The Broken Princess

Boredom that could kill

Eliora laid in her bed, dazedly turning the pages of her book. This would be the third time reading this book but there was nothing else to do. She'd read all the other books in her collection at least five times before. What else could she do?

Her bedroom was the only place she felt safe in but there wasn't a lot to do here. Some days she felt like she would go crazy from the consistent boredom she felt. The most entertaining thing was listening to maids gossip as they walked by. She greatly enjoyed the time spent conversing with her father and Sabrina but it wasn't like she could force them to stay with her at all times. She was already much of a burden, she didn't want to trouble them any further.

Feeling a bit restless, she stood to her feet, placed a book mark on her page and carefully put the book on the side table before she made her way to the balcony that stood over her personal garden. Eliora could only admire the beautiful flowers from a distance, too scared to actually go down and feel them.

A small sigh left her as she remembered bits of her childhood. Taking walks in the garden and being surrounded by the scent of flowers. Dipping her bare feet in the pond as she stared at the skies above her. Eliora missed those times so much.

There was one person that always came to mind when she remembered things like this. Caelum. The demon seemed to be in every happy memory she had.

Eliora was forced out of her thoughts when her ears picked up the sound of struggle coming from inside. Curious, she made her way to the bedroom door and opened it, only to be blocked by one of her guards.

"What's going on? There's so much noise outside." She stood on her toes in an attempt to look past the guard's shoulder but her vision remained blocked by her guards hulking frame.

"It's nothing to concern yourself about, Your Highness. Some girls just got into a little fight, it'll be sorted out soon." Dana told her. A fight? Sounds interesting.

Dana was the head of the guards assigned to her after she returned from Kale. The woman was large and rather masculine in Eliora's opinion. She was built like a body builder and it didn't help that she was tall. Overall, she was rather intimidating. Still, despite her outward appearance, Dana was kind and friendly. The woman took guarding Eliora extremely personal.

Today, Dana had her long blonde hair packed into a ponytail instead of the usual Viking braids she normally wore. Her blue eyes were determined as they stared down at Eliora. There was nothing Eliora would be able to say that would make the woman let her pass.

She wanted to see the fight though, it sounded interesting.

It seemed like a pretty intense fight and Eliora could have sworn she'd heard a man's voice in the mix. Resigning, she walked back into her room and shut the door. The noise gradually ceased letting her know the fight had come to an end.

So much for something interesting. Eliora sighed and fell face first on her bed. This unending boredom. When would it end?

Would she ever get better enough to go outside on her own will?

She flipped over on the bed, now staring at the intricate ceiling above her. habitually, her fingers traced the exterior of the stone she wore around her neck.

Is this how her life would continue to play out? Would she continue to live out her life in fear? Fear of the unknown and fear of that man.

At some point between her laments, Eliora dozed off only to be awoken by the sound of a knock at her door.

"Come in." She said groggily as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"It's time for lunch, Princess." Sabrina's voice sounded as she strolled in with a cart of food. "Would you like to have your meal at the balcony or would you prefer it here?"

"The balcony."

Sabrina nodded and proceeded to arrange platters of food on the small table located at the balcony. Sabrina knew the princess preferred to have her meals here but she still asked every time. Perhaps she liked it because it was as close as she could get to being outside.

"Your meal is served, Princess."

"Thank you." Eliora's angelic voice sounded as she made her way to the table.

After saying a light prayer, the princess began to eat. Sabrina readied herself for the random conversation that always followed at this point.

"Has anything interesting happened in the castle lately?" The princess asked while cutting into a piece of steak.

"None that I'm aware of." Sabrina replied curtly, as usual.

"I heard some of the guards got into a fight outside my room today." Sabrina didn't miss the glitter in the princess' eyes when she spoke. The princess was a fan of drama. At the sight, a small smile made it's way to Sabrina's lips.

What fight was she talking about though? Sabrina hadn't heard of any such incident. And close to the princess' room at that. Realisation hit her then. It must've been the time Caelum came by. The guards must've covered it up by saying it was a fight.

"Unfortunately I didn't hear much about that, princess."

"Is that so." Eliora's expression visibly dimmed so Sabrina tried to change topic.

