CHAPTER-13(an innocent heart that doesn't know the truth or choose not to know it )

Evelina is sitting on the floor of the lockup leaning her shoulder against the wall.

She's totally blanked out. How could she got caught like this? She never feared death anyway. She faced death countless times on the battlefield. But she never expected to die like this. It would be more better if she could die on the battlefield fighting against the enemy.

What a shame !! Her life will be ended like this just because she failed her last mission.

Evelina is feeling so lonely. If she could see Samuel one last time before they condemn her death.

She also wanted to see Jordan face before her execution but that would be difficult for her.

How could she face Jordan when he will know everything. How could she answer his questions?

Evelina can't see Jordan in any type of pain. She clenched her fists and prayed in her heart not to meet with Jordan before her execution.

Andreas entered into the lockup and sat beside Evelina.

"Are you alright?"Andreas asked.

"Yeah...I guess so. Is he alright?"Evelina looked at him.

"Who?"

"I'm talking about Jordan."Evelina lowered her eyes.

"He's sleeping. What kind of medicine did you give him?" Andreas raised his eyebrows.

"Don't worry.. it's harmless. He'll wake up in a few more hours."Evelina smiled.

"MORE HOURS!! It's almost dawn. Empress will kill you in the morning with Emperor's permission...WHO KNOWS IF SHE'LL LET THE EMPEROR KNOW OR JUST MAKE YOU DISAPPEAR WITHOUT NOTICING HIM....Why you risked your life ? You should have stayed with the Prince all over your life."Andreas shouted.

"I just want to be with Samuel. I can't live like this anymore. But that bitch Amanda ruined everything." Evelina said with anger.

"And why is that?"Andreas asked again.

"I can't deceive Jordan anymore as I love someone else."

"You really think that you love Samuel?"Andreas gave a mocking smile.

"Yeah...of course."Evelina looked at him.

"Listen evelina it's just a childhood attachment not love. I can see how you cared about Prince Jordan and you're telling me that you love Samuel?"

"Now you'll tell me how I feel? Then why didn't I have feelings for you. You also stayed with us all the time back then." Evelina asked.

"These wars and battles made you lost your senses....you've spent your life with Samuel on the battlefields, that's why you got weak towards him....but now you can't differ from love or affection?" Andreas tried to explain.

"Oh please...just get lost and leave me alone. I know clearly whom I love or whom I adored.."Evelina shifted her eyes from Andreas.

"May be you actually love our Prince!!"Andreas stood up

"Oh...stop this nonsense...you may you're trying to manipulate me...I know you've always hated Samuel."Evelina said annoyingly.

Andreas let out a sigh...

He stood up.

"Wait.....take care of Jordan and say sorry to Samuel that I couldn't come. Maybe they'll kill me.." Evelina calmly spoke up without any eye contact.

"I won't let you die,Eve....not because I'm your friend or I have feelings for.... It's because the Prince will be sad if you die...."

Andreas left the lockup cell.

Evelina got a relief as he left. Andreas was just trying to brainwash her. She likes the Prince but how could she fall for him...After all she loved Samuel all over her life.

Evelina closed her eyes. She's so tired.

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Andreas rushed to the Prince's Manor.

It's almost dawn... the Empress will kill Evelina. Anyhow,he have to wake the Prince and tell her everything. Only he can convince the Empress now.

Andreas saw that the Prince is still sleeping.

He picked a jar full of cold water and poured it on the Prince face.

Prince Jordan got totally wet and also regained consciousness.

"Oh my head.... it's aching so terribly." Jordan got down from his bed and rubbed her eyes.

"My Prince...get up hurriedly!!"Andreas shouted in his ears.

"Oh my sweet Eve...why you poured water on me like this....wanna bath with me." Jordan touched his head because of pain

"My Prince, I think you need more water ." Andreas picked two more jars and poured it on Jordan one by one.

"My Prince...wake up... I'm not Evelina. Do I look like your wife? I'm Andreas."he poured more water.

"What the ****.. Andreas!! Why you're here and what is this behaviour."Jordan got back his senses .

"Forgive me but it's an emergency. I had to wake you up."Andreas kneeled down.

"What happened?"

"Prince , Evelina tried to escape last night and the Empress caught her."

