“Ah! It hurts! My lord, I’m sorry, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have humiliated you when you were destitute! Please, give me one more
chance!”
Isabelle was no longer the arrogant woman from moments before. Tears and snot streamed down her face as she wretchedly begged the executioner before her for her life.
Josh showed her no mercy. He pushed the sword deeper, but his eyes were fixed on me.
“Eleonora, I’m sorry. I was wrong. It was only after marrying Isabelle that I realized how wonderful you are. I regret everything. Will you come back to me?”
“I don’t care that you’ve been with Kaelen. If you cut that bastard child out of your womb right now and return to my side, I will spare your entire family.”
Josh wasn’t truly sorry. He didn’t love me. He had simply discovered that marrying the woman he thought he’d always wanted had only made his life worse.
“Josh Atreides, I would sooner die than be with you.” My gaze was firm. I would never submit to this hypocrite.
“Eleonora, what potion has Kaelen given you to make you love him so? He’s nothing but a common brute who knows only how to fight! How is he better than me? If you insist on being so stubborn, don’t blame me for forgetting our past life as husband and wife.”
Men! Seize these traitors!”
“Josh Atreides, you are the traitor! The one who deserves to die is you!”
A familiar voice came from outside. I whipped my head toward the sound.
“My lord…”
24
Kaelen practically ran to my
side.
“My lady, I’m sorry I made you worry.”
Heedless of the cold metal of his armor, I threw my arms around him.
“My lord, as long as you are safe, that is all that matters.”
Josh stared at the two of us locked in an embrace, and with the same sword he had used to kill Isabelle, he took his own life.
It turned out that, thanks to my warning, Kaelen and the King had devised a plan to feign defeat and lure the serpent from its hole. Josh and his conspirators had fallen for the trap. Just as they thought they had King’s forces, working in concert from inside and out, annihilated the rebels in one fell
With that, the King had finally purged the hidden traitors from his court.
sfully taken the capital, Kaelen’s and the SWOOP.
The King rewarded his loyal subjects according to their merit. He named Kaelen the Grand Orshal of the North and bestowed
upon me the title of First Lady of the Realm.
Five months later, our first son was born. Kaelen looked at the little boy, who had my eyes, and carry him to court.
d him
so much he wanted to
I sat under the crimson blossom tree, watching the father and son at play, a happy smile on my face. This life
was finally complete.
(The End)