"Is the food to your liking, Princess?"

Eliora nodded, slowly chewing on her food. Silence floated through the room for the next couple of minutes till Eliora spoke again.

"Have you heard any news about the returning knights?"

"None. But it's likely some of them will begin to report in from next week." The light was back into the princess' eyes.

"Then Caelum might return to the palace then."

"Very likely." Sabrina said.

"Then tell me if you ever see him in the castle, Sabrina."

Guilt made the demoness' heart clench bitterly. Caelum had already visited and had even tried to see the princess but Sabrina would not tell her that. Letting the princess know of his arrival wouldn't help Sabrina gain any ground with the man. Somehow, she felt like she would lose out if the princess knew.

She felt guilty but it's not like she was doing anything particularly horrible. The princess and Caelum weren't even mates or lovers so morally Sabrina wasn't doing anything wrong.

"Of course, Princess." What a horrible lie.

Eliora finished her meal and Sabrina cleaned up after her before stepping out of the girl's bedroom. The princess had smiled when she thanked Sabrina for the meal and guilt ate at the demoness. She had to remind herself that she wasn't doing anything bad. It was okay to be selfish every once in a while.

***

When Caelum returned home that day, he way too upset to speak to anyone and just went straight to his old room.

"What's wrong Caelum?" Viola had asked when she noticed her son's irritable mood. He gave her no reply and simply walked away.

Viola tried to pry but was stopped by Aldrich.

"Leave him be. He must've found out about the princess."

"That's no reason for him to act like that though." Viola complained.

"You think so?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Viola asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing my sweet. Just leave him be, he'll come around on his own. trust me." Viola's lips thinned before she let out a sigh.

"Fine. if you say so."

Caelum laid on his miniature bed, gazing up at his ceiling. He was deep in thought, his mind playing out the events of the day. The news of the princess' capture had shaken him up the most. Not even the king's reason for sending him off to war upset him that much. To think that all the while he sulked over never getting a letter from her, something so awful happened. And because of that, he was forbidden from seeing the princess.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what the princess' current mental state was like.

For the king to have to set up such a rule, Caelum had a feeling it was anything but good. Yet he couldn't even imagine it. It was hard to picture the hyper princess he knew scared of anything.

If she was scared of men then he should probably give up on seeing her. That would be the best for her yet he couldn't just accept that. At first he'd just wanted to see the girl he grew up with but now it was alot more than that. He needed to see her or his mind would never be at peace. His demonic half demanded it.

But how was that going to happen when he wasn't allowed near her? He couldn't just keep showing up to the palace trying to meet the princess. If he did that he might get barred from entering the castle.

As the gears in his head turned, he suddenly remembered what the king had told him earlier.

'You might not be able to guard my daughter anymore but as an 'MVP' from the recent war you'll be granted a position of importance within the army. If you wish it, a room in the knights quarters will be prepared for you so you can reside within the palace.'

If he resided in the knights quarters then no one would suspect him if he moved about the castle. He could find a way to see the princess then. Even if it meant just seeing her from afar.

As much as it would hurt his pride to do so, he would have to ask the king to prepare a room for him to reside in.

A knock on his bedroom door snapped him out of his thoughts. He didn't even answer before the door flew open.

"Your mom made dinner, come down and eat." Aldrich said from the door.

"I don't feel like it." Caelum answered after a brief glance at his father.

"It wasn't an option kid. You already upset her by walking away from her earlier, you're not going to skip out on food she worked so hard to cook." Aldrich's tone said there was no room for arguments.

"You knew about the princess, didn't you?" Caelum asked, sitting up in his bed.

"And if I did?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"What difference would it have made? You'd only get upset and in turn make your mom worried. You just got back, I didn't want to ruin a family reunion." Aldrich sighed. "And see, I was right. Look how you got the moment you found out."

He couldn't help but get upset. He wanted to kill the bastard who thought to hurt Eliora.

"You've been gone for six years kid, think of how your mom felt during that time." Caelum grit his teeth, starting to feel guilty. "I know you're mad but try to think of her feelings a bit, okay?"

"Now get your ass down before dinner gets cold." Aldrich said before walking away.