"Thankfully I didn't. The corporation would have gone down worse." She spoke after a few moments. Though she was supposed to be sad that her father had almost traded her as she theorized, she just kept on going through his line of being with her even then. Was he saying the truth?
The next moment her arm was snatched in his hold, fortunately she had placed all the papers to the book stand, "Do you have to be so stubborn? Not everything you do comes out to be pleasant. You wouldn't know that because I had almost announced a war on those princes. I was the one who was left out in the middle by the both of you. I had to gather myself in order to get the orders working. You weren't there to know anything, 'Mistress'." Each word of his stabbed her heart one by one in guilt which was difficult for her to hide from him. He let go of her when he got no response about it, dragged his hand through his hair frustratingly.
She spoke in a whisper, "Thank you. You did well. The corporation owes you that. I owe you that. And... it's time I do my needful part which I should have done years back."
He was having a question in his face which she wasn't able to see with his turned face from her. "What are you planning?"
"To agree their terms. And if its marriage I'll give them that."
Fury was quick to thrill through the man's veins rapidly, he turned to her facing too close to her he gritted, "The one thing I was against; You have to hurt me so much Elle?" Within his furious words, pain was clearly decipherable. He held her shoulders with both hands tightly and pulled her towards him, causing a small whimper from her leading him to loosen his grip but steadily holding her in place with their foreheads almost touching, he looked right through her eyes, "Tell me."
Such close proximity hardly gave the poor girl to form her speech in words, "I-I have to do it. That's... the fastest way."
"For getting richer, powerful? Of course you would go for the richer one." He scoffed.
"That's not true. You know me!"
"Do I? Doesn't seem like I ever did!" He promptly mocked continuously staring through her light brown eyes without a blink.
Ella took a deep breath explaining, "That would let us buy time until marriage. We can find out all about Faceless through them."
"I don't allow it."
"I will spy-"
"I said no." He ordered strictly.
"I am the Mistress here Roy. Don't force me in using my position." She argued equally. Both of them staring at one another, not willing to give up first.
"Fine." The surprised girl asked shocked, "What?" as though couldn't believe that he gave in easily.
"Fine by me as long as you go by my rules."
"It's a marriage proposal to accept. What rules will you demonstrate there?"
"Like not marrying the prince but me."
"Be serious!" After that Roy had managed to capture her against the pillar with his arms on both sides trapping her.
"I am damn too serious Elle. You accept them or consider yourself kidnapped by me right now."
"You can't be serious!"
"Make up your mind woman. I'm here to hear. All night." Searching his eyes for any underlying schemes she sighed thinking that neither of them actually won.
"Fine. As we're partners, it is only understandable."
"Whatever reasons out best," he replied to her failed attempt of making an excuse of being together in this.
"I must say, the country would go awry after the news starring, 'The Queen reappears from ashes only to be sent away.'"
Ignoring his comment she asked, "If he would have been successful, what would have happened to the city?"
He sighed and said, "He had terrible matchmaking plans. He was thinking of selling you off to spy on that prince and have me with you as a trusted confidante."
"He was making me a whore." She concluded while Roy didn't utter anything, silence being the answer enough.
"He was using you to the absolute advantage. If he wouldn't have been killed, I would have done that myself."
"Did he tell you all that?"
"Nah. I figured. Apparently he had never planned to keep us together through marriage; good thing he is gone," his words made her feel uncomfortable when he spoke of marriage.
"You do know you are talking about my father." She said after a while.
"And? Do you want to contribute to the list?" She pursed her lips at that saying, "Why would you believe him to be that generous to you!"
"I never did. But I was awaiting my compensation for giving my life to the Kings'," Roy spoke casually while stroking her cheek which had turned bloody red from his constant unexpected words. She gulped when he indicated that he was expecting to be with her in exchange of his allegiance. She didn't understand whether she should be angry at him or open up her heart to him.
