The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 201

Princess Eleanor came running outside when she saw a familiar horse coming her way towards the mansion.

"Wind!" Princess Eleanor murmured as she bit her lips. She knew that there were still two guards from the Angevin Kingdom in the mansion. Thus, she could not be so open with her emotions.

"Is something bothering the Princess?" Lady Gisella asked as she looked at Princess Eleanor who was pacing back and forth in the main hall, her eyes all the while glued on the door.

"I want to go out." Princess Eleanor said softly but she could not say anything further. Her eyes moved towards Lady Gisella. "The knights from the Angevin Kingdom are here."

Lady Gisella shook her head, "Has the Princess seen them in the last few days?"

Princess Eleanor was surprised at Lady Gisella’s words. Had she seen them? She had not. The Princess nodded her head. "Where had they gone to?"

Lady Gisella smiled as her eyes curled up. "They will never appear before you anymore." Lady Gisella’s eyes shone as if she was enjoying the talk. "They had been taken care of."

Princess Eleanor could see the evil sheen in those eyes. She knew that Lady Gisella had seen a lot more than what she herself had over the years, but some things cannot be expressed. Princess Eleanor knew the deeper meaning behind those words.

"What will happen if they do not reach the Angevin Kingdom?" Princess Eleanor’s voice was low. There was some nervousness in her tone as she tried to maintain her cool. It did not matter if the knights that escorted her went back. But what if they do not return home and her Uncle finds it doubtful?

"Is Princess worried?" Lady Gisella laughed as her eyes shone brighter. "The Princess does not have to worry about a thing. The people in the Angevin Kingdom will be preoccupied with many things to even care about a couple of missing knights."

Princess Eleanor’s eyes shook but soon she heard Wind’s neigh as if he was telling her that he had arrived.

Princess Eleanor no longer cared about other issues. She ran towards the door and opened it excitedly, only to meet the blood-tinted clothes of the two people who were dismounting.

Princess Eleanor’s eyes which were excited a few seconds ago turned serious as she ran towards Sir Kit who had Prince Arlo in his arms. Her hands moved as she touched the young prince’s face lightly. His eyes were glowing as if he was very happy.

"What happened?" Princess Eleanor asked as she looked at the man with worry, yet confused at why Prince Arlo was apparently happy. Her eyes shook as she tried to come up with a valid explanation of the situation.

She knew that they might have been attacked by the people sent by the Duke. But was the attack so powerful that it had the both of them covered in blood?

"Let Doctor Raul treat him first." Sir Kit’s words brought Princess Eleanor back to reality, highlighting the more important issue at hand. She held Prince Arlo’s hand as she tried to take him from Sir Kit’s arms, but the man rejected it. He did not want to burden the Princess nor did he want to make the situation even more complicated.

Princess Eleanor could feel the resistance from Sir Kit. She looked at the man but could not understand what was wrong. But Princess Eleanor simply bit her lips as she let Sir Kit carry Prince Arlo into the room after sending word for Doctor Raul to hurry over.

—--

Prince Arlo looked at the man who sat beside him on the chair.

Although his wrist was held and he was examined continuously, all of his attention was on Princess Eleanor who sat on the opposite side, holding his other hand. He could see the worry in her eyes that he always wanted to see in his family.

Prince Arlo thought hard, but he could never imagine when his mother was so sweet to him. His father did not care and as for his sister, she only liked to look at the man who called himself her husband.

Only Princess Eleanor treated him with the love and respect that he always craved for.

"Nothing to worry about," Doctor Raul said with a slight smile. "Renies poisoning is not that severe, but he still needs treatment for a month or two. We need to be extremely cautious of the dose that we inject and Prince Arlo should be ready to experience some uncomfortable times ahead." After saying that, Doctor Raul looked a little apologetically at Prince Arlo.

Princess Eleanor’s eyes widened in shock as she heard such words. She did not know what to say anymore, "What do you mean by uncomfortable days?"

"Renies poisoning usually makes the body muscles go stiff. Because the prince had not exercised enough, the stiffness had gotten worse." Doctor Raul looked at the young prince who was keeping silent. "Prince Arlo has to exercise in the sun for at least four hours daily. He needs to move his muscles. But because of Renies poisoning, it will be painful and difficult. However, he has no choice but to endure if he wants to be fully cured."

