The land of Bveria; a land filled with beautiful landscapes, clear waters, and huge slabs of ivory marble planted amongst the healthy vegetation. An alluring land where everything seemed perfect; suggest that there is a crack of imperfection. This is where Bverian castle rests and where royalty resides. The kingdom itself however, is where the flaws and immense amount of disbelief lie. The missing prince caused a stir in the castle and no one knew where to start. The princess of this castle; Ellanora Avourel, had an immense burden placed upon her. Her father, who was the king of Bveria, had fallen ill and passed away some time ago. Her mother, the queen of Bveria, was struck with some sort of illness soon after her husband’s passing which made her weak and unable to move. This left Ellanora to run all of Bveria at a young age with some help from the elected viscount and her soon to be wedded husband; Aluderon Vestiage.
Ellanora was considered the embodiment of beauty, from her fair skin that was free of any sort of blemishes, Her powdery white hair and crystal blue eyes that seemed to twinkle in the sunlight. Her slender figure and her presentation surely made her the talk of the castle, both for her beauty and peculiar way of thinking. She was considered quirky and someone who was too sincere for a lot of the royalists. What was more peculiar to many was how her marriage seemed non-existent and passion-less. Together on the throne they were like two strangers and consistently never agreed on any matter.
Ellanora awoke in her vast bed alone like every morning, could be found buried in silk sheets and a handmade blanket her mother gifted her as a child. Ellanora always awoke when the sun was peering slightly over the mountains. She prepared herself in her usual manner; stripping out of her sleep robes and soaked in a luxurious tub filled with boiling rose water prepared by an elderly elven maid who stood attentively in the room. The bulb of the roses floated around her and in a child-like manner, she would fling them about the tub. Water droplets from her flinging the roses trickled onto the floor and the maid who was with her began to clean the droplets with a rag in her apron.
“Princess Ellanora, why do you insist on making my duties so much harder?” the maid said jokingly, bending down to clean the marbled floor.
“I apologize ma’am, this is just one childish trait I cannot seem to be rid of. I always pretended the rose buds were ships in the sea and I was the horrible creature that destroyed them.”
The maid paused for a moment and looked up at the princess like she spouted some crazy speech. The princess chuckled slightly, blushing at admitting what she did. The maid shook her head and continued to wipe down the spurts of water. After a few moments, the princess decided to cut the awkward air and discuss more important matters.
“Ma’am, what is the agenda today? The usual search for my infant brother and discussing how the commoners need to pay an up-charge for us to make even more useless coin?”
The maid finished cleaning the floor and prepared a fresh towel for the princess to dry herself with.
“Princess Ellanora, you seem to forget you also have to wake up your husband so you can begin splitting up your duties for today.”
Ellanora sank her body slightly deeper into the tub, as if to hide from the maid. The maid chuckled slightly at the Princess’s clear annoyance for her marital duty.
“He is not my husband, he just has a title because he needed one. God, I would rather stare at a boar’s ass than deal with-”
“Princess! You cannot speak in such a barbaric tone! It’s unbecoming of a lady!” The maid said as if she were Ellanora’s stern grandmother wagging her wrinkled finger.
“I do excuse myself ma’am, but we just have nothing in common. He is someone who will never truly care about my wants or needs…he only values himself.”
The maiden guides Ellanora out of the bath and hands her a towel. She then guides the princess back to her bedroom where her bed has been freshly made by other maids scattered throughout the castle. The older maid began to pick a blue dress that was handcrafted by their seamstress who used only the finest fabrics to craft dresses for the princess. Ellanora began to put her corset on her slender figure and the maid began to tighten the strings to tie them into knots. The maid helped Ellanora slip into her dress and began to tie the opening of the dress into bows.
“I know this is tough on you princess, but we have to do things we don’t like sometimes in order to keep order and peace in our lives, ya know?”
Ellanora pondered this for a moment and a frown of disbelief formed on her face.
“I know I have to lead for my mother and father’s sake now more than ever, but sometimes I wish I could bend the rules a bit and change traditional ways. Besides, I know my supposed husband is parading himself around other women in the class.”