"We should head back," Ella said pulling herself from the pillar, but didn't go far due to a hand clinging around her stomach, pulling her to walk back slowly and gently like a delicate treasure.
Her throat went dry when she touched her back to his chest, which became more aware to her when he scooped his chin on her shoulder with his hands on either side of her. He kissed her neck which jolted her about the situation. She hurried, "What are you doing Roy?"
He didn't reply or wasn't able to reply with his mouth engaged in more important places. She tried again, "Roy?" slightly shifting her neck away from him to get his attention; but that action only gave him more access to suck the side of her neck, leading Ella to gasp and clutch his hands tightly with her fingers sinking in his shirt.
"Mm... What does it look like? I'm testing you." He said while giving a kiss on the same spot.
"You should consider spelling that word. F-For better understanding," she said with her heart beating fast and mouth babbling her thoughts.
He laughed lightly replying, "Anything you want darling. How about I give you both the meanings?" It shouldn't but it did, when her heart raced in anticipation of what was next. Was it sinful of her to think like that from this narcissist? Hopefully not.
"Roy, I need to get back to my room," she kept her stance, patting herself in her mind for not crumbling under this torture.
"Prove me then that you won't be marrying that oil."
"He is not oil!"
"Yeah well they would be too oily to grasp," he said turning her around through her hand like a dance step, she chuckled at that only to hear his next words, "Kiss me. Not just any kiss. I want one just like you did the first time."
"I-I have improved from my first time. Ehm."
"Really? Prove it then." It was when he said that did she understand he tricked her again to listen to him. She gave a small glare to him to which he just smiled kissing her nose. He pulled her closer to her almost carrying her up, waited while looking at her lips. The sight of him at her lips made her nervous to moisten them unintentionally. Roy clasped her waists suddenly gaining her attention in her gasp, "Don't tempt me Elle. I might test you more." His eyes still on her lips which was enough courage for her to do it before he changed his mind into something stranger.
Reaching her hands higher from his abs to his ribs then shoulders until she reached up to his lips, pecking his lips long enough to stay there for three seconds after which she kissed him open who didn't fall back in obliging his queen. He pulled her tighter than before if that was even possible, her hands now skimmed to the back of his neck moving through his hair on its own naturally. The tightness of their bodies against each other must have been why Ella didn't realize him vandalizing her back and waist to her butt, until she felt his hands inside her gown. The caress of each touch made her shiver leading to jump over him who was not leaving any opportunity of having her any way.
After their mouth ravishing expedition, Ella got off from him standing on her legs now with flushed face and highly alert senses, "Goodnight." Rushing to the wall-cum-door she pushed it the other side to get out of the room, which was proving to be difficult with her drained energy and dizzy mind. She got out after a hand pushed open the door to make the way for her. Nodding to him she went brushing past him that led to another shiver through her body. Keeping up with her footing she realized she had left the torch in the room itself. Pausing she turned back to him who was gazing her with glinting eyes, due to the light she reasoned herself and cleared her throat, "The torch."
Expecting that he would retrieve it for her she found him to stand like that swaying his neck inside the room. Grunting Ella went inside the room again, closely passing him she was sure he skimmed his fingers on her breast. Angry with herself for not being angry at him she stomped her foot inside the room around the pillar to take out the torch she had parked on one of the scoops of the stand. Turning back to head out, Ella decidedly wound her arms around herself to avoid any other noticeable 'accidents' and exited the room peacefully.
She was out of the Records room but not without hearing, "Dream well." Obviously not replying anything she gave the same fierce attitude to the steps she took until she reached the guest room, where, surprise surprise she was sleeping with eyes wide awake.
After a moment when she heard footsteps which undoubtedly belonged to him with the firmness in every step; she hurriedly closed her eyes and willed the sleep to arrive then. In her pretense she heard the footsteps to be pausing in front of the door then resumed again away from her. Ella let out the breath she had been holding; it was just a plan to follow marriage, she wondered what will happen if she actually married that prince. Shuddering at the thought she tried to close herself in sleep.