"I won't let you go even if you keep staring at me like that," Lord Nikolai said briefly, diverting his attention from the countless papers in his hands. Eleora assumed that they were documents of some kind. He looked like a prestigious scholar.
"You kidnapped me," She said slowly, making sure to pronounce every syllable properly. It seemed like this situation didn't faze him.
"Hmhm," He said nodding his head, glancing back down. How was this man not scared? He broke the law and there will surely be consequences for his actions.
"That's illegal," She reminded him.
"For everyone else but not me," He answered back coldly. Eleora decided to remain quiet for the time being. Angering this person wasn't exactly something she wanted to do. It was clear to her that he was someone of high class and authority. He could easily tell the guards to discard her body. She was positive that his loyal subordinates would listen obediently. Especially considering how they manhandled a child.
She rubbed her fingers together, a nervous habit she picked up over the years. Her eyes glanced away from this mysterious man. The inside of the carriage looked just as luxurious as it was on the outside. The frame was made of high-quality walnut wood, polished, and decorated with carvings and gilded accents. Red velvet cushioned benches sat opposite each other which matched the pale silk curtains that blocked Eleora's view of the outside world.
"At least tell me where we are going," She demanded after a moment of debate. The man let out a long sigh, knowing he wasn't going to get any work done with a child around. Lord Nikolai finally placed his papers down and devoted his attention to the girl before him. His eyes dropped to her twitching hands. Bits of dry dirt covered some of her tiny fingers along with her garments. The girl was filthy, but he didn't care.
"We are on our way to the capital. It's about a day and a half worth of travel but we will stop to rest before the sun falls."
"Okay, cool, cool," She repeated under her breath. It was happening again, Lord Nikolai was watching her, at least that's what it seemed like on the outside. Eleora thought of herself as a smart child, or at least someone very observant. She was able to notice the change in color in the lord's eyes. They almost glittered a brighter shade of green. A feeling within her stomach told her that he wasn't looking at her at all. She gulped, and Doctor Tobbs somehow crawled his way into her mind.
Was it a sense of deja vu? Is the same situation repeating itself?
So far she definitely couldn't trust the man in front of her, but he also didn't give her a reason not to trust him. Apart from the fact that he had kidnapped her, he hadn't done anything suspicious.
Well, except for staring.
And not answering her questions.
Or asking her any questions.
Oh...
The sudden reality finally sunk in, perhaps being kidnapped by some kind of royal should spike more questions than just where and who, perhaps she should be asking why instead. The girl froze in her seat, attempting her best to not move an inch. Eventually, the lord went back to reviewing his papers, and Eleora wished she was anywhere but the carriage. She didn't know that she would be missing the old missus and the chicken coop this bad.
After sitting in silence for long exhausting hours, the carriage had finally come to a halt. Footsteps shuffled from behind the doors, horses roared and their hooves drummed against the ground.
"Sire, we are here," A knight said, opening the carriage doors. The lord didn't say anything, he simply got up and walked out of the carriage. Eleora was in a state of confusion, wondering if the knights were going to come inside to drag her out. But just before she could even poke her head out, Lord Nikolai turned around, reaching his hand out to Eleora. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"I can walk on my own, thanks," She said, sounding a bit out of breath. She was sitting like a rigid mouse for hours trying not to breathe too loud in case it would piss him off. Being surrounded by knights with swords was not in her favor. Any thought of escape flew out the window. The Lord shrugged his shoulders and walked off into the distance, not saying a word.
Just as Eleora suspected, as soon as she jumped out of the carriage, the knights' eyes were watching her every move. As if they were waiting for an opportunity to pull their swords and slice her in half if she were to take a single step in the wrong direction. Eleora had never seen adults as terrifying as these guys, Mrs. Mayner couldn't even compare to the intensity that these men carried. She quickly jogged towards the lord, using him as a shield.
"Welcome my lord. It is an honor to serve you," Eleanor's eyes widened by how many people were lined up against the entrance of the mansion-looking house that they were approaching. She hadn't paid attention to her surroundings due to the aching fear of the knights that followed from behind her.
It was extraordinary, she had never seen anything like it. Inside, the ceiling was covered with crystals that sparkled, reflecting the chandelier lights. The white walls weren't ordinary either, they had swirls and patterns that Eleora did not recognize until she stood right beside them. The carpet was a deep shade of red, and it seemed that the stairs that led to the second floor had handrails made of gold which blended well with the marble floor.
There was no doubt about it, it was real gold. This place screamed money.
Eleora knew that wherever they would have her sleep, it would be a hundred times better than sleeping on hay that poked you in every corner. Lord Nikolai glanced at the girl, a small smile on his lips. He was amused as he watched how her eyes lit up with every new insignificant thing they found next. It seemed like her world had just expanded.
