Chapter 2: No longer the same.
Eleanor Rose Alberich, the current crown Princess of the kingdom was trying to enjoy her new second chance at life.
She walked slowly down onto the stairs being accompanied by Nanna Bella who had gotten her the ironed gown that she wore.
A dark purple ensemble that glittered into the light of the chandelier, everyone was bewildered and enchanted. The gemstones were stitched in the right places, showing her curves and fair skin.
It would make any lady envious.
"..."
Her golden eyes would wander along the satisfied looks of nobility.
Eleanor wanted enjoy the perks, remember the good times but-
"Happy birthday to her highness!"
"It is a joyous occasion!"
"May you continue till the ripe old age!"
Ring—
Something in her ear began to deafen everything that was in front of her. The crowd's chanting for her happiness, she felt an itch she couldn't explain.
How many... how many of them are lying.
How many of these people want her dead?
Which of these voices calling out will betray her when the time pass of her former husband's arrival?
Princess Eleanor was sure that there would be more, half of them.
No... maybe even all of them would throw her off of the cliff if they had the chance to grab more power they would.
"Hah..." (Princess Eleanor) began to breathe in huge breaths trying to calm her ringing heart.
Thump... Thump...
No longer was she the naïve queen, the past hour those who were closely acquainted to the Dark Queen had noticed something was different.
May it be the way she walked, looked or even her aura.
"Princess Eleanor... is it just me or the princess not once did she smile?" One of the nobles asked, holding a wine in hand, looking at their ruler they all felt something was off but- merely shrugged it off knowing that it must be the yearly coming of age jitters.
"I'm not sure she looks perfectly fine to me." Another whispers back in answer quickly showing off a wide smile with a perfect set of white teeth.
"It's her highness we're talking about, she's surely excited because soon it'll be her turn to be chosen as one of the heirs for the throne! We'll be needing a king consort soon enough, aren't you excited?" A girl cuts in excitedly and they all agree in unison, a new king would be chosen and they were all joyous to think who could be the next ruler of such a powerful kingdom?
Princess Eleanor hears them, her hands clenched into a fist.
"There will be no King Consort. Never again." she whispers that only her would be able to hear her pent up rage.
The look on her face was full of dread and anger, it won't be soon until Prince Cedric Morningstar will come knocking at her door telling her sweet lies and promises used as bait for power.
The people's faces were soon turning gray, a familiar color she's always been accompanied with. She felt so remorseful with the people whom she has always thought of as trustful allies, her mind was guarded and heart would tell her to be careful to trust anyone now.
"Oh my gosh, Princess Eleanor! Happy birthday!"
"?!"
Princess Eleanor was taken aback with the figure of a stranger suddenly hugging her tightly.
"You... are..." (Princess Eleanor) saw that familiar red hair, wide green pair of eyes that was similar to a cat and that grinning smile. She couldn't have recognized her so quickly because her face was younger.
"Duchess Seraphine Vale." she tells her name, the name of her friend that was the only loyal one and was by her side the whole time her world has been in ruin.
"Duchess? You are so silly! My title is only a countess! My mom is the duchess. Don't you remember?" (Countess Seraphine) replies looking at her baffled, but still she giggles not minding her friend's random moment of forgetfulness.
It hasn't even been days since they last saw each other.
Princess Eleanor lights up hearing her voice again after all this time. The dungeons were such a lonely place, the guards would often tell her stories of how Duchess Seraphine Vale would always request for a visit but she was never allowed by her horrible excuse for a husband.
Or should she say, ex-husband.
"Apologies, Countess Seraphine. It must be the nerves that come with the coming of age. You've also just turned eighteen a few months ago, so you know how I'm feeling." (Princess Eleanor) pushes back a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and smiles.
"Oh! I wouldn't call my nerves, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep." (Countess Seraphine) didn't notice anything weird with her friend so she held her arm and walked around the luxurious ballroom looking at the crowd of people who had come to celebrate.
The noblemen and noble ladies in the area, mingling with one another. What a sight to see.
"You're eighteen now! How do you like that? Aren't you excited? Is there any suitors in this room that might tickle your fancy?" (Countress Seraphine) curls her lips into a seductive grin looking at all the fine gentlemen around, oh who could her soulmate be among all the sea of people?
