Saving The Abandoned Empress

“How come-”

“Wasn’t he dead?!”

“It’s really him...”

Evan De Raven looked at Emperor Valerian with shocked gaze and Cathain’s lips curved up a little as he passed the broadsword to his father.

“Father...”

“You have grown up a lot, son..”

Emperor Valerian spoke as he pat on his son’s shoulder, who was now taller then him.

He still remember the time when Cathain’s would jump up to sit on his shoulder, and say that he would grow taller then his father one day.

.....

And that day, finally came.

Now his son is taller then him, sitting on his position.

Emperor Valerian took the broadsword from his son’s hands and turned to face the former duke of Raven.

“Surprised?”

“Did you think you are the only one who can scheme?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Valerian faced the shocked crowd.

“As you guys can see, am alive and well. We faked my dead to trap duke Raven; and as we expected... He had speed up his plan to kill my son as soon as i was out of the picture.”

“...And there is one more crime he did, the massacre at the Dalton Duchy 12 years ago, the attempt murder of the Duchess.”

Alexander’s face hardened as the last image of his wife popped up on his mind.

How he begged her to not leave him, to let him in the barrier to help.

But she just decided to sacrifice herself for everyone.

Eleanora recalled her mother’s face as she made her escape from the duchy to protect her.

This time, it was Eleanora who gripped her father’s hands to comfort him and Alexander faintly smiled at her.

Then Emperor Valerian started again.

“I, The former emperor of this empire, Valerian De Alfred Valentino; take back ‘The Agility Award’ from Evan De Ravens for harming the imperial family and treason.”

The former duke of Raven was forcefully laid on the oak stump, his mouth was tied with a piece of cloth, so that he can’t talk.

“So, Evan De Raven will be executed according to the rules and his sentence is to carry out immediately!!”

Emperor Valerian spoke as he raised the broadsword on his hands and Evan De Raven’s green eyes widened with fear.

He tried to yell but no voice could be heard as his mouth was blocked with fabrics.

Emperor Valerian heart felt heavy, as he recalled the late empress’s cold body.

Protectively hugging a little boy, who looked like him on her arms.

His heart ached everytime he thought how desperately she might have called for him, wished for him to appear and save her as she was choked to death with a pillow.

How helpless she was, how pain she felt when she realised that person she showered with kindness had betrayed her.

‘Cathy... Finally, finally am avenging you.. Can you see it?’

‘He is getting what he deserves... Are you happy?’

SLASH!

Emperor Valerian’s face covered with splash blood as he executed the sinner infront of him.

He fumed with anger as he suddenly thought execution was an easy death for this man.

He should have chocked him with a pillow, burn him alive.

Cathain pat on his father’s shoulder, whose eyes become wet because of anger and remorse.

‘Cathy... I can finally die in peace, i can finally face you... I miss you so much, My Cathy...’

Outside of the trial ground, Cedrick hugged Jennifer tightly as they understood that they only have each other from now on.

Jennifer recalled the moment of her past life, how happy she had become when she learnt that she was not an orphan.

She has a father and a family.

She continued to sob on her brothers embrace and Cedrick couldn’t even speak a word as he was also feeling like her.

How he always tried his best to get praised by his father, how much he wanted his father to pat on his head and say that he did a good job.

But all he got was whip marks on his body.

Everything ended just like that.

So simple yet painful.

…

“His Majesty is inside.”

Sir Raymond spoke as he pushed open the ballroom’s door for Eleanora to enter, who was suddenly summoned by the emperor at middle of the night.

As she was living in the imperial place for the past one month since they returned from the battlefield, it wasn’t difficult for her to meet him at this hour.

But still, she was surprised when she heard that he summoned her in the ballroom.

Eleannora was still awake at this hour because she couldn’t sleep after all the events happened today.

The moment she closes her eyes, the mixed image of the past and present appears on her mind.

She was wearing a white nightdress and a red coloured shawl hanged around her neck loosely to cover her body.

“Your Majesty?”

Her voice echoed loudly as the large ballroom was completely empty.

The room was little dark but she could still see because of the candles in the room.

She was a little stunned to see the room filled with so much candles that she didn’t even need the moonlight, which was coming through the big windows.

“You’ve come?”

