His Betrothed: An Arranged Queen

Chapter Five

Princess Eleanor’s Point of view

I turned to leave the room and King Michael offered to walk me to my room. I silently walked along the hallway going to the room where I was going to spend the night I don’t know for how long.

“Sir Lukas asked me not to walk out of the dining room. Did he know that someone is trying to kill me or maybe he knows who the killer is?” I question him and he stopped turning to look at me.

“Lukas is a very gifted man. I am certain that if he was worried about you leaving alone then he must have thought it is not safe for you” He responded with no emotions on his face.

“I see.” 

I replied and began to walk away.

I didn’t want to spend so much time with him because in as much as I hate him>? He was an attractive man, and I can imagine how women fall on his feet pleading for them to be his.

“I think I will be fine now. Thank you for walking me” I said to King Michael who smiled at me. “Of course, Goodnight, Princess,” he said to me as I bowed my head before him.

**

Finding sleep the entire night was hard for me knowing that someone was able to get in my room to put a dead body and leave without any guard noticing anything.

 I wondered how safe I was being in this room? 

Even though I was assured of being safe I didn’t trust anyone right apart from my brother and Father.

“Your highness, Still haven’t slept?” Esperanza questioned me as she walked to the bed where I was sitting.

“I can’t close my eyes without thinking about that man in my room,” I said to her, I had crawled up on the bed and brought my knees to my chest trying to keep warm. She smiled at me bringing her hand to my hands.

“King Michael made sure that you are well protected. He has his men guarding you outside” She explained to me as I shook my head 

“I honestly don’t trust him or his men. What if he is the one who did it?” I said to her as she shook her head in disbelief.

“He would never do that. He knows that he has to make sure that you get married to him.” 

She explained it to me, but it didn’t make any sense to me.

“Why would that man stop me from leaving alone and then I find a dead body in my room? 

Something is wrong” I said to her, and she shook her head.

“You overthink everything/ Why don’t you sleep? I will stay awake the whole night if it makes you feel better” she offered as I shook my head. I couldn’t let her stay awake without sleeping the entire night. That was too cruel and Harsh.

“It’s fine. I will find myself some sleep, why don’t you go and rest?” I asked her and she gave me an affirmative nod.

“Let me help you get in bed then I can sleep?” She said to me helping me get under the sheets as I nodded my head laying down in bed as she walked away going to sleep on the floor.

“You don’t have to sleep here Esperanza; you have a nice bed in your room. Go there” I said to her, and she chuckled softly

“Your highness… I would love to sleep here if it is assuring for you” he said to me as I sighed heavily. I closed my eyes, but my mind was not at ease.

It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep and start snoring as I smiled at myself. She assured me that she would watch over me while I slept but she was sleeping before me.

How typical of Esperanza.

I got off my bed and took one of the blankets I was covering and went to put it on top of her. I sighed heavily walking over to the window and I peeped out. I could see all the four guards outside walking around as I turned around going back to the bed.

Tomorrow was another day I had to get through.

****

The next day I was woken up by the early morning horn from the guards. I groaned softly as I sat down in bed looking at where Esperanza was sleeping last night, and she was still snoring.

 Oh lord!

I heard a knock on my door, and I widened my eyes looking at Esperanza slept on the floor still covered in one of the sheets, she would be done for.

The knock came again as I dragged myself out of bed going to where Esperanza was sleeping.

“Please give me a minute” I shouted on top of my voice going to shake Esperanza from her sleep.

“Mmmm.” She groaned softly as I shook her again and she slowly opened her eyes.

“Your Highness!” she gasped sitting up as I ushered her with my eyes to the door and she widened her eyes hastily getting up from the floor and I watch her trying to collect herself.

“Are you okay in your head? There’s someone on my door” I hissed at her as she wiped the drool on her face putting the sheets on my bed before ushing to the door.

“Good morning. Is her highness awake?” The man’s voice came on the door as I looked ahead to check who might be here to check on me so early in the morning.

“Yes, please just give me a minute. She’s almost done” Esperanza responded to the man who was at the door as she slowly closed the door.

“Who was it?” I questioned her as she walked back to me.

“It’s the man who came with His majesty. I think Lukas?” She asked me as I sighed heavily. “Please ask him to go on ahead. I will not be done this time” I said to her, and she bowed her head heading back to the door.

“She might take longer than expected,” she said to the man outside, she didn’t even have my warm water ready for my bath, how was I going to get ready??

“Enjoyed your Sleep, Esperanza?” I teased her as I looked at myself in the mirror checking if I was looking fine,

“Your highness, I apologize, I shouldn’t have…” She tried to apologize to me as I smiled vividly looking at her.

“It’s alright. I know you were exhausted and, you offered to sleep here with me so it’s not entirely your problem” I tried to convince her, and she smiled briefly giving me a bow.

“I will quickly get your water ready.” She said leaving the room, I had only wanted to have one lady-in-waiting because I wanted to be sure of who to trust in my life.

She came back minutes later with my water and prepared me a bath. After my bath, I got ready wearing a red dress with long narrow sleeves and numerous authentic silver-colored buttons, and silvery great quality trim. It is very modest yet at the same time so beautiful!

I sighed heavily as she finished braiding some strands of hair behind. “Go and take a shower then join us later on the grounds” I instructed as I walked out of the room. She gave me a bow as I walked out. I found Sir Lukas outside my room.

