Arc 1 - Marie the Lonely - My Happiness is Drifting

Three whole days have passed, after the small excursion between the third princess and Eleanora. The woman was still chained to the wall, gradually rotting away, she was only allowed to drink water and was not offered any food. She was dying slowly, it wasn't pleasant, nor happy, it was freezing, sorrowful, and isolated.

Eleanora didn't know what to do anymore...Her life was always filled with misfortune after she married the Emperor, her father died, her friends betrayed her, and her sister is killed. "I-I was such a fool..." She spoke as her throat became tight, she could feel sadness enveloping her body, taking over, almost devouring every bit of her that was left in her deep empty soul.

The will to go on was decaying rapidly, she gritted her teeth while her tears were flowing heavily. Eleanora fought against the shackles roughly, memories of her tied to that noose berated her as she continued to struggle.

CLANK! CLANK!

"Please...! Please!" Her voice came out like a whistle in the wind, barely a sound could be detected. Eleanora cried, and cried desperate for someone to take her, she was a fool to think dying again was easy, it was as horrible than her last death. This was listless, gruesome, and desolate...at least in her final moments, she could see the Emperor still filled with bits of love in his eyes.

Eleanora stopped rassling against the shackles, out of breath her hair stuck to her forehead while she leaned back against the wall, she was tired and beaten, the strength of fear had seized any thoughts of hope, but the thing that echoed throughout her ruined heart was,-

"I need...I need to help his children" She pleaded, her vision soon started to fade, without food she had no energy, but give or take in 10 days, maybe seven she would die.

"Eleanora!"

[Huh? Marie? Am I hearing things now?"]

Eleanora tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't even keep them open, not even a little bit

"Eleanora!"

["I'm sorry...I'm just so tired.."]

Marie stood there nervously as she looked at the sight in front of her, unsure what to do. Marie had been working her butt off for the past three days trying to figure out where her friend might be, and here she was dying slowly...Marie was on the verge of tears, but she had to be strong to be able to help! The little girl didn't have a plan yet, she needed to make sure that Eleanora was safe out of fear after Elise sent her away, so she rushed without any backup strategy.

"Eleanora..." She reached towards the cell bar, it was cold and wet...she was sure Eleanora was very cold, all the clothing she had was simply a lilac silk dress that reached her knees. Marie stared hopelessly. "Think! think!" She removed her hand and gripped her head falling to her knees. "I'm only five..I don't know what to do"

Marie's hands had a handful of hair as she brazed her scalp from the tightness of pulling, she realized she couldn't think of anything, nothing at all. The grip on her hair loosened, leaving it messy and ruffled her hands indolently fell to her side, the back of her hands touched the cold grimy floor. Marie's eyes fell upon Eleanora, helplessly she stared at her pale skin. "If only I meant more..I'm useless to everyone..even to the first person who's ever cared for me.."

"There she is!!!" The guards shouted loudly rushing down the hall, the sound of their large metal boots echoed throughout the prison. Marie's eyes widened she picked up her little peach dress lifting it so she could sprint faster, "Eleanora I will come back for you! I promise!" Marie stared for a little longer as the guards were getting closer, she finally started running down the long dim hall as the guards followed.

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Marie was out of breath, running from two grown men wasn't an easy task, especially in a puffy dress. The five-year-old leaned against the white stone wall, she seemed to be on the South Side of the palace, unfortunately, she doesn't know who resides here.

Her white flats were dirty now, the prison floors were so filthy...Marie looked at her dress "Aww..this was the one father gave me" She was sad for a short moment, but then the feeling drifted away at the thought of Eleanora stuck in the prison. "I need to find a way to help.." Marie's salmon hair was very sloppy, and her light blue eyes looked weary.

Marie looked around her, it seemed to be the large garden area, flowers, and cherry blossom trees bloomed beautifully. Her soft shoes took light steps as she made her way towards the grass also taking the view into account. Marie looked around her and finally, her eyes landed on a tall man who happened to be her father standing at one of the trees patting the wood gently. "What is he doing?"

The young princess was hesitant to speak to her father, she never found a way to impress him, unlike her other siblings. Marie's eyes held a look of melancholy as she gazed at her father, then the little lady turned around hoping he wouldn't notice her leave, she couldn't confide in him anyway, he wouldn't care...

"Marie-Paule!"

She stopped frightened at the sound of his strong voice, Marie turned around gradually revealing how a mess she looked. Eugene stared from afar seeing how disheveled his youngest daughter appeared. Marie right now had no choice but to confront her father.

She walked towards the field of cherry blossom trees, the wind blew and petals began to detach from the tree, one landed on top of her messy hair. She finally reached her father, and she curtsied not looking him in his eyes,

"Hello, Your Majesty.."

Eugene had a confused expression, he had never seen his youngest so unlively and not excited to see him. "Why are you so dirty? What happened?" Marie clenched her dress "I got lost..." Eugene felt disheartened by the expressionless look on her face, he lowered himself to his knees and softly lifted his daughter's chin so she could look in his eyes "What's the matter?" He removed his hand and continue to stare.

Marie wanted to jump into her fathers' arms, hugging him close, but instead, she started to cry falling onto the grass. She couldn't hold it in anymore, she was afraid of every little thing she did not knowing who would love her, she was unsure, and her mother discarded her feelings and only wanted her to be good, so her father could approve.

And here she was, crying on her knees, in front of the heartless king

He wouldn't love her now

And she wouldn't be able to help Eleanora

Eugene stared blankly at the crying girl

*Eugene exe. has stopped working* (◎_◎;)

Internally he was panicking, his children had never cried in front of him before, so he was unsure of how to interact with the child. He had never paid her too much attention ever since she was born because her mother was so ruthless he never had the thought to entertain this accident of his. Though, he was always enjoying her coming by until she stopped a couple of months ago.

Eugene picked up the girl and she stopped crying

["What is he doing?"] (;﹏;) Marie sniffed looking at him confused as tears continued to roll down her face

["This worked?!"] (゜。゜) Eugene thought to himself looking at the little one in front of him ["She's still crying though..."]

Eugene placed the girl against his chest and started to pat her back a little too rough "It's okay...tell me..what's wrong?"

Marie winced at the rough patting, but she felt a sudden rush of happiness "F-Father, you're patting my back too hard" (⺣◡⺣)

Eugene stopped like a robot, and continued the patting in a softer motion, "Now tell me, daughter, what's wrong?" Marie started to giggle and she snuggled into her dad's chest, the emperor felt accomplished as he learned something new "Father, today I am sad because my friend was taken from me..."

Eugene felt a sudden urge of protectiveness flood over him, he pulled Marie away to look her in the eyes "Tell me, who has taken this friend?" Marie had relief rush over her "Elise had locked up my friend on accident, she didn't mean it! She just thought my friend might've hurt me.." Eugene narrowed his eyes "Are you sure? Your sister's judgments are usually right.."

["Not really father, there only right when she wants something for herself.."] Marie thought to herself and she nodded "Yes, I really need to help her!"

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(Edited) I removed the part about her having a brother because I wasn't sure if I wanted her to have one or not

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