“Biggest Betrayer”

‘You are still okay and healthy, and that’s all that matters.’

‘No... am not!!’

‘You still have me, My empress.’

‘No, Everyone betrayed me!’

‘Therefore it is with a heavy heart that I stand before everyone today, bound by my oath to the God, to inform you all of the atrocity she had me perform whilst under her command.’

‘No, I didn’t!!’

‘Eleanora, the former empress, ordered me to present Queen Jennifer a herbal tea. A tea I believe caused her miscarriage.’

‘I said i didn’t!!’

‘She persuaded me to try and escape with her, but I know now she didn’t tell me the whole story.’

.....

‘No! You wanted to accompany me on your own to trap me!’

‘I thought I was going to be helping a poor girl who needed someone to care for her. Instead, I ended up abiding a criminal with something so heinous.’

‘No!! You are the one who is doing a heinous crime by framing a innocent person like me!!’

Eleanora felt her mind going blank as the voice inside her mind kept repeating, no matter how many times she denied.

No one heard her.

On the other hand, Everyone around her was a little surprised seeing her suddenly being so quite.

“My Ladyship...”

Rena spoke as she took a step towards Eleanora but the latter abruptly step backed.

‘Don’t come near me!!’

‘Stay away... You biggest betrayer!’

‘Why is she here?!’

Fear flashed through Eleanora’s eyes as her memory of the trial ground kept repeating in her mind.

Eleanora hated Rena more then Jennifer and the past Cathain.

“Are you okay, My ladyship? His Majesty called for you, the ceremony would start shortly.”

“...Yeah, I just felt a little dizzy.”

“Oh my, should i call the doctor?”

Concern could be seen in Rena’s face but Eleanora knew it was only a facade. She is actually working under Duke Raven.

Eleanora didn’t knew what to do.

She was feeling lost and just then, another voice called for her... which relaxed Eleanora.

“Lady Dalton!!”

“Priestess Liana.”

Eleanora watched Liana rushing towards her like she knew her discomfort.

“Am also going to meet the emperor. The second prince and i will go back to our Kingdom after today. Who knows when i will be able to meet you again.”

“You people are going back?”

“Yeah, So let’s go back together.”

Eleanora nodded to Liana’s words and turned to Rena, having Liana with her gave her a little courage.

“You can go back, i will go on my own.”

“But- As you wish, My ladyship.”

Rena wanted to speak but Brayden’s glaring made her stop and retreat.

Eleanora walked as she talked with Liana.

She was feeling a little upset to part with Liana and Dominic as they have stayed together for the past three years.

Their friendship started with saving the slaves and continued till now.

Both of them was a supportive friend of hers, Specially Liana.

Dominic was like a second version of Alexander, who would kick out any men from approching his cousin.

“Where is brother Dom?”

“He is with the emperor.”

“Oh...”

Hearing Liana’s words, Eleanora was a little surprised.

As far she knows, Dominic is the second person after her father, who sees the young emperor as an eyesore.

...

Soon, they reached the waiting room where Cathain was waiting for Eleanora.

After the official coronation ceremony in the morning, the knights will leave for the battlefield in the afternoon.

The Republican knights have already started to make a mess at the borders, so they can’t dely their departure anymore.

Inside the waiting room, Cathain was sitting with Dominic and talking while taking small sips of tea.

For some reason, Eleanora felt a little deja vu when she saw Cathain drinking tea.

For the coronation ceremony, Cathain was wearing all white and a dark red robe above it.

His sword, which was decorated with pure gold and red rubies was shining on his waist; making his white suit look more gorgeous.

“My empress...”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Eleanora greeted the emperor first and then she turned to Dominic, who stood up from his sit and hugged her.

“How are you, Ele?”

“Am fine, Dom. Won’t you come to meet me after i return?”

“Of course i will try my best to come. You have to take care of yourself, okay?”

“If you can’t come, then i will visit you.”

“Anytime you want, you are always welcome.”

Eleanora and Dominic continued with their conversation, not noticing the dark aura filling up the room with darkness.

‘Dom? Ele? Huh! My foot!’

Cathain narrowed his eyes as he took a sip of his tea, watching the cousin’s talking like it’s the last time they are seeing each other.

Unable to bear anymore, Cathain stood up from his sit and stood beside Eleanora.

Where, Eleanora become surprised as she felt Cathain’s hands wrapping around her waist.