Was he waiting for me this entire time?

 “Good morning your highness?” He said as they bowed their heads, with the other two people that he had with him.

I swallowed hard bowing back to them before making my way to the dining room, I walked in the room and found my father was eating King Michael and Edward.

I curtsied before them and my father smiled proudly as he saw me, “Good morning your majesties” I said to them

“Good morning Eleanor,” I heard my father say but King Michael kept quiet looking at me.

“Did you sleep well?” My father asked me as I sat down giving him a bow, I didn’t want to think about what I saw last night because I would come up with different theories in my mind.

“His Majesty told me what happened, are you well?” My mother finally asked, I would have rolled my eyes if I was like any other person, but I couldn’t. 

 “Yes, I am” I reply without any emotion to it. I can’t believe my mother didn’t bother to come and check if I was doing well.

 “You know when growing up, Eleanor was always scared that this might happen one day. It’s been her biggest fear so seeing her as this worries me” My mother said to king Michael who was just quiet the entire time. I could feel someone was looking at me, but I paid more attention to my food.

“Really? Have you ever since a dead man?” King Michael asked me as I paused drinking from my cup as I lifted my head to look at him.

“Yes, I have. Did you find out the man who was murdered?” I questioned him knowing that he had decided to take responsibility for the case.

 “He is one of the kitchen staffers. No one Important in particular” My mother said as I swallowed hard looking at King Michael, is this what he also thought?

“No one important?” I questioned my mother who looked at my father so that he can say something to me.

“Your Highness, I can assure you we will find the person responsible, and we will ascertain your safety” King Michael assured me as I swallowed hard drinking from my up. I have always hated injustice that’s why I am never there when they are making sure decisions because I would question everything.

***

After breakfast, we went back to the tournament, and I sat there the entire time putting on a brave face so that I don’t show whoever is trying to scare me that I was afraid.

The day went back by fast and before I knew it, we were back here the next day for when I could see King Michael fight, I was hoping he would lose so that I can just end up getting married to Prince Isaac.

I sat back on my chair as they both walked to the ground, Prince Isaac was winning since last night, and this after I was sure that he would win.

The clanging sound of swords and grunts filled the field as Prince Isaac kept on attacking. I thought about my conversation with King Charles earlier this morning when he was asking me if I wanted him to win or get married to Prince Isaac

“Tell me, your highness. Do you think I should let him win?” He asked me as I danced with him, I smiled vividly at him.

“As long as I don’t get to marry you. That’s fine with me” I responded.

“Then I shall grant you your wish.” He said to me letting go of me taking me away from the people that were dancing.

“Though, if I might add on. The person who killed Paulo was caught this morning” he said to me as I gasped turning to him wanting to know what he knew.

“Who is it?” I questioned him and he smirked coming closer to me.

“It’s of no importance to you. I will let you know after I lose the tournament” He whispered to me as I swallowed hard looking at him walking away and I followed him behind.

“I need to know now. What if…” I tried to question him, and he smiled at me looking in my eyes and I quickly lowered them because as someone who is just a princess and him being a king, I could not make eye contact.

 “He has a dragon in his hand. Look for such man” he said to me and sighed heavily before walking away. 

I looked around me hoping I would see the man he was talking about. Prince Isaac fell to the ground and hit himself as King Michael almost pierced him with a sword. I gasped trying to stand up when Edward held my hand making me sit down.

 Prince Isaac rolled over before standing up his shirt coming off, I sighed heavily looking at him fighting, I gave Edward an affirmative nod before focusing ahead.

He tried to swing his sword again aiming for King Michael’s body this time as I paid more attention to his hand.

My eyes widened as I looked at the two of them fight. I looked forward to the break so that I can rush to King Michael. There was no way I could get married to Prince Isaac.

I let out an exasperated sigh looking at King Michael who never even spared me a glance upon the chair I was sitting. “Please excuse me, I am not feeling too well,” I said to Edward wanting to stand up so that I can leave, and he looked at me.

“What’s wrong?” he questioned me as I swallowed hard.

“I need to talk to someone. Please before it’s too late” I whispered back to Edward who shook his head.

‘Eleanor, you can’t leave when the King is sitting there. You will end up in trouble. Just…” He tried to convince me as I looked at King Michael who seemed not to be doing anything. 

“Did King Michael tell you who killed Paulo?” I questioned Edward who shook his head.

“Not now Eleanor. Let’s talk after” He replied as I sighed heavily

I sat back in my chair and looked at Esperanza who came closer to my chair. I was now panicking. If he killed one of the kitchen staffers, then there was something I wanted more than just threatening me.

“Yield!” I heard King Michael’s voice shout as I widened my eyes, he was winning. A smile curled up on my lips as I looked at them.

“I yield!” Prince Isaac shouted as I let out a sigh of relief smiling vividly as I looked at King Michael who turned to my father nodding his head,

“Congratulations King Michael!” My father shouted on top of his voice as he bowed his head. I know that this was going to be something else for me.

“As promised!” My father shouted asking me to stand up and walk to him. King Michael walked up to the stairs to where I was standing.

“Your Majesty” I bowed my head before him, he walked over to me. “Don’t you always assume something about people? I hope you are ready to just bear children for me” he whispered to me as I stood there. I was confused about what he just said to me.

I looked at him and he was focusing ahead. Did he just want to marry me to bear him an heir? Is that all as a woman I was good for? I inwardly questioned myself.