Chapter 36 - Rescue Mission

"Mercenary guild?" Eleanor stepped back. "What are you talking about?"

The Prince chuckled. "Your innocence is adorable. So naive, little Eleanor."

She did not get the chance to bite back, because Rowan exited the kitchen at that time. His eyes quickly flew over the scene before positioning himself in front of Eleanor.

"What is this about?" The gladiator held an arm out to create a barrier between her and Arthur.

"This is about you, Rowan Kennedy. You're under arrest for being a part of the Goldenshroud guild. As a mercenary."

It still did not make sense to Eleanor. Rowan was a gladiator, not a mercenary. Eleanor didn't even think they still existed. Who hired someone to kill another these days? "What nonsense are you talking about? You're just pulling these accusations from your arse. What proof do you have?"

The Prince gave Eleanor a disbelieving look. "I have enough proof."

"That means that you have none and are just using your authority to falsely accuse someone."

Eleanor looked up at Rowan, and instead of seeing a look of shock, he had concern on his face. What could he be concerned about while being framed like this?

"I have better things to do than lie to people." The Prince took a step forward, and so did his guards. "I have eyewitness reports from multiple people, showing you being associated with the Goldenshroud and doing work for them. Arrest him."

The guards moved on his word, four of them stepped around him to pull Rowan away from Eleanor.

"Wait, wait! You can't just do that!" Eleanor was beginning to panic now. The Prince could not be serious. Going to the extreme just to get rid of the competition in a contest that he lost twice. "He didn't do anything wrong."

Eleanor tried to go after Rowan, but Arthur and his remaining guards blocked her way. "It seems that there's nothing you can do about your beloved fiance. And wait, I'm sure your parents won't leave you engaged to a criminal, am I right?"

"Your desperation is honestly embarrassing. If the people knew about this, you would be the shame of the country." Eleanor said bitterly.

"In your eyes, it's desperation. But I just see someone who never gives up on their goals."

"And what would that be?"

The Prince hummed. "Well, you'll just have to find out, we'll be together pretty soon anyway. For now, just sit tight."

Arthur patted her on the head and then left through the front door. An uncomfortable silence settled over the house. Eleanor was alone. Rowan was gone. He was taken from her. The Prince took him from her, right as they were about to-

"He can't be gone." Eleanor gripped her night dress. She hadn't even changed out of it yet. "What am I supposed to do... what am I supposed to do now?"

All the air in her lungs seemed to be squeezed out by the suffocating panic rising in her chest. She tried to take as many breaths as she could but they were all becoming shorter and quicker.

It all happened within the last five minutes. Too short of a time for something that major to happen. With Rowan gone, he would not be able to carry out his plan. And if he was the first, then the rest of his guild could also follow behind. The royal family would remain where they were and nothing would change. Eleanor did not have the courage to try and do it on her own, she didn't even know where to begin when it came to taking over a country.

And with Rowan gone, it meant that she would need to find someone else to marry. That was definitely not what she wanted to happen. The Prince would be the runner-up, and Eleanor would rather cut off her tongue than get married to him. And after he had denied her like that all those years ago. She never thought that he would suddenly become hellbent on marrying her.

Right when she was starting to like Rowan too. She told him to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her as well. And then he was snatched from her. Can she really not have what she wants in life?

Tears burned Eleanor's vision and she tried to calm her breathing with deep breaths. Slowly, she sank to the floor, and sat cross-legged. Her lungs slowly expnading once again. Eventually, she was able to regain control of her breathing and thoughts. She could not lose Rowan so easily.

Eleanor stared at the open front door, replaying the scene in her head a million times, forcing her brain to come up with a solution to get him out of jail. She had no idea what would happen if she told her parents. They were definitely ones to roll over when it came to the royal family, so getting them to try and save Rowan was not an option.

She would have to do this without them.

Getting up from the floor, Eleanor dusted off her nightgown. Rowan was gone, but it didn't mean that all hope was lost. There were still people out there that would help if they heard that he was in trouble. The members of the Goldenshroud came to his house for meetings, which meant that he had to be pretty important for people to come to him. If she told them that Rowan was in trouble, then they must want to help get him back.

Eleanor Louis was going to Amsey.

She did not like Rowan's guild members, but there was no other choice. Maybe they would enact their plan early to get him back, or sneak into the castle and bust him out of his cell. There was no other place that he would be held other than the dungeons under the castle. Arthur would want to keep Rowan as close to him as possible. Keep your enemies close they say.

If Amsey was filled with the same noble-hating people that made up Rowan's guild, it meant that she clearly could not show up there in a carriage and fancy clothes. Eleanor would need to go there the commoner way.