Once fully clothed, the princess placed the headdress on her head which was just a silver chain with a blue crystal that rested on her forehead. She slipped into some shimmery silver shoes and made her way to the door. She was stopped by her maid who seemed to open her arms wide for an embrace. Ellanora obliged and bent down to hug the maid who had cared for her since she was a child.
“I have watched you grow into a powerful, mature and highly intelligent woman, princess. I know you have endured a lot of burden in your life. I hope someday, you do get the happiness you deserve and live the life you want. Even if you can’t at this moment.”
Elanora smiled gently at the maid and she opened the door to embrace her day. She closed the door behind her and she began down the hallway. Her shoes made the echo, it was quite lonely to walk down the marble floor to go wake her husband. Ellanora loathed doing this task, she hated having breakfast with such a pompous man who made her feel less then and treated like she could easily be tossed aside. She knew Aluderon was older than her, but not by much. Aluderon was at the end of the long strip of hallway and before she knocked on his bedroom door; she heard unfamiliar moans. Ellanora heard Aluderon, but she was unsure if he was injured or if someone broke into the castle. What should she do? Should she barge in or should she just let him suffer a miserable death? The princess could pretend she never heard anything and could carry along with her day. She would act foolish if someone asked what happened to Aluderon and could finally feel like she was a future queen without someone calling a majority of the shots. As much as she wished she could do something like that, Ellarnora would not be able to live in good conscience if she allowed such a thing to happen. Elanora burst through the door, heart pounding out of her chest.
“Sir Aluderon, are yo-”
Ellanora quickly turned scarlet at the sight before her. The sight of Aluderon’s behind thrusting into a young elven maiden who was bare of clothing and her heavy bust was exposed. The elven maiden seemed flushed at the sight of the princess and in turn, the princess felt the same and averted her gaze.
“Aluderon the princess is he-”
With one more final thrust, Aluderon released a sigh of relief. The elven maiden also squealed in delight. Ellanora, still looking away at the sight presented to her, was unsure how to confront this. She spoke in a quivering voice to inform Aluderon they needed to begin their day.
“Sir Aluderon…we…we need to eat breakfast. I came to wake you…”
Aluderon left his bed and grabbed his clothing that was thrown in every direction. He didn’t seem ashamed of his deed, it was almost as though he wanted the princess to see. Aluderon covered himself with some of his articles of clothing as he approached the princess.
“I will be down in a few moments.” Aluderon said in a chilling low tone. Elanora hated that she thought he was handsome with his chiseled features and his deep tone of voice. He was like a tall impenetrable force.
He closed the door in the princesses face and she just felt like a fool. Did he even care that the princess saw what he was doing? Why does he have to be so unbearable? The princess slowly slinked down to the dining hall for her morning feast. Elanora already felt defeated and it was only morning.
She slumped into her chair and awaited her meal to be served to her. The dining hall was always empty to her and lonesome. To one’s eye, it was perfect, spotless and filled with expensive paintings of family portraits. To Elanora, it was a room she grew to dread and made her very skin crawl. The room was filled with nothingness and bitter air; the dining hall never felt the same after her parents fell ill. Elanora was snapped out of her trance when a young elven child served her breakfast at the far end of the table. What was served before the princess was warm sourdough bread, a few slices of cheese, some cured meats along with some sweet red and blue berries from the garden.
“Thank you little one, the viscount will be down soon for his breakfast.” the young child nodded at the princess and went to prepare the viscount’s breakfast. Ellanora stared at the plate, the aroma of freshly made bread served with and the savory scents of the cured meats would tempt most to gorge themselves; not the princess. Instead she found herself nibbling on the cheese slices and having a few pinches of berries. She gazed at her plate, wondering when she could just barricade herself back into her room or possibly venture into the castle’s library to get lost in a book. Suddenly without even realizing it, the viscount arrived and sat at the far end of the table.
“Good morning princess.” Aluderon said in his usual low tone.
The princess couldn’t help, but roll her eyes at his casual tone.
“Some of us had a grand start to the morning I see.” The princess said with some sting in her voice.
Aluderon simply chuckled at her comment and made a crude comment in return.
“You know, if we shared a bed together like we were supposed to, I would start your mornings with some delight too.”
