Chapter 8  : “Reconciliation”

Eleanora’s pov ~

“Eleanora?!”

Father widened his eyes in shock.

“What are you doing here?!”

His expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get you out,” I cried to him.

“I wanted to, really I did, but I knew it would be impossible with the security measures in place.”

.....

“Shhh, don’t be ridiculous, I knew that there wasn’t anything you could do,” he comforted me.

“I’m grateful you didn’t try to rescue me. I accepted the consequences and knew what I was doing. But why are you down here anyway?”

I grimaced at the thought.

“It was Jena’s baby,” I said.

“They all think I poisoned her with some sort of herb to induce a miscarriage.”

“What?! Jena lost the child? But that’s insane! Why would they accuse you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I smiled bitterly.

“Of course everyone is going to point fingers to the scorned empress. They searched my room too. They apparently found the herb in question under my bed, even though I’d never seen it in my life. I have no idea how it was planted there.”

“I’m so sorry, my daughter. I promised your mom to take good care of you but i failed.”

His eyes were watering at the sight of my tears. I’d never seen him show so much emotion before, so much sadness.

Even when mother had died, he had confined himself away for a while to hide any emotion from others.

“I’m sorry, Father. I was such a disappointment to you, to our family,”

I cried, looking up to the ceiling to try and stop my tears. I couldn’t look at him.

Our title and duchy was taken down a few days ago by the imperial order.

They said my father and i was planning for rebellion for a long time.

It was more believable as my father pointed his sword at the emperor and i am accused of killing the heir of throne.

It wasn’t easy to take down our duchy, so he must have been planning to do this from a long time before.

It was just me, who didn’t saw that all.

Cathain has only used me... he had never even liked me as his partner. He always liked Jena, it was so clear.

I was just too blind by his light that i ignored the visible truth infront of me.

In the end, Everything I’d done for that man had brought shame to our family, I’d seen it on his face all these years.

historical

My love for him snatched away everything from me and my family.

“Ele, no, never. You’ve never disappointed me, nor could you ever.”

He cupped my face with his hands and his voice was so gentle, so quiet, yet filled with so much sorrow.

I stared at him in shock.

“But don’t you hate me for escaping when the assaination happened in our house and mom sacrificed herself for me?”

“No! Of course not,” he said, almost offended.

“I was disappointed in how i couldn’t save your mother. I was disappointed in how i couldn’t face you in guilt after your mom passed away.

I knew how he treated you but I didn’t do anything. I should be the one apologising, not you. I should have taken you away sooner.

I’m so sorry, Ele.”

My father cried, tears falling down his face heavily.

My father, the Duke of the empire, so strong and powerful, was crying to me, apologising to me about how he didn’t commit treason by helping me escape sooner.

It was overwhelming and then i whispered to my father.

“Father, Actually...am pregnant. If i can make it back alive then am gonna run away. If not then...”

My father was stunned at first before he tried to wrap his arms around me to hug me awkwardly.

“Am sorry... So sorry...”

As we were separated by the cold metal bars and pressed his forehead against mine as we both cried together.

“You have suffered so much all alone. Now am even more guilty for not being able to save both my daughter and Grandchild.”

After another minute passed Charles cleared his throat behind us.

“It’s time to go, Commander” he said awkwardly.

I knew this must have been a strange or maybe even difficult sight for him to watch.

Not too long ago he had served under both of us, looked up to us.

Yet here we were, sobbing together between cell bars, saying our good-byes.

I nodded my head and reluctantly moved away from my father.

This was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do in my life.

Did I feel better knowing my father didn’t hate me if I were to die today with my child?

Or would it have made it easier if i said i was pregnant?

No, if i had said this then my this child would meet the same fate as my other babies.

It’s better for me to die with my baby then letting him die alone.

Am sure, he will be separated from me the moment he is born.

And infront of Jena’s children, he would always be left out as the child of the sinner empress.

It had been just Rena and Maria but now there was my father.

How could I ever let them go?

They were almost definitely going to die because they had tried to help me.

Loving me had brought them death.

“I love you, Ele,”

Father said one last time before Charles grabbed me unwillingly.

“I love you so much, I always have. Please don’t forget that.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” I cried and saw my father for the last time.

The dark dungeon cell was feeling like my road to hell, towards destruction despite doing nothing.

The cold lonely feeling that it gave me was like winter nights, with no moonlight to pave the way for me.

There was no escape for me instead of facing this, where did things went wrong?

How did my love bought me death?

Was loving you was really a forbidden sin for me?

I guess so...

Loving you was a losing game from the very beginning, i just choosed to lose on my own accord.

Who can i blame for my own foolishness?