Chapter Six: Inevitable

Elesis was fast asleep. She had safely been escorted home by Rena after her close encounter with the group of assassins. As soon as she hit the bed she blanked out and refused to wake up to the point she had missed breakfast the next day. Just like before her parents so relieved she had emerged with only a slight cut on her neck that could have been much worse. Envard was furious with his scouts for letting this happen with no knowledge at all. It was now noon when Elesis finally woke up and rubbed her eyes.

"Ah….." Elesis yawned, her mouth stretching wide from a long well deserved rest. She shook her head and slapped her cheeks, "Time to wake up, busy day today." The princess said to herself. It was time for her to begin the prince's complete overhaul. His manners at dinner last night were absolutely repulsive and in a way the reason she almost died that night. If he had only been somewhat dignified she wouldn't have run off to the festival and in turn have avoided the confrontation.

"Elesis? You up?" She heard a knock and a voice at her door. It sounded like Ara.

"Yes, let me get dressed!" Elesis replied. She quickly put on a red and white gown, which had flower like layers, as well as white elbow gloves, stockings, and high heels. After smoothing down her hair she opened the door to see Ara standing there with a white apron on.

"Sleep well?" She asked as the two made their way down the hall.

"Like a rock. Anyway, today we'll start working on Chung's dreadful table manners." Elesis said. When it came to anything involving food Ara was the queen of the world.

"Yeah, I can tolerate a slob but that was too much." Ara admitted.

"Well, I suppose we should start with some tea." Elesis proposed.

"Oh, should we bring Aisha?"

"Good idea. She's a stickler for manners." The princess agreed with a smile.

"Ow!" Out of the blue came a pained yell. It sounded like Chung so it must have meant he screwed up somehow. In order to make sure they saw what happened the two rushed down the corridor to the origin of the sound, the garden. At the garden was a maid, Chung, and a very irritated Aisha.

"Aisha, what occurred to invoke a punishment?" Elesis asked calmly.

"He claims to have lost something in the hedge here and instead of helping my maid find it he just stood there staring at her behind." Aisha growled.

"Well why did you hit me anyway!?" Chung demanded.

"Chung you have eight chances left. I have given my close friends and family full permission to deliver further penalties should I not be present to witness your failure." Elesis said, void of emotion or care for his wellbeing at the moment, "Now, did you really lose something?"

"Y-Yes mistress." The maid said, head still in the bushes, "I can see something here but can't reach it."

"Ann, get up." Aisha said with a sigh. She did so and Aisha used her magic to pull the object from the bushes, "Are you bloody serious?"

"A piece of glass?" Elesis was confused. This so called precious item was little more than a fragment from a colored glass window. On the small shard it looked to bear half of an eye and the rim of the nose of a person's face. Chung snatched the shard from Aisha's hand as she looked ready to throw it away.

"It's all I have left of my grandmother. I think that's enough to make it a personal item." Chung said with a hint of anger and to avoid being hit again for his action.

"I see." Elesis said simply, "Come, you will both be accompanying me for morning tea. It is time to do something about those dreadful manners of yours." Elesis sneered.

"I agree fully." Aisha said firmly.

"Whatever." Chung said as expected. Aisha walked behind him as they made their way through the hedge maze to a small clearing with a table and chairs. They sat down and Aisha left to have her maids bring the tea. Elesis and Ara sat down with grace and form while Chung on the other hand was slumped and apparently bored.

"For El's sake at least sit with some dignity." Elesis said harshly.

"I sit to be comfortable, I'm comfortable." Chung retorted.

"You. Up." A voice came from behind him and Chung was hoisted upright in his chair by Aisha. She sat down calmly in the last chair, "If you lose your posture I will administer a strike."

"And I grant her permission to do so." Elesis said. Chung grumbled in disagreement but sat upright. One of the servants returned with the tea and set it out on the table. After it was poured they began to drink and talk. To Elesis' surprise Chung was quite formal in his gestures. However his manners still required dire work. She couldn't quite comprehend it; Chung had good form and clearly knew how to act at formal affairs yet he was such a child and refused to do so.

"So Elesis, have you seen Elsword recently?" Aisha asked suddenly.

"No, why?" Elesis asked as she came to the conclusion that Chung had the full ability to be respectable but he just didn't care enough to do it.

"I swear that boy keeps vanishing for some reason." Aisha mused, "Haven't seen him all day and he was up and out of his room before anyone even went to go and try to wake him."

"Hmmm….." Elesis was intrigued. Elsword was nothing if not a late riser.

"Maybe he's just trying to change his sleeping schedule?" Ara proposed innocently.

"Who knows?" The crimsonette just shrugged.

…..

Elesis closed her bedroom door and flopped onto the bed. Dinner was more manageable than last night but Elesis still couldn't think of a reason for why Chung just refused to act like a proper prince.

