IT WAS A FACT. DUKE CROIX AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE HERE in Anatol to discuss the engagement we all been waiting for. And the cherry on top has to be the fact, that I'm the one to serve them. I got stabbed in the back not once, but twice today.

As I was running around trying my best not to mess everything up, I only got scolded by the Duke himself for being lazy, clumsy and not a good enough to serve him. He literally took every chance he got to bash me and make as small as the grass. I felt humiliated and like I was garbage.

The rest of the servants felt so sorry for me, I could see it written o their faces. Riftan saw it too, but he didn't say anything. He didn't step up and told the Duke to shut the fuck up, he just stood there watching me get scolded over and over again for literally nothing.

At some point during the evening I wanted to just take the burning hot soup and pour it on the Duke's head. Just to piss him off even more and give him a reason to scold me. He was acting like we, the servants, aren't people and we don't have feelings, souls and opinions.

I stood by his side during the dinner too as he and Riftan started to discuss the engagement they were planning for months. Lady Maximilian just sat there eating in silence.

"Don't worry, Duke Croix, my best servants are taking care of the preparations", Riftan said and he picked up his spoon to try the soup.

"I would like to meet them, so I can ask them a few questions about the list of the nobles we are going to invite", the Duke said.

"One of them is right behind you".

The Duke turned to me, scanned me from head to toe and then bursted out laughing like he was watching the circus. He slapped his knee and continued to laugh in the most mocking and disgusting way possible. Then he wiped away a tear of his eye and looked at Riftan.

"Please don't tell me this stupid bimbo is in charge of my daughter's wedding", he said still in a mocking way, "I would never let such a dirty commoner take care of a royal wedding".

This was my last straw. I finally had enough. I dropped the bottle of wine I was holding and it spilled everywhere. My feet were covered in red wine and tears formed in my eyes. Gordon step up, but when he saw the Duke's face he stopped and took a step back. Everyone's eyes were on me now.

I quickly ran off the room crying, because of what the Duke said about me. I heard Riftan shouting my name after me, but I couldn't care less about him. I hated him as much as I hated that old man at that moment. I flew right in the kitchen, where the rest of the knights were having dinner. When they saw me sir Hebaron immediately stood up and came to hug me.

"I hate him!", I said through tears and I hid my face behind my hands, "I hate that man, I hate him so much! He's the worst human being".

"Calm down now, Eleanor", sir Hebaron said and gently rubbed my back, "it's going to be okay. His words don't matter, okay?".

But the truth is..they did. They did matter so much, because he is the Duke Croix, one of the most richest and feared man among the seven kingdoms. Whatever he says is true and it's a law. You have to obey and listen.

Sir Gabelle made some space for me to sit down and try to relax. But when I sat down and his words repeated in my head, I started crying again uncontrollably. I just wish I left back, when I had the chance. Now I gotta sit here and let the Duke treat me like trash.

Suddenly the door flew open and we all turn to see Riftan staying at the door looking right at me. When his eyes spotted me he reached to grab my hand, but sir Hebaron pulled out his sword and made Riftan step back.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone", Riftan slowly raised his hands in the air, so we can all see them and looked at me again, "I just wanted to make sure you're okay, Eleanor".

His green-ish eyes looked sad, his expression was caring and soft. I felt like his soul was crying louder than mine. His body was calm, his hair messy from running

"Okay? If I'm okay?", I finally got the courage to speak for myself. I stood up and walked up to him slowly. Sir Hebaron stepped back and gave me an approving look to go, "No, Riftan, I'm not okay. This old bastard's been treating me like trash the whole day..and you never said anything to defend me, but you claimed that you like me, didn't you?", I asked him.

"I DO like you, Eleanor", he looks down at his feet, because he was too guilty to look me in the eyes and lie to me again.

"And the other night, when you pulled me to the side and asked me to not marry anyone, but you...don't you think you were selfish?", I ask him and now we are face to face, "So, you are going to marry a beautiful noble, but I'm going to stay alone waiting for you my whole life, is that what you want, you lying bastard?".

"No...".

"Of course you do! Look at you right now. If the things you said to me back, when we were in Balto, were true...you would've send them back home with no engagement", my tears started to roll down on my face again, "tell me, Riftan, was everything all a lie...to make me sleep with you last night? Was it just manipulation?".

"Of course not", he took my hand and held it between his warming it up, "Eleanor, I could never do this to you, understand it".

"Then..I'm giving you a choice right now, and I won't be mad at whatever you decide", I said and snatched my hand away, "either you are going to tell me the truth right now and I'll stay and tolerate this bastard till he gets home, or you continue to lie and I'll leave Anatol".

"I'm telling you the truth, but you don't believe me, Eleanor. What's the point?".

"You're telling me something, but your actions are speaking against your words. That's why I'm asking you to tell me the truth".

"I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU, DAMN IT, I LOVE EVERY BIT OF YOU. I love, when you roll your eyes, when I tease you, I love when you call me by my name instead of 'my lord', I love when you laugh, I love when you put your hair down, I love when your hair is up. I love you in general, Eleanor", Riftan shouted on top of his lungs and we all stood there in silence, "I fell in love the moment I saw you that day, when I fought the dragon. And I knew all along that you wrote that letter, that's why I was so happy. Well, at least I hoped you did".

"Then break the engagement contract", Ruth spoke from a distance and we all continued to keep quiet, "if you love her, why are you marrying another woman?", he asked.

"Because he said he'll destroy Anatol, if I don't marry his goddamn daughter", Riftan explained and I look down at my feet, "do you think I'm doing this, because of the law? No, I'm doing this, because of you! All of you! Cuz you are my family".

All heads down, no word was spoken and no movement was made. We were all shocked at his confession. I felt like I was so selfish in this moment. After all we are talking about Duke Croix right now, he'll destroy us, if we don't do what he says. But at the same time I couldn't bare the thought of watching Riftan being with another woman. There's only one thing to do..

"I'm leaving Anatol", I said and all eyes were on me again. Riftan's face looked like he saw a ghost right in front of him.

"But...but I told you the truth?", he said.

"And I made a decision. Tell the Duke you kicked me out for what I did and to the rest of you, my friends, take care of the castle for me, okay", I looked at all of them.

"Eleanor, don't do this", sir Hebaron begged.

"This is my final decision. Respect it, or not I'm still going away. Give me 20 minutes to take all my possessions and I'll leave".

UNEDITED