Elsa walked in looking shot and numb with dark circles below her eyes.
She had been away since yesterday afternoon, and she returned this morning.
She had spent all her time with the maids in their quarters, and it was a thrilling moment for her.
They told funny stories, and none of them had slept till it was morning.
Ivan hastily pulled up the bedsheet and met Elsa's gaze.
Her drunk like gaze made his stomach churn and he found himself questioning her because she had this flushed look on her face.
" Where were you?"
" I'm not obliged to answer your question."
Elsa straightened up and trudged towards the mirror close to the window.
Ivan clenched his fists and tightened his throat as his shoulders pulled back impulsively.
" I know you were at the servants' quarters."
Elsa didn't speak.
She felt indignant and indifferent about the whole situation.
Why was it always her?
Everyone could do whatever they wanted, then why not her?
It simply was unfair.
Just some hours ago, she had pleaded on behalf of the poor boy.
But, he went on to execute him.
" You're royalty, Elsa, and you should behave like one."
" Being royalty doesn't have anything to do with exceptions," she cut him off, and glared at him from her distant stance.
" Going about with the servants only shows your weakness and vulnerability."
" Now, this is where you've got it all wrong. Being friendly to commoners doesn't depict weakness. We could learn from one another.
" Being strict isn't one way to rule. You should loosen up. The people fear you. A king shouldn't be feared but respected, and I can certainly tell you that they don't respect you.
" You're only afraid of being referred to as weak, and that's the only reason you're fearsome."
Ivan's impetuous rush towards her startled her.
Everything happened quickly.
Ivan pinned Elsa to the mirror forcefully.
He blazed murderously at her as he held her neck tightly.
His eyes suddenly lost its light and humour.
His brown eyes only emitted flames of terror, and his pupils shook violently.
Elsa struggled to breath.
She coughed as she struggled to get away from his strangling grip.
Ivan pinned her still as he made her fall back on the mirror.
Elsa yelped almost immediately.
She felt moist drip down from the nape of her neck.
She coughed again and tried to pull his hand away from her neck but he intensified his grip and yanked her hands off.
Her neck was hurting.
He was hurting her.
Elsa's heart stumbled over its own rhythm as she stared back at him in horror.
Every fiber in her body melted like mist in the face of the sun.
Her eyes begged for him to stop, but it seemed like the devil had gotten into him.
Ivan struggled with every muscle in him to let go, but the devil kept whispering words into his head.
He detested weakness and vulnerability.
Elsa had no rights to call him weak.
No!
His head screamed back at him.
Serenity returned to his being and his shaky pupils returned to its previous tranquility.
Ivan loosened his grip on her neck and pulled away from her as he watched her bend over and cough.
She choked on her breath.
He took a quick glance at her one more time and trotted out of the room without looking back.
*************
Elsa bit her lower lip and flinched as Lydia dabbed the open wound on the nape of her neck with a cotton wool and a green liquid substance.
" It's going to sting, my lady."
Elsa bit her lower lip again to suppress the urge to cry.
Lydia blew warm air over her neck and patted her back.
She finally covered it with the plaster.
" What happened, my lady?"
Elsa turned away from Lydia's gaze.
" What do you mean what happened? It's a slight injury, is it not?"
" Yes, of course. But, it's going to take some time to heal. You'll only need to see the royal physician later to clean the wound and change the dressing."
Elsa secretly wiped the tiny tear droplet on her face and nodded obediently.
Lydia stood still for a moment - uncertain whether or not to speak.
" Is there anything else you need?"
" No, thanks. I'll just take a bath, and come for breakfast."
Lydia affirmed and turned around to leave but she stopped midway.
She knew something was bothering her highness, and she couldn't bear to see her like this.
She had admired her highness from the first day she arrived at the palace.
Lydia found her highly endearing and open-minded - qualities she had never seen in any member of the royal family.
She turned around again and faced Elsa.
" You can always call on me if anything is bothering you, my lady."
Elsa raised her head and looked up at her.
She gave Lydia a faint smile and nodded.
After Lydia left, Elsa hurriedly took a warm bath and dressed herself up in a sleeveless purple gown.
This gown had a very obvious parting at the right side.
Elsa adorned her ears with dangling diamond earrings and a diamond necklace that stood above her sumptuous, enclosed bosom.
She sighed softly in satisfaction as she looked back at her reflection from the mirror.
_______
Elsa accidentally bumped into princess Harriet while walking to the dinning table.
" Hello, Elsa," Harriet greeted.
Elsa smiled back.
" What a pleasant surprise, Elsa!"
Elsa didn't speak but only looked on with a smiling face.
" If you don't mind, I would very much appreciate the company at the breakfast table."
Elsa nodded in agreement.
" So, shall we?"
" But, of course."
Elsa trailed behind Harriet.
She used to admire her before but now she couldn't discern what she felt for her - especially after the day she tried to instill chaos at dinner.
Elsa gently pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.
She watched the maids serve breakfast.
The maids bowed and left, and both princesses began to eat in utter silence.
The only tangible sound that could be heard was the clicking sound of spoons on the plates.
Deep down, Elsa prayed in her heart.
She didn't want Harriet bombarding her with chaotic questions.
Suddenly, Harriet coughed and dropped her spoon.
She wiped her mouth with the table towel and chuckled softly.
" Please, tell me Elsa."
Elsa glared back at her in sheer confusion.
" Tell you what?"