Delia slowly took off her gown leaving her completely naked and she gently lower herself into the warm water as a soft sound of satisfaction escapes her lips.
Unknown to Leonard who just arrived in the forest where the lake
was, he looked around in search of Delia.
He hissed. "What in God's name is wrong with this girl?If she wants to leave our Kingdom she should inform us on time so she should be given a farewell party instead of worrying i and my poor Mother, hmph!!"
On reaching to the lake, he sighted an angelic goddess in the lake.
His Adam's apple bobble as he grew hungry for her.
Forgetting about Delia and approaching the lake, he watched as the goddess step out of the lake unto the dry land as she uses her hand to comb her moist hair.
Leonard stepped closer to where she stood and closer he came, a meter away from her.
He opens his mouth to speak when she turns around to only discover the goddess with such perfect looking body was. ...
"AGH!!!!!" Delia screamed in shock and fright as she uses her hands to cover her forbidden parts."You pervert!!!Look Away!"
Leonard whose entire body had gone rigid was brought back to reality when Delia's footwear came flying at his face.
Instinctively, he caught it before it hit him."What are you trying to do--"
"Turn around!!!" She spoke through gritted teeth.
Immediately he turns his back to her and suddenly he caught sight of some intruders with poisonous arrow directed at...
"DELIA" He called alertly and whirl at her.
"Leo..." Her word caught stuck in her throat as Leonard strong arms wrapped her half naked body as she inhale his toxic but sweet cologne and it made her dizzy.
His hand that tightened around her bare back brought goosebumps all over her body."Leo--"
"Arghhhhh!" He groan in pain as the arrow pierce into his shoulder.
"Leonard!!!" She screamed in fright and pull away from his comforting embrace. "Are you okay??"
"Am okay," He forced a smile."Look at you throwing your body at me, don't make me eat you up."
Delia flushed and shoved him away."It's my fault for worrying about you!Don't you dare look back." She warned.
He let out a dry laugh as he cough out blood.
"Poison." He frowns.
"What are you doing here???Don't tell me you fancy taking peeks at naked women??" She inquires while putting on her gown.
"One you are not a woman and what in God's name got into that big head of yours that made you to take a bath in a lake, an open place at that. Any man can pass by and see you and decided to take advantage of you" He scolds.
The thought of that made his blood boil with anger.
If by any chance that happens he was going to tear that man apart and feed them to his hungry dogs.
She laughs." You said it yourself am not a woman.....you can turn around now." She inform him and brush past him with him following behind."Are you sure you're okay?You look pale."
"Am alright." He said with a raspy tone that made Delia know it was a lie but didn't dare to talk back."Let's go home before anymore intruders comes our way." And he increase his pace as she follows behind.
Delia couldn't believe she would ever stand naked before a man and Leonard at that.
'Gosh! It's so embarrassing'.
She turned red and redder as she thought of the time she was wrapped in Leonard's warm arms, his chest pressed to hers, his strong arms protectively around her back.
'Gosh,that was the first time being close to a man and it brought a strange feeling to her heart.'
"Ouch ..".She cries out as her head collides with his back.
"Watch where you're going!!" He snapped as she rubs her head.
"S-s-so-sorry." She stammer unconsciously.
Leonard turns and rose an eye brow."Why is your face red??"
"Why is your face as white as paper, something is wrong."
Worry and Anxiety clouded her voice."Sit here while I call for help."
He shook his head in refusal."Am not...." Leonard legs gave out as he crashed to the ground as Delia panicked.
"Leonard!!!" She screamed and fell
beside him.
"Delia," He called with a weak tone."Whoever he is, your tears isn't worth it....." And he fainted.
"Leonard you jerk!When did you start caring for me!!!"
Eleanor woke up with an heavy headache, fatigue written all over her face.
She groggily got up, wash herself and arranged some required stuffs into her bag, hanged it around and walk out of her room to only bump into Susanna.
Susanna made her way into room and looked around with a dissatisfaction expression."As a servant, Dimitrix do take care of you."
"What do you want ma'am?"
"I heard you sleeps in his room so am surprised that he gave you a separate room," She hums."An unmarried woman shouldn't stay in the same room with an unmarried man who would soon get married but we couldn't object it cause he's the Lord and Emperor of Arystarr Empire." She exclaims.
Eleanor drew a long exasperating sigh. "That's why am leaving here for good..." Her comment was dismissed with a scoff and Eleanor rose a brow.
