" Stop!" a mounted man ordered, approaching towards them. The soldiers bowed their heads on seeing him.
Eleanor locked her gaze on the man who had ordered the soldiers to stop. Judging from his looks, one could tell he was in his twenties. He appeared clean-cut. His build was brawny. His light caramel curly hair and his eyes like gray explained the nature of his beauty. Judging by the way he dressed and the honor given to him by the soldiers, one would know he was larger than life.
Eleanor's heart began throbbing in apprehension. What if this man had come to kill her himself? Eleanor looked apparently tensed, terror already overcame her, and she might pee on herself.
" What transpired?" the handsome young man asked.
" Constable Alonso, this woman is an imposter from Abothorn." the leader said in aversion.
Alonso examined Eleanor for some seconds. She looked quite innocent to him. She comes from Abothorn, but her heart might be pure. She might be a good woman. Prison is not her home as long as he had shown up.
" What lie did she tell?" Alonso asked.
" She said she is an Abelak, and that she is the royal concubine's maidservant." the leader told, smoldering.
" Count yourselves lucky that you did not lay a finger on her. Woman, please come with me." he acted along. Eleanor took a bow, and followed him into the boundary gate.
While Alonso ambled on his horse, Eleanor walked beside him, glancing frequently at him, thinking he might be flaky.
Eleanor wasn't sure whether to smile for being successful, or panic because she didn't know Alonso's intentions. All she believed was that a miracle just happened through Alonso. Could Alonso be her savior? Or just another dead end? Eleanor looked at his face, trying to spot an atom of evil. He seemed kind.
" Thank you." she said, eager to know how he would respond, whether evilly or meekly. Alonso only scoffed, and this caused Eleanor's heart to skip a beat. Could Alonso be evil?
" Beautiful women such as you deserve not to be imprisoned. They deserve a proper punishment." Alonso taunted, scaring Eleanor to death. Eleanor became stump, she could run away from Alonso at any moment, after all she had entered the city already. But then… " Do not mind me. You are safe with me."
" Oh." Eleanor smiled in suppressed fear, she lost grip on herself and continued to speak, " I am Eleanor of Abelak….
" Let me ask you first, liar." Alonso disrupted gently. " Anyway, it is good that you introduced yourself. So… for what reason have you come to Messea?"
" Honestly, I come from a poor family, and it is my duty as a child to mitigate my family's hardship. Therefore, I have come to become a servant."
Alonso locked a subtle gaze on Eleanor, perhaps he was wondering why a beautiful woman like Eleanor would rather become a maidservant of all the highly paid job in Messea. As for Abothorn, he knew they were all suffering. Except for that, Eleanor rose thoughts in his mind, especially the fact she took such big risk.
" Hmm," Alonso faced forward, seeming disagreeable to Eleanor. " Only if you promise to be careful and humble, then you can work in the castle."
Alonso took Eleanor to an alchemist's house. Matias was among the greatest alchemist in the kingdom even though his elixirs failed to restore the king's health. He made the best kinds of medicine which cured ailments.
Getting into Matias' house, Eleanor could smell the medicinal herbs already, that was enough hint to make her know she was in an alchemist's house. The smell of medicine gross.
Alonso took her into Matias' workroom after Matias had asked him to walk in.
Eleanor looked around the workroom and saw bottles of medicines kept all over the place. The smell of medicinal herbs troubled Eleanor, she might throw up. However, she had no choice but to stay there.
" Alonso dear. What brings you here?" Matias stopped work and looked at Alonso, ponderous.
" I have brought a friend with me."
" Which friend except for the crown prince?" Matias asked, confused. Eleanor was stunned to have heard Matias mention the crown prince, glad to learn that Alonso was a friend to the crown prince.
" A new friend. Eleanor of Abelak." he pointed at Eleanor who stood at his back. Eleanor bowed with a smile. Hearing she was from Abelak, Matias locked his eyes on her, she really looked like one.
" Has she any sickness?" Matias asked.
" Nay. She is a visitor, and she has no place to stay. I beg for your hospitality only for the night."
" Anything for you, Alonso. Eleanor, you should make yourself at home." Matias insisted.
