The Death of a Bachelor

Chapter Thirty One

It was the day Kieran would be returning home from the South, and that afternoon found Elena settled in the pavilion at Hammedatha Manor, playing the castor seed based board game King's Tower, with Aaron and Raymond.

She had come to the Manor not on appointment, but because she had had the need to see him when he returned.

Elena let out a shriek of joy. "Yes, I win again!"

Aaron sighed while Ray groaned, tossing his head back. "Why are you so good at this when we've just taught you, sister-in-law?"

Elena shrugged and beamed. "Special talents?"

"Ray, you haven't won one game since we started playing," Aaron pointed out, resetting the board. "You need to shape up, brother."

"I'm doing my best but I don't stand a chance against sister-in-law's powers," Ray whined. "It's like she can read my every move. Are you psychic, sister-in-law?"

Elena narrowed her eyes and made her voice husky in a bid to appear mysterious. "Who knows?"

Ray huffed, but something caught his eye in the distance, and he grinned. "Looks like they're back. Look; it's the Formidable Trio."

Elena froze for a moment before averting her gaze in the direction Ray and Aaron were looking.

The General and Prince Luke were walking side by side, lost in animated conversation while Princess Debra lagged behind a bit.

However, she rushed up to them and energetically flung her arms round each of their necks so she was in the middle. The impact made them bend and stagger a bit. Princess Debra let out a laugh while her brother looked to be scolding her. The General merely shook his head, his eyes downcast, but the smile was evident on his face.

Elena watched them and could tell how their bond went back years. They looked comfortable, and they fit.

It was only when Ray and Aaron stood up to go and meet them that Elena snapped out of her daze. Before she knew it, she was dashing out of the pavilion and taking cover behind one of the nearby tall shrubs.

Wait, why was she hiding? And why was her heartbeat so fast? Was it because she was afraid...of the Princess? Or of facing The General?

Her insecurities were turning her into a coward.

She sighed, and cautiously, craned her neck to peep at the chattering crowd. They were all together in the lawns, talking and laughing away, except for...the General.

Where did he go?

Elena drew back and turned to her other side. She nearly screamed at the sight of him standing right infront of her with an impassive look on his face, his arms crossed over his chest.

"J-General!"

He gave her an upwards nod, suspicion written all over his face. "What are you doing?"

She gulped. "I wuh-was..." Her hand shot out aimlessly and grabbed onto the shrub. "F-feeling the leaves."

He narrowed his eyes.

She gave him a crooked smile. "Quite the nice texture!" she exclaimed, her fingers making off with a handful of detached leaves. "You should f-feel them too!"

With that, she sprinkled the leaves over him, but his gaze remained transfixed on her, an eyebrow lifted.

She let out a nervous laugh. "I have things to do inside!" She declared, and dashed off before he could stop her.

When she came into the kitchen, she face-palmed three times, while cursing, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

She fanned herself with her hand. It wasn't even hot so why was she getting sweaty?