"The teaching is there….but not the dedication." Elesis muttered. She rolled over and pulled out her diary for another entry; she had gotten a tad lazy on the subject.

Today I learned that Chung does in fact know full well how to be a proper noble. I suppose my main trial now is to just get his attitude around. Also Aisha mentioned Elsword has been acting funny, perhaps I should talk to him about it if I get the chance? Father has still been very forceful in his mannerisms to remind me that I have apparently no choice but to marry Chung but I don't care. I'll make my own choice. That glass shard Chung was so agitated about, he said it was the only memory he has of his grandmother. I wonder if I should ask about that, maybe it will help him open up a bit? Ara seems to have developed quite the crush on Raven, it's pretty amusing. Sadly we both know Raven is a man of duty and in his mind he has no time for such matters. Funny, Rena's kind of the same way. Alas, these thoughts don't matter. I have only one goal at this time, and that's to get Chung's mindset on a better railing.

Elesis closed her diary and tossed it onto her dresser before wrapping herself up in the sheets and drifting off to sleep.

…

"Princess?"

"Urgh…." Elesis groaned as she heard a voice rousing her from sleep.

"Princess you must wake up. Your father has ordered for us to select your wedding dress." At those final words Elesis shot up, wide awake.

"What?!"

"Y-You're royal father has informed us that your wedding is to take place tomorrow." The maid stuttered, intimidated by Elesis' rage.

"That…..bastard….." Elesis trembled.

"M-Majes-."

"Out." Elesis ordered. The maid stumbled a slight curtsey before leaving the room. Elesis was up on her feet. She went to her dresser and started throwing clothes onto the bed before grabbing a large bag from the closet and stuffing them inside, "My own father won't even respect my wishes and my mother wouldn't let this go over her head without consent. They just don't care do they?" Elesis said sadly to herself. By no means was she ready to marry Chung as he was now; no not until he had proven himself. She stripped off her night gown and pulled out her combat uniform she had fashioned herself in her free time. She grabbed her personal claymore and strapped it to her back before sitting down on the vanity. She took out a paper and pencil and began to write a letter.

Dear Elsword,

Don't be sad and don't come looking for me. With mother and father clearly not caring for my happiness and enforcing my marriage I can't stay any longer. You're the best little brother anyone could ask for, funny and kind and a little bit cute to be honest. I know you'll do fine without me there to guide you, just focus on your happiness and that of our people. Even though I am running away please let mother and father know I still do and always will love them. Tell Ara to keep cooking that food I will miss so much, and Aisha to never let her bossy nature leave her. Please make sure Rena does not come for me. If she is really my personal guard she will respect my wishes. I go now to find a true love and a simpler life.

Love,

Your big sister, Elesis.

With teary eyes she folded the paper and stuck it to the mirror after writing her brother's name on it. She made sure the straps on her sheath and bag were well secure before walking out to her balcony.

"Elesis?!" She heard her mother's voice and looked back to see the queen and king were on their balcony as well.

"What are you doing?!" Envard demanded.

"You both know! You did this!" Elesis yelled back, and jumped off the ledge. As she plummeted she grabbed onto one of the banners and began to swing to the castle ramparts.

"Stop her!" The king yelled to the guards. Those on the wall made ready to catch Elesis as she leapt onto the ramparts. Without any effort she drew her blade and knocked them out cleanly without injury. She ran up the ramparts and jumped off to the stables as she whistled for her horse. As it rushed out of the stables she landed on her faithful steed's back and reared her in. By the time the guards has become organized and even reached the stables Elesis was out of the city and heading for the forests.

Later that day Elsword, Rena, Aisha, Chung and Camilla all stood in the empty room Elesis had abandoned. Elsword had just read his sister's note aloud and Camilla was mortified.

"Envard…..this is his fault….." She choked out.

"Mother, dad just wants what's best for the king-." Camilla shot up and interrupted her son.

"Because of that your sister has run away! Or have you already forgotten!?"

"Majesty! Please calm down!" Rena said, and forced her to sit down again. Chung was quiet the entire time. Elsword glared at him.

"See you don't even care." Chung still said nothing. Elsword shook his head, "You have the ability to be someone worth respecting. But you have no heart and now I have no sister because of that." Elsword growled as his hands balled into fists.

"None of this is my fault." Chung said faintly. The crimson prince's eyebrow twitched and his fist shot out and nailed the arrogant noble in the side. Chung stumbled and braced against the bedpost as Elsword turned and stormed out of the room. Camilla was crying now.

"Rena…..please, find her and make her see…."

"But what about-." Camilla stood up.

"I will make my husband see compassion." Camilla said coldly. Rena nodded.

"Very well. I will depart now." She said, and left the room.