The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 167

"Are you sure that the Crown Prince will not be angry?"

"He should not be. After all, we are here to meet Princess Eleanor."

"As fellow Princesses, it is just right that we show care and compassion for one another, isn’t it?"

"But isn’t this a little too much? I don’t understand why the Grand Duke would take an abandoned Princess into his home."

"Abandoned?"

"I heard that Princess Eleanor should not even have a Princess’s title. She had already lost her family and her Uncle had taken over the throne. But her Uncle felt pity for her and that was why she was allowed to retain the title. What’s more, her cousin was supposed to come for the selection."

"Then what happened?"

"The actual Princess is engaged to be married. So they could only send her here as the replacement. Call it luck or whatever. But I think she will not lose a single chance of getting close to the Crown Prince. After all, if she wants to continue such a life, then she need to marry into money."

Everyone was speculating and gossiping in the carriage, but the Princess was silent. She looked around as she listened to the whispered conversations that were floating about her but did not react. When someone looked at Princess Vida for her comment, she only smiled and said in a soft tone, "I think Princess Eleanor is really pitiful. Not only was she abandoned by her family, but she is also about to die as well."

"Does Princess Vida think that it was a stunt? Otherwise, how can she get the Crown Prince’s reaction?"

"Yes, even Princess Vida’s carriage was attacked but she never complained once. However, Princess Eleanor made sure that she brought up the topic of the attack, one way or another. Such inferior tactics."

Princess Vida looked down at her hands. Her eyes were lowered but the lowered lashes concealed eyes that were sparkling brightly. Princess Vida was happy that no one was looking at her, otherwise her well maintained emotions would be out in the open. But soon someone said with a smile, "Yes, Princess Vida had suffered some allergies. And yet she did not complain, unlike Princess Eleanor."

Princess Vida looked up with a gentle smile but she did not say anything. There was no need for her to explain as her impression in the other Princess’ eyes was of a weak woman who was not even worth considering as a threat to them. Princess Vida had thought so too. But only she knew that the allergy they were talking about still sent a chill over the Princess.

Princess Vida does not know why her skin would react in such a manner, but when she had entered the Royal Palace, her body started breaking out in small red spots. Initially, it was only tiny rashes until they started to grow and form bumps on her skin. The itchiness and irritation were maddening and it caused a fear to take root in Princess Vida’s heart.

It was only after a few days that the symptoms became milder and eventually reduced. She was almost back to normal, but the redness in some places had yet to disappear.

"Let’s not talk about the Princess." Princess Vida said as she looked outside the carriage, "We are here to meet the Princess. We cannot let anything else distract us. After all, until Princess Eleanor enters the Royal Palace, we will not receive the prophecy."

All the other Princess’ eyes darkened as they nodded their heads. The meaning was clear, it was a necessity that they wanted to happen. Once Priest Erasmus shares the prophecy, only then would they have a chance to stand in the Empire and in their own Kingdom too.

Every Princess had come to the Roulux Empire with their own individual missions, but their destination was ultimately the same. That was, getting Crown Prince Richard’s favor. And they were all ready to do whatever it takes to achieve it.

—--

Princess Eleanor was seated in the dining room as she looked at the man who was in attendance before her.

"The other Princesses will be here soon." Crown Prince Richard said with a smile as he looked over at the Princess, "They will only be staying here for a few hours and will return to the Royal Palace before night falls." The way he spoke to her gave the impression of extreme fondness.

Princess Eleanor nodded her head. She knew that the competition to become the Crown Princess was fierce.

"And Princess," Crown Prince Richard leaned forward as his lips curled up. "Have you given a thought to my suggestion? I am hoping to hear a positive response."

Princess Eleanor swallowed as discreetly as she could before nodding her head. She knew that she had to come up with a response that would not show neither her eagerness nor her hesitation. It needed to be just right.

