Chapter 15

Elenor could feel everyone's stare on her, it was anything but comfortable. Instead it was nauseating but she didn't dare show it, keeping a sweet smile on her face as she walked beside Lloyd.

"Just stay by my side the whole night." Lloyd whispered into her ear to prevent others from hearing.

She glanced at him, "Can I not?"

He chuckled, "Usually you would want to though."

Elenor rolled her eyes, "Not anymore your highness. I'm not in love with you."

"What a shame." he mumbled but had a grin on his face.

Elenor knew this was his new entertainment he liked. The whole time in the ball, she was beside Lloyd, smiling and speaking to other nobles when needed. She could feel many stares which felt more like knives on her back. She tried to leave his side but-

"The restroom? I'll wait for you outside."

"A drink? Let's go together, I want one as well."

"Eh? You want to leave? But we already have an agreement so you can't leave yet."

Elenor thought she had just lost ten years of her life because of that prince. In the end she continued to stay by his side like a statue.

"Milady, your smile." Elenor heard Alec whispering into her ear.

Turning to him, she replied back with a dead tone, "What's wrong with my smile?"

"It's getting crooked."

Fixing her smile, she look at Alec as if she was about to cry, "Alec this is torture I want to go home..!"

He shook his head, "His highness doesn't seem to want that."

Elenor puffed up her cheeks in annoyance, "This is frustrating."

"What is?" Lloyd asked, whispering to her other ear.

Shivers ran down her back when he did it. Covering her ear he had whispered in, she whipped her head back at him.

"Nothing. Your. Highness."

Lloyd smiled at her before taking hold of her hand. Before Elenor could protest, he brought her out to the balcony which was hidden away from the crowd. Without wasting a second, she heaved out a loud sigh and leaned against the balcony.

Her feet were sore and her facial muscles were probably broken by now. Looking out the balcony, She looked up at the stars twinkling under the bright moonlight. The wind blew gently against her skin.

'The stars here are prettier than my world...'

"What are you thinking of?" Elenor heard Lloyd's voice from behind.

Something rested upon her shoulders. Glancing at her shoulders, it was his blazer that he had wore to the ball. Elenor slipped out of it and handed it back.

"I don't need it." she bluntly said before turning her attention back to the stars.

"How harsh of you." Lloyd said with a small chuckle.

"Your highness, I hope you realise that I truly meant what I said."

Facing Lloyd this time, with a calm expression, Elenor added on, "I do not have any interest in you. I do not love you."

Lloyd nodded, "I know."

"So please stop this-"

Blinking a couple times, she stared at him- "Wait what?"

He nodded, stretching his arms before leaning against the balcony as well. "I know you don't."

She stared at him in disbelief before pinching her temples. "Then why are you doing this to me?"

Lloyd lifted himself off the ground and sat on the edge of the balcony, swinging his legs casually. Humming in a low tone, he responded, "Because your reactions are funny."

"You-.." Elenor nearly lashed out at him but quickly calmed herself.

'You are in front of the prince, the male lead. You are in front of the prince, the male lead.'

Repeating the same sentence over in her head, she relaxed her curled fists and sent him a smile.

With a hint of sarcasm under her tone, Elenor replied back, "Glad I can be of service to his highness."

Laughter slipped out of his lips before he covered his mouth. "Ahh you really are funny now."

She forced out a laugh, "That's good."

Elenor glanced to the back where Alec was standing at the entrance to the balcony, straight and still. He noticed her gaze and lightly nodded towards her. Elenor sent him back a smile before turning her attention back to Lloyd as he poked her cheek.

"Whoa your cheeks are soft." he commented, poking it again.

"Thanks?" she muttered, moving his finger away but he still kept poking her cheek. Elenor let him, tired of trying to stop him.

"Your highness, you can go back to the ball now."

He stopped poking her cheek, "What about you?"

"I'll be staying here for a while longer."

'The crowd and looks are suffocating.'

"Then I'll accompany you."

"No thanks." Elenor blurted out without a second thought.

He stared before bursting into laughter. Elenor awkwardly stood there, waiting for him to stop laughing from her reply. At this point, she already gave up trying to act more ladylike and decided to act a bit more like herself. Of course just enough to not get caught by him.

