I'm so tired of being silent. I can't even make decisions. I just do what I'm told. How long must this go on? I didn't even come to the palace of my own free will. If it weren't for Michael, I would have left here a long time ago. So I think this is not my life, it's someone else's. How can you not be able to make your own decisions? I'm tired. I want to get out of here. What will happen if I run away? They'll still find me and bring me back.
I didn't sleep all night. Michael is arriving today and hopefully, everything will change now. I won't be alone anymore, I'll have someone by my side who can protect me. Then I won't be so quiet anymore.
I didn't want to come down for breakfast after yesterday's incident, but I had no other choice. I got ready and went downstairs. No one was there. I'm so happy Michael is coming back, but I have to meet my whole family today. While I was waiting for the others to arrive, my father and stepmother entered the room. Why are they here? Shouldn't they have come in the evening? That's all that was on my mind right now.
I don't want to talk to them. Fortunately, Isabel, Nicholas, and Natalie arrived soon after. I was relieved because I wouldn't have to be alone with them. The others soon arrived and we sat down at the table.
An awkward silence hung over the room. To be honest, I was really glad that no one was talking. Everything went by quietly and peacefully, which was surprising to me.
We're just missing Michael, who should be here in a few minutes. My heart was beating so fast, I can't remember the last time I was so nervous. Mostly during the speech, but I'm used to it now.
A security guard came into the room and informed us that Michael would be here in five minutes. Everyone was ready to welcome him. I watched from the window as the gate opened and the car entered the palace. My heart started beating faster. He would be walking through this door in just a few seconds. The handle did indeed turn and it opened, but instead of Michael, a security guard came in. We all looked at each other in surprise.
Nicholas: What's going on? Where's Michael?
Security guard: He is waiting for you in the garden with a guest.
With a guest? We all asked in surprise. We couldn't understand what was happening. We immediately headed towards the garden. When we went outside, everyone suddenly stopped. I realized that something was happening. I tried to get closer and in front of me was Michael standing with some girl. He smiled and hugged his family members. He didn't come to me, he didn't even dare to look at me, and that's when I realized what was happening. I felt like the ground was shaking under my feet. I thought I was losing my mind. My heart shattered into a million pieces. To my surprise, my mind was still working. Stay calm, you are stronger than you think. This could be the key to your freedom.
Nicholas: Michael, who is she? Why is she here?
Michael was silent, and then he barely uttered those words.
Michael: She is my fiancée.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew he would say that.
Nicholas: What did you say? Are you crazy? How could you do this to Eleanor and our family?
"You're not ashamed, you made a promise to our family." I could hear voices vaguely, but I knew my father was arguing with Michael, after all, he had done everything he could to have me in the palace. I can only imagine how angry he is now that his plan has been thwarted.
Michael: It's too late, I reported it to the media and everyone knows.
I was angry, not because he betrayed me, but because he did nothing to protect me and now they will write more horrible things about me. He was the person I trusted the most. I found it hard to believe. How could he treat me like this?
Nathaniel: What did you do? Are you serious?
Michael: Yes, this is my life and I will do whatever I want.
Your life? What about mine? Hearing these words, I came to my senses and my heart knew what to do. I went close to Michael and hugged him. Everyone was amazed.
Me: Congratulations, I hope you will be happy.
And then I whispered in his ear. Thank you for giving me freedom.
What's the point of getting angry, yelling, and fighting? I'm free now and I can do whatever I want. My only obstacle was Michael, and now that obstacle no longer exists in my life.
Isabella: Eleanor, how can you say that? He doesn't deserve this.
Me: Don't say that, he's your brother no matter what.
I couldn't see the reason for my being here, so I immediately went to my room. I didn't even think about packing my things, I just grabbed my documents and car keys. I quickly stuffed them into my bag and ran down the stairs. I had no idea where to go, because from now on I was alone. I got in the car and left the palace.
The journalists were waiting outside. After hearing such news, of course they would be here. They were trying to interview me. There was so much noise that all I could hear were "What do you think of the new couple" and "What are your plans?"
I rolled down the window because I knew that if I didn't say anything, they would write a lot of gossip about me tomorrow, and now I was no longer obligated to keep quiet.
Me: What do I think about the new couple? That's a good question. I wish them happiness, they are very suitable for each other. As for what I'm going to do, I haven't decided yet, but I'm glad I'm free.
Journalist: Will you attend the engagement?
Me: The invitations haven't been sent out yet, and if I receive an invitation, I'll definitely go. I know you have a lot of questions, but I have to go now. Goodbye.
I closed the window and left quickly. I was just driving down the road. I felt like I had a ball stuck in my throat and was choking. I tried not to think about all this. I don't know how or why, but when I snapped out of my thoughts, I was in the woods. Maybe because I knew no one would be here. I always hid here when I sneaked out of the mansion. Michael always came here with me, but he wouldn't come here now.
I got out of the car and took a deep breath. It felt like I was breathing for the first time. I couldn't stay here for long, but I had no idea where to go. I have only one friend, and she's in the palace. I know Natalie is really worried about me right now. I want to text her that I'm okay, but I don't want the others to know where I am. At that moment, I remembered that I didn't have my phone with me, so I had to go back right now, because if something happens, I won't be able to tell anyone.
I got in the car and headed towards the city. It was then that I remembered a place I could go. Again, my mother helped me. On my eighteenth birthday, I received a letter from my mother's lawyer. It contained a will and various documents, but a small folded piece of paper caught my attention.
"My only one, if you are reading this letter, then I am no longer with you. I have taken care of everything and from now on you can live independently. Remember to follow your heart, because it will never be wrong. I love you very much, my little princess."
I had a very difficult time then and I even thought about running away from the palace because Michael had just left to study and I couldn't stand it, but the others cared for me so much that I couldn't treat them like that. Now I'm truly independent and thanks to my mother I even have a shelter that no one knows about. I immediately stopped the car and started looking for the address in the documents I had brought. I'm glad I brought the documents, I wouldn't have had a place to stay without it. I soon found it and immediately went to my house. Even saying these words makes me happy, "My house."
I probably knew all this would happen and prepared everything in advance. Now I know what to do, and I don't think they want me back after everything that happened.