It was dark and snow was falling heavily, the ground of snow piling up as time passed. The wind blew harshly causing the windows to rattle softly.

Elenor was getting ready for bed. She was dressed in her pyjamas, her hair brushed out and her nightly skin routine done for the day.

Elenor got into her bed and quietly laid there, though sleepy, her thoughts were still running around.

She slowly gazed over at the chair in the room, the scarf she had forgotten to return back to Judas was resting on the seat.

'I'll return it back once I can meet him..'

Her eyes fluttered close and her breathing became steady as she fell asleep. In her dreams, she was sitting together with Alec by her side. His fingers running through her hair, his gaze never looking away from her.

"Alec," she called out but her voice wouldn't come out, only being able to mouth out his name and nothing else.

Yet, he smiled warmly at her as if he heard her call his name. His eyes curled upwards creating a crescent as he smiled with his eyes as well. She felt butterflies in her stomach, looking at him smile that way for the first time.

She reached outwards towards him, wanting to touch his cheek but as she did so, he moved away.

She stared at him, confused before trying to get closer to him but every time she did, he would move further and further, the distance between them growing bigger.

She frowned, annoyed by what was happening. She picked up speed and began running towards him yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach him.

In the spur of the moment, she reached out to him, trying to grab hold of him.

Then her eyes opened wide, waking up from her dream. She heaved a sigh and was about to get up to get some fresh air when she noticed a dark shadow figure beside her bedside.

Before she could react, a hand roughly hit against her neck causing her to lose consciousness.

Her body didn't fall back to the bed and instead fell into the figures' arms which roughly carried her out of her room and into the silent cold night.

When Elenor woke up once more, her wrists and ankles were tied with thick rope making her unable to move freely.

As much as she resisted, it only backfired on her, creating painful bruises on her skin.

"Awake already? How shocking."

Elenor jolted in surprise, not expecting to hear a voice out of nowhere. Her eyes darted around before it finally landed on a figure sitting on a chair. There, Hera sat comfortably, watching her with amusement in her eyes.

"It's good you're awake earlier than expected or else I would have forced you." she giggled, standing up from her chair and walking closer to Elenor's body.

Elenor glared at her before she received a large impact onto her body, causing her to throw up blood. Hera's laugh echoed as she continued to kick Elenor without stopping.

"St..stop...!" Elenor cried out in pain, her body trembling from the pain that shot all over her body.

Her body now covered in dirt and her blood she had threw up from the painful impacts she received onto her body. She could feel her organs screaming in pain. Tears welled up in her eyes without her control.

"I wish you could see how you look right now!" Hera laughed, pulling Elenor by her hair.

"Jonian! Bring me a mirror!" she ordered and immediately the same figure that captured her arrived beside her side, passing her a mirror.

Hera placed the mirror up close to Elenor, forcing her to look at herself. Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks bruised and lips red as her blood stained it. She looked like a mess.

Her wrists and ankles were throbbing in pain and turning numb, she felt as if her blood vessels were about to be cut off from how tight it was wrapped around her. She glared at Hera through the mirror.

"Hm~? Still trying to put up a fight even when you are in such a position?" Hera chuckled, finding her amusing.

With the mirror in her hand, she smashed it against Elenor's head. Elenor let out a scream, blood trickling down from her head to her face. Hera had a wicked smile on her face as she caressed her face, avoiding the blood at the same time.

"This wouldn't have happened if your butler killed you instead. Now I had to take matters into my own hands. Isn't that right, Jonian?" Hera said, her eyes filled with killing intent.

Elenor's vision began to blur as blood covered her eyes but she looked over at where Jonian was standing. He only looked at her with indifferentness as he responded to Hera's words.

"Yes, your highness. Your words are absolute."

Hera chuckled and nodded, "With just a bit more time, he would be fully in my hands." she said, her hand which was wide open curled into a tight fist as if she was killing a bug.

"...Why?" Elenor asked, exerting a large amount of energy to speak.

Her body felt heavy and tired, as if it was trying to lure her into a deep slumber.

Hera gazed down at her. "Why?"

"..Why do all of this? Why Alec..?"

"Do I need a reason for my actions?" she retorted back, "I choose to do what I want. I do not need a reason for what I do. I am Hera Sela Whitlock, the princess of Vaidia! Everyone shall love me, I am the only person who matters!"

Elenor laughed at her stupid speech, "Everyone shall love you? Because you are the princess of Vaidia?" she laughed again before continuing, "Bullshit. That isn't how life or the world works. Are you that stupid? Hm? Hera Sela Whitlock."

Her tone was sarcastic and full of mockery. Hera's anger blew up to the roof, her face turning red as she gritted her teeth in anger.

"You!" she gripped on Elenor's hair tightly, yanking it painfully.

"Why?! Why does he like you more than me!? I can give him everything! Power, money, fame!! I can give him just as much love!! No, I can give him more!" she shouted angrily, grabbing anything she could get her hands on and smashing it onto the ground.

The shards which broke into pieces would scratch against Elenor's skin causing her to hiss in pain.

"I'm way more beautiful than you! Than any lady that exists!!!"

Elenor scoffed at her. "I admire your confidence, truly. But you're missing one thing," she spat out the blood that was in her mouth, "That personality is yours is the ugliest."

Hera couldn't take it anymore and slapped her across the face, panting heavily. "Shut up! What the hell do you know!?"

She was about to beat her up more but was stopped by Jonian who calmly spoke, "Your highness, it's time."

Hearing Jonian's voice, she calmed down. She took in a deep breath and questioned, "Are they out already?"

He nodded and began to tidy up Hera's appearance. She took in deep breaths, calming herself down before plastering a smile on her face, "Let's go greet them with a gift then."

She turned back to Elenor who was now finally fading between consciousness. Talking had already taken a huge toll on her body, she didn't know how long she could stay awake.

Hera snapped her fingers and left the room they were in. "Jonian, carry that pile of trash. She's our gift for my lovely guests."

"Yes, your highness."

Hera let out a sneer, shooting one last glance at Elenor who was now being carried by Jonian, "Once you're gone, I'll make him see that I'm better than everyone including his own master."

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this novel is going to end in less than 10 chapters ('°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)