"Get her cleaned up, I don't want to see a speck of dirt on her hair and get her something proper to wear, these garments are not proper for a young lady," He said motioning with his finger. He didn't question the origin of her garments, but the thought lingered in his mind. Eleora thought that his tone was rather brash, considering that those people were only there to serve him. However, before anything else was said, a loud growl echoed in the hall and Eleora's cheeks turned pink.
"Bring her to my study when she is presentable, and we'll need a full-course dinner prepared as well," And with that, he disappeared further into the hallway.
Eleora had no time to protest, three girls much older than her, took her by the arms and dragged her away into a secured room. They proceeded to over-exhaust themselves by washing her hair, undoing knots, and scrubbing every inch of her body. They took the Lord's words to heart, and they feared that if they overlooked even one tiny peddle in her hair, then they would be done for.
The shower was not like this orphan had ever seen. It was a large and round tub, full of hot water with a lingering scent of lavender. Eleora didn't have time to process how fast the women undressed her. The customs of this world were weird indeed, they wouldn't let her wash herself and when she would move to help, they would look displeased and tell her to not intervene. Perhaps it was the lavender oil or the warmth of the water, but Eleora found herself pleasantly relaxed despite being in the company of complete strangers.
It took the women four tries to wash Eleora's thick hair, she half expected them to be annoyed and irritated but with every wash, they seemed more fascinated. They had seen their fair share of red hair, but never a head this bright and vibrant. They wouldn't have guessed that under all that dirt and days-on-days tangles, was luscious, long hair.
Now, of course, they couldn't untangle everything. They had to use sharp scissors to help them with the rest, and Eleora was left with a new haircut. The last time she had received a haircut was when she had turned seven. It was a short, nasty cut that did not match the thickness of her hair. This short bob turned into a frizzy mess once it dried and she was left looking like a clown for months.
"Oh my...beautiful color," They whispered among themselves. Eleora had not said a single word from the moment she left the carriage, it's not that she didn't want to. She was simply too exhausted to speak. She let them wipe her naked body and dress her accordingly, the clothes that they had given her were nothing more than a long dress that reached towards her ankles. Eleora had never worn a dress, and much to her surprise, the blue color and the lace embedded on the edges were much to her liking. It was a thick yet soft material and it didn't make her back itch. For the first time, the ladies were in awe when they saw her smile as she twirled around the room. It was surreal, never had she imagined wearing something this colorful.
However, the slippers that were prepared, did not fit her at all. They were too small. The ladies looked around nervously, chatting among themselves, trying to find a way to solve this problem. The sun had already set long ago, they doubt any stores would be open to take in any late customers.
"That's okay, I can go barefoot," Eleora suggested, noticing their anxiety and fidgety hands. The ladies all shook their heads.
"No, my lady."
"You mustn't!"
"Here, take mine, my lady. They are shabby in comparison, but this way you won't catch a cold." Eleora was taken aback by their kindness, never in her life had she experienced something like this. Even if their kindness wasn't fully genuine, but a mere reflection of the fear of Lord Nikolai.
"That's okay, I don't need them but thank you. We can say I refused to wear the shoes, I promise you won't get in trouble," She tried to reassure them. They glanced at each other for a moment, almost like they had an unspoken language with their eyes. After a few seconds of silence, they nodded.
They walked Eleora down a few corridors until they reached a different room, past the grand hall. Two knights guarded the door, they were prepared to stop them from entering before realizing that the girl that the maids had brought, was indeed the one that Lord Nikolai was expecting. They cleared their throat in embarrassment after freezing for a moment to take in the sight, the small child looked like a proper little lady and not a dirty street rat that they picked up earlier in the day.
The doors opened, and Eleora reluctantly walked in. Before she could even say a word, the doors opened yet again, and a small trolly with all sorts of foods rolled in, and the delicious aroma filled the air around them. Her eyes followed the trolly and watched the maid's every move as the plates were set on a big rectangular table in the middle of the room.
"Red?" Nikolai asked, the look of pure shock did not match the tone of his voice. Eleora jumped, completely forgetting that she was in the den of the beast itself.
"Ah, yes..." She didn't know what to answer to that, but her eyes seemingly were moving on their own, from Lord Nikolai to the delicious meal being unloaded onto the table, back to Lord Nikolai...
"Come, let's eat," He said, motioning for her to take a seat. He walked in front of her, moving the chair out. He intended for her to sit down there, but the girl had no prior knowledge of any etiquette as it seemed. He already took notice of that, however, it still surprised him. Eleora seemed to be in some sort of trance, staring at the food in front of her.
"It's not poisoned if that's what you are worried about." Eleora snapped back to reality, she hadn't even thought of that possibility.
"Oh...it's not that."
"Then what is it? Is it not to your liking?"
"I-I just don't know where to start," Her mouth was watering and her eyes were getting lost. Had she hit the jackpot? Nikolai burst out laughing, this time much louder and livelier than when she had first heard him.
