands on her skirt. She was grateful he gave her hint.

She didn't know how to tell her father that a demon save her life from the hands of their enemies. Eleanor imagined the time the masked man dragged her in the woods.

"He told her that she shall be a meal for their emperor. That her life was precious to them as it is to her father and Golden Hill kingdom as a whole. So they would never hurt her but shall killed anyone who shall dared stand on their way of taking her back to their emperor"

she didn't understand what he met or why their emperor needed her alive. she had called on lord Zane. Hoping that he would respond and he did.

***

Three out of the five masked men died on the spot, whose bodies the people of Golden Hill took home to examined thoroughly.

The other two that Eleanor asked lord Zane to spared their lives escaped from the walls of Golden Hill to their Empire. Black Dust Empire.

They regretfully go to the emperor with a tale of defeat. This means death. Often times if any of his men were sent on a mission and the mission was aborted, they would faced death penalty.

Most of them rather than being thrown into the dens to be fed on by tigers and wolves, they killed themselves without even appearing before the emperor.

None of emperor Cassius men could thwart his punishment if he willed. They could never escaped from the master of villain, too powerful to be toiled with.

Both physically and spiritually. But this two had the nerves. They had confidence in their ill fate. Whether life or death they were determined to admit their defeat before their emperor. His imperial majesty, emperor Cassius George.

As they strode through the walls of the palace. It seems as though it was their first time there. Different portraits of wicked felines on each pillar of the palace harassed their already frightened selves.

They got alarmed for nothing. Lifeless immobile carving stares daggers into their soul. Each of this carvings had candles placed on them.

They seems to have missed the way. A palace guard whipped them back on track. They must complete their mission by appearing before emperor Cassius.

The imperial majesty was seated on his throne. Vast and enchanting. It was dark and crystal with viper headboard and arms.

He wore a small diamond crown. A black robe and everything gothic. Endowed fair maidens in loincloths, adored with excessive jewelry, stood by both sides of the throne arms.

Two of them, twisting their body's like vipers of doom. To a very low music rendered by the emperor's praise vociferous.

He sat on one of the stairs. Emperor Cassius appreciated every moment. His heart merry with the rhythms. There was two guards who stood in front of the dais. Side to side with a long rod. Longer than their years. The crossed the rod if anything attempted to heaved near the dais.

When this two masked men were finally before him. They buried their faces on the marble floor before his throne.

"My imperial majesty, emperor Cassius George"

" Enough!" He put forth his hands. The men ceased their speech. Everything other thing ceased too. The maidens hurried out.

"Go straight to the point". Emperor Cassius commanded

"Your majesty! Here is a bracelet we got from princess Eleanor of Golden Hill kingdom". One of the men spoke and put the bracelet forward. Still in his squatting position.

Nathaniel, the emperor's praise vociferous stepped forward. He walked like a lady wriggling his dry behind.

He looked seductive in his gothic. Only that there was no balls on his chest. He snatched the bracelet from the man. He spent a few seconds to lend them a glance.

They men gulped to it. Even him they couldn't maintained an eye contact with.

Nathaniel worked back and presented it before the emperor. It was an emerald, tiny glistening stones. They very bracelet of the late queen that the king gave to his daughter and lord Zane took it. Now it has gotten into the hands of the emperor.

This brought smiles into the emperor's face. He conceived it in his fist and brought it near his nose to sniffed it. He closed his eyes and allowed moment to passed by.

After the men say all they knew and the was nothing left to say. They took a long heaved for the time drew near.

Time to be fed to the felines for coming back with a thing and not a Being. Princess Eleanor of Golden Hill kingdom and not her bracelet.

Surprisingly he spared their lives. He snapped his fingers which was a signaled for them to depart with their heads still rooted to their bodies. They were flabbergasted. Joy overthrew them that they stumbled on each other. While they were trying to thank their generous emperor countless times with a bow.

Emperor Cassius summoned his magicians to carried out a consultation on the princess belonging if any tangible information could be collected.

They asked for time to be able to practice their dark mystics. Time was what they emperor didn't have to spared but he gave them anyways.

He dismantled the bracelet and gave the stones to his wizards to consult their magic on it and give him the necessary information.

Any information they could gathered about how to capture the princess and drained her of the power of the king's stone.