Chapter 16

"Please Quillon let me just give this to her. Please, she has not eaten since last night. Please just this time." Madam Helen pleaded with the guard in charge of watching the dungeon.
"Madam Helen, this might put me in trouble if the prince finds out."
"He won't find out. Right. Ranvir?" She asked the second guard. "You won't tell this to the prince right?"
Ranvir glanced at Quillon before answering. "Yes, Madam Helen."
"Thank you so much." She appreciated, before urging them to open up and let her in. Quillon brought out the keys from his pocket before opening the gate of the dungeon. The gates made clanking noises as he pushed it open. Madam Helen muttered another thank you before stepping into the dungeon with the tray of food in her hands.
"Child." She called out and dropped the tray on the floor. She crouched before Eleanor who laid on the floor facing the wall.
"Mmmm." Eleanor mumbled, stirring lightly.
"Come on. Sit up, I brought you food." Madam Helen urged tapping her arm. Eleanor sat up slowly, groaning as she felt pains in her body. Her stomach was starting to hurt from hunger.
"Dear gods." Madam Helen exclaimed lowly when she saw her face, she looked terrible. There were bags under her eyes, obviously from stress and crying too much. "Oh gods, how are you feeling?"
"I'm hungry." Eleanor muttered.
"Yeah, that's right." Madam Helen took a seat opposite Eleanor and drew the tray of food between them. She opened the plate and took the spoon to feed her but Eleanor objected. "No, you don't have to do that."
"No! Let me, I already feel bad for leaving you here hungry since morning. Let me do this, it might clear out the guilt I feel right now." She protested and grabbed the spoon and began feeding her.
Few minutes later, Madam Helen covered the plates, setting them on the tray and moving it aside.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you." She apologized holding Eleanor's hand. She was now seated beside Eleanor resting her back on the wall.
"You don't have to apologize Madam Helen, none of it is your fault."
"I know, but I feel so bad not remembering to give you food. I should have remembered. You have been here since morning hungry and alone. I feel so bad right now."
"None of this is your fault Madam Helen. So just cheer up." Eleanor muttered, entwining their fingers together and offering her a small smile.
"Oh my child! Look at you still trying to smile amidst this situation." Madam Helen said and hugged her.
"Ow! Ouch!" Eleanor cried out.
"What's that?"
"My body hurts."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Madam Helen apologized, pulling away from her.
"Nah, no problem." Eleanor smiled again.
Madam Helen returned the smile. "I'll just stay here for a while."
"Aren't you going to get caught?" Eleanor asked concerned.
"No, that's not a problem."
"But,"
"Shhhh, that's not a problem. Now, just sit quiet, you have to rest.
Eleanor rested her head on her shoulder before whispering. "Thank you so much Madam Helen."
*
*
Nikolai was returning from the field, heading to his brother's chambers when he sighted Gwen walking towards him. He wanted to go meet Luciano to talk some sense into his head, since he heard what he did to Eleanor.
His anger towards his brother became long forgotten immediately he sighted her, the beautiful maid that served him breakfast in his room yesterday.
Gwen was walking out of the castle to run an errand when she sighted Prince Nikolai coming her way. She bowed her head and began walking faster. As she was about to reach him she looked up and her eyes immediately went to his. Gwen felt her heart racing fast and her breath hitched as he stared back at her.
He flashed her a smile before walking past her. Gwen blinked repeatedly catching her breath which she mysteriously lost immediately he stared at her. She shook her head and continued walking when she realized she had stopped.
*
*
Nikolai pushed the door to Luciano's room, opened and stepped in, shutting it behind him.
"How have you suddenly forgotten how to knock?"
"And how have you suddenly forgotten how to use your goddamn senses?" Nikolai retorted.
"What?" Luciano stared at his brother in shock, surprise and confusion.
"Yeah Luciano, where's your sense?"
"I don't understand the meaning of this Nikolai?" Luciano said, confused.
Nikolai walked to the desk where Luciano sat and rested his hands on it. "How could you do that Luciano? How could you?"
"What did I do?"
"Don't act like you don't fucking know." Nikolai slammed his hands on the table making Luciano stare up at him in surprise.
"What is the meaning of this Nikolai?"
Nikolai looked away before taking a deep breath. "Why did you put her in the dungeon?"
"Is this what this whole accusation is all about?"
"Don't fucking say that!!!" Nikolai yelled, slamming his arm on the desk. "How could you do that after all she suffered?!! How could you be so mean to her?!!"
"Why are you so suddenly bothered about her?!" Luciano asked, his voice calm as ever.
"Why wouldn't I be? How could you punish just after what mother did to her?"
Luciano stared at him in confusion before asking. "What did mother do?"
"Oh! You don't know?" Nikolai chuckled humorlessly before revealing. "Mother punished Eleanor for helping her."
"Huh?" Luciano furrowed his brows in confusion, not Understanding a thing.
Nikolai took a deep breath before narrating. "Mother punished her because she held her from falling. Eye witnesses said mother tripped and was about falling to the ground when Eleanor came and held her to prevent her from falling but mother punished her in return."
Luciano stared dumbfounded at him suddenly putting pieces together and realized why she said all those yesterday. Her words rang in his head again.
"I'm human, you can't expect me to work the whole palace day and night like a machine and not be tired!!! You can't expect me to be okay after being punished for just rendering help!! When would you realize it doesn't pay to be wicked and heartless?!!"
He finally understood why she said all those. He rested his head on his palm, letting out a heavy sign.
"Now you realize what you did is wrong huh?"
"Leave this to me Nikolai, I'll fix it."
"You better do so." Nikolai said and walked out of the room.
"Killian."
*
*
Eleanor stirred lightly on the ground as she heard the gate to the dungeon open. She groaned lightly as the clanking noise from the gate affected her head making it pound harder. She had woken up with a migraine this morning and her body hurts badly from sleeping on the ground.
"You have been released." She heard Killian say. She let out a sigh of relief.
Killian turned around to leave the dungeon but stopped on his feet and clenched his fists.
Eleanor has gotten up from the ground groaning lightly. She looked up and saw the guard still standing there. She placed her hands on the wall to support herself to stand to her feet wondering what he's still doing here.
Killian turned back to face her and began walking towards her. Eleanor stared up at him in suprise.
"Let me help you." He groaned out and put her right arm over his shoulder, his right hand on her waist supporting her.
Eleanor stared at him in shock, she couldn't believe this stone cold man could help her. Even if a seer told her, she would never believe.
"Thank you." She muttered as they began walking slowly outside the dungeon.
*
*
"How is she?" Luciano asked Killian who stood in the middle of the room.
"She's very weak at the moment, my prince. I doubt she will be able to work today." Killian replied.
"Okay. Tell Madam Helen to give her food and herbs that would strengthen her."
"Yes my prince."
"You may leave." Killian bowed and turned around to leave.
"One more thing." The prince voiced out making Killian stop. "Don't let her know it's from me. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Very well my prince." He took a bow and exited the room.
Luciano rested on his head on the wall behind him. He has been trying to stop the guilt he feels in his heart, but it's not working. His heart won't stop quenching in guilt for the maiden. He hates to admit it but he's suddenly feeling remorseful. He shouldn't feel this way, it would make him vulnerable.
He used his palm to rub his temple groaning under his breath, he just wish his heart would stop this stupid game.