Alexander stepped out of the carriage, he held his hand out to Elen as always. She took it unhesitatingly and gave him a weak smile.
The duo stepped out of the carriage and walked hand in hand towards the throne hall.
As expected, everyone were waiting for them in the throne hall. The king gracefully sat on his throne with his wife beside him. Elen could see a man nonchalantly sitting at the end of the hall. Elen guessed he was the crown prince. Though he was very far, she could tell he was strikingly handsome.
As they walked closer, she saw two ladies sitting beside the crown prince. She could already tell that they were her husband's sisters. They were also very beautiful. 'do the people in this Palace look this beautiful?' She thought.
"Welcome, son. I see you've brought your wife with you." The king spoke. Arit had somehow feared his son after the incident that happened in the past. He tried his best not to anger his son, because he knew that if he sparked something in him, it would not be good for them all.
However, Alexander was silent as if someone had not spoken, he left his father's presence and sat next to his brother.
"Aren't you going to at least greet father?" His brother, Beowulf spoke.
"And why should I?" Alexander said.
"Sigh...why are you still this cold, even after getting married? I thought you'd change after you get married." Beowulf commented but Alexander just gave him a hard glare and crossed his legs as he rested his head back.
Beowulf gaze turned serious before he spoke again. "We need to speak after this." He said but as usual, Alexander ignored him.
"It's about your wife's safety." He added causing the already still man to move. His deadly gaze pierced through Beowulf's
"If what I'm thinking is actually what you want to do, then I'm warning you right this instant. Don't even think of it." Alexander warned.
"It's not as if you can stop me. Can you?" He probed him.
"Beowulf, you know I'm not interested in the throne...so don't even think of doing anything silly that would cost your life." Alexander calmly said.
"I can't take chances Alexander, this is what I have to do...you might take interest just because you're married now." Beowulf spoke.
"You think I'll do silly things as taking the throne just because I'm married?"
"I don't know...you should know."
Alexander gave out a chuckle. The type that spoke of pure malice and hate. He leaned closer to his ear and spoke.
"Whatever silly thing it is you're planning, you should stop it...it's not as if you can win a fight against me. You'd be digging your own grave Beowulf." He said in a low voice, but that voice alone could send shivers down any person's spine.
But this time, Beowulf ignored his statement. He didn't want to waste his breathe talking to him. He would rather save his strength to devise a plan to take his brother out of the way.
Alexander glared at him for a short while before his gaze flew towards Elen and his sisters.
....
Elen was really getting along with his sisters. When they both arrived the throne hall, his sisters had already stood up from their seats and walked towards her. They walked with so much grace and elegance. As they walked closer, Elen was finally getting a clear picture of their faces. They were stunning ladies. Their beauty was just incomparable. Elen could only gape at the sight before her. Their beauty was something that no mortal human could possess.
Elen had already greeted Queen Camila. She was also nice and stunning just like her daughters. She had that friendly aura that anyone would want to go close to her. Her husband's family were all nice, though she hasn't spoken to the crown prince because he was speaking to Alexander. She wondered why Alexander was cold, his family were friendly people so why was he the way he is. Did something happen to him in the past that made him that way? She asked herself because that was the only reasonable thing that came to her mind. She sighed, pushing it to the back of her mind. This was not the time to know the why's and how's.
Alexander's two sisters led her to the parlour. The light skinned one was the nicest and she had that kind of smile that one would love to see everyday.
"Thank you so much princess." Elen said as they led her to a seat.
"Linda...my name's Linda, and my sister here is Gwen." Linda said pointing to the one with blonde hair.
"It's my pleasure to see you both.... Linda and Gwen." Elen said, and they both gave her a genuine smile.
Gwen called a maid and ordered her to get tea for them, and the maid nodded.
The parlour was silent for a while until Linda spoke.
"I hope my brother is treating you well?" She asked and Elen could detect a slight tone of fear and worry in her voice.
"Y-y-yes, he's been nice to me." Elen responded.
"Are you sure?" Gwen asked causing Elen's brow to crease. Why are they asking?
"I mean...if at all you see him in a bad mood, please stay far away from him." Gwen said.
"Why should I? He's my husband." Elen said.
"But I do feel that sometimes he's disgusted by my presence." Elen added. She still couldn't understand why she had that feeling. That is what she wanted, for him to stay far away from her...so why is she feeling bad just by the thought of him being disgusted by her.
The two sisters glanced at each other. It was as if they exchanged some kind of unspoken words.
"Rest assured, our brother is not disgusted by your presence....that's just how he is, he tends to distance himself from people after what happened with him in the--" Linda clamped her mouth shut when she realized that she's spoken too much. But Elen was quick to grasp what she said and she began with her interrogations.
"Did something happen for him to be that way? I believe that he was not born that way, so can you tell me exactly what happened to him?" She asked with pleading eyes.
"I'm sorry Helena but we can't say anything now...sooner or later you'll find out everything about your husband." Gwen spoke before her sister could say anything.
Before Elen could say a word, the maid approached with their tea.
"Ohh, the tea's here." Linda said, trying to change the topic.
The maid laid out the tea and they all grabbed a cup and sipped out of it.
"This tea's really nice." Elen commented.
"It's my grandmother's recipe, she passed this down, and ever since then, we've ordered the maids to use the recipe." Linda said.
"It's really nice...I love it." Elen commented.
"Our pleasure, princess." Gwen said.
Few minutes later, a maid interrupted their intense conversation.
"Good day, your highness." The maid greeted.
"His highness called for princess Helena." She said with her head facing the floor.
Elen looked at Linda and Gwen with pleading eyes. "I think I should get going now."
"It's alright, I understand...if you ever feel bored, do come to visit. Our quarters is just a few minutes drive from yours." Linda said.
"Rest assured, I will."
"Goodbye, Helena." The both said and Elen gave them a smile.
.....
Back at the throne hall...
Alexander was leisurely resting his head, while the prince was instructing a guard. Elen could tell it was something serious with the look on his face.
She was already on her way to meet Alexander when a voice halted her in her tracks.
"Nice to meet you, princess Helena...don't mind my rude behavior earlier." He said, giving her a smirk that Elen did not like at all.
Before she could say a word, Alexander held her hand and spoke.
"We're leaving." He said.
"But I _"
"There's no need to talk to unimportant people." He said without tearing his gaze from hers. Elen creased her brows a bit. How could he call the crown prince unimportant.
"Why are you being so rude Alexander?" Beowulf asked but he ignored him and just dragged Elen out of the throne hall.
Just outside the castle...
"I don't want you talking or going anywhere close to that man." Alexander said gritting his teeth in anger.
"Why?... but he's my brother-i_". Elen could not complete her sentence because Alexander's hands were now gripping her neck, ever so tightly.
...