Secrets of Royal Desire.

chapter 5 : Hatred and despair.

Elisa sat quietly in her room, a serene expression on her face, despite the storm surrounding her world. Margie, the ever-busy gossip, walked in with a disdainful smile, her eyes blinking with mischief.

"Well, well, Elisa," she began, her tone full of sarcasm. "The beautiful newcomer who thinks she can do whatever she wants in this palace. So, how did it go with the Prince? Do you really believe you can win this war by keeping him locked away in your room? And what exactly happened between the two of you?"

Elisa remained silent, choosing not to rise to Margie’s insults. Margie's words were like arrows, aimed to pierce through Elisa’s calm behaviour.

“I’m talking to you, Elisa!” Margie pressed on, her voice rising. “Why didn’t you help your Prince Charming when he fell? He hurt himself badly, do you know that!” She continued to provoke her, but Elisa simply held her ground, her expression steady.

Finally, Elisa's patience wore out. “If you’re done speaking, I’d like you to leave my room,” she said, her voice sharp and commanding as she showed Margie the door.

Margie smirked, courageously. “Ooh, I’m not finished yet. Have you forgotten the Queen’s stern warning? You could be thrown out of this palace for good, Elisa! How can you lock the Prince in here? Everyone deserves to know the truth. You can’t keep pretending to be a saint. I’m going to tell the Queen everything right away!”

Margie stood up, clearly pleased with herself, ready to leave and spread her juicy gossip. But Elisa’s anger flared. “You don’t need to tell the Queen anything, Margie. I’ve had enough of this. I’m leaving this palace right now. You’ve always tried to find a way to ruin my reputation. Nothing happened between Prince Hemed and me, and I assure you, there’s nothing going on between us.”

If you choose to report to the Queen, then that’s your own problem. I have no feelings for the Prince; he was the one who offered me this job, and I have always learnt to respect him. And by the way, as you report to the Queen, don’t forget how the Prince will make your life miserable. Think about it carefully….. Margie!

With that, Elisa turned away, her heart filled with a mix of anger and resolve. She was tired of Margie’s relentless accusations and the suffocating atmosphere she was set to cause her. It was time to take control of her own destiny.

Jealousy had always consumed Margie, as Elisa, despite being new in the palace, had quickly gained recognition and respect from the royal family. Now, with Elisa vulnerable and distressed, Margie saw a way to exploit her emotions and fulfill her own desires. She didn't know that her actions would set in motion a chain of events that would forever make her life miserable in the Palace.

Elisa found herself facing an unexpected challenge in the midst of her responsibility. The once kind-hearted Prince who had shown her compassion and love, was now against her work and disliked her so much. He would unexpectedly scold her even when her work seemed perfect, with Jennifer's approval.

For reasons unbeknownst to her, the young prince started to hold an intense dislike towards her, causing great concern even to the king himself. His hatred began to cast a shadow over Elisa’s work, threatening to unravel the harmony she had carefully cultivated within the palace.

It soon became apparent that Prince Hemed's dislike came from his feelings for Elisa, which she rejected. She had gracefully declined his inappropriate gestures, and it was this rejection that fueled his hatred towards her. Fearing the prince’s presence, Elisa would swiftly avert her gaze and retreat whenever he came closer to her, attempting to shield herself from the complexities that arose from their strained relationship.

This was a day that Elisa’s heart was heavy with confusion and longing, as she stood aimlessly in the corridors of the palace. She felt vulnerable, when she suddenly saw Prince Hemed and turned to talk to him, with her gaze searching his face for answers. “Why do you hate me so much, Prince Hemed?” she asked, her words laced with a mixture of hope and despair.

“I thought you liked me, especially when you pleaded with your mother to give me a chance to work here. I never knew you were pretending to sympathize with me at all. Where did I go wrong? What happened to that kind hearted and charming Prince who gave me an opportunity to work here in the palace?”

Her words touched the prince’s heart, as he stood before her, torn between his desires and the constraints imposed upon him by his mother. He had longed to draw closer to Elisa, to bridge the distance that seemed to stretch endlessly between them. Yet, as he looked into her eyes, he felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him.

Instead of answering her, he merely smiled—a subtle, smile that held unspoken words—and turned away, leaving Elisa standing there, her heart aching for dialogue. She had no choice but to make her way to to the kitchen in order for her to finish her duties.

As days went by, the delicate situation between them continued to worsen. Prince Hemed found himself yearning to be near her, to share in the laughter and warmth that she shared with other family members and more especially Jennifer the house manager. But every time he tried to be closer to her, Elisa would instinctively recoil, then keep her distance as if bound by invisible chains.

This behavior only deepened the breach of silence that lay between them, and soon, Hemed began to monitor her actions. The change in his behaviour left Elisa feeling increasingly anxious. She feared that he was withdrawing from her completely, and with it, her dreams of a brighter future began to fade.