Elinor stood there looking at the Aid waiting for him to announce the news that she already knew.“Your Majesty, Your Highness, You need to come at once,” He said his voice trembling.“What is going on?” Count Colone asked always the curious member. She could at least rely on him for asking the right questions when she needed him to.“It’s his grace…” The aid said sounding panicked.“What is going on, young man? Speak up!” The king said and the man was obviously floored by his commanding tone because he seemed to have regained his composure and was looking at them with a steady gaze.“Your majesty,” He bowed, “I am afraid that his grace had done himself in and took his own life…” He said with a trembling voice.There was a chorus of horrified tones around them and Elinor watched as everyone’s gaze turned to her.“I see…” Elinor said calmly not even trying to fake a reaction, “This is quite troublesome.” “I am so sorry your highness, if only we had watched him more carefully,” The ai
“Guys… Why is no one asking me why the duke had been poisoned?” Elinor finally asked her friends.They had the appropriate reactions when the news was delivered and they did look shocked when they heard it. But once they were alone, it was as if nothing happened.“We knew….” Noah said hesitantly and the others awkwardly looked away from her,Elinor felt a chill run down her spine and she froze in place. Did her friends know that she was the one who killed her own father? Was this why they wouldn’t meet her eyes?“Don’t get us wrong. We don’t know anything except for the fact that you were scheming something,” Will said, “The way you acted yesterday after the funeral was as if you were trying to forget something…”“We didn’t know that this is what you had been planning all along,” Alan said, “But now that I think about it, it all makes sense…”Elinor felt a tremor running through her body. All she could think about is that they knew… They knew what she did.They knew what kind of perso
After the death of the grand Duke, there was a huge mess following it in which Elinor was deeply connected. The extended vacation that the Academy had allotted them was nearing an end by then and the king still hadn’t said anything about Elinor returning there.When it was time for the other nobles’ trials, Elinor unexpectedly left the royal palace and went on to stay with Louis for a while.Louis being the scheming person that he was, decided to Make use of Elinor’s visit.His mother, the duchess was distraught since she heard about what happened with her father. Since the bond those two shared was strong despite the fact that Louis’ mother never got involved in politics.So even though the woman knew that the duke had been a traitor who had been trying to kill the king, her other brother, and the fact that he hurt his own family, her heart broke at the news of his death. And since then she had been confining herself to her house silently mourning the death of her brother.Elinor kne
“What are you going to do from now on?” Louis asked. As they walked down the illuminated path leading up to the central garden.“You’re asking me this after you’ve sworn your allegiance to me?” She asked looking at him with a slight smile,“I am not talking about that. I’m talking about Nicolas,” He said and her smile sobered up for a moment before she looked far away into the spacious grounds of the estate, “Are you still going to look for his killer?”“I am…” She answered simply and Louis sighed.“Elin,” He began and she interrupted him.“But not because I want revenge or anything like that.” She added and he looked at her for a moment.“Then why?” Louis asked “Because whoever did this, must have had some kind of plan. Killing the crown prince of a country is a bold move. A move that could lead to internal conflict,” She said.“We already took care of those internal conflicts…” Louis paused for a moment then asked, “What are you trying to say, Elin?”“I am trying to say that our co
Elinor walked down the stairs heading into the dining room where the whole family was waiting for her.“Good morning. I seem to have made everyone wait for me,” She said.“Not at all, we just got here,” Her aunt said with a soft smile and Elinor made her way toward her sitting down beside her.“You should be the one sitting at the head of the table, your highness,” The duke said and Elinor felt a bit awkward.“There is no need to stand in ceremony with her dear. Elin had always been family and she will remain that way,” Her aunt answered and the duke looked intensely at them.“Drop the subject, Father. You are making Elin uncomfortable,” Louis said, “And she came all the way here to get some time to relax before the coronation ceremony,” “If you are sure about this…” The duke said with an intense look and Elinor smiled at him.“I would appreciate it if you don’t call me with honorifics, your grace. At least during the time I am staying here with you,” She said and the duke nodded.Hi
“Are you going back to the academy?” Stella asked Elin as she sat down beside her on the bed.“I still don’t know,” Elinor answered with a sigh as she stretched out on top of the bed putting her arms on her stomach wondering when she was going to have some answers. Some real answers.“You’ve been hanging out in your room all day, Are you sure you’re okay?” Stelled asked leaning over the bed to look at her and Elinor looked back at her for a moment pondering her answer before saying it.“I’m fine,” She said, “Other than the fact that I miss Azeph so much that I could die,” Stella leaned back and sighed. “And here we go again. You’re like a lovesick puppy. Why don’t you write him a letter or something?”“I do… We write to each other every day,” She answered and Stella raised an eyebrow.“Then why are you complaining like this?” She asked.“Because letters and words aren’t enough. I need to see the real thing in front of me,” Elinor sighed burrowing her face into the pillow as she turne
Before she knew it, Elinor was pulled by Stella into the dressing room where she was swarmed by maids. “What in the world is going on?” She asked with a confused look as she eyed the dress that the maid had laid out for her. “You will know soon enough,” Stella answered as she matched the ribbons to the dress and Elinor wondered what in the world her friend was thinking. After an hour of poking and probing, Elinor was ready. She still didn’t know what she was ready for, yet. She was wearing an azure blue dress that got down to the floor. The dress was an evening tea party type, but Elinor had to admit that it was beautiful. “Did you choose this dress?” She asked Stella as the maid was making some final touches to her hair as she stood in front of the mirror. “ Of course not. You know my opinion about bright colors. But I have to admit this dress looks wonderful on you,” She said as she looked at her from her place where she was sitting and calmly sipping her tea. Elinor sighed. Th
“Will you marry me, Elinor Pendragon?” Elinor stood there looking at Azeph with wide eyes her head not quite registering what was going on. Did Azeph just propose to her? “Elinor… Since the moment I met you I was drawn to you and I was hopeless before my feelings for you as soon as you spoke to me. I know that you are a strong woman. A woman who was bord to lead and govern above all of us. But to me that just makes you my master on top of being the love of my life. Please, let me support you and walk alongside you in your chosen path as your partner and helper. I love you, Elin. Will you please let me out of my misery and make an honest man out of me? Will you marry me?” Elinor felt her knees wobble beneath her at Azeph’s heartfelt confession. It was as if he knew exactly what to say, as if the right words were just coming out of his mouth. Elinor felt the tears well up in her eyes as her heart beat faster. Azeph was proposing to her. And all this time she had been moaning an