Chapter 20

Celestia kept running and running through the palace halls as she kept on looking over her shoulder to see if he was following her finally she reached the entrance where Dehlia and Lunaera where waiting for her in a carriage which would get them back to the empress palace.

As she entered Lunaera and dehlia looked at her with curiosity and worry in their eyes.

" Celestia , what's wrong with you " asked dehlia as the carriage started moving " did someone bully you?"

Celestia composed herself and then smiled at her " no nothing I wanted to hurry back to you that's why I was running " she lied and they both sighed in relief and then tia looked up to the castle and saw a pair of pearcing brown eyes staring at her from a window with a dark smile which made her shudder with fear.

Finally they reached the empress palace and then they where greeted by Ila and Sally and then sally, Luna and dehlia headed inside while Ila stayed outside with Tia.

" Alright tell me what happened" she asked as she held Tia's hand

" I saw him " whispered Tia as tears stared forming in her eyes

" Who " Ila hugged her as she burst into silent tears

" Ethan " she whispered and Ila froze her face marked with disbelief and then she whispered back " how did he recognize you "

" I don't know -,I am scared Ila ,what if he tries to take me away, his mother took them away from me ,I would never forgive them for the pain they cost me, I will carry out my revenge " she said in between sobs but her face etched with determination

" Just continue playing 'Candace' for now till he leaves " Ila patted her head

" Okay" she dried her tears as they moved inside to the palace to continue their jobs

****

Dehlia.

After arriving my palace, I changed and then went to the drawing room where princess Bidellia sat with her head down she tried hard not to Tremble when I entered .

Ila was standing there with emerald who reached out to me and I took her in my arms and I sat down opposite her.

" Would you look at me princess " I commanded her . And she hesitantly raised her head.

" I want you to tell me your honest answers to my questions, is that alright princess " I asked as emerald played with my dark raven hair.

The people of Lavanté had black hair while many people had black eyes but I was a unique being, as I had both and i was the only person in the whole continent to have it which is why i was considered a cursed child and with i not awakening my magic it further pushed the belief.i hated my hair and eyes so much that i wanted to cut it and I once tried to color my hair but it all faded the next morning so it was all useless . But Right now all I feel is pride for my hair and eyes as it is a clear proof of me being a Guardian.

She nodded and then I started to question her .

" Did you come here with the intention of marrying my husband, the emperor?"

She shook her head " no I had no intention to marry him infact I loathe the idea of being a second wife but my father and brother threatened to ---"

She looked around in fear as she looked at Ila and Luna .

I sighed cause I knew she would never talk till they stepped out so I ordered them to leave. after they departed she breathed a sigh of relief and then continued.

" They said if I didn't marry him they would make my young sisters marry him in my place so I took up the offer. Please your highness belief me I would never try to steal him from you I promise I just want to protect my siblings" after saying this she began to sob and then she started crying.

I too knew this feeling I also agreed to marry Ares because I wanted him to find my siblings, my mother and return back my kingdom at a piont i lost my will to even eat but looking at my little bundle of joy in my arms I saw a reason to continue pushing and rising to the top.

After she calmed down u spoke to her

" I believe you I said in a calm soothing voice "but you can't just marry him like that, not only are you destroying your life but also you are compromising your sisters safety as you can clearly see today as an example"

She nodded as I could clearly remember her stating that he promised to keep them in the palace till they grew up giving them an education if in return she would marry Ares but he broke the promise.

" B-but what should I do" she asked in a shaky voice

" Take over the throne" I suggested to her and that made her turn pale by this moment Emmy started dozing off in my arms

" Your magesty that's outrageous Kier won the right to the throne and---"

" And what , no let me guess he is a man right and women are not eligible to rule , I know but are you really going to let the people of your country suffer because of this rule " i shouted at her and the sleeping emerald woke up with a start and then burst out crying I rubbed her back till she fell back asleep as I looked at Bidellia's shaken face.

" Your highness " she began" let me tell you a story"

" When my father ascended the throne he promised the people to uphold the laws and then change all the old practices but he did it and instead encouraged everything and worst of all he was a womanizer and that's how he met my mother the queen . She was a peasant but he lusted over her.At a young age ,she was a skilled musician versed in many instruments but was very poor and an orphan. She was invited to what wold be her golden cage and then at the tender age of 12 she was raped by a man 12 years older than her and got pregnant. She gave birth to a son, my late older brother Brone and then she was enthroned as the queen"

"As per tradition the kings other children where raised by the queen without seeing their real mothers but my mother was not like that she organized days for them to meet their respective mothers. As girls we where not eligible to have an education but Brone thought me how read and write he also thought me politics ,warfare and how to fight with a weapon. he thought me his ideas on how to better our kingdom and I loved everything about it, but everything changed when my father declared a bloody war for the fight for the throne my brother could not hurt his younger brothers and ended up killing himself and then Kier who was raised out of the palace killed all my brothers and gained the position . Seeing all her sons killed my mother lost her mind and has never recovered". " And you want me to fight him for the throne this same throne who killed my brothers?"

Hearing this story broke my heart I just imagined what her mother must have been through just imaging loosing emerald kills me.

But I breath in and held Emmy with one hand and held hers in another.

" Listen to me Bidellia, I know how this is a difficult decision but think of the people of your kingdom , they are suffering with high taxes ,starvation and many others .Kiers rule will only bring them misery and your sisters would be treated as commodity forced into marriage that would only satisfy them would you like that?"

She shook her head as she choked her sobs " but what can i do he is the rightful heir and the people want him"

" No your mistaken they are trying to marry you off because they people want you to rule instead and bring back honor to the kingdom of Lavanté would you do it "

After a long pause she looked at me with determination filled in her amber eyes " if this means I can pass down my brothers ideas ,v my sisters and help the people then I would do it but how do I take over the throne?".

" Leave it to me, your brother will need to step out of the way before you push your father out of the throne so we are going to start with Kier first.

" Right now think of ways to fix your kingdom and in return for my help I want three things from you"

She looked up at me " what's that "

" Firstly your undying financial support in my businesses, the island of Delva at your borders and a favor ".

She thought about it then said" yes but the mine will be owned by both of us as I am the one who owns it presently so why not Co- own it" she smiled smuggly at me .

What a clever girl she must have also guessed it's value if not she would have never bought it but I need it for my future plans" okay fine " and we shook our hands. this week is going to be a very though one