" I appreciate your kindness." Eleanor and Alonso chorused. They looked at each other and smiled at their action.
" I shall take my leave now. Eleanor, you must come to the castle by morning. Let the wardens know that you were sent by Constable Alonso." he instructed. He picked up a parchment and a quill pen from Matias table, then he wrote a letter of permission for Eleanor and gave it to her.
" I will do as you say." she bowed. Alonso took his leave.
**********
Zainab sat before the vanity in her bedchamber, removing her jewelries. Staring at herself in the mirror, she remembered Uriah and smiled lovingly, he was just too good-looking. Everything Ellieze said about Uriah in bed was arousing. Truly, gossips about Uriah's wild side had much effect on Zainab's womanhood.
Shortly, Queen Abigail walked in and walked straight to the place where Zainab sat. She placed her hands on Zainab's shoulder, admiring Zainab's reflection in the mirror.
" Beautiful. Zainab, it is a bad idea that you sit here like this. When I got chosen by King Hastings, I did everything in my power to make him love me. I barely rested, I always kept him busy, making sure I do what it takes for him to see me as whole. The truth is… if you do nothing to make Uriah love you, he definitely will not love you. Therefore, I advise you go to him tonight and have your first private conversation. One thing leads to another." she said as a knowing smile curved on her lips.
Zainab adhered to Queen Abigail advice and went to Uriah's bedchamber in search of him. Unfortunately, Uriah wasn't there. As disheartened as Zainab felt, she went to the queen's bedchamber to let her know she couldn't find Uriah.
" Oh, Uriah must be at his palace drinking with his friends as usual. You may go to bed." Queen Abigail convinced. Sure that Zainab had left, Abigail began feeling uneasy. She feared one thing… Ellieze. " Dear God, I hope that Uriah has not gone to lie with that wench again tonight."
********
In a luxury palace at night. Lascivious purring could be heard in the royal plush bedchamber.
A voluptuous black hair lady sat naked on the bed with her legs crossed. Each of her hands were chained to the bedposts. She was staring at the firm, smooth, perfect ass of a beefy man who stood in front of her, sipping rich wine from a silver goblet. Her teats were still erected, her pump still needed to be punished, she wanted more of him. Only staring at his body aroused her intensely, but she just finished shafting the night with this beefy man.
The man himself gave her no attention, he was done ravaging her love box for the night, and that was the end. Whether she wanted more of him or not, that had nothing to do with him. He didn't deliberately make her want more of him, his macho, his virility, his seductive body, and the strong lust arousing vibe in him, did something to her womanhood. He cared not to look at her, his wine now worth more than the woman on his bed.
" Your Highness. This is our last time together, have me for the whole night. Let me kiss those tasty lips, caress that perfect body of yours all night long." she purred, biting her lower lip, and gesturing seductively.
" Dream on." he said with a gruff tone, not looking at her, he just focused on sipping his wine.
" If you do not let me kiss and touch you tonight, then be rest assured that this will not be our last time together, because I will keep coming until I touch you." Ellieze threatened with a seductive tone.
Uriah didn't kiss Ellieze, not for once. Uriah would never kiss a woman he doesn't love. And he doesn't like people touching his body because his scars reminded him of some horrible memories whenever his body was touched.
" Is that so?" Uriah shot her a grave, surly glance. That glance struck Ellieze as a wicked and deadly one, she was afraid of what he might do to her. He met her on the bed and clutched on her cheeks with his fingers, craning her neck as they looked into each other's eyes. " Kiss me... touch me." with the gruff in his voice, he said, knowing it was impossible for her.
Ellieze continuously elevated her body, trying to make her lips meet his, but Uriah kept on drawing away. Ellieze got infuriated. She knew Uriah would never kiss her. Angry, she spat on his face. Uriah turned his head aside in disgust and slight anger. Ellieze had the audacity to spit on his face.
"You bloody bastard." she insulted.
Uriah wiped her saliva off his face with his right-hand fingers. He started coming off dangerously to Ellieze, he might hurt her for her action. Uriah gripped on her throat with his left hand, choking her. Roughly and vigorously, he thrust three of the fingers he used to clean her saliva into her pump, making her cry out in pain, writhing and trying to move away. He continued stroking her unrelentingly, making her cry ceaselessly.
