THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY MELANCHOLIC ABOUT THE WINTER, it gives you that lonely and cold feeling, it gives you a chance to close yourself inside and just think. Think a lot. There are many things I dislike about the winter, but mainly the free time I have, when the snow falls down.

Here in Anatol the winter is always so cold and boring, since once the snow falls we are all staying mostly inside the castle. There's not much work to do and there is not much chores, since the Lord is always absent. This is usually the time, when I start thinking.

Start thinking...

...about Lord Riftan Calypse..

...my king...

...and the love of my life.

Riftan Calypse is a well known and beloved among hundreds. He's the brave knight, who dared to save everyone from the dragon, who's been terrorising us for years. He's well know among the ladies too and they all dream to become sir Riftan's wives. I am one of them.

But don't get me for one of those noble ladies, who dream to have the Lord only, because of his perfect looks and his money. I fell in love with him, because he saved my life.

I'll never forget that day. I'll never allow myself to forget that day. Before the young Lord find me on the streets of Croyso, I was just a orphan running around the streets trying to steal some food to survive. I didn't know my family, I had no friends to relay on. I was all by myself.

I was pushed around and a lot of people were trying to sale me as a slave to the bourgeoisie, a lot of man tried to get between my legs. But I was brave enough to save myself. Or so I thought, before I heard those screams and I saw all the children around me running away.

The moment I raise my eyes I see it. The big black dragon spreading his wings above Croyso ready to attack us. I knew it was impossible to run away from such creature. So I fell on the ground praying to God to save me from it. I was sure I was about to die. But then out of nowhere I heard a sound of sword being pulled out of its case.

I gathered all my courage and open my eyes, and there he was...right in front of me. My Lord and the love of my life-Riftan Calypse. His brown hair blown by the wind, his armour covered in blood, his sword right in front of my eyes. I saw the dragon's head on the ground cut in half and I raised my head meeting the lord's eyes. He was the most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life.

"Are you okay, miss", he bends down and held my hand so gently. The skin on his hands was so rough, the blood from the dragon dripping down from them. I put my hand on his palm and it felt so small compared to his. Riftan helps me to get up and gave me his cloak, "this will keep you warm till you get home", he said.

"Very nice of you, my lord, but unfortunately there is no 'home' for me", I bow my head down out of respect, but I feel his green-ish eyes falling on me.

"Are you an orphan? What's your name?", his voice was so deep yet it felt like a music box in my ears. So melodic.

"Eleanor, my lord", once again I bow down.

"What? No last name? For how long you've been running around my lands with no home, are you even from Wedon?", Riftan came closer to me and his height made me feel a little bit uneasy. I backed off a little bit, but he still came closer and closer with every step I did.

At that moment, when his body felt so close and his face was right above me I could see just how handsome he was. I've heard so many girls on the streets talking about his beauty, but I've never got the chance to see it up close. Till that exact moment. Riftan let out a big sight, when he understood that I won't talk. Then he grabs me by the hand and starts pulling me after him. I was confused, but didn't protest.

"We are we going, my Lord?", I simply asked him. For a moment he stopped, but then he turned to sir Hebaron and ordered him to take me on his horse.

"We are going to my castle", he said to me.

That was the day, when I got a home. That was the day I stopped being an orphan and became sir Riftan's personal helper. I got the job to take care of his room, his armours, his castle and him, if he needed any help. My life became better thanks to sir Riftan and his kindness.

But with time..my love for him grew even more that I expected. I had to spend most of my days walking around next to him and I had the amazing opportunity to get to know him. Turns out Riftan Calypse wasn't the ruthless, scary and dangerous knight. He was smart, brave, kind and caring towards his people. He was the perfect king. The perfect man.

It wasn't hard for me to keep my love under control. I knew I had no chance to be with a man from his rang. He's a noble man, who should be married to a noble woman. Not to a poor servant like me. I thought I know better, but when the news of his engagement broke down I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest and smashed into the ground.

That's why I hate winter. Now, that I don't have much to do, I have to think and think about how sooner or later my new queen is going to come here and I could never be with the man I love. This is what I get for falling in love with a man, who's out of my league. Ugh, so painful.

"You look unusually down today, Eleanor", sir Gabelle Laksion spoke and brought me back to reality. I shook my head and I continued to fold sir Riftan's clothes as I usually do.

"Nice to see, that you're so observant to know how I usually am, sir Gabelle", I smirked a little and looked him through my shoulder, "I hope you're not turning into a stalker".

"Ah, you're insulting me", he chuckled at me and slid back his black hair, "but I gotta say, with beauty like yours can you blame me?".

Beauty like mine? That is simply not true. I am not as beautiful as everyone claims. All my life I've heard how pretty, or beautiful I am, but I simply don't believe it. I look absolutely basic. I have long straight brown hair, which is completely normal among the Wedonians. My eyes are aqua blue, which kinda makes me pop out a little bit, but that it. My skin is pale, my body is skinny. I have nothing compared to all these noble ladies, that sir Riftan meets.

"I see. You haven't met many woman, is that right, sir Gabelle?", I looked at him and I put the last shirt I had to fold in the basket.

"Are you telling me you don't think your beauty is worth my time? Don't tell me you don't have at least a decent amount of confidence in you,  Eleanor", he smirked at me, "I mean you obviously haven't seen the way all the man around here look at you".

"What's the point? I only have my heart for one man and one man only".

"Who is it? Oh, oh! Don't tell me, I'll guess. Is it Uslin? Or maybe Elliot? No, you're spending so much time with Ruth recently. It might be him, but with personality like his I doubt that".

"Are you blind, Gabelle?", sir Hebaron walks in the dining room and smiled at us, "it's obviously the king. Eleanor is in love with Riftan".

"What? No way!", Gabelle said in surprise and looked at me, "but..but he's..".

"Engaged? I know", I looked down, "I don't wanna ruin his engagement. My feelings for him don't matter, because I could never be his wife. I'm not a noble", I explained.

"Well..at least you're self aware", sir Hebaron sat next to me and tapped my back. He always does that, when he sees my mood getting down. Sometimes he acts like a dad to me, but I'm not complaining.

"I hope his new wife won't be a bad queen and treat us all like garbage", Gabelle lets out a deep sight and pours some liquor into his cup.

"I hope so too", I said.

A/n-Yes, i forgot to put visual presentation of what my OC Eleanor looks like.

I couldn't find a girl with my description, but when I think of Eleanor I see a girl like this, but with aqua blue eyes and a little bit darker shade of her hair colour.

So visualise this, when you think of Eleanor. Her hair is also very long, it reached her lower back and her body is skinny, but not you know showing any bones or anything. So yeah...