Chapter 12

"I would rather not say uncle" Luciano turned to fully face Elliot, his face clearly mirroring displeasure.
Elliot walked into the balcony towards the railings ignoring the look on his face.
"Why are you here?" Luciano asks, staring at the disturbance right in front of him.
"Is it too bad to see my nephew?" Elliot replies questioningly, staring at the garden.
Luciano scoffs tilting his head to the side. "Very bad when that nephew doesn't wants to see you." Elliot chuckles humorlessly not saying a word.
"Found a bride yet." He asked Luciano, raising an eyebrow at Luciano.
"That's not your business to know." Luciano scpffs angrily. He doesn't understand what this man wants, can't he just accept the fact that he never likes him and would never. He should just get his sorry ass from here.
"You don't have to be so vile to me," Elliot begins. "I've known you-"
"-ever since you were a young lad." Luciano cuts him off. "I know, I've had enough of those boring talks. What seriously brings you here?"
Silence settled between the two, just the slight sound of breeze blowing and distant voices in the castle was heard and great tension filled the air.
"Your father says you're a rebel." Elliot stated finally breaking the silence.
Luciano furrows his brows at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"Your father said you're becoming a rebel." Elliot repeated, turning to fully face Luciano who was already standing by the railings. When he did not get a reply from him he continued. "He said youchose one of the Narvas' Tobe your personal slave against his will. Is that true?"
"So that's what this whole unexpected visit is all about?" Luciano asked drily.
"What made you do that?" Elliot ask ignoring his question
"And how is this a problem to you?" Luciano groaned, eyeing him disdainfully.
"I see." Elliot said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Is she so special you won't talk about it."
Luciano stood still staring at him before scoffing. "Special?"He replies questioningly, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Very well, nephew. You never hide things from us, your family but suddenly you went ahead to pick a slave from Narva to work in your personal space against your dearest father's will. Elliot paused, staring at him before continuing. "You won't even listen to anybody, and it's quite strange you haven't killed her yet."
Luciano snapped his head to look at him in shock.
"You see, the Luciano I left isn't the same as the one I met. This one is acting all strange and even a personal slave from the kingdom he detests the most." He paused, fully staring at Luciano before speaking. "What has gone wrong with you Luciano?"
An uncomfortable silence settled in the balcony. Elliot staring at him and Luciano glaring back at him. "Nothing has gone wrong with me. I choose to be who I want to be and I don't see how that should be a problem to you Elliot." Luciano stated emphasizing each and every word he said.
"You should watch what you do, Luciano. You're creating a great doubt in your father."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh! What do I mean? Let me spell this out for you Luciano, everyone thinks that slave used some kind of spell on you for you to be acting this way."
"Spell?" Luciano scoffs staring at Elliot like he just said the dumbest thing in the whole universe.
"Of course Luciano! No one thinks you're in your right state of mind to be doing this. Hell! The Luciano I knew wouldn't make himself vulnerable to an ordinary slave. Where's your reputation lad?" Elliot yelled.
"I'm not on any kind of spell Elliot." Luciano let out an exasperated sigh before he continued. "I want you to tell to 'everyone' that I, Luciano is in his right state of mind and not under any kind of magic"
"You wouldn't know if you're under a spell, you know that don't you?" Elliot asked.
"That's your problem, not mine." Luciano scoffs. "Seriously, how would you all think I'm under some kind of spell from an innocent spell from an innocent slave? This is completely absurd"
"Everything you're doing is absurd."
Luciano scoffs and turned to face the garden, not saying a word.
"Well, all I have to say is watch your back, cause you won't know what might hit you unexpectedly." With that said he patted Luciano's shoulder and walked out of the balcony, out of the room.
Silence descended in the balcony after Elliot left and Luciano could be seen staring down at his shoulder where Elliot touched with pure irritation on his face.
*
*
*Eleanor's POV*
I walked into the castle and up the stairs, heading to the Prince's room. After I cried out my pain at the Riverside, I stayed a little longer to enjoy the freshness of the river and the chirping of birds. You see, I'm one of those you'd called lovers of nature. I'm so in love with nature. Just the scent of flowers, chirping of birds and even slight movement of the river waters gives me joy.