"What do you think Eleanor-?"
"..."
The princess could only stay quiet, giving a blank look on her face seeing and hearing the word 'suitors' how she wanted them to go away.
"Eleanor, hello?"
Amongst these people, if she chose to love again- and open up her heart... How many of them would say the same thing as her ex-husband? Will they also tell her to not eat and keep a prim proper figure?
Accuse her of cheating.
And blame her for something she didn't do, claiming the throne for power?
"Hello? Eleanor? World to Eleanor? I'm asking if you see anyone here good enough to be a proper husband." (Countess Seraphine) shakes the princess' arm seeing that she was not moving. Finally, she moved but slowly she did. The princess felt something was missing, every man in the room all had missing faces.
All of them had black scratches in their face, their faces looking blank. The hairs on her arm shivered, remembering her old beloved treating her so horribly.
Fed with lies, words of guilt, and betrayal.
"Seraphine."
She called her only by the name, the Countess considered herself a friend so she calls the princess by the first name even when they were children but- not once did the princess call her on the term of first name basis.
Princess Eleanor turns her head to her friend and smiles, almost too sadly.
"I would like for you to not talk about any suitors in my presence. I... don't want to get married." The princess closes her eyes and tries to take a deep breath of comfort.
It was hard for her to say that to anyone.
After all, she was no longer the same.
"?!" (Countress Seraphine) was shocked.
The princess wishes to not get married but- that is her only purpose?! How will she ever rise in rank in the throne if she wishes to not get married?!
She has another older sister that's miles in the favor of other people!
If she announces this in public-!
"Shush! How could you say that, Eleanor! It's a good thing no one is near earshot or else they'll start making rumors that you really don't want to get married..." (Countess Seraphine) meant well, in all her life she has only learned that the only way she could be able to obtain happiness was through a man with a rich dowry.
A woman blessed with such a man in marriage, would live happily with no problems in mind as long as she fulfills the duty of bearing children.
"Let them make it, I don't care." (Princess Eleanor) responds a little angry. She scans the crowd, hearing all the laughter of the people in the room, people that killed her. How can she think straight?!
"I am sick of this." She gestures to everyone in the room. The other girl couldn't understand but at the same time she sympathizes with her. "I just... I don't want to get married. Is that so hard to understand?"
Gold eyes brimmed with salty tears, Countess Seraphine Vale couldn't understand.
It was just a simple question, but why does she have to cry? Is she afraid of getting married?
But just a few days ago they had the same talk- she was still alright with the topic but-
"Alright, Eleanor... You don't want to get married now but- maybe you'll have your mind changed in the future?" (Countess Seraphine) suggests, smiling and at this point the princess will take whatever she can get.
"But- Why did you have to tell me this? Aren't you afraid I'll... you know." the noble woman continues, questioning why she told her of her wishes in the future. If this information has gotten into the wrong hands- who knows how far the rumor and distrust for the princess being a competent ruler will go?
Princess Eleanor tilts her head and holds Countess Seraphine's arm so close.
Because out of anyone that cared for her... the duchess was one of the only ones who stayed.
Even at the time of her death, she could hear her cries and plead for the execution to stop.
"It's because you're a friend. A true one, and I... don't have many of them." (Princess Eleanor) looks away, a little embarrassed to say those things but it was true.
"Aw! Thank you, your highness! You know I'll always be your friend! And remember if anyone suddenly tickles your fancy I can help you out! I'm actually quite the romantic." (Countess Seraphine) walked with the princess together, taking a pair of wine glasses from a servant and drinking it.
Princess Eleanor stares at the wine glass, raising it a little and sees the figure of the countess drinking without a care in the world.
She holds the handle and drinks the wine in one go.
"Not only you're a valuable ally, but you also recognized the accomplice from the fallen noble house that took my husband and my kingdom." (Princess Eleanor) smiles, feeling that her birthday was a very successful day. If she continues to stick with the future Duchess of the house Vale.
One day she'll be able to come across that girl.
...
Not only was her sister away on some diplomatic business trip so she couldn't see her annoying face and her parents had already left for something else.
She was alone, that was just how she liked it.