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Thought/Flashback/Dream

Chapter 17

Elmont was enjoying the exchange between the two sisters. His eyes were on Elissa's face most of the time and he couldn't stop smiling. Isabelle broke into a giggle.

"There's nothing wrong with it." Isabelle looked to Elmont and he smiled "I just want to give you something... Well, it's not technically me... Elmont?"

Elmont had asked Isabelle to search for something that was in the drawer of his desk. It took all of Elmont's self control to not laugh at the sight of Elissa's face, confusion. Slowly, she frowned and looked deeply to his eyes, questioning him. Isabelle stared back at him, waiting for him to make a move. He held out a hand to her and Isabelle smile, in her hand was a silver ring.

"Princess, I'm grateful that you find It." he tenderly smiled to Isabelle "I..."

Elissa threw him a dirty look.

"Elmont..." she growled, she couldn't see what was on Isabelle hand.

He ignored Elissa. Delicately, Elmont took the ring from Isabelle's hand and shot a brief smirk at Elissa who sat frozen in the grass. He looked to the ring, carefully, he moved and knee in front of her, and he softly moved her hair from the side of her face and behind her ear before he grabbed her hand, slipping the ring in her finger. He fought to keep a straight face when blood began flooding Elissa's cheeks.

Elmont looked to Isabelle and stand up.

"What you think, Princess?" Isabelle smiled.

"Don't call me that, Elmont... If you pretend to be my Brother..."

"Isabelle" Elissa blush at her sister's comment. She needed to get out of here and save herself from further embarrassment. She stood and maked intention to move away but Elmont wrapped his arm around her waist pulled her against his body.

"Where do you think your going?" he whispered in her ear.

"Somewhere..."

"Apparently you are not going "somewhere""

"Why did you give it to me?" Elissa knew he was smiling, she could feel

"I love you... And I wanted to give the ring to make you remember what I feel for you…" his voice was warm and tender.

"Elmont…" she turn in his embrace and caressed his face. Elissa shouldn't kiss him so close to the castle, someone could be watching but right now she didn't care; she just wanted to show him how much she loved him.

She pressed her lips so softly against his that it made that a gentle kiss, he almost didn't feel her warm lips against his but it was there. Elmont kissed her again after that, firmly this time.

He cupped her face and kissed her forehead when he heard a cough. Elissa smile and hide her face in the crock of his neck, breathing his scent.

"You two look lovely together" Elmont chuckle "I can see you love each other…"

Elmont found her near the window, her chin rested in her hand, as she stared longingly out at the night sky. There was no need to knock before entering, she wouldn't listen anyway, he approach her slowly. She looked so broken... He knew very well that she wanted to be alone. He knew it, but he didn't want to leave her alone in this day. Her despair and sadness was too great and it made him sad too.

Elissa couldn't stop remembering her lost mother. As he approach her, Elissa's shoulders shook, another storm of tears prepared to fall. This time, he wouldn't let her be alone, this time he would be by her side even if she didn't want him to be. He could be only her knight, her guardian but he care for her, too much for his one good and he couldn't stand to see her broken, he didn't want her to lost herself in her pain, he didn't want her to be left alone.. He had seen her struggling to control her pain and sorrow every time she was comforting her sister or even her father and he couldn't let her drown in her own sorrow. She was so fragile but strong at the same time. If she wanted to bear her pain, she had to let someone stay by her side, let someone see her pain and tears, let someone comfort her.

Her fragile form found his arms the same moment he reach her, gently, he knelt, bringing her to the floor, hand moving rhythmically up and down her back as she try to regain her composure, as she try to hold back her tears.

She didn't want him to see her pain; in fact she didn't want anyone to see her, crying. And why was Elmont in her bedroom?

"Princess... Crying isn't a weakness…" his words were her downfall; he had spoken so softly that she couldn't hold her tears and for that Elissa began to cry.

Elissa buried her head against his chest and he was grateful for to having his armor. She was wetting his black shirt but he didn't care, he only cared for her. Her chest heaved painfully, sobs muffling into him. He didn't say anything more to her. There was nothing more to say to her. She could live her life again, going back to the woman he care for, to the princess he was proud to serve, but unfortably the pain would never go away, the pain of losing someone you loved.

The Queen had die and all of Cloister was mourning her but no one felt so much pain as those who knew her well, those who had work for her, those who had known her kindness and he felt that he would never understand her pain, even if he wanted, even if he was sorry for her lost. Elissa was suffering and she had to be strong to Isabelle and for her father. She had eighteen years, Isabelle that had only twelve years was suffering and thought that no one understand her and, Elissa as older had to protect her, the best she could, from the pain of losing her mother.

It had been a while since she had stop crying and she had remained in his arms, warm, strong, and comforting. He'd never held her before, but his embrace brought to her comfort, and made her feel safe and wanted. She shifted slightly, her head pressed against his chest where she could hear the steady beating if his heart.

"I'm so sorry, Elmont..." she finally said.

"There's no need to apologize, your highness."

"Stop calling me that..." her voice quiet, raspy, her throat dry from crying.

"Yes, Princess"

"That too"

"As you wish..."

"I lost my mother... And I don't want to lose anyone else" she raised her chin slightly and meet his eyes "As your princess I want you to promise me to never leave me, to stay by my side..." a sad smile appear across his lips, and he stroked her hair softly.

"I will remain until you want me to be..." he smiled softly to her "Don't worry about me..."

"I will always worry about you... Promise you will protect them"

"I will..."

"Please don't say to anyone..."

"Remember Princess you still can be strong to your father and sister and still cry"

"But I don't want them to know..."

"It's a secret then." He placed a kiss in her forehead.

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