Elsa could feel Harriet's violet eyes all over her.
Those eyes didn't seem to be asking sincere questions.
" How has it been with my brother?"
Elsa's breath hitched.
What did she mean?
Was it a trick question?
Truthfully, Elsa didn't know what to reply. She only kept staring at Harriet who fixated her gaze conspicuously on her.
" H.. H.... How do you mean?"
Harriet chuckled again.
" His highness is my brother, and I know him like the back of my palms. I only hope he will start to treat you better."
Elsa snickered at Harriet's malicious laugh.
She could see her eyes and ears brim with anticipation for something she couldn't understand.
Of course, Elsa knew Harriet was only trying to pull words out of her mouth.
A slight smirk appeared on Harriet's face as she gazed intently at Elsa who ate with her head bowed.
" Elsa, you can trust me with anything. You can't continue like this."
Elsa looked up in inquiry.
" I know what happened. The wound on your neck was no accident."
Elsa stuttered and blinked.
" I...I....I...It was an accident."
Harriet hissed in displeasure.
" You can't continue to mask your lies, Elsa. I know my brother did that to you, and you have every right not to endure all those pains anymore.
" Ivan is never going to stop. He will only continue to inflict pain on you."
Elsa's brow rose in a surprised arc as she stared at Harriet as if awaiting more explanation.
It got her wondering why Harriet changed all of a sudden from a vicious villain in the beginning to caring for her in the middle of everything.
Elsa figured out one thing alone - Harriet was only trying to slander Ivan's image in her sight.
Ivan only reacted out of burning fury, and she was the victim.
It didn't matter.
Deep down inside her, she knew Ivan was pure.
She knew he had the purest of hearts.
He only needed to be loved more, and just maybe he would become human again.
" I really appreciate your concern but this injury was an accident," Elsa began after so much thoughts.
" But, Ivan really treats me well enough," she said lastly and smiled widely.
Harriet shook her head and clasped her wrist in her opposite hand.
" If you say so," she jeered.
" But, just know you can come around anytime you want to talk about anything. I'll always watch out for you."
Elsa smiled again but Harriet returned it with a half smile and walked away.
______
Elsa spent the rest of the morning watching the garden from afar.
She felt peace surge into her body at the sight of the beauty of nature and its tranquility.
It got her wondering how mighty the creator of the universe is.
' Everything bright and beautiful,' she thought to herself and put her hand out in the air.
" Elsa," someone called.
Elsa turned swiftly to meet Ivan's gaze.
She bowed.
They both stood - staring at each other.
Ivan's scent wafted through her nostrils.
" Do you want to see the garden?"
Elsa blushed and spoke softly.
" Of course, your highness."
They both trudged further in silence.
Elsa found herself glimpsing at his fair toned arms.
It was just irresistible and....
" Elsa," Ivan called.
" Hmmm."
" I...I... I'm s...s....s...sorry for what happened earlier... I didn't mean for things to happen that way, and...."
A smile tore across her face as her eyes glistened with affection and she took his hand in hers.
She discerned from the emotions in his voice that apologies rarely came out well.
She watched his pale face turn out colourful again.
Ivan gazed into her eyes.
He wondered what he had done to deserve her.
Elsa was all any man would desire in a woman.
He stared at her for so long in silence that Elsa couldn't endure it anymore.
She had begun to feel hot from his long stare and she looked down.
Ivan smiled inwardly and trudged further.
Elsa gasped.
She admired the exquisite garden in front of her.
" This is beautiful!" she extolled in awe.
Ivan gushed.
" But, they are not as beautiful as you are, Elsa."
He bent over her and kissed her forehead.
Elsa could feel goosebumps pop up on her porcelain skin.
Just a kiss!
She felt wild already. Her entire body burned intensely inside of her.
She turned away from Ivan's gaze and reached out for the Jasmine in front of her.
Ivan crowed at Elsa's reaction.
" So, what has life been in Albion?"
Elsa heaved a short sigh.
" Life in Albion was never hard. I had a very supportive brother and mother. My personal maids used to teach me so much about living life ordinarily. I made so many beautiful memories with them all except my father who is a sucker for power and fame. He never really cared about anything."
Ivan crowed at her manner of description.
Sucker for power and fame!
Elsa tilted her head and looked at Ivan who was currently standing behind her.
He laughed?
Ivan laughed!
His laughter dazzled her.
He had such a cute laughter and he had been hiding it.
His white uppers shone brightly in the afternoon sunlight.
" What has life been for you before our marriage?" Elsa questioned.
Ivan's face turned pale again and sweat broke out on his forehead.
He could hear his own palpitating heartbeat in his ears.
Those heartbeat emitted panic and other emotions he couldn't understand.
Elsa stretched out her hand and took his hand in hers.
She intertwined her fingers with his.
His hands were cold unlike before.
She gave him a reassuring smile and patted his shoulders.
Slowly, Ivan could hear his heartbeat sync with the calmness of the environ.
Silence reigned as Ivan gazed intently at Elsa.
She was beautiful and adorable and everything anyone would ever wish for.
But, he feared for her - for both of them.
He couldn't bear the thought of hurting her.
He had hurt her before, and he feared he would never stop.
He was a monster, and monsters were never supposed to be with humans.
Why was he made this way?