The second prince turned white, backing away from the wall.
"Elodie? What are you—"
"I came to pay you a visit, of course,"
Elodie straightened her back, becoming tall once again. With a wave of her hand, her cute dress changed back into something much more her style. An extravagant emerald-covered gown that gave her only enough room to walk.
"Much better.... Now," she glanced at the prince. "Where was I?"
"What are you doing here? Posing as a concubine and infiltrating the royal family, are you courting death?"
Elodie laughed, and in a flash the curtains opened, wind blowing in from the empty courtyard. "As if you could kill me. In fact, I dare you to..."
The prince grew furious, pointing at her. "How dare you!!—"
Elodie's coy expression was wiped away in an instant, replaced with a cold stare. "I could say the same towards you, James."
"Wha-" He was suspended in the air and thrown back down just as fast. The prince spat out blood. "Guards!"
"Don't bother calling them for help. By now, my sound barrier will be taking effect."
The prince gritted his teeth, pulling himself back up. But Elodie wasn't finished. She lifted her hand. In the next instant, the prince was struggling to stand.
"W-What... you... witch!"
Elodie's eyes sneered.
"Yes. That is absolutely what I am. Remember it. And remember this. How does it feel?" Ropes of vines suddenly appeared from the corners of his room, creeping towards him. "To be held down against your will... to be robbed of all your power... to be degraded to lying on the floor, with no way out..."
The pressure got harder; the prince groaned in pain. It felt as though needles were poking at all his muscles, interfering with his bloodstream. He wasn't even able to use any of his strength, let alone a physical weapon.
To be ambushed like this during his time of infatuation... it was far too humiliating for him to try and escape!
The prince knew this. And so did Elodie. It was what made this form of punishment perfect for a prince full of pride. The pain got stronger, from needles pricking him to hatchets that took turns swinging at his limbs; the prince could only lie down and accept his fate.
Another spurt of blood pulled the smile on Elodie's lips higher. Her eyes had become green emeralds. "It's infuriating, isn't it?"
"St...op..."
"What? I couldn't hear you?" Elodie went over to grab a grape, returning with a handful.
"Stop!" The prince choked.
Elodie only looked down at him. "You don't command me anymore, little James." She tossed a grape from his assorted fruit platter into her mouth, smiling.
The nickname made his face erupt into a bright red. No one ever calls him that. Not anymore.
He wanted to kill her. The girl standing before him was the bane of his existence. He needed to kill her in order to be satisfied. She had to die at his hands only.
Elodie, however, was already walking away from him, towards his balcony. Another spurt of blood came out of his mouth, which made her feel her anger quell. With a snap of her fingers, the vines loosened until he was free.
"I have chosen to spare you, yet you are still so spiteful?"
The second prince jumped, holding a knife over her head. "Die!!" He was yanked back by the two vines crawling across the ground. They slammed him against the wall. He spat out another mouthful of blood. At this point, he was barely conscious.
Elodie walked back towards him, lowly. He was fading in and out of consciousness but was able to make out the last of her words.
"You should remember everything I'm about to tell you." Her face returned to the cold, deadpan expression that she always wore. He wasn't able to shrink away in fear—he was physically unable to. "I will deal with every last one of you that made this world such a sh*t-show. That is a promise."
"You dare...go against the royal family and our allies?" He croaked out.
The only thing that filled Elodie's eyes was a vengeful expression. "I dare, little James. If this is an act of war, then so be it."
The prince couldn't stay awake any longer. His entire body was bruised and tired. He fell unconscious, watching as she vanished mysteriously.
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
Adam paced the room back and forth, watching the clock on the wall anxiously. "It's already dark out. Where is she?"
As he paced, he felt a presence behind him. Turning around, Elodie stood there with a smile. "Oh? Were you waiting for me?"
"Where we're you?" Adam's brows furrowed as he stared, but his anxiety calmed. "Do you realize how late it is? The guards are still looking for you and,"
Elodie's face which wore a smile suddenly warped into confusion. Covering her lips, she erupted into haggard coughs.
"Elodie? Elodie!" Adam ran over, holding her as he brought her to the bed. When she pulled her hand back, dark red blood rested on her lips and her hands. Adam wiped her bottom lip, staring at the color now on his hand. "Poison? Who... who poisoned you?"
Elodie's eyes widened before relaxing. "I... I see..."
"What? What is that casual response!?!"
"A poisoned fruit platter." Elodie looked up with a playful smile which showed her bloody teeth. "It seems, the Prince's concubines are far more crafty than they are given credit... in that case..."
Elodie continued speaking in a hushed voice. Adam shook her repeatedly. "Elodie! Elodie!"