Princess Eleanor could feel that the Crown Prince was desperate for her response too. He wanted a positive response but at the same time, he did not want to show his true self to her yet. "Well, I have to agree that the Crown Prince’s offer is highly tempting, but I am afraid. I do not know what to expect out of this trade... and that is making me a little uncomfortable."

Princess Eleanor bit her lips nervously as she looked up at the Crown Prince. She swallowed hard as she continued, "I do not like the uncertainties. It had troubled me in the past and I feel like it will trouble me now. And perhaps into the future as well."

Crown Prince Richard’s eyes narrowed as he nodded his head at her words, "What does the Princess wish to know? I thought I was already very clear in my explanations?"

"The Crown Prince did make an offer that was beneficial to me, but ..." Princess Eleanor bit her lips nervously. Her eyes fluttered as she refused to look at the Crown Prince. She wanted him to realize who she was afraid of at this moment.

Princess Eleanor tried hard to stop the smile from blooming on her face as she took a deep breath and said seriously, "Freedom in personal life is not a big deal for the Crown Prince. Even if anyone else ends up being your wife, they will still grant you that freedom. As Princesses, we all have come here with that mentality. So why me.... I feel like I am pushing myself into an unknown firepit.... And I am afraid..." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Princess Eleanor’s voice trembled as she closed her eyes. A few drops of tears rolled down her cheeks. The Crown Prince could not help but sigh. He could understand where Princess Eleanor was coming from. If someone had told him that they could aid him with all the benefits and yet did not ask for anything else in return, then he would also be a little cautious and troubled about them.

’Duke Felix was not wrong.’ The Crown Prince thought as he took a deep breath, ’The Princess is really very intelligent.’

Crown Prince Richard’s eyes darkened as he thought of a way to pull the Princess to his side. He needed her help at least, until the time that he could achieve his goal. After that, even if the Princess is discarded, he would not care less.

"The Princess is right. I do need something from the Princess," Crown Prince Richard admitted slowly. He observed Princess Eleanor as he saw her looking up at him with a confused look on her beautiful face. "Well, to be honest, I think the Princess will be more than happy to help me with this."

Princess Eleanor looked at the man in confusion. She could feel that the Crown Prince was planning something, but she could not understand what. "Something I will be happy to help you with?"

Crown Prince Richard could hear the lingering confusion in Princess Eleanor’s tone. He nodded his head as he rested his head on his knuckles. "Yes... after all, isn’t the one thing that the Princess desires most is avenging her parent’s killer?"

As soon as Princess Eleanor heard the words, her body stiffened. She knew that this was her sour spot. And she was intelligent enough to find out who the killers were. The man who had helped her Uncle was sitting right in front of her, trying to help her. Or pretending to.

Princess Eleanor almost burst out laughing. She could feel the emotions that the Crown Prince was feeling. He looked like someone who was thinking, ’How foolish of her to believe my words. Let me play with her’, not knowing that his target could already read his thoughts.

Princess Eleanor could feel her stomach clench and her entire body flush hot. She hid her hands below the table as her fingers curled into a fist, sending her nails digging into the flesh of her palms. She was getting irritated enough that she almost rushed over and gave him a punch, even though he was the future heir to the throne.

"You know who the killer is?" Princess Eleanor’s voice trembled as her face was pale, barely holding onto her anger. The Crown Prince thought that her paleness was due to the shock that he had information on her family’s killer. He knew that he had got her where he wanted. He knew that now, no matter what, Princess Eleanor would not refuse to help him. After all, in her mind, they both share a common enemy.

Crown Prince Richard nodded his head. "I not only know who the killer is, but I also know that he helped your Uncle. He is one of my enemies too. And if we both help each other, then we might be able to remove him from our lives. You will get your revenge and I will have the biggest thorn removed from my path."

Princess Eleanor bit her lips nervously as she blinked her eyes. "But who is it?"

"You know the man, Princess. After all, you are staying in his mansion."