𝖎𝖛𝖔𝖗𝖞 / 𝖙𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗

          having just finished his usual morning run, adrian was about to return to his chambers, his mind full of thoughts on the summit.  even though it’s been a long while since his last serious relationship   and heartbreak   he still didn’t feel ready to be in one, regardless of it being a merely political one.  his usual fast, long pace along with his distracted state did contribute to the collide just when he passed the door and even though he would have made a fuss out of it normally, this time he knew half of the blame was on him.     ‘ nah it’s fine, guess i wasn’t looking either. you good ? ’     mused the american prince, lifting his shoulders before giving a nod of his head.     ‘ that’s right, though  –  with the amount of people around here, it’s bound to be one hell of a crowded place. ’

“yes, yes i am fine,” the blonde laughed lightly, “well, in regard to our little collision at least.” she knew everyone here had their own soap opera-esque backstories to deal with and certainly didn’t want to deal with hers. “this palace used to be like a second home to me but now it feels like a maze again so i must apologize in advance if i ever run into you accidentally again.” eleanor tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, a nervous habit of hers, and offered a hand to shake. “i am eleanor of austria, it is a pleasure to meet you.” 

“oh don’t worry i’m perfectly fine.” assured the stranger before she got a good look of her face. the second she saw eleanor, guilt washed over her. “princess  eleanor…” she hadn’t known the young girl very well, but well enough that she felt sorry for the situation she was now in, with her brother. it was hard enough for diana to deal with her brother’s amnesia, constantly worrying over him, but she knew it would have been quite something else had she been in austrian princess’s shoes. “have you seen my brother yet?” she carefully asked, slowly.

once eleanor had regained her composure and realized who exactly it was that she bumped into it was hard not to get her blood boiling instantly. “princess diana,” the blonde replied curtly, not so sure her apology was what she would have first said to the princess. “it’s funny,” she began, shaking her head with a light laugh, “as long as your family has kept me away from him you would think that would be the first thing i go and do but for some reason i cannot bring myself to see him quite yet.”

The walls of Buckingham Palace held so many memories, secrets and scandals within the walls. And including a body that nonchalantly ambled through the secret corridors between the highly decorated interior of the Palace walls. Bobbing of the guiding light from his mobile phone which is planted between dusty rose lips - facing his foot more so than lighting his path. Sad to think he can remember every single secret passageway that veined through the castle -but couldn’t even remember his best friends’ names. Of course, now being informed of all of the people he hangs out with, he knows. His chocolate irises wandering around the unkept, dust-filled and spider-infested passway. He had so many questions for these words as he knew most of them held so many of his withering memories, the wispy sounds from the empty hallways on the opposing side of the dusty interior of the passway - told him that his memories are in safekeeping and will be given back at a later note.  It was something he had been doing since he was little using these hidden corridors to go down to the kitchen, steal all the sweets in sight. Not stealing but he always saw himself as a bit of a ninja when he went down to collect the sweets that had been laid out by his butler -who had been called out of retirement after James accident. A container of rainbow sour straps held tightly in his fisted hand. Speaking of his accident, his sweet tooth became predominant since coming back into the waking world, the constant need for sugar. Though there was a difference -but he doesn’t know- that in his wing of the palace has more guards standing by and on constant patrol, a safeguard his parents put in out of fear he would try to run away again.  The hand that held the container, plucked the phone from his mouth and managing to turn the flashlight feature. Opening the secret door quietly, slipping out of the passageway with slipper covered feet. Checkerboard pyjamas’ pants on with an oversized shirt that belonged to his grandfather, his hand still firmly on the door as he quietly closed the door. And his eyes shifted from the door to peer around to make sure the coast was clear. Which it was until he glanced over at his chamber’s doors.  His fingertips lingering on the secret door, observing the girl’s movements in front of his door. “Uh-um, hello…” He cleared his throat as his tongue slid along his inner cheek. “Have you gotten yourself lost to your chamber?” He stuck out a finger in the direction of the gold plaque with his name engraved on it. Awaiting for the blonde to face him.

the voice behind her startled her but of course it didn’t take her very long to realize it was james who was speaking to her. her body whipped around to face him faster than the blink of an eye and almost instantly tears began to well up in her soft green eyes. the remnants of his injuries were still visible on his skin, especially his face, and it just broke her heart to look at him. 

“i-” she began to say before rushing to close the small space between them. her arms immediately finding comfort wrapping around his neck and holding him so tight she never wanted to let go again. “i am so-so sorry,” eleanor lamented, trying her best to keep the water works at bay but of course her emotions were getting the best of her at the moment. “i should have come to be with you despite what your family wanted. this is all my fault.” 

slowly she released him from her tight embrace and glanced up to get a better look at his face. her fingers hovered over the remaining cuts and scars before moving to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “i am so sorry, my love,” the blonde told him again, her heart breaking all over again as her mind finally caught up with what her body was feeling. “but i am here now and i am not going to leave your side.”

the blonde roamed the halls aimlessly, letting her fingers drag along the intricate molding that covered the walls until she found herself in the most familiar part of the palace. james’ room. did she just knock? was he even there? it couldn’t be that simple. no doubt his parents were keeping a close watch on him since they were always so controlling of him and even more so now since they became unapproving of the pair. 

more than anything in the world she just wanted to make sure that he was okay since she blamed herself entirely for everything that happened to him. he left that night to run away with her. had they waited just a day more maybe this all could have been avoided. without thinking she let her petite fingers rasp on the door gently as her heart desperately hoped for an answer.  // @ofmischiefintentions