*****Warning!***** This chapter has a very big trigger warning at the near end. Read at your own risk!*****
"Lady Elizabella, I do not mean to accuse you of anything, but we cannot rule out the fact that human nature is naturally greedy. To reach the top is something that many wish to achieve in life, even if it means that they break the law and hurt others. Some getting closer to your family because they believed your family had the most potential to sit on the throne and wished to cater to your favors. Others were there to find weaknesses in your family to hurt you. I only wish to tell you of the rumors that have been going on. I cannot say that they are all true, but that that is what everyone seems to speak of behind your back," said General Griffon as he understood that Elizabella had been very sheltered since her birth and now there was no one that would be able to guide her in the future. "I also tell you this, because my daughter is of similar age to you and it was she who had told me this. I had debated with myself if I should tell you or not since you seem to not understand that the world is not always a friendly place. Even for people born in your position."
Hearing his words, Elizabella felt that everything she once knew was a lie. All those times that she interacted with all her so-called friends, how did they really see her as? Was she the only one that even thought of them as friends? Did she even have any friends? Never in her life, had she truly felt so alone.
"Lady Elizabella, I will leave you with your thoughts for now. We need to fill a warrant to search their premises and properties. Please, try to not be alone during this time," General Griffon gave her his best, friendly advice before he cut off and his face disappeared from the virtual screen.
Elizabella sat in her chair, frozen while she thought deeply over what General Griffon had told her. All of her life, she had been praised for her creative vision, how smart she was, and how well coordinated she was with her body. She had never had any setbacks. Many times she had been praised by the Queen herself for how clever she was and that she could not wait to see her grow up.
"Was I just blind to never notice what was clearly around me?" thought Elizabella as she remembered all the social gatherings she had attended with the Princes and how everyone always seemed to watch her. "If I had known, I would have stayed far away from them."
She clenched her fists as she sat mulling over everything, her servants who had been dismissed earlier, had continued to leave her alone as they believed she would feel very embarrassed and awkward over the sudden confession of the two Princes.
After leaving Elizabella, the two Princes decided that instead of going back to the palace, they would head to a local restaurant and requested a private room. They had quickly been led to a private room and immediately ordered some alcohol.
"Ar-Will, is it true that she has a boyfriend? Her father really approved?" asked Prince Andrion while he gulped down his drink. "Does grandmother know of this?"
"I do not believe she knows. After all, I am sure that she would have told us before and would have had us change the plan or something..." said Prince Arnez-William a little listless while also gulping down his drink. "I do not think I would feel this down if I had lost to you. but this really stings to know that we lost to a General's son and not another Prince."
"I wish this was not true. At least whenever one of our buddies from the army would ask which of us would marry her, we were wise enough to say 'whomever she chooses.' This way, it will not be so embarrassing that she did not choose one of us. It would hurt more if people we knew made fun of us on top of having a broken heart," said Prince Andrion as Prince Arnez-William looked at how depressed he looked.
"Tell me, Andy, did you really like her, or maybe just the thought?" asked Prince Arnez-William while he saw that his younger brother seemed to blush and smile sadly.
"Of course I liked her. I still like her. Too bad she does not feel the same about me," said Prince Andrion as he grabbed another drink. "I just want to get drunk and forget about her for tonight."
"We should not get drunk in public, but I understand your feelings. I too want to just drink all night long. Who cares about decorum, when you are nursing a broken heart," said Prince Arnez-William as he too continued to drink.
"Well said, Ar-Will. I will drink to that, to mending broken hearts!"
"To mending broken hearts!"
The two continued to drink until they were well drunk, complaining about their rival that they never knew existed until earlier that late afternoon.
"Whats so good about a General's sson? Doess she not understand that she could marry into royalty? I want to know!" slurred Prince Andrion as he felt very upset over the whole thing.
"We could ask her. We should go and find her to ask," said Prince Arnez-William as he appeared sober but was wobbly in her steps.
"Good idea," said Prince Andrion as he shakily stood up and followed his older brother out.
