Chapter Twenty
_No War Without Blood
* * *
The large, luxurious hall was almost bursting from the pressure of the gathered people; a great number of reports on the general situation had been delivered.
" Less than a week has passed, and the news of Your Majesty's engagement has spread like wildfire ."
" Is there an opportunity to take advantage of this matter?!"
" Sister, the matter is complicated; as soon as the engagement is officially announced, divorce proceedings from De Altan must begin.."
"By that, I will lose the right of guardianship over Ayan.."
Eylit sighed as she looked at the eight people surrounding her table; they were those she trusted the most.
" My Lady, isn't there a way to maintain your guardianship of the young master?"
" The matter is complicated, Ren."
" According to Imperial Law, a mother cannot regain guardianship after marrying another man.."
" Especially while she is already married.."
" Why isn't the guardianship transferred to me?"
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice; his presence was majestic and handsome, wearing a playful smile that did not suit the serious situation they were in..
" Greetings, Your Highness the Second Prince, but how did you come here?!"
" I met His Highness at the Imperial Palace, and he insisted on coming.."
It was Fermin, who appeared from behind Eric, speaking with a deep sense of embarrassment, but Eric placed his hand on his shoulder and said cheerfully:
" Count Branet, do not worry.. besides, it is no time for formalities.."
He moved gracefully, took the nearest vacant chair, and sat on it relaxedly, while Fermin entered bashfully and sat down for the meeting to resume. Jeremy spoke with focus:
" What does His Highness mean by transferring the guardianship to him? Isn't it true that as soon as the engagement is officially announced, Eylit loses her right to the child's guardianship?"
Eric replied with indifference:
" Which means the Duchess is no longer the guardian of the young Duke now.."
Martin sighed with a deep sense of misery and said:
" She has lost the guardianship; the distant relatives of De Altan have already begun to move.."
"I have a question.."
"...."
Eric's style was closer to an attempt to draw everyone to him; the eyes of those present focused on him, so he smiled playfully and said:
" Who is the young Duke's godfather?"
Eylit, who had completely overlooked the matter, gave Eric a meaningful look, and he smiled back at her..
" Ayan's godfather is Louis."
"Then.."
Eric smiled while looking at Eylit, who looked at her brother with a gentle smile:
" Louis will hand over Ayan's guardianship to the Second Prince.."
" Correction, to Duke Estroin.."
Eylit laughed with deep sarcasm; she had begun to lose her nerves lately, and the strange thing was that this man was helping her. She thought with a painful feeling..
' How were they able to kill you in my previous life?!..'
(Important Note: The godfather is the spiritual father, and in the medieval system, he has the responsibility and the right of adoption when the child is without a guardian. In the novel, Louis's position is stronger because he is also a blood relative).
* * *
The atmosphere was quiet in the large library, which was filled with all kinds of ancient and modern books, even rare ones. Jeremy's voice was the only one heard in the library until his explanation was interrupted by a small voice..
" Uncle! .."
Jeremy turned to Ayan, who was holding his book but did not seem focused, then looked at Daniel, who glanced at his father, implying that Ayan did not seem okay. Jeremy said with a smile:
" Is there something on your mind?!.."
" Uncle, what does first love mean?!"
"Why did that question cross your mind?!.."
"Ummm, I heard that the Second Prince was my mother's first love.."
Jeremy felt confused; how could he answer the child's question, especially since Daniel's ears perked up. He took a deep breath, sat in the chair in front of them, and said with a gentle smile:
" First love is the first person your heart flutters for, like me and your aunt Elaza; they knew each other when they were very young."
" Will my mother love the Prince more than me?!"
Ayan's tone was shaky, and his grip on his book tightened. Jeremy patted Ayan's hair and said with extreme kindness:
" You know that I love your aunt Elaza, right?"
Ayan nodded in affirmation, and Jeremy said:
" And you know that I love Daniel and Lorena.."
" I know.."
" But my love for my wife is different from my love for my children, and I can never compare them.."
Ayan shook his head in affirmation, but his features did not change. Jeremy felt that he was not yet convinced, so he said:
" From my knowledge of Eylit, I assure you.. that you are the most important person in her life, and she will spare no effort for your happiness.."
" But she will get married.."
" Ayan, do you love your mother?.."
" Of course I love my mother, very much.."
" Doesn't your mother need someone by her side? Your aunt has me, Louis has the Countess, and even Viscount Stanley has his wife, and when Ayan grows up, he will also have someone by his side.."
" I don't want anyone.."
Ayan frowned with a deep sense of rejection; he understood his aunt's husband's words but still rejected the idea of his mother leaving him. Thus, Jeremy felt helpless and said:
" It seems we will end the lesson early; let's meet next week."
Without a word, Ayan left the library. Jeremy signaled Daniel to leave, and Daniel stood up obediently, taking his father's hand as they left the place..
* * *
Eylit was placing her hand on her desk, tapping anxiously. Viola sighed, sat in front of her, and said quietly:
" You are making it difficult for yourself and for the young Duke.."