"Stop, I need to think."
"What is to think? You have been poisoned!!"
Elodie's lips pulled up because of his intense reaction, staring at Adam. "If these are my final moments, would you be sad?"
"Wh...what?" His expression grew serious. "Are you joking? Elodie, will you actually-"
"Hurry and answer me." She sighed, though her coughing soon resumed. Color splattered on her lips, staining them red.
"-I would!! Regret it greatly if you died here! So please, do not die!!"
She raised her hand by his head, but stopped herself. 'My mission is not complete yet.'
Clenching her fist, she dropped it. "It's a lovely room you've made for me."
"What? He met her eyes, Elodie saw the confusion flooding them. "What do you mean?"
"I don't recall ever seeing a room like this before. Is it new? "
"Elodie, now isn't the time, we need to get you to a-" Adam started to say. In order to get a response, Elodie coughed again. Adam gritted his teeth and nodded repeatedly. "It is. Okay? Just, worry about your health right now. Please."
Elodie smiled, satisfied. "Alright. Will you wait for me here?"
"What?" Adam shook his head, staring at her. "Where are you... Are you going to leave? Don't!"
Elodie only closed her eyes in his arms. "All of a sudden you want me to stay?"
For some reason, Adam's heart began to ache. He mustn't had realized how close she had gotten to him until now. Despite knowing who she was, despite whatever things she supposedly did, Why did Adam still feel so drawn to her?
He was holding her tightly, Elodie couldn't help but feel guilty for attaching herself to him. In this life, she only had one mission. To kill the queen. Whoever that might've been.
"Don't." Adam spoke up. "I said you could stay with me, didn't I? So why, why are you still running away?"
"I am afraid I will start something I won't be able to complete in this lifetime."
"Wha- Elodie! Don't go-!!!"
Elodie vanished into thin air. Adam was left in the room. Alone.
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
Elodie coughed, holding the wall for support, dark colored blood fell to the ground.
As she walked, she got closer and closer to an empty cave. Cold, barren, and lifeless. The place where she was reborn.
A scoff couldn't help but pass her lips because her current condition. Would she seriously die in the same place she was born? How ironic.
With a wave of her hand, a cultivating stone appeared in front of her. Elodie turned back to face the entrance, lifting both arms, she focused intently. A green wall of energy circled around her, flooding the room. Beads of sweat piled on her forehead.
She staggered.
Her bad condition would be left worse after this protection spell, but if she wanted to be sure they could never find her, she had to do this. As she tore both of her hands away, the dome of green casted over the entire circumference of the cave.
Elodie coughed blood, crumpling to the ground. "G-God... d*mnit..." She pulled herself up, staggering.
Walking over to the rock, she took a seat, breathing in deeply before breathing out.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open, sharp needle like vines shot out from her palm.
There was a hearty laughter before someone appeared in front of her. "A pleasure to meet you in person, Evil Witch."
Elodie's glare hardened, but she could only stay in her spot- the poison was working too fast for her to try and use her powers.
The person in front of her knew that as well.
"Who are you? And why did you summon me back?"
"Oh? So many questions to answer, In so little time."
"Impudent!" Elodie scowled. The ice cave sprouted vines as sharp as daggers, all pointing towards the mystery person. However, they didn't flinch. "Quickly explain yourself! What do you mean? Just tell me why I am here!"
The person smiled, nodding curtly. "Alright, do you truly want to know?" Elodie only glared. "I will tell you. The reason you were brought you back... is because you must kill the Queen."
"..." Elodie sat down, closing her eyes as she relaxed. The person in front of her must've been nothing more than an oracle idiot. "Get out."
"...W-What?"
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
The life back in the castle became hectic.
A guard rushed into the throne room, bowing immediately to Princess Isabella. "Princess! We have reports from the Warnight kingdom that energy has suddenly been moved! They requested audience immediately!"
The princess sighed. "Is that why you are screaming? I will have my brother send a letter as soon as-"
"Princess! The Slarid kingdom reports the same! Your audience has been requested!" Another guard rushed in seconds later.
"What?" Her eyes narrowed down on the two guards, only for a third to appear after the second.
"Princess the Dark kingdom has also-"
"Enough!" The Princess looked at all the guards, her eyes cold. "What game are you all getting at?"
"Princess! Emergency!!" Someone called from the hallway. Princess Isabella already wore a scowl on her delicate face.
"Which kingdom is it now?" She spat out. However,
The person who ran into the throne room was a regular palace maid. She sunk to her knees with a pale face, panting and beating with sweat. "That- that is not it! The second prince is unconscious! His condition is critical!!"