"Don't act so dumb! Even if you leave, our dear Lord still holds you in his heart, so don't act like you're doing me a favour."
"I don't get-"
"I overhead everything last night, him confessing his love for you and you playing so hard to get.You should be happy Lord Dimitrix has a thing for you but at least you know where you belong."
"Dimitrix doesn't love me-"
"Oh!Cut the bullshit, don't act as if you don't know he has a thing for you since day one.Don't tell me you don't remember what he said when you and him visited my home, common sense will tell you he's in love with you." She lean closer and whispered in her ear. "Now you know his love is true, pretend you don't know and leave or else you will die in the most impossible way you never imagine.That throne belongs to one person and that's my daughter-"
"You two are only after his Empire right??"
"Safe journey dear." Susanna laughs and left.
Eleanor took a glance at her bag in thought.
'He has being in love with her since day one?'
Realization hit her hard as those memories flooded her brain instantly and become clearer.
That day, his words became clearer in her head.
That day, at Susanna's house.
'But I love you' Elvira had said to Dimitrix that day.
"Get lost and don't appear in my front telling me about your feelings." He said.
"I won't unless you give me a reason."
"A reason?I love someone else' He said with his gaze on her.
She couldn't let this opportunity go so easily....this kind of love was hard to come.
She loves him and he loves her too, that is all that matters.'
And she needed to warn him against Susanna and her daughter.
She picked up her skirt and ran in search of Dimitrix.
On reaching to the meeting hall, the guards drew out their sword and blocked her from entering.
Eleanor looked up in daze."I need to go in."
"Get lost, you can't see the Emperor now, he's in an important meeting beside you can't just meet him anytime you wish to!" The first guard spoke in a firm tone.
"Am his personal maid and i demand to see him-"
"We don't care any less, we are just following orders lady, So i suggest thst you turn around and make an appointment with Sir.Erik for the permission to meet with Lord Dimitrix." The 2nd Guard advised but Eleanor was reluctant to go.
She shook her head."It's something important, please let me through".She kept screaming creating a scene.
In The Meeting Hall.
Dimitrix sat among the generals as he hears about their complains, the improvements and plans about the war.
But his mind was not anywhere near here instead he thought about her, the woman that moved his heart.
ELEANOR.
He thought about what had happened between them last night.
'Why didn't she believe him?Or maybe she never did in the first place'
And now she was leaving him ALONE...or maybe FOREVER.
Just few days apart felt like hell then what will happen in those years or decades or even centuries if she's gone.
"Eleanor," He whispered before facing Erik who stood beside him."Eleanor, has she left?" He whispered to him.
"No, my Lord....I think she's packing her things."
Dimitrix eyes darken in fury. ''How can she leave me after my confession yesterday!" He slam his hand against the table, shaking up his generals.
"D...did i say something wrong???" One of the generals shakes in fright.
Ignoring the general, Dimitrix went on. "Don't let her leave."
Erik objects."Let her do what she wish, if she really trust you and her feelings than she will come running to you."
On hearing some commotion outside the hall, Erik decided to go check it out."Excuse me." And he exit out of the room.
"What is happening here?" Erik voice echoed through the hallway stopping everyone from speaking. "Answer...Eleanor??"
"Erik!" She called.
She was so happy to see him that she spring into his arms.
Erik was so used to Eleanor's childish behavior, so he didn't budge at all causing reactions from the guards.
He was so used to taking care of her that he had become a big brother to her and her a sister to him.
"What you doing here??" He asked.
"Dimitrix, i want to see him but they won't let me in." She pointed her fingers at the guards.
They trembles in fright."W...w..we were just following orders." They spoke in union.
"Yes they were. Master is in an important meeting but for you he will attend to you.Hey!" Erik called the attention of the first guard.
"Yes Sir!!" He salutes.
"Escort this Lady to the guest room." He commanded and without complains he obeyed and took Eleanor along with him while Erik entered the meeting causing distraction earning a growl from him by the senior Generals.
And he made him way to where Dimitrix sat ignoring them all."My Lord," He whispered. "Eleanor wishes to meet with you."
Hastily, Dimitrix jumped to his feet earning curious looks from the Generals."Where???"
"The guest room."
He nods."I will be off," He announced."Erik take over and detail me on it later."
Not listening to the Generals complains, he ran off in search of Eleanor.
Once he arrived at the room, he took a deep breath before pushing the door open and there she was the only person who moved his heart.