" I haven't been able to speak two words properly with him since the engagement announcement.."
" Your Majesty, the matter is difficult for His Highness, but there must be no escaping it.."
" Viola, I am truly completely distracted.."
" You fear that you might hurt him?"
She exhaled tiredly, placed her hands in front of her, and closed her eyes..
" I do not want to see those miserable eyes ever again.."
She tried not to remember that; the moment of her child's execution in her previous life was a moment still deeply imprinted in her memory. She said, changing the subject:
"Then Eric suggested hastening the wedding.."
"..."
" I couldn't explain myself to my child, so how can I rush into such a big step.."
Viola felt that she had become, during this period, like an emotional consultant for Eylit, so she suppressed her excitement and said with all seriousness:
" I support accelerating the marriage, so that His Highness obtains the Dukedom and we can begin gathering power to overthrow Arthur..."
" I know that overthrowing the Emperor is my first goal, but I do not want the Crown Prince to be affected by the matter.."
Viola frowned, but Eylit, who had regained part of her rationality:
" Viola, this man is the guilty one against your people, I do not deny that, but the innocent are not to blame. I do not want what happened in Winter to be repeated.."
" And how will we do that? there must be sacrifices.."
" There is no war without blood, but let us try to minimize the losses.."
" It seems my brothers are learning from Your Majesty.."
" I don't understand."
" I talked to both of them about the matter, and as you said, the innocent are not to blame. Therefore, I will do whatever it takes to destroy Arthur with the least losses.."
"..."
" A lot of innocent blood was shed in Winter, but killing more will not bring them back and will not let their souls rest.."
" Instead of thinking now about destruction, let's think about how we will begin rebuilding Winter anew."
" Let's say, now, Hawzan.."
"..."
" Even if we are the last of what remains of the royal family, gaining the people's trust requires a lot.."
" I will support you both with all my strength.."
" Your Majesty, if you mean financial or military support, it will be a problem.."
"..."
" Altan was one of the most important contributors to the destruction of Winter, so acceptance will be difficult. We will be fine with Her Majesty standing behind us; when we need aid, the first to help will surely be Altan.."
Eylit smiled kindly at Viola; she had been a very close person to her throughout the five years. Their relationship was closer to friendship than being master and subordinate..
" I will support you from all my heart, Viola. We will return that land to what it was and better.."
" Thank you, Your Highness.."
* * *
" Haven't you heard? His Highness the Second Prince will get married at the end of this month."
" Not even two weeks have passed since the announcement of his engagement to the Duchess; why the rush?!"
" It is said that His Majesty the Emperor will hand over the Dukedom before the wedding ceremony in the Great Temple.."
" Is it a marriage of convenience?!"
" How can it not be so? He has married the most powerful lady in the Empire."
"I heard that Her Majesty was the Prince's first love.."
" Isn't this a lie so that people accept the marriage?"
" Whether the people accept the marriage or not, they will wed.."
People were talking everywhere and in every corner about the greatest event in Sardia; they even stopped their work in groups to converse. There were mocking glances from the man cloaked in black in his dark corner toward the people. He tightened his cloak more to hide his face and moved backward toward the alley, walking with steady and light steps, until he heard a voice..
" Finally, I found you.."
He retreated two steps backward..
* * *
The beautiful and luxurious white room, where two people were sitting, was quiet. Nothing was heard but the scratching of the ink quill on the paper, written in a weak but organized handwriting. The child felt gazes directed toward him and tried to ignore them, but he realized deep down how long he would ignore them. Nearly two weeks had passed since the Emperor announced the news of the engagement; rather, less than three weeks remained until the wedding ceremony, and he knew that the time was approaching for his mother to distance herself from him. He finally decided to look at her and said, trying to show indifference:
" It seems I made a mistake in writing this.."
" Why don't we finish the lesson later?"
" Fine."
He took his papers and returned them to their place. Before he could sit back down, his mother stood up, sat on the floor in front of him, and hugged him. Ayan could not suppress his feelings this time and burst into tears..
Eylit, who had not seen her son cry for a long time, hugged him more while patting his back gently and said in a tender voice:
" I am sorry.."
' I am truly sorry, why am I always the cause of your pain, my little one.. I am truly sorry '
The rest of her speech was to herself; she did not want to burden this beautiful child. Isn't it enough that she hurt him so much in the past?..
" Mother.. aha.. mother, I am sorry, .. I.. hiii.. I fear that you will leave me, mother."
His words were mixed with tears, but they were stabbing Eylit deeply. Her child had always loved her and never hated her, so this increased the feeling of guilt in her heart. She took a deep breath, moved the child from her lap, made him look into her eyes, held his hands, and kissed them. She gazed into her beautiful child's eyes and said:
" Your mother will never leave you.."
" But mother, you will get married."
"I will do anything to stay with you.."
" Promise?"
"I promise."
Ayan linked his pinky finger with his mother's pinky, and he smiled through his tears at his mother's face. It was his mother's promise, and surely, she would never break her promise..
... To be continued ...