Chapter 5
Crash
The sharp sound of porcelain shattering against stone silenced Roland’s unfinished words
Cecily finched like a frightened doe, springing from his embrace as if burned
“You To awake” she cried, rushing to Eleanor’s bedside. Her tears came instantly, shimmering Uke dew How are you feeling? Does it still hurt? It’s all my fault
Eleanor’s lips curled into a pale, biting smile. “How could I possibly feel better with you hovering
over me?”
Cecily’s Tears flowed even harder. Her shoulders shook as if she were the one wounded, as if she’d
suffered the greatest injustice in the world. She bit her lip, cast one final glance at Roland and fled
the Toor
Roland instinctively stepped forward to follow, then stopped himself.
He turned to Eleanor, his voice low. “My lady… the moment called for haste. I didn’t have time to
think
Eleanor didn’t respond. She turned her face toward the window, letting silence speak for her
She didn’t want to hear it
Not his explanations.
Not his apologies
Foy three days, Roland stood guard outside her chamber, dutiful and silent. And for three days,
Eleanor did our say a word to him
Until the day she could finally rise from bed
Though her leg still ached with every step, Eleanor made her way to the study She opened & carved
wood drawer and withdrew a jet-black whip its leather polished to a ruthless gleam.
The Viremout family’s ancestral instrument of discipline
A single lash could flay the sun from bone
Send for Raland,” she told the bider
When Roland entered the room, Eleanor was caldy wiping down the whip with a white cloth, each
stroke deliberate
Sunlight filtered through the latticed windows, casting shadows across her lashes
“Roland,” she said evenly. “you are my sworn guard. You failed me, Roland, as my guard
She raised her eyes to his “I will administer punishment. You have no objection, do you?”
He didn’t speak.
He didn’t move.
Only the faintest flicker crossed his eyes – a tightening of his jaw, a subtle clench of his fists
But Eleanor noticed. She saw it all
Prince Roland. He had likely never been challenged, never been questioned.
Why would he? He was Roland Thorne son of a royal house, wrapped in power and privilege. People bowed at his feet, fought for his approval. Who would ever dare to touch him?
And yet, here she was. Whip in hand. Prepared to strike
She studied his face And then she saw it hesitation. He was hesitating
Not because he feared the lash
Not because he doubted her authority.
But because he was weighing something else. Weighing her against Cecily
He could have ended this with a word.
He could have exposed his true status, reminded them all of who he really was, and walked away
uritouched.
But he didn’
He stayed
He yielded
All for the chance to remain close to her to protect Cecily
Hearion’s throat tigatened Her vision blurred
And for a moment just a moment she almost laughed
Laughed at the cruelty of it all
At how willing he was to suffer, not for duty, not for honor but for love
“I have no objection,” Roland said quietly, jaw clenched.
At that moment, Eleanor’s heart clenched so hard it felt as if something tore within her
She gripped the whip rightly and raised her arm
“Stop!”
A slender figure darted into the room and threw herself between them, shielding Roland with her
body
Cecily
Tears welled in her eyes, voice trembling. “If you must punish someone, punish me! This has nothing to do with him!”
“Step aside.” Eleanor said coldly.
“No!” Cecily sobbed, her tears falling like rain: “I was the reason you were hurt. If anyone deserves
it, it’s me
Roland reached out, trying to move her aside. “Lady Cecily, this does not concern you.”
But she refused to budge She planted herself before him, trembling yet unmoving
Eleanor’s fury surged. She snapped the whip down without hesitation
Crack
The sound sliced through the air like lightning.
The blow was meant for Roland- but Cecily leapt forward and took it in his stead
Ah
A sharp cry escaped her lips. Her fragile frame trembled once before collapsing.
Roland caught her in his arms and knelt swiftly to examine the wound
When he lifted his head again, his gaze met Eleanor’s cold as winter steel.
it wasn’t anger in those eyes
7 was murder
The kind of look that promised violence. That warned; one more step, and I will end you
Eleanor’s blood ran cold
“Get out,” she whispered, her voice barely steady.
Without a word, Roland rose and carried Cecily our
The heavy doors slammed shut behind him with a deafening thud.
Eleanor stood frozen, the whip falling from her trembling hands
