章 22: Returning home
Cyrus did not even know what had happened. One second, they were reminiscing their childhood, and the next second, the king had invited himself to his house, expecting to have lunch and dinner at his place. Cyrus could only blink in confusion as he tried to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth. He had become speechless.
Alastair noticed his lack of response and his lips curled up slightly. Since the man had not protested yet, Alastair used his silence to his advantage. "I presume you are fine with my suggestion. In that case, we will visit your village after two days. I hope you will treat your guest well." That was all he said before he started walking again with a devilish smirk on his face.
Alastair had thought about it carefully before he had taken the decision of meeting the girl who had intrigued him in person. Though it seemed exciting to look at her from afar, it was not the idea he had in mind. He was more interested in getting the answers he needed rather than just seeing her. Although he could have visited the Bradford mansion directly without even having an invitation, he did not want to appear crude. He was a king and he had to behave like one. So, poor Cyrus had become his scapegoat for him to achieve his goal and he did not find anything to be wrong with. He was just self inviting himself to his house for lunch and dinner, nothing more.
Meanwhile, Cyrus did not even have any idea about the king's thoughts and he was jovial to have received such an offer. It was not every day that the king visited anybody's house, not as a friend especially. The king would only attend soirees or formal meetings only if he deemed it to be necessary. So, the king inviting himself to his house came as a pleasant surprise to Cyrus. And since it had already happened, who was he to reject it? He would be more than happy to have the king as his guest.
He immediately rushed to his home in the capital where his mother had come to meet him to inform her about the king's arrival. He also had to make sure to make everything perfect. Although Alastair was his friend, he was also the king. And it would seem rude to appear negligent in front of him.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Eleanor was gritting her teeth in anger the entire time she was traveling in the carriage. She had never felt this humiliated before. The royal family had not given her much face during her stay in the castle and now, even the servants were mocking her. She had seen their smiles while she leaving and misunderstood their respect towards her as their mockery. Now, how could an egoistic woman like her tolerate such dishonor? She had to do something and teach all the people who had annoyed her a lesson they would remember for life.
Also, there was another issue she had to deal with. Eleanor did not know how to face her father, now that their plans had been thwarted when she knew that her father must have accomplished his part of the plan already. He must have already spread the news about her living in the castle with the king and the potential possibility of she and Alastair becoming a couple in the future.
What would happen when the people found out that all that her father was a lie and there was nothing happening between her and Alastair? Not only her father even she would lose her face and there was no way she would allow something like that to occur. She was born to be a queen. That was what she had been told since her birth by everybody around her, especially her father. It had been engraved in her mind that the position beside the king was fixed for her and nobody else. So, how could she give up easily?
Eleanor was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even realize when they had reached her mansion. It was not until her personal maid called out to her did she come out of her reverie. Eleanor took a deep breath before she held her maid's hand for support while she got down. She had returned home without accomplishing their goals and now she had to face her father who might lash out at her for her incompetence. The one thing she hated the most was getting scolded by her father and the man could be harsh even to his own kids.
However, she could not evade him too, not when she had nowhere else to go. So, she took the first step towards her house only to witness her father and her brother hurrying towards her with an expression she could not fathom. She did not even have an opportunity to speak when her father held her hand and dragged her inside. All Eleanor could do was bear with the pain her father was exerting on her hands and allow him to drag her.
They reached the Duke's study soon and the man closed the door, not allowing anybody else to find out what might be happening inside. "Why are you here?" He questioned, his eyes dark and sinister. He had forgotten that the girl in front of him was his daughter with the way he was behaving. Not only Eleanor even her brother, Killian was scared of seeing their father this way.
"Father, I-I-," The girl stuttered visibly shaken by her father's frightening stance. She looked at her brother and pleaded with him through her eyes to help her and the sister loving brother came to her rescue.
"Father, Eleanor has just arrived. let her rest for some time. We can talk to her later once she feels refreshed." Killian tried to stop his father from questioning the poor girl at least for now. He could use the time to pacify his father and appease his anger till then. However, the old Duke was having nothing of it. He wanted answers and he wanted them right now.
"No. She is not leaving this room until she answers all my questions." By now the old Duke was completely taken over by anger and he did even realize what he was actually doing. "Tell me, what are you doing here?" He questioned her again and this time, there was a clear warning in his eyes. Eleanor had to answer him or else she would have to bear the consequences.
"I-I- I was asked to leave from the castle."
"By whom?" The Duke barked.
"By Alastair's mother, the old Queen."
"And why?"
"I don't know," Eleanor answered and tears started to form in her eyes. It was as though something snapped in the Duke's mind that his heart softened seeing his daughter cry. His eyes became gentle and he even went forward to hug his daughter only for the girl to retreat back by a few steps.
"Don't worry, my child. I am only going to hug you." The man said and this time Eleanor did not move, allowing the man to do as he pleased. The Duke patted her back, trying to soothe her and this went on for a long time. "Eleanor, return to your chambers and take some rest. We will speak again later."
By now Eleanor was too tired to argue with her father. So, she agreed with his suggestion and left the two men alone. Killian was angry seeing the agony in his beloved sister's eyes. He had never seen her this depressed and this made him want to kill someone and that someone being the queen. "What do we do now, Father? Our plans were ruined and even Eleanor seems to be depressed. We cannot let this matter go this easily."
"Who told you I will allow this matter to rest without taking revenge?"
"What do you mean, Father?"
"We will have to take care of Queen Daphne and if possible, even King Ragnor once and for all."
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