The Sovereign's Sacrifice ☆ EDITING ☆

Chapter Nineteen: Ivan

When Ellie returned that day with Eric at her side, I remember feeling so lost. I felt my heart clench, worrying that she may have fallen for someone else.

It wasn't until she introduced him to myself and my father as the man who'd helped fight alongside her while she was at that wretched academy, and then once more to save those children that my heart had begun to beat again. At the time we didn't know the extent of her abuse there. After the formal address, I'd cornered her in the hall, just as I had the night before she left.

"How may I help you, your Royal Highness?" she asked coldly and professionally. 

"Ellie, it's me," I spoke pleadingly.

"I am well aware of who you are, sir," she replied, staring back at me with hollow, empty eyes.

"You're hurt," I raised my hand to try to touch the bruised skin of her cheek.

"I've experienced worse," she spoke turning her head away before I could touch her. "I must go help get our new villagers settled, unless you need anything from me."

"Ellie, I'm trying to apologize and show you through actions, not just words how sorry I am," I spoke softly.

"I am not here to appease your guilt, Your Highness. I am here to complete my duties, and leave. I have no other purpose," she spoke matter of factly.

"Ellie, why won't you talk to me? I made a mistake, I was under pressure, I should have never said those things," I pled with her.

"No Ivan," she spoke with venom. "It was I who made the mistake. I dreamed that I could mean something to someone. I felt like I could talk to you about anything, like I could trust you, open up with you. Then you kindly reminded me of my place. I don't talk anymore," she spoke painfully.

"Ellie," I spoke touching her cheek with my open palm. She flinched away from my touch as if scared I'd hurt her. "I would never hurt you Ellie."

"Ivan," she spoke gently putting her hand on top of mine. "You already have." She quickly removed my hand before giving a sarcastic curtsey and leaving.

Just as I was turning to leave, Eric had come around the corner. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop Your Highness," Eric spoke, bowing his head a little in respect. "I was looking for Eliana."

"It is alright. Nearly everyone in the palace knows my mistake. If you are to live here, it would only be a matter of time before you knew," I spoke, looking up at him. I had no desire to hide my mistakes and perhaps a new perspective would help.

"If I may, what happened between you two?" Eric asked.

I quickly recounted the story of our time together in school, and how Eliana and I had grown close. Then I told him if the day everything went wrong. I'd forgotten her birthday and practically called her lucky for being alone in the world.

Then untold him about how when she returned home, she interrupted one of the kidnappings and saved two children. It was then that the crown decided to train her, and have her fight as her parents had. Before their passing, they were the two strongest warriors we had.

Eric nodded slowly. "If I may summarise, and I do not wish to sound harsh, this is only my perspective. She came to you on a day that was supposed to be about her, to ensure you were eating properly and take care of you. You were extremely frustrated and conflicted by your work, and she entered at the wrong time. You blew up at her, saying something unforgivable, insinuating she was lucky to be an orphan and that noone expected great things from her. She took this as you not expecting any sort of greatness from her or seeing anything special in her, and used that hurt to fuel her need to surpass her parents?"

"You think she thought I looked down on her?" I spoke a bit shocked.

"Imagine from her perspective, from what you told me, you were the only person in her life that cared for her. Then all if a sudden you tell her she's lucky noone expects anything of her. That tells her that you see her as nothing just as everyone else. An orphan with no guidance, destined to rely on others. So she relied on no one."

A pang of pain stabbed at my chest as I realized the accuracy of Eric's words. "That is not what I meant at all," I replied sorrowfully.

"How long have you loved her, Your Highness?" Eric asked sadly.

"Since the moment we met," I answered without hesitation.

"You need to find the right time to tell her, but until then give her space," Eric spoke.