Chapter 4 Three
ELEANOR’S POV
Later that night, I sat alone in my room, staring blankly at the wall. I wasn’t even thinking anymore.
My mind felt numb.
Maria’s words kept replaying in my head over and over again.
I hate you.
The worst part was that I couldn’t even blame her.
A soft knock suddenly sounded at my door..I quickly wiped my face.
“Come in,” I muttered hoarsely.
The door creaked open slowly, and Mother stepped inside..The moment I saw her face, guilt twisted painfully in my chest.
She looked exhausted. Like she had aged ten years in one day.
Without saying anything, she walked toward me and sat carefully beside me on the bed. Her fingers reached for my hand gently.
“Eleanor, I…”
“Don’t,” I cut in immediately, pulling my hand away.
My voice cracked slightly.
“Please don’t come here and tell me this is all for the greater good because I’m tired of hearing it.”
Mother’s shoulders fell weakly.
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Really? Because that seems to be everyone’s excuse lately.”
Her eyes glistened with tears she was clearly trying hard not to shed.
“I came because I know you’re hurting.”
“No, you don’t.”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Mother went quiet.
I stood from the bed abruptly and wrapped my arms around myself.
“You don’t know what this feels like,” I whispered shakily. “You’re not the one losing your sister.”
The moment I said it, pain flashed across Mother’s face.
“She’s my daughter too, Eleanor.”.Her voice trembled.
That immediately made guilt stab through me. Mother slowly stood and walked toward me.
“And Maria doesn’t hate you,” she continued softly. “She’s frightened. Angry. But not hateful.”
I looked away quickly. Because honestly…I wanted to believe that so badly. But Maria’s face earlier….The hatred in her eyes had looked real. Too real.
“Why does it have to be her?” I whispered brokenly. “Why does anybody have to go?”
Mother inhaled shakily before answering.
“Because sometimes kingdoms survive through sacrifices.”
I turned toward her sharply.
“That’s cruel.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t!” I snapped emotionally. “She’s not some offering! She’s my sister!”
“And she’s my child!” Mother cried suddenly.
The pain in her voice shocked me into silence. Tears finally slipped down her cheeks now.
“You think this is easy for me?” she whispered. “You think I haven’t spent all day praying for another solution?”.Her lips trembled badly. “But there isn’t one.”
The room fell silent except for our uneven breathing.
“If we refuse King Argus…” Mother continued weakly, “he will destroy this kingdom.”
I swallowed hard.
“I don’t care about the kingdom,” I whispered honestly.
Mother looked at me sadly.
“I just want Maria safe.” I added.
At that, Mother pulled me gently into her arms. And somehow…That was what finally broke me.
I started crying all over again.
Mother held me tightly while softly stroking my hair the same way she used to when I was little.
“I know, my love,” she whispered painfully. “I know.”
I clutched her tighter.
For the first time since yesterday, I allowed myself to cry freely. Not as a princess. Not as the king’s daughter. Just as a terrified sister.
Eventually, Mother pulled away slightly and cupped my face.
“You’re stronger than you realize, Eleanor,” she said softly. “And no matter what happens… we’ll survive it together.”
I nodded weakly.
But honestly?
I wasn’t sure anymore.
After she left the room, silence returned once again.
I sat there for a long time staring at nothing.
And strangely enough…I realized I wasn’t angry at Maria anymore. Not even a little.
If our positions had been reversed, maybe I would’ve said worse things too. Fear changes people. And Maria was terrified.
I closed my eyes slowly..No matter what happened…I had to fix this somehow.
I didn’t know how yet. But I would.
Even if it meant going against everything this kingdom believed in.
—------------
Sleep never truly came.
Every time I drifted off, the voices returned like a haunting shadow, calling from somewhere beyond my dreams. But one name kept separating itself from the others. Like a plea drifting through darkness.
"Eudora..."
A chill crawled down my spine.
Suddenly, I found myself standing in a place I had never seen before. A vast white landscape stretched endlessly before me.
Everything felt blurred.
And there, standing in the distance, was a man.
Tall. Motionless. Dressed in white shilouette.
His back faced me, so I couldn't see his face. Yet somehow, I knew he was watching me.
A sense of familiarity watched over me, as though I had known him once.
I took a step closer to him, but then the voice whispered again–This time closer from behind me.
"Eudora..."
I turned in a haste, but nobody was there. Slowly darkness began to cover up and the man from before was nowhere to be seen.
—-------
Morning came far too quickly.
I groaned and buried my face deeper into my pillow. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept so poorly.
The dreams lingered even now.
The voice. The man. The name.
Eudora.
Who was Eudora?
And why did hearing it feel like remembering something I had never lived?
Before I could think about it further, I felt gentle fingers brushing hair away from my face.
My eyes snapped open.
“Maria?”
She sat beside me quietly, looking nervous. For a second, neither of us spoke. The tension between us felt fragile.
Then finally….
“Spare…” she whispered.
My chest tightened instantly at the nickname.
“I’m sorry.” Her eyes immediately filled with tears. “I’m really sorry for everything I said last night,” she continued shakily. “I didn’t mean any of it.”
I sat up slowly.
“Maria….”
“No, let me finish,” she said quickly. “I was angry and scared and I took it out on you. But I don’t hate you, Eleanor. I swear I don’t.”
My eyes burned immediately.
“You sounded like you did.”
“I know,” she cried softly. “And I hate myself for it.”
That was enough for me. I immediately pulled her into a tight hug.
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
And just like that, she broke down crying against me.
“I was horrible to you,” she sobbed.
“I forgive you.”
“I’m scared, Spare…”
The fear in her voice nearly shattered my heart.
I held her tighter.
“You’re not going to marry Argus.”
She pulled back slightly to stare at me.
“What?”
“You heard me,” I said firmly.
Her brows furrowed.
“You want to take my place?”
“No.” I shook my head immediately. “Neither of us is going.”
Hope flickered weakly in her eyes.
“But Father already decided..”
“I don’t care,” I interrupted stubbornly. “I’ll figure something out.”
Truthfully, I had absolutely no plan. But I couldn’t just sit around waiting for my sister to be handed over to some vampire king.
“You promise?” she whispered quietly.
I hesitated for only a second before nodding.
“I promise.”
And somehow, seeing her smile again made the lie worth it.
A few moments later, she suddenly grinned mischievously.
“Want to go shopping today?”
I blinked. Then laughed softly for the first time in what felt like forever.
“Yes.”
Maria gasped dramatically.
“There’s my Spare!”
I rolled my eyes while climbing out of bed.
“I’m serious though. We should go out today.”
And honestly? Maybe we both needed it.
“Let me get dressed first,” she said cheerfully while heading toward the door.
“I’ll wait downstairs.”
The moment she left, I quickly rushed into the bathroom.
Warm water poured down my skin as I tried washing away the exhaustion clinging to me.
Afterward, I slipped into a pink gown that stopped just above my knees before heading downstairs.
Mother was already in the kitchen.
The moment she saw me, relief crossed her face.
“Good morning, princess.”
“Morning, Mom.”
She studied my face carefully.
“You seem better today.”
“A little.”
That wasn’t entirely true. But at least Maria was speaking to me again. And right now, that was enough.
“So where are you headed?” Mother asked.
“Maria and I are going shopping,” I replied. “Then afterward, I’ll stop by Jackson’s place. I promised to see him today.”
At the mention of Jackson, Mother smiled faintly.
Jackson was my fiancé. Or at least…He was supposed to be.
“Alright then,” Mother said softly. “Give him my regards.”
“I will.”
“And don’t stay out too late.”
I smiled weakly.
“Yes, Mom.”
