The Crimson Contract

Chapter 1

"Presenting Her Royal Highness, Princess Eleanor Lauressac," the man spoke, his voice echoing in the throne room. The King and Queen elegantly sat in their seats, not an imperfection in sight while their daughter made her entrance.

Her white gown sparkled as she entered the room. The fabric flowed with her every step as if an ocean filled with countless stars floating around. Her soft brown hair had been tied into a simple yet flattering ponytail, with a white hairpiece mimicking blooming cherry blossoms holding her hair from flowing free.

Next to her destination stood a man, perhaps a few years older than she was.

"You Majesty, Your Highness." Eleanor addressed both her parents, awaiting what had been destined for her since birth.

"This man is Prince Alexander Rutherford, from the land of Elcore," King Lauressac spoke to her. "Due to recent circumstances, it has been decided that you shall marry Prince Alexander. Do you accept?"

Being a princess was usually great, but it had its downsides. Eleanor wanted to protest, to say no, but she bit her tongue, forcing out the response she had spent days rehearsing.

"I accept," she smiled. Even if it was the slightest, a part of her hoped her parents would smile back. They didn't.

"The wedding shall take place next month, in the meantime, please show Prince Alexander around." This time, it was the Queen who spoke.

"Prince Alexander," she addressed him. "While you are here, we place Eleanor's safety in your hands, as a way to bond with the princess before your marriage."

The prince gave a curt nod as if accepting the task given. Despite the... inconvenient situation, Eleanor wondered what his voice sounded like. He was handsome to look at and well-dressed too. All he needed was an alluring voice and perhaps an interesting personality and Eleanor wouldn't mind living with him too much.

"You both are dismissed," The Queen spoke up yet again. "Oh, and Eleanor, please show our guest to his chambers."

"Yes, your Highness."

She turned, hoping Alexander was following her, but she couldn't be sure. If he was, his footsteps were invisible to hear.

Eleanor kept marching forward until they arrived in a deserted corridor. Coming to an abrupt stop, the brunette turned to face her fiance.

His expression was deadpan, although after staring into his dark eyes, one thing was clear. Alexander was not amused by Eleanor.

"You look scary..." she mumbled to herself. "Anyway, I'm Eleanor, as you probably just heard and um...let's get along?"

She started out confidently, but as she went on, Alexander's glare got deeper. There went the interesting personality.

"I'll just...show you to your bedroom," she mumbled yet again, before resuming her walking.

"Wow," Eleanor said to herself, "That was...interesting."

"Oh, well," she shrugged, dismissing her thoughts on the prince. Her perfectly elegant expression fell, a wide grin now replacing it. The walk she had been taught ever since she was a child was nowhere to be seen as she ran through the castle. The corridors answered back to her footsteps of excitement with an echo.

She threw the library doors wide open. The royal library was one of the oldest parts of the castle. It had been built by the first king, where he kept records of the country, along with a copy of every book published. It was rumoured that the first Queen had left journals hidden somewhere in the library. People had spent ages trying to find them, but in the end, not a single one was discovered. The royals at the time were renovating the castle but left the intact, in case the journals existed. That's not why Eleanor was here though.