The Crimson Contract

Chapter 4

The stars had started to come out of hiding, their reflections shining from Eleanor's eyes as she watched the nightfall.

"Eleanor, you only have a few more minutes," Andrea whispered. Eleanor had always resembled something of a younger sister to her. Since childhood, Eleanor had taken a liking to Andrea, unlike the crown princess, who Andrea was originally supposed to accompany. She looked behind the princess, watching the clouds instead, large and stormy, threatening to cover the sparkling diamonds.

"These few more minutes are priceless to a prisoner like me, what are they to a King and Queen who seem to arrive even later than I do?" Eleanor laughed, but the words left the wind bitter.

"You know what they are to them," Andrea reasoned. She knew Eleanor had a point, after all, she had been neglected all her life. Always becoming what her parents needed her to be. First, a delicate flower, to sit still as her sister took the throne, and now, a tool, to marry off in exchange for an alliance. "They are your parents, after all."

"Parents," the princess repeated. The word sounded foreign in her mouth, much like the hold Alexander had on her waist during the ball. Eleanor released a heavy breath, remembering every moment she had spent with her 'parents'. Each time, every single one, she had addressed them as the King and Queen.

"I suppose I shall fulfil my duties to the King and Queen for tonight," Eleanor said more to herself than Andrea, stepping away from the cold touch of the balcony railing. Her shoulders shuddered under the surprising touch of Andrea's warm hands, as they gave her a squeeze, before sending Eleanor off to the dining room.

Alexander adjusted his collar one last time, the off-white shirt shining against him. His mind wandered, remembering how his skin never seemed to stop tanning, whether it was while training soldiers or from his time on the battlefield. He wore a dark blue suit on top of the t-shirt, with a matching tie. It was everything he was not. The royal blue, the elegant silk, the soft fabric of the shirt.

The full-length mirror stared back at him, with a frame of gold. His bed, too many steps away from him, was painted gold as well, with linen that rivalled the smoothness of a baby's skin, and pillows that resembled the fluffiness of a thousand rose petals. Everything in his residence reeked of extravagance. He found it funny how Elcore and Pylone had always been on bad terms when they both were exactly the same. It was as if Alexander had never left Elcore at all.

A loud knock startled him out of his thoughts. The door too, was obnoxiously large and had gold details covering it, symbols that may have held importance to the people of Pylone.

"Your highness, it is time," a guard bowed as Alexander opened the door. The similarities were endless. "I shall be escorting you to the dining room."

Between the chattering of Andrea and her own thoughts, Eleanor had arrived at her destination sooner than she would've liked. She noticed Alexander walking towards her, accompanied by a guard. The dining room was a place she had only been inside a few times. Mostly as a child, but on some rare occasions, when the castle took in a guest. Two giant doors separated the room from the castle halls, with a pointed arch etched into the golden oak doors. Two guards stood at the entrance, each next to a door, waiting for the King and Queen to arrive. The dining room was only for special occasions.

"Sister," Eleanor jumped at the greeting. "Selene," she smiled. Both sisters could tell it was a phoney. Selene was a few years older than Eleanor, with similar light brown locks that reached her waist, and brown eyes that had a hint of green if one bothered to look closely enough. Although no one could, with one of the best royal guards the kingdom had to offer at her side. Not only was he there to train the crown princess to take the throne, but also protect her. No one could touch her.