Cathain’s voice also echoed loudly in the large ballroom as he slowly approached Eleanora with a candle on his hands.

He was wearing the same black trousers and shirt, which he wore in the morning, as he just took of the cape and the suit.

‘Don’t tell me that he was lighting up candles for the whole night!’

As he got closer, Eleanora could smell alcohol on him and she looked at him with a frown.

“How much did you drink?!”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Don’t ask questions over my question!”

Eleanora puffed her face as she has never seen him drinking this much that his face would turn fully red.

Where the drunk Cathain chuckled seeing her worrying for him.

“Am going to tell someone to make hangover soup for you-”

Eleanora spoke as she turned to leave but the candle from Cathain’s hands dropped on the floor as he hugged her from behind.

“Stay with me,”

His hands was wrapped around her waist as he rubbed his face against hers.

“Am feeling lonely...”

“Till now, i had one reason which made me go on without you beside me... But today, that reason is fulfilled. I finally avenged our mothers... Our past self’s.”

“Now, you are the sole reason for me to go on..”

Eleanora’s felt her cheeks burning as his hot breathe continued to fall on her face and she tried to loosen his grip over her waist a little.

“Your- Your Majesty...Can you- move a little and then t-talk?”

She felt flustered because of the closeness between them.

But then, Cathain turned her over to pull her more closer and see her face.

.....

“Are you feeling embarrassed?”

Cathain spoke as he bent down to move his face more closer to her and Eleanora averted her gaze.

“No, why would i- it’s a little uncomfortable to talk like this...”

“Okay, so we won’t talk anymore... Let’s dance.”

“D-Dance?!”

Before Eleanora could react, Cathain had hold her hands as he started to move slowly like a slow dance.

There was no music, no spotlight on them, no audience. She could faintly hear the blowing of the wind and low chirping sounds of birds.

The tree branches would make a swaying sound as strong wind would hit them.

The weird noises coming from the bugs and their loud footsteps echoed like a beat.

Where their breathing mingled together and created a sound, which was pleasing to her ears.

But it sounded more fantastic then any orchestra in this silent ballroom.

Both of them was dancing freely and peacefully.

His left hand rested on her waist and his right hand entangled fingers with her left hand.

Where her right hand rested on his upper left arm.

He took a step ahead and she took a step back.

Eleanora leaned back as he leaned up on her, before she straightened her back again and meet his soft gaze.

A low smile appeared on her face before she started to giggle as they continued to dance.

Cathain smiled as he saw her smiling and speed up their slow dance.

The shawl dropped from her body as he twirled her in circle and her white silk night dress swayed because of the motion.

Her shiny silver hair shined golden because of the candle lights and his red eyes looked more bright.

Grabbing her waist with his both hands, Cathain picked her up and Eleanora rested her hands on his shoulders to support herself.

After a twirl, Eleanora slowly moved her hands away from his shoulder as she spread her hands to feel the moment.

A soft chuckle left from both of their mouths as Eleanora panted a little after her foot touched the ground again.

“..Hah, this was amazing...”

Eleanora exclaimed as she breathed fast and Cathain put his forehead on hers, as he spoke with a hoarse voice.

“We aren’t finished yet...”

Cathain spoke as he carried her up in his arms again and spin her around.

Eleanora giggled out loud as she wrapped her hands around his neck.

They continued to dance, pause to catch their breathe and then dance again.

Till the darkness of the night faded and the sky brighten up with the raising sun.

The candles has blown off long ago, only the melted wax remained.

Both of them laid on the ground as their feet started to ache in pain.

None of them could either speak because of the exhaustion and breathed heavily.

Cathain narrowed his red eyes to look at her as he turned his body to pull her into his embrace.

Eleanora’s back hit his sturdy chest and her head rested on his muscular arms.

His fast and hot breath continued to fall on her and she felt her eyelids getting heavier.

Soon, Cathain felt her body relax as she fall asleep and kissed her head before he closed his own eyes.

“Thank you for not leaving me alone, my empress;”

.

.

.

[A/N: So finally… It’s Chapter 200!!! I started this book with only a single thought- i wanted a male lead who will remember the past, suffer and regrets terribly, over possessive and dominant.

(-_- Maybe i am a masochist?)

Can’t believe i really did it >_< ]