She heaved out a sigh before sitting on the edge of the balcony just like Lloyd did. She turned around, facing outwards instead. Her feet dangled off, showing her legs as she lifted up her skirt to adjust her body.

"Milady.." Elenor could hear Alec mumbling something but she chose to ignore it.

Lloyd let out a chuckle, watching her. "Who knew Lady Elenor would dare to do this."

She smiled over at him, "There are many things you don't know about me, your highness."

"How true,"

"I don't plan on letting you know either."

"That's hurtful." Lloyd laughed, not taking her sentence to heart.

They had a small chat before sitting in silence, hearing chatter and music from the ball inside but they continued to stay at the balcony area, not wanting to go back just yet. Lloyd suddenly began telling her about his encounter with thieves that tried to rob him in another kingdom.

"Another land.." Elenor mumbled to herself as she listened to Lloyd's story.

She never properly wrote about other lands as the heroine never left this country. The only time she mentioned other kingdoms was when Lloyd had to leave for a few days to another kingdom for business.

"What did you do with those thieves?" she asked, returning back to what he had been talking about.

Lloyd didn't seem to notice she had zoned out in the middle of the conversation by accident and answered her question. "I brought them to the knights in charge around and placed them in prison."

Elenor shrugged it off, it was better than chopping off their legs then bringing them to prison anyway.

The kingdom he mentioned was called Darenth Kingdom. A kingdom west of Elaelind. The two kingdoms were on friendly terms with them as Lloyd's father and the king are good friends with each other.

"Darenth Kingdom..I would like to visit another kingdom." Elenor said out loud without knowing.

"You have never been out of our kingdom?" he asked, surprised, shown on his face.

She shook her head, "I'm afraid I don't have any recollection of going to another kingdom."

"That's a pity. You should at least travel to another kingdom once in your life."

She nodded, watching the stars twinkling in the night, "It would be nice."

Elenor heard Lloyd clapping his hands together. She turned over to him and with a cheery look on his face, he said, "How about you follow me when I have to visit another kingdom?"

Elenor nearly fell off the balcony after hearing his sudden invitation, Flabbergasted, she replied back, "What?!"

He nodded, thinking to himself, "Yes yes you should follow me along, it will be fun!"

Why is this prince so energetic? Elenor felt like she was getting a headache...

"Your highness..that is very nice of you but...."

Lloyd looked at her with puppy eyes that seem to look even sadder under the moonlight. She opened and closed her mouth before sighing, unable to refuse him.

"Then..I'll take up the offer." Elenor said through gritted teeth.

Lloyd smiled widely, "That's great! I will inform you when then."

Her eyes suddenly felt like it had been poured with pure water, cleansing her eyes from all sins as she gazed upon Lloyd who shone like an angel.

'I feel like I'm seeing wings behind him..'

The ball ended safely with Lloyd and Elenor mostly spending their time at the balcony without letting the guests in the ball notice.

"I shall write to you soon," Lloyd said once he brought her back to her estate.

Elenor nodded, bowing at him as she sent him off. "Alright, have a good night your highness."

Lloyd waved goodbye and left in his carriage. Heading inside the house, Alec immediately prepared a bath for her. After that, Elenor sat down on the couch in her room, relaxing after her bath.

"You shouldn't leave your hair wet like that."

Elenor yawned, slowly feeling tired, "It will dry by itself."

Her eyes were slowly closing, head bobbing back and forth. Alec shook his head before making his way over, taking the towel that was around her neck. He placed it over her hair and began drying it. It felt like a scalp massage which made Elenor sleepier and not long later, she was fast asleep on the couch, sitting right up while Alec dried her hair.

...

Alec finished drying Elenor's hair, removing the towel away from her head. She was sleeping while sitting straight. Alec watched as she swayed left and right but never once falling down.

"Ridiculous."

Scooping her up, he carried her to the bed, tucking her under the blankets. His hand on the lamp about to switch it off.

Elenor lightly groaned, "...Ramen.."

'Ramen? Must be something from her world.'

Alec glanced over at Elenor once more. She shifted, curling to her sides as she continued sleeping peacefully.

"...Good night milady." he turned the lamp off and quietly left the room, returning to his own as well.

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