Elu groaned and tried to tug on the ropes binding her hands together. She stood in an empty maid's quarters with her hands tied behind her back. Her hands were starting to hurt from the constant rubbing of the lacy from her white dress. She was so glad her personal maid had convinced her to tie up her hair or it would have gotten caught on the restraints.
She mumbled under her breath, "Damn you Kaene."
The fourth prince, Kaene her half-brother has made it his personal mission to tattle on her for everything he possibly could. He found any small reason to call forth an audience to announce her misdoings to the entire empire no matter how embarrassing it was. He once called an audience to tell the people how Elu ate her sandwiches with chocolate and jelly instead of the typical spread.
He had never taken it this far before though. Binding her hands and placing guards was a new low, even for him. After all, she is a princess.
An evil thought tickled at the tip of her tongue making her chuckle darkly to herself, she could not wait til she tattled to Daliar. Her eldest brother- well half brother as well but he is the crown prince. He has always had a soft spot for her and she knew that very well.
"Kaene let me go or I'll call for Dal! I'll really do it. I will, I will!" She screeched and pulled harder at her restraints. She pulled one last time as hard as she could but groaned from the pain that followed.
At the sound of footsteps approaching she smirked and stuck her tongue out, "Kaene you absolutely suck. When I tell Dal what you di-" she cut herself off when she saw it was not her brother but instead the leader of the royal guard, Commander Warner.
His cold eyes cut the air around her making her suck in a deep breath from her fear, his cold dead black eyes held her in her place. His dark red hair reminded her of all the blood he had spilled in his lifetime. The man standing in front of her was no joke, even she knew it would be stupid and futile to try anything.
"you will be coming with me." his icy voice snapped her back to reality making her nod her head quickly, and without any hesitation, she followed him.
He escorted her out of the maid's chambers and down the hall. Two more guards joined him on either side and followed along as they walked.
He continued to lead her further into the palace towards the audience chamber when he stopped mid-step and motioned for her to keep walking.
With a loud gulp she did as he asked, she left his side and walked into the audience chamber. The guard on her right-hand side opened the door for her and after she stepped in he closed it immediately behind her.
She glanced around cautiously searching for her savior either the little duke or her eldest brother with ever boy she could find first.
She winced and forced herself to look up at the second floor of the audience chamber knowing that's where her family members would be sitting. Although she had hoped none of them would come; however there sat the empress, the emperor, the royal consort, and several of her siblings sitting quite impatiently.
The Emperor, her father, Keon sat slouched, his wild brown hair was tousled messily while his red eyes were sleepy and unfocused. His white button-up wasn't tucked in nor were the top three buttons buckled.
Elu could only imagine how hard it must've been to convince him even to show up. Her brother Kaene was defiantly something else.
She continued to watch in fascination as he opened his mouth and yawned, Empress Eilonwy who was sitting next to him crinkled her nose and gave him a reprimanding look. She sighed and raised her hand to tuck a loose strand of her short purple hair behind her ear. As if sensing someone's gaze on her she turned, when she met Elu's gaze she narrowed her gold cat-like eyes.
Her eyes were a similar color to her own true eye color except hers were a single shade darker. The thought of her eyes sent shivers down her spine. If any of the royals discover she was not born with pink eyes it would cause a lot of problems.
Elu looked away and continued to search for Daliar's face among her siblings. She knew if she saw him all the anxiety and panic she was feeling would go away instantly.
While looking she spotted her older half-sister Saylor sitting next to her brother River, with their mother Queen Isla nowhere in sight. First Princess Saylor was sitting up straight her black hair was held back by a string of pearls that adorned her bright pink eyes. Even her blue and white dress was nice and neat just like her, the complete opposite of their father. Her younger brother River the Third Prince was leaning on her shoulder and appeared to be taking a nap. His messy red-brown hair resembled their fathers identically. Though his clothes were neat and clean most likely from Saylors nagging.
Though some rumors floating around the palace said differently, because his eyes were more orange than red, the color of the setting sun. It's highly speculated and gossiped about that he is the product of an affair. Eye color is a sign of royalty, only members of the royal family had shades of red or pink colored eyes, after all. The genes of royalty should triumph over regular genes, under very rare circumstances were royal children born with a different eye color.
Sitting behind River was Rhedyn the Royal Consort, in her arms was a very small and wiggly Third Princess Vanorie. Vanorie continued to try to escape from her mother's grasp; the more she moved the more her white hair was mussed up, but from the look in her brilliant red eyes she didn't care at all.
Vanorie whipped her small body around and reached her hands out begging the boy next to her to pick her up. The boy smiled at the small princess and scooped her up his brown hair was neatly combed and his red eyes radiated happiness as he coddled the small princess.
'Dalair!' Elu mentally screamed when she spotted him. The uneasiness she was once feeling disappeared as soon as she saw him. A small smile twitched at the corner of her lips, she tilted her head and shot him a knowing look.
As if he heard her mentally calling for him he turned his head and looked at her; he blinked in surprise and twitched his nose. He gave Vanorie a quick kiss on her cheek and set her done, in a swift motion, he stood up and walked towards the edge of the balcony.
He gave Elu a pleading look as if begging her to yell his name and ask him to shut this stupid thing down. Elu knew he would only act if she asked him to because while he is a good brother he is also a good son and doesn't like to act out.
Elu bit her lip, her original plan was to ask him to make Kaene stop but seeing as her father was present she couldn't just say do anything rash without facing harsh consequences. She thought it over and shook her head she could accept the wrath of the empress and any punishment, but she however could not live with anymore further embarrassment.
She opened her mouth to call out for Daliar when she noticed the devil herself had noticed what was going on and marched over to her son. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a look; he flinched and looked down without even speaking a single word she made him high tail it back to where she was once sitting. The Emperor blinked sleepily at his son when he noticed him but ultimately he turned his attention away to stare at the empty space in front of him.
Empress Eilonwy huffed, she held her head high and made her way back to where her son and her husband sat not even bothering to look at Elu.
Elu bit her lip in anticipation she had no choice but to take all of the shame and humiliation that would be thrown her way.
That would be her biggest and most regrettable mistake.