Eleanor sat on one end of the table in the dimly lit dining hall, watching the servants serve. Her nail tapping on the wood as her mind drifted.

  The maids threw cautious glances at her, wary of her unpredictable attitude ever since the incident, as she was dull one minute, temperamental the next and calm in-between with Max and her maid Lynn being the only ones in the receiving end of her warmth.

  One of the maid's hands trembled, the glass plate hit the table with a loud clatter, startling everyone in the room as they turned their gaze to Eleanor, who remained unfazed, her blue eyes glazed over in thought.

  The maid sighed in relief and Lynn approached Eleanor, her grey eyes filled with concern, "My Lady?"

  She sat up straight with a jolt, snapping out of her daze, "Yes?"

  "The food is served. Is there anything else you need, My Lady?"

  "No. You're all dismissed."

  With a nod, they left her alone, closing the door with a dull thud.

  Eleanor sighed, just as she was about to relax, she felt a sharp pain on her head— the pain she's felt for days since she woke up.

  Familiar images flashed through her mind, her heartbeat slowly increasing.

  Babum. Babum! Babum, Babum!

  She saw herself bleeding on the floor in the throne room, the warm pool of blood cooling beneath her weakening body as the metallic taste mixed with the saltiness of tears in her mouth as she stared at Cain standing before her.

  Babum!

  His crimson eyes glared at her with intense disgust and hatred as he shielded a trembling Ruth with a sword in his hand. Her blood dripping from the silver blade.

  Babum. Babum...... babum.....

  Her heartbeat decreases and her vision blurs as she slowly loses consciousness, her eyes fixed on the trembling blonde, resentment now clear in her green eyes.

  Babum.

  Eleanor's vision cleared and she found herself walking out of a modern courtroom, reporters crowding a fancy dressed lady shielded by men in black.

  Babum.

  Her black heels hit the pavement in soft clicks as she walked to her Toyota, clenching documents against her chest.

  Babum.

  Just as she was about to unlock her car, a black car zoomed towards her, crashing her in-between the vehicles.

  Babum.

  She felt her bones shatter from the impact, falling to the ground. Her ears ringing, muffling the screams of the crowd as reporters crowded her dying body.

  Babum.

  Her eyes found the car that hit her parked not far from her, seeing a young man in his 30's laughing, he watching her with twisted obsession and desire in his eyes.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Babum!

  An ambulance and police cars arrived. Paramedics approached her body, placing her on a stretcher while the police took the man in custody.

  Babum. Babum...... babum.....

  As she lost consciousness, the last thing she heard was the man screaming gleefully, "Meet you in hell, my Un-ji~!"

  Eleanor gasped, eyes darting around the dining room, the pain vanished. She pressed a hand on her chest, calming her racing heart.

  'Un-ji? Am I—'

  The door opened and Cain (Alex) walked in. His usually imposing strides softer but just as intimidating.

  She immediately stood, holding the table to stabilize her wobbling posture, her legs weak.

  "Good evening, Your Majesty," she bowed, her eyes on the floor.

  "Hmm," he nodded, sitting on the other end of the table, "Please...be seated."

  She froze, a shiver ran down her spine, filling her mind with unease.

  'Please? He'd usually let me stand. Ignoring my existence as he eats until he leaves.'

  She awkwardly sat down, the chair nearly tipping over.

  "Your Majesty... I know that it's not in my place to speak without permission.... but if I may ask, why did you agree to eat with me today?" Eleanor's gazed remained on the table.

  "I'll be direct with you, Lady Eleanor. What do you know about the famine?"

  Her eyes widened in panic and shock, staring at the calm man in front of her.

  "Pardon?"

  "What do you know about the famine?"

  "I.... don't know anything about it, Your Majesty. I was only taught in in politics and etiquette. I have no knowledge on agriculture."

  He stared at her for a moment then smiled and nodded, "Alright."

  Eleanor regretted the dinner, unsettled by his smile and demeanor.

  She had prepared for his indifference and cold attitude, not this.

  The dinner continued in silence, the food becoming increasingly hard to swallow with every glance he threw her way.

  'This doesn't feel right. He seems softer. Is he planning something? Is it because of Ruth? Though he rarely goes to see her these days...'

