Royal Disaster

Chapter 5: Puppet

Emrose

I can't believe what I've just heard. Why is he changing his mind? Is this because of Alas? It can't be. I won't allow it. I stormed back upstairs to Elchard's room.

"You need to leave. Now." I spoke to Alas, still half-asleep.

"What? Why?" 

"Bringing you here was a mistake. I shouldn't have brought you here. I'm really sorry, but you really need to leave." I started to sound slurry, I was desperate for him to leave. I can't ruin my chance of leaving this place.

"Hey hey hey, slow down. You seem so frightened. Tell me what's wrong." Alas sat up and tried to reach for me but I backed away.

"You don't have to know anything. All you need to do is leave. Please." my voice broke. 

"What the hell happened? A while ago I was certain you were ready to fight your beloved brother just to let me stay here." He sounded hurt and confused at the same time. I'm not sure why, maybe because he was finally comfortable and I suddenly asked him to pack his things and leave.

"My brother, he changed his mind.. I can't. I don't want him to change his mind. He's my only hope." I started to sob. But I stopped myself, I was stronger than this. He tried to stand up and come near me, but I backed away again.

"Why are you so worried I'll come near you?" he says, "I'm not gonna hurt you, Rose."

"No, please stop. Don't call me that. Only my brother calls me that." I argued.

"What is it with your brother and you?" he continued, "It's like he's your world or someth..." before he could think of other malicious things again, I answered him frankly.

"He is my world. He is my brother, he is family. He is as important to me as my parents. They are my world. Can't you understand? Haven't you seen this morning with your own eyes how they would fight till death for me? And if I have to, I would too." I said, raising my voice. "I'm sorry that you don't have any of that. I'm sorry about your story, but you really need to get it through your head that we are one here. One doesn't move without the other."

"Don't you think I can see that? But you know what I also see? A puppet. I see a puppet in you." He finally stood up, he clutched his injured arm beside his body and walked towards the door. His words stung and I didn't have to ask him why he said them. I understood and that made it all worse.

I watched him walk out of the door as his footsteps screeched on the wooden stairs.

"Madam, I cannot fully express my gratitude to you and your entire family for the kindness you have shown me but I'm afraid I must be on my way. I will forever be grateful." He curtsied, still clutching his arm. 

"But you're not well yet, Alas. And you have no horse. Where will you go, son?" Mother's tone was baffled and worried at the same time.

"I will continue on my journey, ma'am. I'm closer now compared to where I was yesterday, so I think it's best if I head there as soon as I can." He politely answered my mother. 

"No, stay for a little while. I insist. You can leave when you're already healed." I know she didn't want this, but I also know that my mother is not heartless.

"I'm not so sure that can be madam." He looked up at me, he knew I was watching him from the staircase. "I'm afraid me being here has caused a disturbance."

"Oh nonsense. That was a normal reaction from us this morning. You see, we've never had visitors before. And well, we never wanted one too. But we are not heartless people. You are injured, and we are here to help." Mother said, coming closer to Alas.

"Let him leave if he wants to, mother." Elchard said while munching an apple in his mouth, not even glancing Alas's way. Alas's gave a smirking expression again.

"I must be on my way then. It's getting dark." Alas said while looking out the window. "Once again, thank you for your kindness. It will forever be remembered."

And with that, he walked out of the door. 

By the next hour, I still can't stop thinking about him. Everything went by so fast. He just really stepped out of our house with his injured arm. His injured arm. Oh what have I done? After putting him through all of that insult and punch this morning,I was the one who placed him in this madness and still had the audacity to kick him out.  

He called me a stupid woman this morning. With what I'm about to do, I truly think he was right.

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