The young maid served the viscount his plate of the same things the princess was served. Aluderon thanked the child and began to enjoy his breakfast. He placed his cheese slices onto the bread and slowly chewed on his food before going on about the agenda for their day today.
“We have been summoned by the elven council about your baby brother and other matters.”
Aluderon then began to cut into his cured meats delicately and began munching on that as well before speaking further.
“Then we both have to prepare the castle for other meetings this week in regards to land profits and possible other dangers that may approach us. We always have to be heavily guarded in case war breaks out.”
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Ellanora continued to nibble on her fruit and cheese; ignoring whatever else the viscount was saying. She dreaded these elven council meetings. They used to not be as frequent, but because of her brother’s kidnapping, they were every other day. She almost envied her brother in a sick twist of fate. Her brother was free from responsibility and she hoped for his sake, he was at least being cared for by the kidnappers. She glanced out the window, hoping her brother was at least safe.
“Princess it’s time we depart to the meeting chambers.” Ellanora had forgotten how quickly Aluderon eats in the morning; he certainly does build up an appetite after his morning routines.
Elanora pushed in her chair delicately and followed behind the viscount, on their way out she thanked the maid who had prepared the food and they were off. They stood side by side as if they were strangers despite knowing one another for some time. She didn’t know him as well as she should and neither did he. Ellanora always wondered if she would be stuck with the viscount forever or just like in those silly fairy tales if a prince would rescue her from her own castle.
“Princess Ellanora, we both need to at least play this charade that we are happy to be with one another.”
She regrettably leaned in closer to him as they approached the meeting hall. As Aluderon pushed open the heavy marble doors with Ellanora close to him, they were met by four very withered faces. These elven council members were either hunched over or had enough wrinkles to look like walking corpses. These councilmen were around and younger when Ellanora’s father; the king, was in charge. They were once well revered as strong warriors who soon became the king’s trusted and loyal council. Aluderon and Ellanora climbed some steps to sit on their luxurious gold plated thrones to listen to what would be presented. Aluderon kissed Ellanora’s dainty hand and she shuddered with disgust. She smiled back at the viscount to put on the illusion they were happily in love, but deep down, Ellanora wanted to gag at the mere gesture. She noted she may have to scrub her hand later to rid the very thought of him doing this.
“Gentlemen of the council, why do we meet today? Any leads on the one who infiltrated our very castle?” Aluderon announced in a booming voice for all to hear.
“Councilmen Balfaren here to say, our elven knights have not found a single lead on the young prince. They shall continue to search.” said one of the hunched over councilmen.
“Councilmen Qinnan here to say the same as Balfaren, we have no leads as well.” said the wrinkly withered councilmen.
“Councilman Peltalmin is here to say the same as my other two councilmen comrades. No further leads have been spotted.” said yet another wrinkly droopy face.
Aluderon then surprised Ellanora a bit by slamming his fist into his gold plated chair. His face formed into the look of a beast and his fair skinned face was that of the red berries they had for breakfast.
“Can anyone tell me they have some sort of lead on anything!?”
One of the councilmen spoke up and informed both the viscount and the princess of some news.
“Councilman Roqen here and I do have some sort of lead which is why I called for this meeting.”
“Well out with it!” Aluderon said with a hint of impatience.
“My men have reported that they have spotted the massacre of a small village in Asteria where a clan of dwarves resided. They said that flames have turned everything to ash. However, they noted some hilltop homes in that village. One dwarf who was on his last leg stated, a curse spread to their land. That curse was an elven baby that was carried off by some other dwarves who vanished on a flying Ragan when the flames began.”
Silence befell the room and no one knew how to speak about this matter. Elanora suddenly stood out of her chair and decided to stand her ground.
“Then we must pursue the dwarves right? Maybe there’s hope and if they didn’t harm my baby brother, they must be friendly!”
Aluderon chuckled at the princess’s sentence.
“My dear princess, they escaped on a Ragan. Ragan’s can only be tamed by the people of Csteria. Which means, those dwarves have dangerous allies.”
“But, what if the people of Csteria can be reasoned with. We ju-”
Aluderon waved his hand as if gesturing to the princess to stop.