**********
Same evening, approximately 9 o'clock. Eleanor sat near a fireplace in Matias' workroom, warming herself up. She felt forlorn, yet she wore a smile on her face, a smile of both sweetness and bitterness. She already missed her people, the family that loves her, Matilda, and Ander.
Thinking of Ander, she looked at the pendant on her neck and smiled. A grimace settled on her face, she wondered how her people must be doing.
Eleanor wore two jewelries over her neck, one was Ander's pendant and another was a golden medallion her mother had given to her. She removed the medallion and stared at it. The fastening on the medallion was about getting damaged, she had been wearing it ever since she was three years old.
Matias entered the workroom and found Eleanor moody. " You can thread the streets of Messea if you are feeling lonely. It is safe out there, I guarantee you will be happy." Matias supposed.
Eleanor looked at the old man and smiled in fulfillment. Then she nodded in approval. At least she would repair her medallion with the little coin she would ask from Matias.
Eleanor hit the street the same evening. She took a brief scrutiny of the streets in the City of Messea where she strolled through. She smiled blissfully as she walked, admiring the streets of Messea, almost like walking on the streets of heaven. The evening was still busy, buying and selling and much more busy activities, there were even some night gatherings and feasts going on in the streets she walked through.
Eleanor was heading to a jeweler's store when her eyes met a night gathering which was taking place in the open. She got lost in a female singer's performance which seemed quite spectacular. She stood there, staring.
Abruptly, a little boy hit her right-hand from behind with a stick, making her lose grip on the medallion she held. She held the right hand and groaned in pain, forgetting that her medallion fell. Immediately, the little boy picked up the medallion and started running away. Eleanor realized herself and quickly chased after him. " Stop there!" she shouted.
The little boy ran very fast, faster than Eleanor could run. That medallion meant a lot to Eleanor, and she couldn't afford losing it. Never! She chased the little boy as fast as she could. They ran pass places she didn't know, could she be able to remember the path which leads to Matias' house again? The little boy took advantage of his height. Therefore, he passed through small places Eleanor couldn't pass through.
Eleanor already lost her entire breath, she started slowing down. She got tired of chasing the little boy, they had been running for more than twenty minutes. All hope was lost. Her mother's medallion was gone for good, she felt like the worst daughter, very careless.
The little boy suddenly toppled over and grunted. Someone set out his leg on the little boy's way, which caused him to stumble. The little boy looked up to see whom it was that has caused him to fall. Seeing him, his heart fluttered as he began to panic intensely. He quickly went on his knees, rubbing his hands together as per plea.
" Forgive me, Your Highness. Please forgive me."
" Give it to me." Uriah ordered. The boy with his shaky hands handed over the medallion to Uriah. Uriah examined it, he knew about the medallion, but whose own?
Eleanor ran to the place where the boy had run to. Breathing heavily, she stood a few meters away from the place where the little boy was. The first thing she saw was the boy on his knees, pleading. But to whom was he pleading? She narrowed her gaze to the man who stood before the little boy, questioning him. He even has her medallion with him now.
She tried to figure out whom he was, especially because the little boy respected him. Suddenly, he started appearing familiar to her. Before she could finish observing his appearance, he looked towards her direction and she saw his face.
Seeing his face, she gasped in fear and quickly turned around to hide her face. It was His Highness, Prince Uriah. She stood there, unwilling to leave because of her medallion. She must take it back, otherwise she wouldn't go home. But knowing that the crown prince might recognize her and punish her stirred up fear within her.
Uriah looked to the right, and saw a light blonde hair lady with perfect curves who stood far away from him, he only saw her back. Could she be the owner of the medallion? She would definitely be the owner. That means, she might be someone in the royal lineage from Abelak because only kings and queen regnants of Abelak use the medallion. He set the little boy free, and then started approaching towards the woman.
Eleanor listened closely and realized he was coming closer to her. Her heart raced out of her chest. She gave up on the medallion and ran away. She better stay alive and find the medallion later than to die with the medallion still alive.
Uriah stopped in his track as he realized that she had run away. Meanwhile, Eleanor still thought he might be chasing her. She ran ceaselessly, unaware she was chasing herself.