"Why did she need to escape....I didn't get it."

"My Prince, let's discuss it later. The Empress is going to condemn her death."Andreas said

"What!!" Jordan began to run towards the Empress pavilion.

Andreas also ran with him.

"How could she do this.... Didn't she know how much I love Evelina? I can't believe this. She has to explain this to me ."Jordan got furious.

"Clam down my Prince. You can't misbehave with the Empress." Andreas said while walking.

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In the Empress's Pavillion:

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They entered the Empress's chember.

"Empress mother." Jordan kneeled down.

Andreas also sat bowing the Empress behind Jordan.

"Oh my dear son. what brings you here?`` The Empress said.

"Mother knows the reason already.... I want you to release Evelina ashap....." Jordan stood up

"Do you know what she did...if the Emperor knows that..."the Empress looked at Jordan.

"I don't care what she did....and I know my mother has the ability to manage all the things and save Evelina from the Emperor father." Jordan said.

"But son...." Empress about to say something but Jordan stopped her

"I don't want to listen to anything, just release her ."Jordan shouted while throwing some flowers vases keeping aside.

The Empress closed her eyes to suppress her anger. Those were her favourite vases. Last time Evelina broke them into pieces. So, she has made another copy and furnished her chembar with those. But this time Jordan crashed all of them again.

"Okay.. okay... Don't be so stubborn. I won't kill her. Just relax . I'm releasing her just for your sake. But I hope she won't do such a thing again....this is the first and last warning... "the Empress sat down.

Jordan left the chamber without replying.

Andreas followed him.

"Andreas take me to the cell." Jordan is worried about Evelina too much. He's feeling like someone is choking him to death. He's running out of his breath.

"Sure...this way Prince."Andreas walked more swiftly.

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In the Royal Prison:

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Evelina is feeling so disturb and restless. All the words of Andreas knocking her head. She can't wait anymore...if she dies ,this pain will erage.

Oh... everything is so annoying.Evelina touched her head.

Suddenly Jordan and Andreas entered the lockup and opened the cell.

"Evelina are you alright."Jordan rushed towards her and dragged her into his arms .

He gave her a warm hug even though his body was soaked with cold water.

Then he saw her hands were tied up.

"How dare they tie your hands."Jordan hurriedly untied the handcuffs.

Evelina got a relieved . All her restlessness faded away after seeing Jordan.

"I'm totally fine." Evelina smiled.

Jordan kissed Evelina's forehead.

Andreas sat on the floor with them.

"Now tell me what's going on actually?" Jordan asked Evelina.

"Actually..."Evelina trembled with fear. The restlessness again engulfed her .Now what to tell..it would be better if she died.

"Why you tried to escape and gave me sleeping medicines? Andreas didn't tell me anything when I asked."Jordan looked at her.

"Jordan.... I'm sorry ,I lied to you... don't be sad okay..." Evelina said.

"What kind of lie?"Jordan smiled.

Andreas tried to stop Evelina by moving his head as a signal to shut her mouth...but Evelina ignored.

"I don't love you. I love someone else." Evelina said without any hesitation.

"Sorry....I didn't get it... you're joking with me, right?" Jordan suddenly felt like something terrible he heard.

Jordan couldn't believe her words. So Evelina explained everything with details and the deal between her and the 2nd Empress. Jordan kept listening as if he's having a nightmare. The drop of water kept dripping off from his hear and ran through eyelashes. He couldn't differentiate if it was the water or his own tears.

"No ... I'm serious. I've never loved you. Maybe I care for you more than myself. But it's not that type of love. That's why I've tried to escape." A few drops of tears welling from her eyes.

"I don't believe you ....then why did you marry me. Please stop talking like this." Jordan lost all her strength.

Evelina explained everything about Samuel too.

Jordan understood everything.

He can't feel anything. He's just listening as a statue. It's like he's drowning into a deep ocean. How could this be....

His whole world smashed away....

Jordan's eyes turn red. He held back his tears with all his strength.

"Everything was a lie. Your smile...your touch....your care...?"Jordan asked evelina.

"Noh .Not at all . I always cared for you. Everything was true.. Empress wanted to see you on the throne.. that's why."

"But I've never wanted a throne. I just wanted you." Jordan shouted.