I smiled at the memory of when my father gave me the little garden at the back of our cottage as my 5th birthday present. Little me had been so excited I felt like Father and I would always wake up every morning to wet the flowers to keep them growing. Even after he died a year later, I never failed to wet the flowers every single day to keep them healthy. I did that till I grew up to be a young maiden and never stopped, but everything I ever worked for went down the drain when we were attacked. I signed bitterly at the memory. Are we ever going to be free? Is there ever going to be a day whereby I would wake up every single morning without somebody's order, or a day when my every movement would not be monitored by somebody. I hope so.
I was about reaching the last flight of stairs when the 'attack leader' surfaced at the top of the stairs. I groaned inwardly on sighting him. I really hope he passed quietly without portraying any of those mischievous, devious smirk. But as usual, things don't go my way. He stood at the top of the stairs blocking my path with his usual smirk on his face. I vowed my head in greeting and stood still waiting for him to get out of the way.
"Hmm, so you're the mysterious slave that works for Luciano"
*Mysterious* What is he trying to insinuate?
"Now I see what Luciano sees."
I snapped my head up to look at him in confusion. What the hell is he talking about?
He chuckled to himself, muttering a set of inaudible words to himself. "Lad knows good thing when he sees one."
I would be the greatest liar in history if I said I understand a word this man is saying. Has he finally gone crazy?
"You must feel very lucky serving the prince right?" He asked with eyes scrutinizing me.
Oh dear gods, when will I be free so I can shout it out to some certain people that my eyes are up here not down! I mean, his eyes have been roaming all over my body like he wanted to eat me.
"Very lucky" He muttered to himself. "He must feel very lucky. I'm sure he doesn't mind sharing though." He said, finally taking his gaze back to my face.
Is he implying what I think he's implying? Okay, this is official 'attack leader' is a 'mad man'.
He took another step down the stairs till he was standing on the last stair in front of me. He took his hand up toy face and eww!! I cringed when I felt his big, hard rough manly hand touch my face. This is so gross. He brought his face near mine with just a few inches separating us and of course, I tried tilting my head back to create space but being the mad man he is, held my jaw a little tight to prevent me from moving my face, my own face! Is this what slavery is all about.
"I can't wait to do what my mind says" he said with a devious smirk back on his face. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing or at least renting you out for a night."
I so wanted to glare at this fool spatting nonsense to my face. How dare he talk about me that way? Even Luciano never speaks of me in that manner. Who does he think he is?
"Hmm, feisty I see." He whispered in a croak voice.
I didn't even realize when a growl tore from my throat and oops! I had no control over my face cause currently, I'm glaring hard at him.
He removed his hand from my face, moved back and stood straight. He moved down to the stairs I'm standing on and stood beside me. He placed his hand on my right shoulder, "we shall see again slave." He whispered close to my ear and walked down the stairs.
*
*
Luciano walked into the room after Elliot has gone. He was about settling down on his table to read some books to wile away time when he heard a soft knock on the door
"Come in." His deep voice responded.
The door creaked open and Eleanor stepped into the room shutting the door behind her.
"Good evening master." She greeted bowing her head.
He took his gaze to her face scrutinizing her, he noticed there were bags under her eyes. "Where have you been?"
"I was working around in the palace." She answered almost immediately.
*Smooth lie* but Luciano decided to ignore it.
Silence descended in the room and Eleanor stood impatiently waiting for his order. She could not wait for him to dismiss her so she can go take a nice shower to remove all of that bastard's touch on her body. She felt her body cringe when the image of him touching her flashed in her head.
"What's wrong?" She heard the prince ask, she looked up from her shoulder to see him staring her.
"Errmm...... nothing master."
Luciano has been staring at her for a few minutes and has noticed staring irritatedly at her shoulder like it disgust her.
"Then why have you been staring at your shoulder?" He growled.
"Ermm...master... I.... ermm..." Eleanor couldn't help but stammer as she could not understand why he's asking.
"Answer me!" He barked.
"I.... ermm... It's.... I think..."
He glared at her daring her to lie. Eleanor gulped down the lump in her throat before finally speaking.
"I... I was touched."