Their Princess

Chapter 36

“ Eli, I don't understand this.” I whine at Eli, whose eyes are focused on a paper. He looks down at me from his paper in pity.

Yes, pity. Because I didn't know I had to study math on Ethna, which I don't understand at all. I scratch my scalp in irritation, groaning at the stupid question. 

“ Hey. No need to be so hard on yourself. Come here. Let's take a break. I've been working since morning, too. I guess we both deserve a break now.” I nod absently, rubbing my eyes. He takes me to our kitchen, where he warms me a cup of milk and makes tea for himself.

“ Eli, should I bake cookies for you?” I ask sweetly.

Although Neri sends us food from the secret tunnel that is attached to Daddy’s office and his bedroom, I still want to bake them myself. Maybe because I'm bored.

Eli frowns. “ Are you hungry, princess? I can ask Neri to make them for us.” I shake my head, making my already disheveled hair look like a bird's nest.

“ No, I want to bake them myself for you. So can I, if that won't create any trouble for anyone?”

I don't know why, but Eli looks…. I don't know, maybe… sad? It's like he is on the verge of tears.

I tilt my head to ask what made him sad. Maybe I'm asking for too much, or maybe he doesn't know how to say no. So I quickly assured him.

“ Don't worry, Eli. It's not a big deal. We can bake when we go back down.  Until then, you will have to adjust with Neri’s baking skills.” I try to lighten the mood.

But he immediately pulls me in his arms tightly. I wasn't expecting this, so my hands are now squeezed between our bodies. 

“ I'm sorry, princess. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.” He rocks my body with his, apologizing repeatedly for God knows what. Eli is behaving strangely, and I want to know what is making him behave like this.

However, I don't have to wait any longer for answers because as soon as Rey enters my new room, Eli explodes on him. 

“ Where is Alerix?”

Rey, who was already looking tired, was now on alert. He comes up to where I'm sitting on my cushioned chair immediately and checks my body for any injury. 

“ Wait. Are you hurt anywhere, baby?” 

“ Why? Are you guys waiting for something to happen to her so that then this drama can end?” 

Rey sighs, getting up from his knees. “ What is it, Eli? Why are you so agitated all of a sudden?”

“ It's not all of a sudden. It's been five days. Five days of her being locked on this floor for no appropriate reason. Now give me a favor and tell me when this deal is coming to an end, Rey? Because I'm not letting her stay here any longer.” 

Eli is breathing so heavy that I'm scared that he will turn into a hulk in a second. I've never seen him this angry and frustrated. I know he wants my best, but I think Rey and Daddy have everything under control or if there is something that I don't know?

I look at Rey, who is rubbing his face in frustration. Throwing his hands in the air, he starts. “ I don't know. I don't have any idea. I just know that it's not ending this week.”

Gritting his teeth, Eli asks. “ Where's Alerix?”

I wasn't prepared for Rey’s next words. I didn't know they would shake me this much as they did.

“ He's at dinner with Shafira……To complete his part of the deal, he has agreed to start a rumor.”

“ What rumor?”

“ That he is courting her.” Eli curses under his breath.

Even though I knew what the deal was all about, I still couldn't get my head around Alerix being with someone else. I don't even want to imagine this. My head hurts, my heart aches, but the rest of my body is numb.

He promised to have dinner with me tonight.

My head is running with multiple scenarios, and not even a single one favored me. At one point, I considered asking Eli what the rumors were about or let me see them myself. But then again, what will be the benefit of it?

I curl myself on my bed, closing my eyes to escape reality. Even in my dreams, I was betrayed and left to take care of myself. I was crying hidden in the bathroom, covering my mouth so that no voice passed while my parents were tending to my siblings. 

I was crying while Zed left me in my Pottery class, telling me he didn't want me.

But I cried harder when I called Daddy from my window, and he didn't even turn to look up. He left me alone on the floor forever.

A hand brushes the tear away from my face, pressing me to their chest. “ Shh… it's over now. Come back. It's not real.” I'm awake but in a daze whining while the voice tries to calm me. But all in vain.

“ Do you want me to call Alerix?” Eli asks gently. 

Do I really want him to? I don't think I can talk to him without bursting into tears. It will be hard for me to even look at him. My mind knew it was going to happen, but my heart still hurts.

He promised to court me. He promised to have dinner with me last night, then why was he eating with her? He was the one who suggested eating dinner together while I was content with him, only putting me to sleep. Then why did he promise something that he can't keep?

I shake my head and lay it on his shoulder. I'm worrying Eli for no good reason. 

“ Eli? Can we go see the forest from the balcony door?”

“ Of course.” 

He takes me to the balcony doors and sits on a chair placed beside the door. I don't ask him to open the door to take me outside, fully aware of the risk of getting caught.

“ He’s calling. What do you want me to tell him?” I don't have the energy to deal with him right now.

“ Tell him I've eaten, and he doesn't need to come.”

“ You haven't eaten, princess.”

I shrug and put Alerix’s shirt sleeve in my mouth that I'm still carrying with me shamelessly. He does as I say and then starts to prepare dinner for both of us.

My stomach growls loudly with the smell of food, making Eli chuckle at me. “ Stop laughing, I'm just hungry. Okay?”

“ Okay, but it's still a mystery to me. How such a small person can growl this loudly.”

I pout, trying to look offended but failing miserably. “ I'm not small. You guys are just huge.”

Eli bumps my nose with his finger and kisses my cheek affectionately. “ Here, try this sauce. I'm not as good as Neri, but I think I have outdone myself this time.”

I taste the sauce from the spoon he is holding out for me. “ It's good, Eli. I like it.”

He beams at me. “ Yeah? Told you I've some tricks saved under my sleeve.”

I nod in enthusiasm. “ I think we should give Neri a holiday so that everyone gets to taste your tricks in the kitchen.” I tease him.

“ Nope. We can't do that. I don't cook for everyone. My artistic skills are reserved for only a few.” 

We continue with our fun banter while eating dinner. Daddy calls a few more times, but Eli denies him entry to our floor. I wonder how long this will go.