"You amuse me, child, from your way of speaking, to your actions, and even your appearance amuses me dearly," Eleora didn't wait for him to stop talking, she had already dug in, taking a bite of whatever the table had to offer. They ate in silence for quite some time, until the lord became full. He watched the young child stuff her face with food as if it was all going to vanish any second now. Soon enough Eleora also became full, she didn't want to stop eating for everything tasted so delicious, however, the thought of getting a stomach ache and vomiting convinced her to put her fork down.
"What is your name, child?" He asked finally, it was the perfect opportunity for him to know exactly what he was dealing with here, and for them to grow a bit closer. He knew that the child did not trust him at all.
"Eleora."
"And how old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Sixteen?" He repeated in shock. He thought the child was no older than thirteen. The child seemed to be a young lady indeed. "You are quite small for a sixteen-year-old."
"It's called being short," She said, taking offense to his remark, in return he ignored hers. She wasn't just short, but skinny too. Perhaps the lack of nutrients was to blame.
"And where are you from?" Eleora gulped, not knowing how to answer that question.
"T-There is a village, north of where you found me. They have an orphanage there," She said trying to make it convincing. Who knew if there was a village up in the north? And what are the chances of them having an orphanage? She hoped that this lie was enough to fool him. It was completely different from the rumors that lingered in the streets. Maybe they would think of her as a spy from the opposite kingdom if she were to say what people were whispering about her. God knows what will happen to her then.
"I see, and do they not teach etiquette in that orphanage of yours?" She figured he was referring to her lack of manners.
"Pardon me, sir, you see...I'm a bit stupid for my age," She bit her tongue to stop herself from smiling and cringing. She couldn't come up with a better lie than that. The lord shrugged his shoulders as if accepting her blunt lie.
"That's not a problem. You will be educated properly." He simply said but Eleora hung on his every word.
Educated for what?
It was time she tried to find the answers to her own questions, instead of simply answering him just because he fed and clothed her.
"Your name is Nikolai?" He raised his eyebrow at her bluntness but he let her lack of manners slide.
"Indeed it is," He replied with a smile.
"What am I here for, Nikolai?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"In all due time, I will tell you," He simply said and got up. Eleora froze, the little imaginary alarms going off in her head. For some reason, Doctor Tobb's creepy eyes seemed to pop into her head. Did he plan to wed her too? Why was everyone so attracted to a literal child?
Eleora got up, her hands slamming hard on the table. At the same time, the doors opened. A different maid from before walked in, bowing respectfully in front of Nikolai. Who exactly was this man and why was he dodging all the important questions?
"Take her to her room, and you, guard her door," He simply ordered as if he had the powers to read the girl's mind. Now there was no way she was going to be able to escape, at least not through the front door. Nikolai didn't say anything else, but he did glance at the girl one more time as she passed by him on the way out. It seemed to Eleora, that his eyes were either giving her a warning or saying 'try me'. Either, or, it didn't matter.
She was going to escape tonight.
They took her to her own room, which much to her surprise, was an actual room. It had countless large windows, a small chandelier in the center, furniture that filled almost every corner, and the floor was made of cold polished marble. Eleora glanced around the room, trying to come up with a plan for escape. The woman who escorted her here brought out a white sleeping gown. Eleora allowed herself to be touched by a stranger yet again as this woman helped her change into her sleeping attire.
"Good night," She told the maid, and as if on cue, Eleora started yawning as soon as her head hit the soft pillow. She glanced up at the tall canopy bed, wishing that she could stay and sleep the night here. Her body was tired and sore, her mind exhausted. She seemed to almost sink into bed and the pillow, and the blankets wrapped themselves around her, consuming her small body and begging her to stay.
Eleora got up immediately, not wanting to be swayed by the comfort of the bed.
She opened the large window and glanced down. It was the second floor, and the jump from this height almost guaranteed injury, or worse, broken bones. She couldn't risk it. She glanced around the room, trying to come up with a solution.
The mattress could be dropped down to prevent injury but the noise would most definitely attract unwanted attention. Eleora stood in the middle of the room, her eyes scanning every object to spark her creative side. Then just like that, an idea struck her. If she were to create some sort of rope from the bed sheets, then she'd be able to use it to climb down safely and stealthily.
It took longer than expected. The bed covers were unusable, the thickness prevented Eleora from being able to tie secure knots. She had to resort to only using the bedsheets. The problem was that there wasn't enough material so by using her teeth, she ripped them in half slowly and quietly before tying them together.
Without thinking, Eleora threw her hand-made rope out the window. A gust of cold air gave her the encouragement that she needed. She tugged on the rope to make sure that the leg of her bed would be able to withstand her weight.
"This is it," She muttered to herself before climbing out. The grip on the rope turned her knuckles white but it seemed to be holding strong. Eleora pressed her legs against the wall and began to climb down. It helped distribute some of her weight and provided support at the same time. She was making progress until she reached the end of her rope that swayed a few feet above the ground. Jumping was the only plausible solution but she could potentially twist her ankle if she landed wrong.
"Shit," She said breathlessly, dangling in the air.
"Shit, indeed."