Princess Eleanor’s eyes softened as she looked at Prince Arlo. "Will it be okay? Do you think you’ll be able to endure?"

Prince Arlo could see the worry in Princess Eleanor’s eyes as he nodded his head, "I can do it, sister. I want to get better and live a happier life."

Princess Eleanor gave a sad smile as she nodded her head. She understood what he meant, but she could not help anymore.

Doctor Raul looked at Sir Kit who was still wearing a mask. "A letter had come again. They want Princess Eleanor to enter the Royal palace soon. Maybe within the next two days."

Sir Kit’s eyes shook as he looked at Doctor Raul with a questionable gaze. "And what is the reason given?"

"It was demanded by the Crown Prince."

Sir Kit understood the meaning behind it, but soon a small voice cut in. It was Princess Eleanor who looked up at him as she said, "The Crown Prince had requested me to give the pages to Commander Colt. I think he will be making his move."

Sir Kit was silent, but his eyes showed that he understood what they were all saying. He needed to prepare too.

Princess Eleanor stayed by Prince Arlo’s side as everyone left the room. Nia was working at the side as she helped prepare some soup for the young prince.

"Nia, I will make him drink it. You go ahead and rest." Princess Eleanor took the bowl from Nia’s hand and she said in a soft tone. Her eyes only stayed on her young brother who was behaving maturely for his age.

Nia wanted to say something but she simply bowed as she left the room. She knew that Princess Eleanor might have wanted to take care of Prince Arlo as the young prince had also suffered a lot.

’How could Duke Felix do it? I really must have been blind to have loved a devil like him.’ Nia thought as she closed the door feeling regretful.

Prince Arlo drank a few spoonfuls obediently as he stared into Princess Eleanor’s eyes.

"Is something bothering you?" Princess Eleanor asked as she smiled at Prince Arlo. She moved her hand as she stroked the child’s cheeks softly as if he was the most precious thing in the world.

"Do you trust me, sister?" Prince Arlo asked. He was used to calling her sister casually. On official occasions, he had to call her Princess Eleanor, but now he did not want to be formal with her. He missed his sister.

"I have always trusted you little Prince, have I not?" Princess Eleanor rubbed her thumb across his cheek as her eyes sparkled, full of mirth. "What did brother Edwin teach us? We should always trust the family."

"But father ..." Prince Arlo’s voice trembled. He was young but he understood things more clearly. He knew what his father had done to sit in the position of the King. Tears started rolling down his cheeks. "Will Sister hate me?"

Princess Eleanor’s heart hurt as she shook her head. Her hand brushed off the tears in a hurry. "You are my brother. You have been and will always be. We are a family despite what the welders have done, so there is no use in you thinking otherwise. My love for you will never change Arlo. No matter what." Princess Eleanor’s tone was firm.

As soon as he heard Princess Eleanor’s words, all of his pent-up emotions were loosened. He started crying with all of his heart.

Princess Eleanor panicked as she placed the bowl on the side table and gently gathered Prince Arlo into her arms. Her hands ran down his back as she tried to comfort the child.

Prince Arlo did not know how long he had cried. But when he stopped, his eyes were hot and dry as he quietly drank all the soup that Princess Eleanor fed him. His eyes looked at her as he asked, "Sister, do you love me?"

"Of course I do! Need you even ask?" She answered immediately, a little shocked that the question was even asked.

"Then do you love the man who came to save me too?" Princess Eleanor’s hands that were about to wipe Prince Arlo’s mouth froze in midair. "What is his name, Sir Kit...??"

Princess Eleanor did not respond as she continued her action until she heard Prince Arlo’s words. "He said that he loved you. And that’s the reason he came to save me. Because he did not want to see you sad."

"Really..." Princess Eleanor smiled. Her cheeks burned up with shyness until she heard Prince Arlo’s next words.

"He was seriously injured while saving me. Yet he did not care about it." Princess Eleanor’s head whipped up as her eyes widened in alarm. Her heartbeats picked up speed as her breathing hitched in her throat.