In a Alexander's courtyard...
There was a rectangle table with seats arranged on each sides. They all took their seats and silence enveloped them, no one said a word and they kept avoiding the princess's piercing gazes.
She studied each of them like she was some secret detective waiting for the right moment to make her one move.
"Are you people going to talk or you want me to ask you myself." She asked but as expected, no one said a word and she could only smile inwardly.
"Now, I'm asking you while I'm still being nice. Where's my husband?" She asked in a tone none of them had heard before. It was as if the soft and cool princess was gone and was now replaced with a fierce and tough warrior princess.
"We don't know, your highness." Lucas spoke and Elen's expression turned dark.
She glanced at Robert and spoke. "You're the only one who can tell me the truth now. These people here are not useful. So, tell me. Where's my husband?" She asked in a calm and soft tone.
'Oh this is fun! The princess was glaring daggers at these guys just now and her expression turned calm when she spoke to me!! I know those guys must be burning with jealousy by now. Well, I can use her trust to me to my advantage.' He said inwardly.
"Well, there's no way I could ever lie to this princess. Do you think that this loyal soldier would lie to you?" He said.
"Okay. I'm sure you're aware of his highness's past?" He asked and Elen looked at him with confusion.
His comrades just creased their brows and wondered what this man was up to. 'What has the prince's past got to do with the present?!!' They could only ask themselves.
"Yes, I'm kind of aware." She said and the man creased his brows.
"What do you mean by 'kind of aware'." He hasn't told you?" He asked and Elen nodded slightly.
"He didn't tell me everything about himself, but what does his past has to do with the situation right now." She asked and the men silently nodded.
'Thank you, your highness!! We don't know what lie he's cooking up but we just hope you believe it!' They could only pray silently.
"Well, I'm sure you know that his highness hasn't gotten over his past?"
"Yes."
"Okay. He kind of didn't want anyone to know about this, so that's why I'm begging you now. Please don't say a word about what I'm about to tell you to him. Else, he'll just kill me and this loyal soldier of yours won't be able to inform you of his whereabouts next time." He pleaded.
"O-o-okay I promise. I won't say a word about this to him." She said and he sighed in relief.
'Oh good lord! What is Robert up to?!!(●´⌓`●) Heavens help us!!'
"Uhm...so his highness is always going out at night to visit her in her grave...I mean his past love and sometimes sit and talk to her. He usually does that so he could relieve relieve his pain or when he's lonely. But he warned us not to tell anyone about this and I'm simply telling you because you're his wife." He said.
After hearing those words, Elen felt her body being split up in twos. She knew how much Alexander was in pain. But she just couldn't accept the fact that he couldn't come to his wife to talk to her when he's lonely. She would have at least help him to slowly ease the pain. She would have comforted him until he was at ease but she couldn't do that because he never opened up to her. She so badly wanted to talk to him about this but she couldn't risk Robert's life just for her own benefits so she wouldn't say a thing about it to him but now that she knows that he's always lonely and uneasy, she would slowly comfort him until he finally opens up to her and let her know all of the pain in his heart.
Robert noticed her changed expression and he couldn't help but feel guilty. He didn't know that this would hurt her!!!
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that you'll fe --"
"No, it's not your fault. I was the one who asked you to tell me the truth, so there's no need to say 'sorry'." She said giving him a slight smile.
"That's the reason we've all been avoiding you. We didn't want to let you know the truth yet. Right guys?" He said resuming to his acting skills and the men almost choked out.
We? Why are you dragging us in this?!! Please, don't do this to us dear Robert. Don't drag us to hell with you!! They could only scream in their mind but their body reacted faster than their minds and they nodded simultaneously.
"Good. So I believe I've answered your question?" He said as he stood up to leave but before he could even leave the table, Elen stopped him.
"How long does it take for him to return?" She asked.
"Uhm...depending on how long he wants to stay..." He said and Elen's faced turned sullen. He noticed this and he quickly took back his words.
"But don't worry. He doesn't spend more than a week, okay?" He said and Elen just nodded.
They all gave her their last goodbyes and left her with some few guards sitting.
Elen stood up and went to her chambers, pouring out all the tears she had been holding back all this while.
....
"You really are a devil, Robert." Lago said.
"At a point, I thought he was going to spit the truth out." Lucas said but Robert just shook his head.
"Don't underestimate this old man, kid." He said as he ruffled his hair.
"But why did he have to use 'we'? Couldn't he just say 'I'?" Finn retorted.
"You should know that guy by now. He really is a devil." Lucas said.
"Y'all should be hailing me by now. I saved you from the claws of the mighty dragon." Robert said and they could only roll their eyes.
"Don't think too highly of yourself. What if she reports to her husband what you just said." Lago said
"She won't. She doesn't look like type that breaks promises just for their own benefits." He said and they all nodded.
"Besides, what you had told her, was it the truth?" Amadeus who had been silent finally spoke.
....