“Of course, we will visit Aredell very soon... for our honeymoon. Right, My empress?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Everyone in the room was speechless because of Cathain’s ridiculous remark, where Cathain didn’t even seem to be affected by this.

‘Can he be anymore shameless?!’

Eleanora thought in her mind as she tried to get away from Cathain’s grip.

Right then, the high priest enter the waiting room.

Eleanora was about to greet him first but she was shocked as the high priest greet her before she could.

“I greet the holy saintess and future moon of our empire, Lady Eleanora Ariande La Dalton.”

Eleanora politely bowed in response, as she didn’t expected that her current position is even higher then a high priest, who only bows to the emperor.

Eleanora clearly remembers the high priest sorry face when he declared the divorce between her and the emperor in her past life.

.....

This old man was always someone, who helped Eleanora everytime.

Either it was when she went to the temple to pray for Alexander’s safe return from the borders or grief over her unborn dead child, the high priest always consoled her.

So, the high priest was a man with high respect in her eyes.

“Ele.”

“Daddy?”

Eleanora turned her attention to Alexander, who entered after the high priest.

Behind him was his aid, Raynor, who had something in his hands.

But Eleanora didn’t bothered about that and walked towards Alexander as she hugged him.

‘So you hug everyone while greeting except me?’

Cathain felt his heart burning again as he looked at Alexander with an displeased expression.

He would be able to sleep beside Eleanora if Alexander didn’t forced him to start a meeting at night with other nobles.

Alexander’s expression become softer as Eleanora ran and hugged him with an happy face.

Like how she used to do when she was little.

The duchess would always wait in the garden with the little Eleanora on her lap for Alexander’s arrival.

When he would get down from the carriage, the warm scenario of his daughter running to him as his wife was yelling at his daughter to run slowly is a scene that Alexander can never forget.

This is the scene that he still longs for.

This was also the reason why he went to the borders again after Eleanora got married in her past life.

That way, he won’t have to see the empty garden with no one to greet him, when he comes back.

He wouldn’t have to stay in the big mansion all alone.

Even if his relationship with Eleanora wasn’t good at that time, but she was still infront of his eyes at that time.

Alexander shook his head to come back to the reality from his memories and strocked her silver hairs gently.

“Let’s get ready. The ceremony will begin soon, we should leave now.”

“Mmn.”

Eleanora nodded at her father’s words but as she was about to walk, she felt her weightless for a moment.

Her mind screamed in surprise and horror.

“Daddy!!”

“Hm?”

Alexander had lifted up Eleanora on his lap as he proceed to leave the room, without even greeting the emperor properly.

He narrowed his eyes as his eyes fall on Cathain’s tea cup but there was no expression on his face as usual.

Following Alexander, Dominic and Liana also takes their leaves, leaving only Cathain and the high priest in the room.

...

“Daddy, put me down.”

“No, i won’t be able to carry you anymore after today.”

“...”

Eleanora didn’t spoke anything and let her father carry her with an embarrassed face.

What Alexander said was true, He won’t be able to carry her in the battlefield.

When they will return she will become an adult, so it will be inconvenient then.

The hallway was empty, so there was no problem her father carrying her.

Liana smilled as she watched the scene infront of her.

She always thought Alexander and Eleanora was cold, but forgot why they was like that.

It was because of her foolishness, her blind love and cravings for her father love which made her desdestroy everything.

Her father was once loving and caring like this too, till she was obedient and listened to him.

But once his goal was accomplished after Eleanora’s planned murder and the fall of Dalton Duchy, his true colours started to show up infront of her.

Liana sighed deeply as she forced a smile under her veil.

‘I will protect their smile’s this time.’

Where, Dominic kept stealing glances at Liana and thought in his mind.

‘What are you planning to hide from me again?’

All of them stopped infront of a room as Alexander stopped and put down the confused Eleanora.

He took the bag from his aid Raynor and handed it to Eleanora as he spoke.

“Maria and Jennie is inside. Go and change.”

“Change? But am already wearing-”

“It’s ugly.”

“...”

‘A dress embroidered with the finest threads and pearls are u-ugly?!’

Alexander ignored Eleanora’s questioning look as he pushed Eleanora into the room to change.

“You all head to the hall. I will come later with Ele.”

Hearing him, Everyone else left for the ceremony.

Leaving him and Eleanora behind.

Where, Eleanora was shocked to see the dress Alexander prepared for her.

‘W-What’s this?! How can i wear this?’historical