The Crimson Contract

Chapter 6

"Peculiar," Eleanor murmured to herself, holding up what she had found the night before. It was still the early hours of morning, the sun had yet to welcome its light into her room. After last night, the princess had hardly gotten time to think, when Alexander had thrust her into her room, leaving with a threat if she were found outside it again. That left her with the morning, as she lay above the plush mattress, to examine the brooch she had found. The candlelight didn't do it justice, the gold etched with intricate designs was covered by shadows cast by the moonlight outside. A small shiver passed through her body at the cold metal.

"Lord Philip De Chauvé," her voice floated into the cold air, lingering like a ghost as she shuffled under the sheets. The son of Viscount Claude de Chauvé. Eleanor remembered the man, thinning umber hair and a sharp voice. Most of all, she remembered the echo of his footsteps, quick and loud like her heartbeat when she first met him. His son had been a few years younger than her. If she remembered correctly, it would have been in a few months that the De Chauvé heir would inherit the Viscount title.

Eleanor sat up, frowning at the brooch in her hands. It didn't take too long for the cold to prickle her skin, invading the warmth she had gathered. She was almost too distracted to shiver. Almost.

"Why was this there?" Defeated by the cold, she hid the brooch back inside her bedside drawer, before curling up under the covers. It wasn't a lot, but it was a clue.

A grunt and glare welcomed her, when she approached Prince Alexander. The events of the previous night flashed in mind, her wrist remembering all too well the tight grip it had been caught in. Eleanor was lucky to escape without a bruise.

"Prince Alexander," she managed to smile at him. She couldn't afford another yelling match with the man, no matter how tempting the thought was. "I trust you've had a nice morning?"

"Princess Eleanor," he frowned back. His dark eyes seemed to only get darker, watching her the way a tiger would its prey. Skeptically, observing each and every move the princess made. In case she escaped again. "I did. Was there something you needed?"

"Yes, actually," she said. His gaze said all there was to say between them, but the brooch hidden in her hands would change things. It had to. "Would you like to accompany me on a walk?"

"Of course," Alexander seemed to change his approach, offering her an arm and a smug smile. "I can't deny my fiancé a walk."

"Wonderful," she smiled back, attempting to hide the disdain so clearly given away by her eyes. The hazelnut colour of her eyes glowed in the sunlight, as Eleanor let Alexander lead her to the grounds.

"I was also wondering if we could have a chat," she mumbled, glancing up at him. Her hand dropped to her side, as the two walked. The day was reminiscent of when she had first told Alexander about the murders. "About yesterday."

"I do suppose it would be too generous of me to expect an apology from you," Alexander rolled his eyes. "Or are we witnessing a miracle this morning?"

"No," she snapped, frowning at him. Every word that left his lips only seemed to aggravate her further. "This is not an apology. If you would only listen to me."

"I found something yesterday," Eleanor spoke before she had time to be interrupted. "A brooch. One that only Pylonian nobles have. Don't you see what this means?"

"And what, pray tell, does this mean?" Alexander narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with faux interest.

"That I was right. That these murders aren't just some act of rebellion from Elcore," her voice became softer, almost pleading with the prince to understand. "We have proof now. If we catch the person responsible, we could convince both our kingdoms that the peace treaty is meaningful."

"We could get out of this marriage," Eleanor added. She watched Alexander, her gaze fixated on his face. However handsome, his expressions were hard to understand, hidden underneath a cloudy haze. "We could bring justice to those poor victims, and we could finally make peace between our kingdoms."

"How naive are you going to be, Princess?" Alexander scolded back, refusing to see her reason. "Perhaps you haven't learnt your lesson. There are things someone like you shouldn't get involved in."

"But what about you?" She countered him, crossing her arms. "You were in charge of defense back at Elcore, were you not? Is this not the same? All I'm asking you to do is help me defend the innocent citizens of Pylone from whoever is causing this chaos."

"Please," Eleanor looked up at him, the winter air cold filling the inside of her lungs as she whispered her plea. "Prince Alexander. Just think on it."

"Even if we were to get involved," Alexander frowned, crossing his arms. "How do you plan to solve murders midst a wedding? You are a princess before a detective."

"Do not forget that." His knuckle tapped her forehead. "Your duty comes before your fixations."

"We can find time," Eleanor pleaded again, taking a step back at the contact between them. "We'll be forced to spend our time together anyway. We might as well use it for good."

"Besides, if we were to succeed, there would be no wedding," she added. Eleanor couldn't remember how many times she had mentioned that fact. Surely Alexander was as desperate to escape this wedding as she was. They were nothing more than strangers with an obligation, were they not?

Alexander watched Eleanor's stands of golden brown hair fluttering around from the wind, her hazel eyes resembling those of a fawn. It was uncanny how much she reminded him of his younger brother. The same pleading, naive little face, asking too much from him. "You can hardly guarantee that the wedding will be called off," he reminded her, a frown gracing his face. "But fine. I will consider it."

He wasn't sure why he had agreed to help her. Perhaps it was to finally put an end to all these arguments. Was this not the third time they had the same discussion? Going along with her plan seemed better than driving himself mad, going in circles.

"So, you say you found a brooch?"