Francis's secret...

From the author: Dear readers, I am sorry for the delay I took to update my book. I had a lot of work to take care of, but from now on I will update daily. Look foward to it and enjoy!

Eleanor couldn't read in Francis's eyes, he was indecipherable and his expression didn't show his inner thought. So, she was worried that behind those cold eyes, an inreversible decision may be pronounced and change the course of fate. She prayed deep inside that he would resolve the matter without killing anyone, 'Please Francis, don't take that path, it will only end up hurting others and you too...' she tried to forward him those thoughts while looking at him with a sad expression. She couldn't understand his hatred toward witches and wondered why he felt that way toward them. Then suddenly, she saw an image of a young boy who looked like Francis standing at the same place she stood, looking at a man sitting on Francis's office. As she looked at the young boy that was nearly 12 year old, she reconized the familiar golden eyes and dark blue hair. He was looking firmly at the man behind the office desk, standing straigh like a soldier. She turned her gaze toward the man and saw the similarity between them, 'is that maybe his father?! his eyes golden eyes are the same as Francis's. And he has black hair like Alphonse, he must be their father without doubt. Then, this must be a vision of Francis's past because I was wondering about it?!'

His father the previous king of Clausius Kingdom that ruled in the kingdom that now became an empire thanks to his son, looked like a firm strict person. She couldn't clearly see his expression because of the crimson rays of the setting sun lighting up through the large window behind him. He put down his pensil after writing something on a paper and handed it to the butler beside him, the butler bowed and left the room in a hurry. He looked at Francis and said,

"Are you aware of your position my son."

"Yes father!"

"You are the crown prince of this kingdom and you must never forget the duty this position imply."

"I understand father."

"And there will be a lot of peoples that will try to harm you because of greed, that's why that curse occurred.....Fortunately, nothing worse happened."

As he said that, she saw a slight change in Francis's expression, he was hurting and she didn't notice it at first glance. While wondering why he had that slighty pained expression on his face, she looked at him thoroughly to understand the reason. After discovering the horrible fact, she put her hand on her mouth, mortified at the burn injury she saw around his neck and his wrist. 'What are thoses?! and if they are around his neck and wrist and seeing as he is hidding them it mean that he must be injuried all over!' She couldn't stop the tears that filled her blue eyes and looked at the small Francis that did all he could to hide his pain from his father. He regained his serious expression and after breath in and out he said,

"Yeah, fortunately I am fine.."

Seeing a young boy, trying his best to stay strong as he endured injuries that even adult could hardly bear made her cries tears of sorrow.

"That's good to hear, also through you, we can at least avert the end of all humanity...We can avert the awakening of Pandora's hell. You have in your hand the fate of this world my son..even if it is hard you must bear with it and always remain strong."

'what?! how can he said that to a child instead of conforting him...And prevent the end of world?! what does that mean?!' A lot of questions without answer remained in Eleanor's mind as she held her head with her hands and saw the vision fading before her eyes and return her gaze on the young boy that was in present time, a cold hearted adult.

As he saw her complexion going pale and how she held her head with the tears on her cheeks, Francis frowned as he couldn't understand why she felt that way and asked her,

"Are you okay?!"

"Yes....I am fine, it is just a headaches."

"You should probably take a rest instead of worrying about others matters."

"No, I am fine and I worrying about an innocent girl's fate so it matter."

Valeria looked at her with her eyes full of disdain and quietly muttered,

"The nerve of this woman....who does she think she is, confronting the emperor without restraint..."

Francis tilted his head and looked at Eleanor's trembling hands, he thought 'I wonder what happened to her, a moment ago she was looking at me with a serious and confident expression...but now it is as though she saw right through my heart, her eyes are wavering and it is like she is about to cry. But even if you feel like that for that woman, I am sorry Lea, I can't let her live.' His gaze returned to meet her eyes and he said,

"Humm...well, Your explanation make sense, but that doesn't matter to me, because my decision will still be the same."

At his answer Eleanor closed her eyes and made up her mind on a decision that she feared to take for a while, and that would surely change a lot of thing in her life, to begin with her stay in the palace that will come to an end.

And Francis still didn't knew it but the words he just said will be the things that he will regret greatly.