"I'm sorry, my Prince. Please let me go from here. I can't stay here anymore. Or you can kill me....." Evelina cried loudly and begged him.

"Listen Eve, let's just forget everything. We'll pretend like nothing happened, okay. I didn't hear anything.We can start over again. I don't mind if you love someone else.You'll learn to love me with the time." Jordan touched her neck and dragged her close.

"No I can't.... I've tried so many times..I really can't forget Samuel. It'll be hard for me. If you love me then let me go or kill me."Evelina released herself.

"But how would I live without you..."

" It's not a big deal. Do you know how much sacrifice I've given just to make you the Crown Prince.... I even killed the ist Prince.... Now I've to be selfish.....this time you'll sacrifice."

Jordan swiped his tears and said,

"But you know Royal marriages can't be broken. The Empress won't let you go. So it's better to stay with me. I swear I won't touch you. Don't leave me, nah."

"Empress will give the permission.....my Prince, if you officially spend a night with a consort and accept them all... Empress will release me. She just wants an heir ." Evelina touched Jordan's hand with hope.

Jordan's heart broke into pieces. He can't even breath.His last attempt went in vain. His lips are trembling.

"You've suffered a lot because of me. I think you're right. If you wanna go then I'll help you.''Jordan opened his mouth unwillingly.

"You will really help me." Evelina hugged him.

Evelina got a new hope. Nothing ruined yet. Everything can be retreated.

But for the first time, Jordan wasn't happy to have her in his arm. He felt like his heart is bleeding. He bit his lips out of that terrible pain.

"Of course. I'll help you as long as it makes you smile."Jordan forcefully smiled but couldn't make it genuine.

Evelina smiled back.

Andreas can't believe what he heard from Prince Jordan. He knew him very well.

He must be in a deep love with Evelina .

But he's saying that he'll help her to leave the palace. It's like killing himself on his own.

"Andreas, takes Evelina to my Manor. She suffered a lot today."Jordan said without any expression.

"Then I'll select a beautiful consort for you."Evelina smiled and stood up.

"As you wish,"Jordan said in a low voice.

"Oh my Prince.. you're so sweet. I should have told you earlier. Then all these things never happened....."Evelina rubbed Jordan's head.

"You guys go first. I'll join you later."Jordan said.

Andreas left the cell taking Evelina with him.

Jordan kept sitting on the floor again. He doesn't know how much time he spent there.

His heart kept bleeding continuously.... it felt like he got a deep wound and a sword kept stabbing him again and again on the same injury...And this will never be able to heal instead of getting worse.

How would he handle this situation...

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After a while....

Jordan wiped off his tears. Everything happened because of his mother.

He stood up and rushed towards the Empress's Pavilion.

The maids were cleaning the place. But Jordan barged into the chembar and again broke some of the showpieces.

The empress got shocked.

"What happened now?"the Empress looked at him.

"Evelina told me everything.Why you did this to me!!"Jordan shouted.

The Empress understood everything.

"But I never forced her. You were in love with her.And the ist Empress was trying to kill you. This was the best way to handle both situations.....See everything short out. She did this willingly as she really cared about you."the Empress spoke up with fear.

She tried to make herself clear of any crimes.

She never saw Jordan like this. It's like a fury burning him and spreading the flames around.

"But that wasn't necessary. Just because of you ,Evelina had to suffer a lot. I don't know how much pain she got...." Jordan broke another vase.

"I'm sorry my son...all I've done is just for you."

" You've done it for me!! Do you know what you've actually done...if you won't let us get married or be close like this, then I could survive her absence. Now what will I do.... She has engrossed in my blood or even in my soul....how would I live without her?? You've made me unable to move on from her." Jordan shouted.

" You don't need to live without her. I'll make her stay beside you forever."

" No... You don't have to do this. You've done enough. Now just give her permission of leaving the palace. I want to see her happy."

"Okay... I'll let her go but you have to accept other women and forget her.``Empress maintained a safe distance from him and said in a dominaring tone.

" First You have to let her go. I'll do whatever you want."Jordan left the chember without any other words.

The Empress got surprised as she didn't expected Jordan to be agreed with her condition so easily. She wondered how her stubborn son changed like this.

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To be continued....