Chapter 2 Unexpected visit

It was barely dawn when Elena woke up and got dressed, she had wanted to stay at least a few more days but the tension in the palace was just too much. Why stay here and be miserable? She'd rather be far off in Europe with her friend and there she can be able to device a good plan to bring the stupid prince her sister is to wed down here to Wessex. People might wonder why was this such a big deal, it really was as if Eleanor was refused in any way she'd do anything to become queen reagent.

Her job was to deliver the bastard here in good condition and make sure he was ready to exchange rings and meaningless vows with the royal hawk.

" bloody hell! Watch it" this one of the reasons she didn't like coming to France. It was always rowdy. Unfortunately for her, Thomas her best friend and confidant was here. Along her father, he was the second person in the whole world she trusted but only to a fault. She stopped at a hackney

" To Grand castle please" and with that the coach man or whatever they are called moved his horse. You'd think I would've rode my own horse but no. Instead my stupid mind had left my poor baby back at Wessex, I'll need to send words back to the castle to have her delivered to me.

" Grand castle?"

"Oh my! We're here already" giving him his correct money and some generous tips. Grand castle is just as grand as its name, big, spacious and ruled by an obnoxious, annoying Lord Thomas.

" ahhh. My oh my, luck must be on my side today. Princess Elena" he said with a perfect bow. "Or should I say commoner Elena? Why in hades are you even dressed like that?! And you came to my palace in a hackney!"

"Are you done with your tantrums Thomas? And how the hell did you know I was to arrive in France today?" I said walking into his house without even glancing at his dotting footman

"Well I received a letter from a certain king, stating.. no threatening to end me if any harm was to come upon his daughter while she's in France. I dare not point out to him that it is I who should be more worried about safety as you can take upon even 30 strong men if you chose to" he said wild a slight frown

"I do hope you do not expect an apology from me for my father. And by the by, why are you even in France? Last time I checked this place sort of brought back unwanted memories" I said strolling into his library

"You hurt my feelings dear Elena. You have only arrived into France and my home and you don't even ask how I've been. For Christ sake, we haven't seen each other in a very long time I tell you. Other friends would be hugging and and trying to catch up but in our case..." I didn't actually have time for his nonsense. Yes, other friends would be all over each other trying to catch up. But me and Thomas were different so I didn't bother letting him finish

"Father has asked me to bring my dear sister's husband to be back home so they can have a wedding. Seems like our dear ole prince Richard has been having troubles making a decision" I said picking a book that I very much needed to read and strolled out finding a room I may be comfortable in.

" I thought you were supposed to be an assassin?"

"I shall stay in this room. Please do well to bring fresh, nice and good clothes to me in an hour time. I wish to take a bath and sleep. And dear Thomas you mean a lot to me and I love you. The reason I have come to France is because apparently acting rakish and careless has become a trend that you have come to love. In essence, I'm here to put your head straight" and without waiting for a reply I shut the door at his face.

Peace atlas. I threw the book on the bed, if I was going to get this goddamn prince back to Wessex then I needed to know everything about his country, castle, literally everything. This was the only thing I hated about this whole thing. I decided I'd get a good rest and when I wake, will deal with how I'll handle this stupid prince.

"(Huffs) killing is better than this"

"Your highness. Your highness" said a sweet and annoying voice. Opening one eye, there stood a lady maid with her hands folded and she looked scared? Arrrgghh I hated it when girls showed how scared they were

"And you are?" I answered

"Rosemary your highness. Lord Thomas had sent me to come fetch you for dinner and also put away the new clothes you had asked for" " you're certainly not French. Si?"

"I'm not French. I lived with my father for years before coming here to France to stay with my mother. My father is an English man"

" very well Rose. I can call you rose right? Thanks for waking me up and please do tell Thomas I shall be down with him in 20 minutes and please do call me Elena".

" I fear I can't do that. But your wish is my command. And oh... do..umm... do you need me to stay and dress you?" Poor Rose. Seems she's served a lot of rich people. Ladies and gents, rich women and ladies somehow don't know how to put on their damn garments themselves! But I wasn't one of them.

"No. You're dismissed" I said in a cold voice. Well I didn't mean to but after looking at the long, big gown that had a low neckline. I was livid. If I wasn't planning on killing Thomas, this should've done it! But then I had also been the one asking for nice, fresh, good clothes. But couldn't he get something that didn't scream 'I'm so rich and have a disgusting taste in fashion?'. With a sigh I undressed and wore the stupid nice dress. It fit perfectly. Well it better did for Thomas own good.

" you do know I treasure food more than the sight of a beautiful woman" Thomas said as I sat down next to him in the dining hall.

" your recent records proves otherwise" I said while taking a sip of the expensive wine set on the table.

" enough already Elena. I'm a man, that too a young one who have needs. And fortunately for me I'm not celibate" he said aching his glass mockingly at her.

" I swear I can't stomach arguing with you. While it's fun, you're a mean ass"

" that's part of the package my beautiful princess. (clears throat) let's move on to more serious matters. How do you intend to convince Prince Richard into marrying your sister?"

"You mean following me all the way back to Wessex and marrying that wrench" I said frowning.

"To be frank with you I don't know what to do or what I'll say to him. Throw me in a mission where a person proves as a threat to Wessex and I'd definitely know what to do..."

"By killing them" Thomas interjected nodding his head.

" this is all new to me" I said slumping back into my chair. Thomas looked at me with a deep frown.

"One would think as a princess you would've learnt how to sit properly. No wonder you couldn't even finish any finishing school"

" good thing no one knows about my lack of training as I do not think I'll ever need them"

" oh you will my dear. You're going to see the prince aren't you? You'd have to live in the castle with his parents" I turned my head glaring daggers at him.

