Chapter 6

                         Eleanor's POV

    "Hey brother" he said looking at me "who is this" he asked

    *okay, here we go again*

    "My personal slave" He grunted in response before walking away to train with few of the warriors

    My heart was beating real fast...wanna know why...okay...the prince's younger brother has been standing here six minutes since prince Luciano left and has been staring at me...does he even know who I am?

    "Hey" he said

    *wait..is he talking to me* I actually wanted to ask but restricted myself.

    "Nikolai" He said, stretching out his hands for a...what??...handshake!!! I paused, staring at him like a fool.. wait..just wait..he wants to shake him...whaaaat!!!! a common slave like me??

    He chuckled to himself before saying " hey c'mon I don't bite" He stretched out his hands again saying "I'm Prince Nikolai, but you can just call me Nikolai" 

    *no way! Do I want to be beheaded?? maybe not yet*

    I tucked my hair behind my ear before stretching my hands to shake him, not even replying to him, I mean my mouth suddenly felt sealed. He's way too nice than other Royals including the grumpy prince.

    "What's your name?" He asked, still holding my hand.

    "Eleanor" I replied looking down at my feet, why am I so shy, seriously??

    "Cause this is the first time in fourteen months you're having a normal conversation with a royal" My subconsciousness mocked . I was tempted to roll my eyes but then I remembered that I was not alone.

    *Nikolai's POV*

    I saw my brother from afar entering the field with this pretty damsel behind him and I had no choice but to go meet him. Actually I had no intention of talking to him, I was specifically here for her and right now I'm standing right in front of this flower, Luciano nowhere to be found. But damn, she's really shy but I already love. hey! don't think otherwise or get me wrong I'm not a manwhore, I just appreciate good things when I see one.

    "So you work for my brother?" I asked, staring at her as she looked down at her feet like it's the most interesting thing in the world right now.

    "Ermm.. actually..I'm... serving..him not.." 

    "Whatever it doesn't matter" I said, cutting her off. I stood beside her looking at the warriors training in the field, noises of swords hitting each other and people talking filled the air. One look at her you would know that she's very nervous because she had been fidgeting with her gown, moving from one feet to the other. Let me guess right, this is probably the first time she's having a conversation with a royal.

    "He's really mean" I started bending down to pick a small stone and throw it into the field.

    "Huh" She furrowed her brows in confusion

    "Luciano, he really mean right?" I repeated waiting for her response, she bowed her head in silence not saying a word. 

"Hey don't give me the silence

It's gonna break me

Please no silence

It's get me defeated 

It kills a warrior faster than a blade

No silence or I'm gonna die

No silence pleeease" I sing song making her smile and oh dear gods, it's one of the beautiful smile I've ever seen. "What kind of song is that" She asked with an amused smile in her face. "Well that's what I call Nikolai's melody" We both burst out laughing.

 "Soo we're both on the same page Eleanor, he's mean, I know it, we both know it or don't you?" I arched my brows looking at her. She turned, looking around the field before turning back to me and saying "very mean, deadly mean" frowning her face like a little child. I burst out laughing. She looked at me like I've suddenly gone crazy. I could not even stop myself and the way she kept looking made me even laugh the more, earning a few stares from the warriors.

    When I finally stopped laughing she looked at me weirdly before saying "are you okay" 

I wanted to start laughing again because of the weird look she was giving me but had to restrict myself before she thinks I'm insane. "Yeah, yeah, sure he's deadly mean" she gasped when she realized what she just said. "You're not going to tell him I said that, are you?" She panicked, her eyes wide open in horror.

"No, no, I'm not" I assured her, she breathed a sigh of relief and her shoulders relaxed. 

"You know, he used to be very friendly, nice and a really good person" I started. "But ever since the death of Eagan, he changed completely. He became so distant and cold, so heartless. I miss the old him. He was so cheerful, happy and would always seize the opportunity to make jokes. I really feel sorry for him. He deserves to be happy" she looked like she wanted to ask a question but was kind of holding herself back.

"Eagan was our older brother" I continued

                       *Eleanor's POV*

"Eagan was our older brother" He said with a sad smile on his face, his eyes so distant. I can't believe he's telling me this.

 "He was a nice man, a very good warrior. He loved us just like a normal brother would, but then he was murdered" he stopped, his face filled with pain and his fist clenching in anger.

    I bowed my head. Why was he killed? The Queen's words rang in my head again "how could you?? After all they did to us, to Eagan!! How could you take such a risk" What did we do to them, what really happened?? I tried to put pieces together, is it the death of the first prince that caused us to be captured and treated this way or is that the reason why the Queen was looking at me that way, calling me different names. I don't even know what to think anymore. My head is so blank. Did King Conrad do something really bad to them, cause I don't remember offending anybody. I couldn't even speak, I was drowned in my thoughts.

"Hey! Eleanor" He called snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see him staring at me with concern." I'm sorry" I finally spoke

"You don't have to feel sorry, it's not your fault anyway, so you don't have to feel guilty" He assured. This is the first time in fourteen a royal has ever told me it's not my fault, I mean the rest of them just look at us like we are the cause of their pain, but we're the innocent ones here. Especially the Queen, she finds every opportunity to blame us for the death of her son. I really wish there's someone with understanding who would explain to them that they are punishing the wrong people cause I'm starting to hate all of them especially the Queen. "You have to think well Elly, how would you feel if your son was murdered, put yourself in her shoes and let's see how much you can hold it, I don't blame the woman, she has every reason to hate all of you" My subconsciousness said. Seriously I hate it when my subconsciousness barges into my thoughts. "Because I'm your thoughts fool'' 

You see what I'm saying, she always wants to be the good one. I understand her son was murdered, but at least she should have enough consciousness to remind her she punishing the wrong people. Only if she had always been a heartless person then I can say to hell with consciousness. I'm really sick and tired of it all.

Nikolai turned to me and was about to say something when he saw Prince Luciano coming our way. I have almost forgotten I was with somebody, I was too lost in arguing with my subconsciousness.

 "Ohh here comes Prince Wolfy" He teased, not loud enough for him (Prince Luciano) to hear but loud enough for me to hear. I had to control myself from bursting out in laughter. *Prince wolfy* seriously.

 "You should go practice Nikolai and not do some ladies gossiping" He said in his usual deep voice. "Don't be too grumpy Luciano" Nikolai said and turned to me and smiled "Okay, see you later Elly, ooh I like how that sounds Elly, Elly Elly" He said like he was tasting my name on his lips. Then he walked away whistling. Now let me admit it, I really like Nikolai, he's so funny and I love how he teased Nikolai. Now I think I found a new friend. I was still smiling when I felt his gaze on me. I turned and met his pair of brown eyes staring at me. I quickly bowed my head. He took the bow and arrow before saying "follow me you have work to do" then he walked away.

*here we go again, hmmph prince wolfy* I mocked in my mind.