Fabian’s feelings that poured in the darkness touched Evelyn’s heart.
His sincerity and his willingness to lower his self-esteem struck Evelyn’s heart like an ice blade.
If it were an easy problem, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
“Evelyn…”
Evelyn shook her head slowly at his low call. Then, Fabian’s black eyes were perplexed with disappointment.
“I can’t…” Evelyn said, breathing out.
Fabian took his hand off her cheek in a daze. But his black eyes kept staring at Evelyn. Even though he said he would cover everything, Fabian felt bitter when she rejected him.
“There’s any other reason you haven’t told me? No… was there a reason in the first place?” Fabian said with painful voice, to console himself.
“I never hurt you, but what’s keeping us so apart? Why do you hate me so much that you hid my child and raised him alone?”
Evelyn’s heart ached, she closed her eyes painfully and opened them. It was impossible to say that she had returned to twenty after she died at thirty.
It was a hard thing to believe for everyone, including Fabian. Even if he understood, Fabian would say that he was different from his previous life because he was such a person.
“I asked Your Majesty to divorce because I wasn’t happy.” Evelyn said calmly, “And… nothing else. I returned to my country because I couldn’t be happy by your side, and Adrian is my younger brother. It has nothing to do with him.”
“You won’t admit it to the end?” Fabian’s eyes that stared at Evelyn cooled in a second.
In contrast to her fragile look, Evelyn was very stubborn. Fabian knew that, but he didn’t expect she would stick even in such an extreme situation.
The entire Felice Royal family will be accused of treason against the Empire. And Fabian, who tried his best, holding on to everything from bereaving, was mad.
“Am I a terrible human being to you? Now, what’s the difference between living with me and dying? “
It was completely different. But Evelyn wasn’t able to explain it. She didn’t even fully understand what happened to her. But she was greedy to convince Fabian.
No, if Fabian were a man capable of that, her first marriage wouldn’t have been miserable.
“Will you believe me if I say no? I don’t care what Your Majesty says to me or how you punish me….. … that’s fine. If the misunderstanding is aimed at me.” Evelyn tried to press her chaotic emotions and spoke calmly, “But not the Prince…..”
Fabian’s face frowned at the words.
“To the end, you drive me into a tyrant and make me like a fool.” A cold chill filled with anger rose silently. Just staring at her made Fabian felt a burning feeling.
“What? Are you willing to be punished for my misunderstanding? As long as it’s not the Prince?”
Ha…..Fabian laughed, looking at Evelyn sternly. There was no sign of emotion left in his face.
“Your Majesty. I-I’m, just….”
“Don’t try to deceive me anymore, or attempt to hurt me.”
Evelyn’s hands were still clenched and felt tight.
“No matter how precious you are, there’s a limit to my patience.” Fabian’s big hand squeezed Evelyn’s wrist tightly, then threw it away, leaving red marks on her skin.
“I can’t believe it….. Are you the same woman I once married to?” Fabian looked at Evelyn with eyes that couldn’t hide his feelings of loss, “No matter how much you hate me, you won’t be able to avoid this situation.”
It was more humiliating and shameful than any rejection Fabian had ever experienced. And the one who said that was Evelyn, whom he still considered as his only life companion.
“I see…The last chance I gave you was nothing but a piece of trash.” Fabian’s voice sounded cold.
“The departures will be at night as scheduled. Choose who will accompany him.”
At that moment, Evelyn knelt in front of Fabian, “No. I don’t want to listen to your mislead thoughts.”
Despite her harsh words, Evelyn lowered her head, bending her knees. And when Fabian wanted to leave, she grabbed his shoes.
“Even if you bend your knees all your life, I can’t ignore my child.”
“No, that’s not what I want to beg,” said Evelyn.
Fabian opened his eyes.
“If I remember correctly … the oaths, promises and confessions in front of the five elders who gathered in the Imperial family are above the court’s judgement.”
“Yes.”
It was a new question. However, Fabian soon understood what she meant and glared at Evelyn, “No way, don’t tell me….”
Evelyn raised her head and looked up at Fabian, “Yes.”
“No. Don’t even bring it up. You’ll regret it.”
Instead of answering back, Evelyn held on to Fabian’s ankle, showing her strong will.
“Please Your Majesty, let me ask for a duel.”
Fabian sighed for a moment. He didn’t think that there was still such a way. Well, that was a method that an ordinary woman couldn’t even imagine.
“I am a woman, but I know that it’s a duel where you have to fight and take each other’s lives.”
It wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t common in history, but it was justified legally.
They would debate right and wrong with each other’s questions under the guidance of the five elders. And the wrong-side would lose their life. It was an honourable death after a duel and wouldn’t be subject to punishment.