  For days, she's been observing him, watching from a distance— noticing his vague responses in the morning meetings, his relentless pursuit to combat the famine to his sloppy strikes in the training grounds late in the afternoon, but she never approached him.

  One morning, Eleanor sat in the garden, having a cup of tea with Lynn standing nearby.

  "That girl came by today," the ravenette began, her gaze softening with concern as she stared at Eleanor.

  "Ruth? Why?"

  "Maybe to see 'His Majesty' as usual. When would she understand her place? Honestly, it's irritating."

  "Was she allowed in?"

  "No. Max had to coax her out of the palace."

  "She's growing increasingly willful."

  "Her mind's twisted. I swear she's cracking under His affection. I blame Him for tainting that sweet girl to a stubborn w—"

  "Lynn."

  Lynn tensed, bowing at Eleanor, "Apologies, My Lady. I misspoke."

  She placed her cup down on the table with a sigh, "It's alright. How you found out anything about that day?"

  "Not yet. I still suspect that Ruth was responsible for pushing you into the pond, but there's also a possibility that it's your aunt's doing. But I'll continue search for evidence.... maybe we'll find out who's responsible for your other assassination attempts."

  "Take your time," she raised the cup to her lips, her gaze sharp as she watched a group of maids gossiping in a hushed tone, their giggling and chattering echoing in the corridor from afar as they headed to the main hall.

  She vaguely heard few words from the distance— Sir Abel.

  Eleanor froze for a moment, her grip on the cup tightening, feeling her heart flutter at the mere mention of his name but she can't remember why.

  "Has Sir Abel returned?"

  "Yes, My Lady..... Well at least from what I've heard. It's been a month since he was sent to the Eastern region by His Majesty."

  "The Eastern region? Why?"

  "My goodness.... I forgot that your mind's a bit disoriented since the incident. Apologies, My Lady."

  "No. It's alright, Lynn. Don't fret about it."

  "If you say so. But just to remind you, he was sent away after an argument with His Majesty. From what I've heard from Head butler George, it was on the matter of His treatment towards you as the future Queen."

  "Really? What did he say?"

  "It seems like Sir Abel was irritated by His behavior concerning you. Saying that He should take responsibility for you as your fiancee, but His Majesty was enraged and had him sent off to the East as punishment, forced to handle the Blood Witches with a small group of soldiers— low-ranked knights. It's a miracle he's returning."

  "But why? Isn't he Ruth's childhood friend?"

  "He is, but it's a mystery why he cares about you now. Maybe he wants to take her all for himself by redirecting His attention to you. Though I'm not sure, after all, Sir Abel has always been an unpredictable man."

  Eleanor nodded, placing her empty cup on the saucer on the table, "How strange—"

  Her head began to throb, then she heard sobbing as she found herself curled up in the garden in her nightgown, getting soaked from the heavy downpour.

  She then heard boots approaching her, followed by an umbrella held over her head as an armored man crouched by her side.

  She lifted her head, her red hair dripping over her face, making it hard to see the man's face.

  Suddenly, the man raised his hand and she flinched and backed away, closing her eyes.

  He sighed and tucked her hair back, palm warm through the glove as he wiped her tears, hand lingering more than necessary.

  She opened one eye, seeing auburn hair under his hood and silver eyes staring at her with hurt and warmth.

  'Why is he looking at me like that?'

  The man noticed her guarded eyes and reluctantly removed his hand, his eyes facing the grass.

  "I'm sorry, My Lady..... I failed to protect you again," he said, his voice cracking with emotions as he choked a sob, "I vow to be by your side— even in death, I'll search Heaven and Earth just to be with you."

  Before she could utter a word, she found herself back in the garden, holding her head as Lynn stood by her side, her grey eyes glassy with unshed tears.

  "M-my Lady.... Are you alright? You began crying in pain..."

  "....Lynn."

  "I'm going to get the physician...." Lynn ran a few steps before returning to Eleanor's side, "Let me take you back to your chamber first."

  "Thank you..."

  Eleanor didn't argue, letting the young maid assist her as her mind wondered back to the man.

  'Who was he?'

  [Holder Candidate Quest One: Change the plot

  ?Duration: 343 days

  ?Reward: 10,000 points

  ?Failure: Bad luck at love]