Cursed Union

{10}

Eliana had spent the rest of the week in the Prince's chambers where he had watched over her through the day and the entire night. She had asked the Prince whether he slept at all and he had replied, 'Sometimes', but when she had offered to sleep back in her room so he could sleep on his bed, he had turned it down in the beat of a heart.

Eliana had never dared to ask more about Estelle, for she knew it was of no use. Estelle was the Queen of Sleyisea, and while she had tried to kill Eliana, she was certain that she would face no consequences for her actions.

Yet on the 6th night of their stay together, Alexander had wandered into a room, had served her a hot meal in the bed prior to telling her that Estelle was being hanged the day after for treason.

According to him, Estella had tried to break the treaty between Ganea and Sleyisea by attempting to kill her, which was a crime not only against her, but against Sleyisea as well. The thought scared Eliana. Whether or not Estelle had tried to get her murdered, she had been a reliable and sweet companion towards her for years.

While her mood had dampened further, she hadn't failed to notice the grimness on Alexander's face. "Are you quite alright?" she had asked him and he had looked her straight in the eye, the sharp grey coldness seeping deep inside her soul.

"I am," he had asked, but the roughness in his tone hadn't matched his reassurance and she had pushed her food aside along with her plate, clearing her lap.

"Lie down," she'd offered him in a small, consoling voice, making him shoot her a glare. She would've been afraid, if she hadn't known that he wouldn't kill her. That was treason, right? "My sister used to let me sleep in her lap whenever I was upset. It used to calm me down,"

He had given her a stare before curling himself so he fit on the small portion of the bed and resting his head on her lap with a sigh. His shoulders had slumped, and she had been able to see the exhaustion and the wariness in his shoulder as he had lied there.

She had immediately put a hand on his head, sliding fingers through it in gentle motions. His wild silver eyes had shut themselves after a while, and she felt immensely proud of herself for being able to relax the vampire.

"I am sorry for what these eyes had to see, for what this body had to bear and for what these lips had to supress," he had whispered, making her eyes swell up with tears. "Marry me, Eliana?" the question had been sincere, and the brokenness in his voice had been palpable.

She had nodded frantically before continuing her tiny scalp massage.

"The dress has arrived," he had informed her, his voice low. "The wedding's day after tomorrow,"

Eliana had to watch one of her previously favourite persons get hanged. Estelle had met her eye once, remorse shinning on her face brighter than the spring sun, before her face had been covered by the black cloth bag and the floor under her had given out.

Eliana hadn't been able to watch it and had casted her eyes done as the fallen Queen had drawn her final breathes. Alexander had held her hand through it all despite himself looking tense.

"I am so sorry," she had whispered with tears sliding down her tears. He had wiped them away before asking her,

"What for, my little robin?"

"You must've been close to her. She's dead because of me,"

Prince Thaddeus, who had been sitting next Alexander, had shot them an apprehensive look, presumably after hearing her words.

"She got what she deserved, Eliana," he had answered, his voice hard. Eliana had gulped before being escorted back to the Prince's chambers by the guards.