The restaurant that they had gone to was close to the Blakelochs. They had gotten a ride to go back to Elizabella's home after a few hours since they had left her. The gate guards noticing that the two Princes had returned, immediately let them come in, and alerted the residence. Servants came out to receive them but noticed that they were inebriated.
They became alarmed and quickly took them to a guestroom while alerting Elizabella of their situation. She had been thinking a lot since she had her call with the General and her thoughts were getting a little dark. Taking her mind off those thoughts had been difficult for her until she heard that the two Princes had come back.
Hearing that they were back, she wondered if she should go and see them, especially since they were not in the right state of mind. Eventually, she decided that it would be rude to not at least see them and ask what has happened.
She went to the room that they had been left in. Elizabella noticed that they were still very active even though they could barely stand up without some help. The servants wondered what they should do with them and looked at her for answers.
"We should let them stay here the night and call the palace of their situation. I am sure that they would not want anyone outside to learn of their state," said Elizabella as the servants bowed and before leaving the room with her inside. "Sigh. What have you two been doing? Could you not have restrained yourselves until you got home?"
"Bella, we wanted to know... whats so sspecial about that guy? Hows he better than us?" slurred Prince Andrion as he sat up on the edge of the bed while Prince Arnez-William tried to keep his gaze steady on her.
"I told you, he and I just clicked. We have a lot of common interests together. He understands me without words. Do you get it?" asked Elizabella as she gently tried to coax them, making them seem to get rowdier.
"We have not even met him... how can we understand," said Prince Arnez-William as he seemed to be calm, making Elizabella think that he was not really drunk.
"Listen, next time he is in town, I promise that I will introduce you two to him," she said as she approached Prince Arnez-William, lowering her guard. "Artistic wise, he and I have the same interests and he is very musically gifted. His stage presence is overwhelming. I really like him-"
"-Stop praising another man in front of me!" said Prince Arnez-William in a very ominous tone, startling Elizabella as she was never treated like this in the past by him.
"Wha-" began Elizabella before she was interrupted again by Prince Arnez-William.
"Just because he is a little musically gifted, you like such a guy? Does this make sense? What is wrong with me?" asked Prince Arnez-William as Elizabella felt frozen where she was. "I never knew you to be someone that followed idols-"
Slap!
"Are you sober yet? How dare you say such things! We grew up together and you question my taste? I will tell you what is better about him, he at least never forced me on anything," said Elizabella as she was starting to feel very irritated that she was being interrogated by her childhood friend.
"...Forced you? When have I ever forced you on anything? Do you think that I really forced you?" said Prince Arnez-William as he looked eerily calm while speaking before he looked up at her and his eyes seemed to change, scaring her again. "I will show you what being forceful truly means!"
Elizabella had tried to take a step back but her arm was caught by Prince Arnez-William, making her struggle under his grip.
"Let me go! Prince Arnez-William! What do you think you are doing in my own home!" asked Elizabella as she started to feel true fear creeping in when she realized that she could not get herself free. "If you do not stop this instance, I will scream!"
"Whadaya mean you'll scream?" slurred Prince Andrion as he had grabbed her free arm and pulled her closer to the bed they were on. "I'm sso mad right now! I want to hear you scream!"
"You two- this is madness! Why are you doing this?" said Elizabella as she felt hot tears falling down her cheeks. "Let me go! Help! Someone come! Restrain the Princes!"
When she screamed, they had pulled her to the bed and had messed up her dress as they had pulled her aggressively. Just then, the door opened with a bang as a few servants came in and tried to take the two Princes off of the struggling Elizabella. The guards also came in and restrained the two Princes who had started to use their elemental powers.
Walliams who had been wandering around the mansion also came in to take Elizabella out of the room. Her dress had been ripped to the point that she had to hold it up with her hands to not expose herself. A thoughtful maid that had heard the commotion had draped her with a blanket as Walliams led her out the room.
She did not see how the two Princes were eventually restrained as she had gone back to her room and wanted to cry.
"Has the world gone mad or was it just me that never noticed all the madness around me?" she asked no one in particular as her earlier dark thoughts came flooding back.