“This suspicion will become a shackle that will destroy the future of the little Prince. So, if Your Majesty dares to bring out that suspicion and prove it in front of others, I must also dare to risk my life.”
Evelyn pulled out her last card.
Her death would happen as soon as Fabian was able to prove that Adrian was his son.
It was a ruthless and despicable method, but Evelyn had already put down her pride. She could do it a thousand more times as long as she could return to her everyday life by begging and boiling her knees like this.
But unexpectedly, Fabian took her card, “If you really want it, I can’t help it.”
He reached out and raised Evelyn by force, “If you don’t change your mind until the Elder gathers, you can do that.”
“It won’t change.”
“You’ll sorry, then.”
Since Evelyn risked her life, she hoped that Fabian would be confused because his suspicions were wrong. In fact, Fabian’s doubts were the only way for Evelyn to live. That’s why she threw the last card.
“Since you have a high spirit for risking your life, I will give you one more suggestion,” Fabian said casually with an indifferent look, as usual.
“Your way to the Imperial Palace would be invisible, different from before. I mean, until the elders come together, you still have time to reverse your decision.”
It wouldn’t happen. Evelyn covered her mouth with determined eyes. Fabian looked at Evelyn for a moment and turned his back first, not wishing to see her frustrated face.
It was better.
But on the other hand, Evelyn was used to seeing Fabian turning his back first.
By the Emperor’s order, the entourage was organized on a minimal scale. Fabian wanted to cover up this matter to the end if possible, and to do so; he had to avoid the crowd.
Evelyn was allowed to bring one maid, Nora, and he limited the carriage escort she was riding with Adrian. Only two knights from the Felice Kingdom who would accompany them. The Emperor’s guard was alone so that Fabian couldn’t refuse it.
“Thank you for staying asleep in this mess,” Evelyn said, smiling at Adrian, who fell asleep in Nora’s arms in a shaking carriage.
Perhaps he knew her mother’s heart to protect him with her own body. But Adrian was an exceptionally gentle and kind child from childhood.
“Please close your eyes for a while too, Princess” Nora looked so worried, but it was impossible. The carriage shook violently as it travelled across the Black Veil forest, and there was an even greater uproar in Evelyn’s heart.
“His Majesty doesn’t seem to be lying. Perhaps, the Silent Stone does exist. I knew it when I saw His Majesty’s eyes.”
“Then, all the truth….” Nora stopped talking and shut her mouth quickly, “Princess, what will you do?”
Before leaving the royal palace, Arthur and Miriam gave a mandate to Nora, to put Evelyn’s safety as the top priority.
Nora agreed with their idea. When all the truths were revealed, Adrian could be safe because he was an Imperial family, but Evelyn would be sentenced as a traitor to the imperial family.
“I’ll stop His Majesty from using the Silent Stone.”
“You still insist on a duel of truth that will take your life….?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said with determined eyes. “Your Majesty will choose whether to kill me and take Adrian back to the Imperial Palace, or cover up all these problems.”
It was like risking her life in a war. This was the most dangerous game to play.
“Are you sure?” Nora asked uneasily. Not long ago, Evelyn frequently exchanged letters with Fabian. There might be some emotional changes between the two. There was little faith that Fabian would save Evelyn’s life even if he had to give up his successor.
“No.,” she said.
However, Nora’s hopes had fallen apart.
“It’s an easy choice for him. If he takes Adrian away, I’m going to die. So it’s not a waste to risk my life.” said Evelyn.
“Princess! Think of the King Majesty and the Queen.”
Evelyn was a selfish daughter. But she couldn’t help it because she was a mother too.
“I’ll do my best. I don’t want to die until Adrian grows up.”
Nora nodded, seeing Evelyn’s faint smile.
“I’ll show him how strong my determination is.”
“Will it work?”
“At least he should know what to choose.”
Fabian didn’t believe Evelyn’s decision at all. He easily took her away because he thought it was just her bluff.
It was natural for Fabian to think so. The mistake that Evelyn made wasn’t big enough to believe that she would choose death rather than returning to the Imperial family.
“Don’t go too far against Your Majesty’s will,” Nora said, looking worried.
Rumour had it, the Emperor, who ascended the throne at a young age, was very cold-blooded. Evelyn, who returned from her divorce, also said that he was a heartless and indifferent man.
“It’s already late.”
Only
Just in time, the rocking carriage stopped.
Outside the carriage, she heard a resting sound. Evelyn dressed up as if she wouldn’t put off her decision.
“I’ll be right back.”
Without a break, Evelyn stepped out of the carriage. Nora could only hug Adrian, who was asleep restlessly.
Now there was no other way but to pray.
May the Emperor would release this child. So that a peaceful life could continue .——-
It seemed, everyone’s hearts were the same.
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