“Excuse the princess gentlemen. She barely had breakfast today, which means she is not thinking clearly.”
The councilmen chuckled amongst themselves and Aluderon leaned in close to Ellanora’s ear. He whispered an undermining comment that quickly angered the princess.
“For your sake, please do not spout such nonsense in front of the councilmen. It makes you look like a complete donkey’s ass.”
The princess merely nodded and without any further argument, just collapsed into her chair.
“Councilmen, I say we send out our strongest warriors on horseback before sunset today and find these savages who have stolen the prince. I think the princess and I agree that this matter cannot be waited on.”
The councilmen muttered amongst themselves in agreement. The princess was still upset by what Aluderon said to her. This wasn’t the first time he belittled her, but this comment in particular made her truly question her intellect. When he did mock her, it was usually in regards to them not having relations and how foolish she was to resist his advances. This just happened to take it one step a bit too far for Ellanora’s liking. One of the councilmen spoke up and agreed to Aluderon’s terms.
“I, Roqen, speak for all the councilmen when I say, we agree with your terms viscount. We shall rally the men and have them leave before sun down.”
With that, the four wrinkly men waddled out of the meeting room and once their footsteps had grown faint, Ellanora violently stomped down the steps to leave Aluderon. The princess did not try to hide her anger this time as she was leaving Aluderon.
“What princess? Did I upset you?” Aluderon stated with a hint of humor in his voice.
“No actually. I just realized I have an important matter to attend to. You should probably go back and attend to your other matter as well.”
“Oh yeah and what is that princess?”
“That whore maid you had in your bedroom this morning. She did not seem satisfied when I left.”
Aluderon hissed in rage at the princess’s comment.
“What was that girl? You better watch your tone around me. I wouldn’t have to be with these whores if you just did your wifely duty to please me.”
“I’m sorry Aluderon, I didn’t think you quite enjoyed donkey’s ass.”
Ellanora left on that snappy comment and heard Aluderon mumbling some threat under his breath. It felt good that she was able to talk back to someone who she was supposed to hold in high regard. Ellanora felt, differently than usual today, a sort of confidence had taken over. After all, if she could deal with that lustful fool; she could soon deal with another lot. Elanora began to explore the wing of the castle that was considered the infirmary. There was where her mother lay ill most days.
Ellanora was met with a room full of maids who were doing various things for her mother; some were cleaning her clothing, others running in and out with hot drinks and soups. Some of them just stayed by her mother’s to ensure she was still breathing.
“How is mother today?”
One of the elven care takers looked at the princess with concern, but knew she had to inform the princess of her mother’s condition.
“Your mother is stricken with this persistent illness. She coughed up some blood last night before bed, we are just hoping she had a better day today.”
A weak and small voice spoke suddenly.
“Ella-...”
Then the weakened voice began coughing and wheezing even. Ellanora rushed over to meet her mother at her bedside. The queen, once the land’s most beautiful maiden of all, had deep hollow circles under her eyes and her fair skin now jaundiced-looking. Ellanora couldn’t help, but get teary eyed when she saw her mother because she couldn’t help remembering her mother for who she originally was.
“Ellanora…you always weep when you see your mother. I am not that ghastly yet am I?”
Ellanora smiled for her mother, tears dripping down her cheeks. With everything happening these past few miserable years, Ellanora couldn’t help weeping. She lost so many of her family members starting with her dad, then her mother falling ill, and now her baby brother. She began to ponder if she was destined to be miserable.
“Mother, I have come to tell you that they may have a lead on Elliard.”
Ellanora witnessed her mother smile, but this was a genuine smile. This is something her mother has not done for a long time. She soon had tears streaming from her eyes as well. Ellanora embraced her mother very abruptly. Her mother mustered up what little strength she had to hold her daughter in her arms.
“Isn’t this wonderful mother? We can maybe be a family once again!”