"Fool" I said smacking him on the head. " do you think father would've sent me all the way there to convince that delinquent into marrying my sister if he was already in his homeland? I've been told he is one of his estate in Yorkshire. Apparently, he's parents became too unbearable and as a coward has used work as an excuse"

" wait! How come I don't have an estate in Yorkshire?!" I swear I'll kill Thomas soon.

" how am I supposed to know?! All you do is drink and sleep with wives of Dutch's!"

" can we stop talking about my sex life now? I don't feel comfortable sharing details about the women I bed no matter how close we are"

" whatever" I said with an eye roll. " how are you Thomas?"

" what do you mean how am I? I'm fine" "You know what I mean. (sigh) why are you in France, that too in this place"

" I own this place remember?" He said taking a sip from his wine.

" either you tell me or we do it the old fashioned way. I know you. This place has been locked up for years, you have refused to even visit France! So start talking now"

" I'm tired Elena, it'll do the both of us good to retire now" he said giving her a cold stare she has grown accustomed to thanks to dearest mother. Lost in thoughts she hadn't realized when he stood up and she jumped up immediately to block him challenging him with a glare of her own.

" please Thomas" for the first time in a long time she saw him cry, not waiting a moment hugged him. " I'm so sorry. How long?" She said while hugging him. Somehow she figured it out, the outrageous partying, drinking, gambling. How hadn't she realized?!

" I found out last two seasons"

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

" no idea. At first it was unbelievable, after all these years she was alive and never for once bothered to look for me" he gives out a dry laugh. " she didn't want me in the first place! Why would she even care?!"

" have you spoken to her yet?"

"No. I can't Elena. I just can't. I want to hate her but she's my mother"

"You're a strong man Thomas and I'm glad she's not in your life. She won't ever know what she's lost and that's enough punishment" Elena said holding his face before he stepped away to stare at the open fields through the windows.

" I wanted to end her. When your father sent news of your arrival, I thought it was the best opportunity to get rid of her for good but well I later realized for some damn reason my weak heart still loves her and craves the motherly attention she gives her other children"

"WHAT! She has children now?! My lovely Thomas, please do well to forget her" I said hugging him from behind. Anyone watching us would think we were couples, well we sort of are couples. I loved Thomas as much as he loved me but as a friend don't get it mistaken. With a sigh I realized Thomas right now wouldn't be able to help me with my plan on bringing that idiot from Yorkshire. He needs to stay here in France and i need not to trouble him with my own problems.

" I'll be leaving for Yorkshire in two days" this made Thomas turn around immediately to face her

" if it's because of...."

" no it's not. You need to deal with this in France. No more avoiding the problems cause you do that a lot. Closure is all you need Thomas and that's why you won't be helping me out with this quest of mine. I need you to be sane for me, trust me you'll be forever miserable if you don't get the answers you need"

" well if you've got just two more days, we might as well have fun"

" like crazy kids?" She asked smiling " like kids dear tooth monster" he said laughing and sprinting across the hall and Elena did not disappoint as she chased him around acting like they were children.

The past two days has been the best she's had in a very long time. She and Thomas spent their day playing games, running around the castle like children, dressing as commoners and going into the local market. Now she had to go see Mr coward in Yorkshire and she wasn't in the least pleased about it.

"Excuse me madam?"

"Announce me in. Princess of Wessex. Princess Elena"

"Yes your highness" Nothing is as annoying as waiting for an obnoxious prince

"Good day princess. I wasn't informed you were coming" at the sound of his voice I looked up and my oh my. He's absolutely gorgeous, handsome, his eyes screams danger and power and it made me wonder what lied in the depth of those eyes. "Please, do you come in" he said with a humble bow

"Well, I wouldn't have had to come here if you had just come to Wessex. You do know it really displeases me that I have to come drag the supposed future King of Wessex down to the place he's meant to rule one day" I said with a stiff shoulder while giving my coat to the butler. From his face I could see the prince wasn't too kin to what I just had and to be honest I did not give a shit.

"Please, why don't we leave the matters for later. Harrison, please make sure her highness is settled in well" turning to me he said, "and I'm sure you've had quite a journey. Why don't you rest and tomorrow discuss your reason if visit to my estate. Hmm?" He turned away to walk to God knows where and well, I'm Elena, a stubborn princess.

I followed him " you don't expect me to go sleep and probably stroll in the gardens now, do you? I've come here for business and not to rest!" I continued following him till he got to his library, taking a seat and going through some papers but not before putting on his eye glasses. I didn't know he had a sight problem. Hah!

" business you say. I don't remember conducting any kind of transaction with Wessex in any way. That's something my father would do, not me"

"Oh please! You bloody know what I'm talking about so don't feign ignorance or innocent"

"Ignorance or innocent. You haven't told me why you're here and that too without a chaperone. For a princess I thought you'd have more intelligence and oh, no one swears in here except me" he said in an annoyingly calm tone. I don't think this would work at all, I'm at the verge of slitting his throat with my sword, watching him choke on his own blood.

Yes.

That would give me satisfaction. "I'll swear when, where and how I want to. I'm not some loose girl that need a chaperone, like I said I'm here on business. If I needed pleasure I knew where to go"

"You're...."

" I think I shall take you up on that offer to resting. Perhaps tomorrow we'll be able to speak cordially like royals do. Have a nice day" I left without wanting to hear another word from him. The nerve of the man! My poor sister, if she only knew what sort of man she's to be married with. It wouldn't come as a shock if she decided to end his life as soon as they are married cause he's just so infuriating!