Elise felt the fear run through her as she looked at the unblinking intense gaze he held with her all whilst his hand was wrapped around her neck. This could very well be where she died all because she was being far to stubborn to back down, proclaiming that she would never marry him like she had a choice in the matter. The minute she heard the soft voice leave his lips she felt her heart stop, eyes widened as fear crossed them when she felt him strangling her. 

It was at that moment she was sure she was about to be killed, strangled to death as she struggled to breathe. Loss of oxygen was honestly the worst way to die, it was like torture having the life sucked out of you as you clung on for dear life as if it would help. Out of instinct her hands grabbed his wrists as if trying to escape, clawing at him as she wriggled in his grasp trying to break free as she battled against the loss of oxygen. Even though it had been a few moments it felt like a lifetime when struggling to breathe and when he had finally released her, she gasped trying to regain composure. 

Unable to stop the tremble as she keeled over still gasping for air, she took hold of the bookcase steadying herself as her other hand massaged her neck, even without his hand there she could still feel it like it had left a lasting impression. Touching the soft skin of her neck only caused her to wince as she could feel the area was tender after the attempt at her life. Thinking on it she thought it was probably to scare her and she’d be lying if she said it didn’t. 

[b][color=6ecff6]“W-What?”[/color][/b] Managing to breathe out her words as her voice croaked adjusting to what had just transpired. Using the bookcase to keep herself upright as her chest heaved her lungs still desperately taking in the air that it had lost. 

Narrowing her eyes as Elise watched him picking up the book tutting it as he continued to speak, wincing as he tore it in two. 

[color=6ecff6][b]“You wouldn’t!”[/b][/color] 

Flinching this time as he continued to tear up the book threatening her and she didn’t like it one bit, as the threats continued, she could feel a pounding in her head as she couldn’t help but watch him a mix of fear and determination through her eyes as a part of her didn’t want to back down. She knew she would have too as she needed to remind herself that she was at the disadvantage here especially whilst in enemy territory. With each rip of paper, she felt herself falter, every bit of confidence she once had broken into tiny pieces like it didn’t mean a thing and she felt her heart painful race within her chest because she was not ready to face her consequences. 

[color=6ecff6][b]“N-No… you can’t just kill them or launch a surprise attack. You can’t. That’s not… that’s not how you get peace.”[/b][/color] Elise could feel her voice waiver at the idea he would just cut down everyone she loved her father and brother and then attack Novrandt no doubt killing innocents from it and she just could not stand the idea of it. Although her father and brother hadn’t seen fit to write to her, she still loved them, they were her family after all even if they had left her alone in enemy lands to fend for herself which she was currently doing a bad job at. 

Elise fell silent as she saw the cruel smile grace his lips and she swallowed feeling the discomfort as she glanced to the door that he was making his way towards. Watching him like a hawk as stuck his head outside her hand itched towards another book, the urge to throw it at him again whilst he was off guard but before she could reach it her hand dropped at his words. 

[color=6ecff6][b]“Excuse me? Are you confining me to my rooms?”[/b][/color] Sounding outraged at the idea he was just going to lock her away until she changed her mind, she was patient and being locked in her rooms wouldn’t change a thing on the fact that she did not wish to be enslaved to him for goodness knows how many years. Shaking her head, she gathered the remainder of her courage as she walked to the door with her head held high.

[color=6ecff6][b]“I hope you’re ready to wait, because I [i]won’t[/i] reconsider.”[/b][/color] Elise knew it was stupid to try and even get in the last word, but she didn’t want him to think he had won just because he had resorted to physical violence and she had been scared for a moment. Stepping out of the library she began to walk towards her rooms not caring if his guards escorted her or not because she could make her own way there, hopefully it also meant that she was excused from any social gatherings.