An Awkward Gesture of Ours

"Actually, Elea," said Marie, looking down.

"What happened?" I asked her again out of curiosity.

"He..ran away."

"Huhh? What?" I expressed.

"River Alves, the guy you fought with," said Marie. "He ran away."

Shocked, I ran and held Marie by her shoulders to seek more information.

"B-but how come?" I asked. "Didn't Knight intervene and go after him?"

"Yes, they did," said Marie. "He ran in the forest, and knights were chasing him while putting up a fight with him, but then suddenly a light flashed, and he vanished from there."

"Ahh-"

"Calm down, Elea," said Marie, holding my face.

"How can I? Knowing he can target master at any given moment."

"I see."

"Hmm.."

"Something happened between them? I mean, there must be a reason for why he is so vengeful towards your master," asked Marie.

"I don't know the details myself, but he was saying something like Master betrayed his father, which led to his death."

"Ohh..." expressed Marie.

"Yeah, I will ask, master, when I get to see him."

"Right."

"Anyways, I am going for a shower." I said, walking away towards the bathroom. "I feel like I haven't bathed in ages."

"Can I join you?" asked Marie, smirking.

"No," I replied.

"Ehh, but we are meeting after such a long time. We should spend some time togeth-"

Thap*

As soon as the pillow hits Marie's face, she shuts up.

"Ouch*, my nose," she expressed.

Shrrrrrr*

As the flow of warm water fell on my naked body, a wave of relaxation washed over me, soothing the tension that had gripped my muscles. With a swipe of my hand, I soaped my skin. My fingers traced a path down my body, hands, and curves until they stumbled upon a streamline of roughness. On the centre of my abdomen, there lay a big, jagged scar of River's dagger, which got pierced in me at the mountain.

*Sigh*

Letting out a deep breath, I rested my arm on the glass, looking down at the water that's going inside the hole.

"This isn't enough; I must become stronger." I said.

Clack*

Covered in my towel, I opened the door and went inside my room, and to my surprise, on the bed I saw the clothes that Marthanda had gifted me.

*Knock* *Knock*

"They brought in multiple sets of it," said Marie, standing at the door behind me.

"Ohh, that's great."

I changed myself in front of the mirror and finally zipped up the black pants and wore my long black jacket above my high-neck sleeveless tank top. As I was setting my hair and clipping my earrings, I saw that Marie on the bed was continuously gazing at me.

"What happened?" I asked her, looking in the mirror.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"That you will really wear one type of cloth throughout?" asked Marie.

"Yes," I answered.

"But why? There are more beautiful, cute clothes out there that you can keep changing."

"Marie..." I said, turning towards her.

"Yes?"

"I don't want to think and waste my energy over what I should wear or what can look better on me anymore." I said.

"I see."

"And I like these clothes, to be honest. It has some vibe to it. Hehe." I said, smiling.

"Yeah, ~fallen angel vibes," said Marie, stretching her hands towards me. She wants me to help her stand up from the bed. *Sigh* She always wants princess treatment.

As our fingers intertwined, she pulled me near with a swift motion, effortlessly shifting our positions until I found my body beneath hers and her gaze above mine.

"The dark, mysterious assassin in full black will cut you down if you behave badly," said Marie.

Our eyes locked into each other, and the warmth of the breath was felt.

"I will," I said.

"I know."

"Right now the girl in front of me is behaving badly; may I cut her?" I asked.

"You may," replied Marie, with a smile.

A small laugh came to me after hearing her reply.

"Btw, are you okay with showing this much thighs?" I asked, moving my hands to her thighs.

"Why? Is it seducing you?" she asked, without moving her eyes away from mine.

Gulps*

"N-no why will it?" I replied. "I am not a guy to get seduced by a girl."

"I see."

"Jokes aside, your dress looks really beautiful on you." I said, glancing at her properly.

She is wearing a full-sleeve black turtleneck sweater dress. It's a type of one-piece with its length to the high thighs, like where a mini skirt would end, and below she wears long black boots. Pretty easy and convenient to wear.

But her dress is kind of slimmed on her skin, as the curves of her boobs and hips are pretty visible. And with her long, wolf-cut open hair. She does feel very seductive, but obviously, I can't tell her.

"You are looking at my boobs, Elea," said Marie.

"I am not."

"You did."

"No."

"Yes."

"Sigh* Yeah, I was just glancing at your clothes, nothing else." I said, turning my face away.

Instantly, she held my face and turned it back towards her, and I felt a weird sensation rise in me as she placed her lower half on mine and brought her face barely a few centimetres away.

"You've always felt quite seductive to me," said Marie.

Her boobs are pressed on mine, her abdomen pushing down, and in response, my legs closed in on her from side.

"Marie..." I said. "What are you doing?"

I don't know what's happening, but I feel weird, like my control over myself is getting swayed away by her.

"I missed you a lot, Elea."

"I-

Before I could complete my sentence, Marie closed her eyes and filled the gap between my lips with hers-

*Knock Knock*

But just then, there was a surprising knock, and Marie and I both jolted and instantly looked towards the main door.

"Queen has summoned Eleanor to the court right away," said the knight outside of the main door.

"Ohh, bad timing," said Marie.

"Move away, bitch." I said, kicking her away.

I came to my senses, and the question abounded, ~What the fuck was happening to me? I am not like that.

Sigh. Don't come close to me. Bye. I said to lock the room's door.

"Oyye, what?" said Marie as her face crashed with the shutting door.

"Ouch*" she expressed.

"Open the door, Elea!!" said Marie as she threw a few more tantrums inside.

"I want to come too."

"You can't do this to me."

"Elea, I am sorry!!"

"Sobs* please open."

As the grand doors of the palace swung open with a weighty creak, Marie and I stepped into the long hall, covered in silence, with soft ambient music being played in the background. We crossed the small fountains, which we were on, along the great pillars with eagle's statues.

After crossing the hall, we reached another opulent hall where a few knights stood in their white robes and armour, gleaming in the soft light.

"Hey, sweet Marie, Marie..." someone whispered from the side.

"Sweet Marie?" curious, I turned to look who's calling her like that.

And there was Alex from the side, waving at Marie.

Marie's brows are tensed and infuriated; she is ignoring Alex.

"Elea, please look straight and keep walking." Marie said to me:.

I looked at Alex and then at Marie, and a laugh fell upon me.

"Wow, good progress, sweet Marie," I said, teasing her.

"No...." Marie said with a crying face.

"Marie, look what I have for you," said Alex, holding flowers in his hand.

"Shut up! You can give that later too," replied Marie, clenching her fist and teeth and looking at Alex.

"Ahh- right, right. Sorry," said Alex.

"Poor Alex," I said.

Marie keeps rejecting him, and he keeps trying. I am surprised to see that even after a year, he still hasn't given up on her.

He might be truly in love with her.

....

We finally ascended the balcony area and saw Queen Silvy standing beside a small pond, looking at the fish swimming in it. Her dress, how she holds her hand fan, and that emerald brooch on her thighs always captivate me. A vision or regal elegance. Her two elite knights are standing in the distance by the pond, giving me and the Queen space. Marie has trained with them; I wonder how strong she must've become.

I gracefully lowered my head before Queen.

"Majesty, you called me?" I said.

Queen Silvy, with a flick of her hand, opened her hand fan and glanced her eyes at me.

"Eleanor.." said Silvy. "Come, I was waiting for you."