Ellanora’s hope’s soon disappeared when her mother began to violently cough. She loosened her embrace on her mother and laid her back down in the bed in a comfortable position. Red liquid was splattered all over Ellanora’s dress and noticed blood pooling from her mother’s mouth. The maids began to rush to the queen’s aid and seemed to rush Ellanora out. Before Ellanora could turn around, the marbled door was slammed behind the princess. She didn’t even get to talk about this exciting news with her mother any further. Ellanora desperately wanted her family together again, but she knew given the hand she was dealt, this would not happen anytime soon. Ellanora slowly backed into the wooden door that she was kicked out of and the weight of her despair slowly guided her body down onto the cold floor. Ellanora folded her arms into her knees and began to sob quietly into a fetal position. Ellanora felt trapped, lost and worst of all; alone.
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Aluderon was back in his bedroom with the same elven maid as before. His motion was faster than before, he thrusted into the maid with spite. The maid did notice a change in his pace from before, but she did not mind this. She moaned in his ear for more and purposely let her hot breath sting his neck. He gripped the maid’s slender waist and watched her body squirm for more. Aluderon watched as her facial expression hinted that she was almost finished, which made him bite his lower lip at this power he had. Aluderon tilted his head back a bit, knowing he was nearing his climax as well. The maid began to quiver and he couldn’t handle it any longer. They both moaned in unison and with this, he released into the maid. Both of them were breathing heavily and with this Aluderon removed his member from her.
Aluderon began to put his clothes on in a slow manner and the maid remained bare on his bed. The maid was still soaking in the moment of what she and Aluderon had done together. Once buttoned, Aluderon went to his dresser. In this dresser were various potion bottles and a bottle of fine wine crafted right in the castle to Aluderon’s liking. Aluderon however, was brewing a plot since the princes kidnapping that no one was aware of. The excitement he felt for this plan was something he could contain no longer and concocted a quick nasty scheme. He took out the wine and poured a small amount of one of the potions he had into it.
The maid unaware of this, Aluderon walked over with the bottle in hand and offered it to the maid. The maid willingly drank the bottle without any glasses being offered to her.
“You know Aluderon, we can’t be meeting like this. When are you going to off that daft princess already.” the maid seductively to Aluderon.
“Well, I do have a plan for that.” Aluderon said casually.
“What’s your plan if you don’t mind me asking sir?”
Aluderon chuckled and looked at the maid with his daring blue eyes. Aluderon’s eyes were unlike the princess’s kind and sparkling eyes. Aluderon’s eyes had a sense of a bitter cold harshness that could pierce one’s soul.
“Well, I’m going to off her mother. I am going to poison that dying wench and get her out of the picture for good. Then I will have to be elected king. Then that “daft princess” will soon be my real bride, who will have no choice, but to give me an heir. Working with her dense father, bragging about peace and forming treaties with other lands. Elves must be kept to a higher degree of standard. Those savages out in the world can all perish for all I care.”
The maid was confused by a particular statement Aluderon made.
“You plan on marrying that scag of a princess, when I give you everything you want? What about me and my daughter? You promised us a better life!”
With this statement, the maid began to feel a warm sensation from her throat to her stomach. She soon began to lose her breath and her body began to flail about. Her seizing body fell onto the hard marble floor and soon drool pooled out of her mouth. Aluderon soon walked over to the maid and watched her weakened state.
“You truly believed you were a part of my plans? If I am to become king of this land, I need to be rid of sinful temptations. Besides, you certainly satisfied my needs.”
The maid became limp and soon her breaths were no more. Aluderon quickly dressed her and placed her in a different part of his room. He placed the poison potion near her and placed the poisoned wine back in his dresser. Aluderon made sure he and his room was presentable by adjusting his hair and bed. He then made sure his door was left open to act as though he just walked into his room. Aluderon shifted his emotions rapidly and began to yell as loud as he could.
“OH NO! THIS CANNOT BE! MAIDS!!!”
Several elven maids rushed in and burst through the door to Aluderon’s room. They were shocked to see what had happened to their fallen friend.
“I don’t know what happened…I just walked back from the meeting room and found her this way. I am just in awe like you all are. Please…make sure a proper burial is arranged for her.”
The maids sadly all nodded their heads in silence and made sure to carry her body out of sight. As they left, Aluderon sneered with delight that his plan could soon come to fruition without any further distractions.