Chapter 22
When Silas saw the child, a kind smile appeared on his face as he coaxed and played with Julius.
Strangely enough, Julius seemed to dislike only Alistair. The moment he saw him, his mouth would turn down, and he would wail loudly.
Throughout the day, Julius cried several times.
Elvira felt increasingly agitated, yet she had already begun planning their departure.
“Vesper, since they’re so fond of this place, let’s leave it to them. From now on, the three of us can travel wherever we like and stay wherever we wish.”
“All right. We’ll do whatever you want,” Vesper replied without hesitation. He never cared where they lived. To him, every place was the same–except for wherever Elvira was. Wherever she went, that was home.
Vesper moved quickly. It wasn’t long before he had packed their belongings and was ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
However, just as the three of them reached their next stop, they ran straight into Alistair again.
Elvira’s brows furrowed even tighter, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped forward.
“Alistair, you’re the king. You have countless responsibilities. Stop chasing after me. I will not go back with you. All you’re doing is making me hate you more.”
Hate? So that’s how she had always seen him.
She had changed completely since leaving the palace.
Back then, she had never been this bold. She always kept her head down, her eyes filled with sorrow and melancholy. When she gazed at the sky, she looked like a bird with broken wings.
Sometimes, he had wondered why she never smiled from the heart when she was with him. Did she truly hate him that much?
Now she had said it plainly–she hated him.
Yet he still couldn’t give up. He asked one final question, his voice barely audible: “Elvira, in all these years, was there ever a moment–just one–when you had feelings for me?”
Elvira lowered her gaze slightly, unsure how to respond.
To say she had never felt anything at all would be a lie.
When she first entered the palace, she had once fantasized about the handsome and dignified king. But the endless torment had doused her dreams in cold water and jolted her awake.
After he had shown her some favor, she had dared to hope–for just a moment. But after enduring five full years in the palace, after witnessing how much he cared for Isabeau, whatever feelings she had were long gone.
All she ever wanted was to leave, but he had crushed even that last hope. If not for Vesper, she would have died in that palace long ago.
She wouldn’t have lived long enough to hear him say he loved her or cared for her.
What was the point of regret when someone was already dead?
Elvira suppressed her emotions and answered coldly, “I never had feelings for you.”
It felt like a thousand needles were piercing his chest–all sharp and suffocating.
Alistair forced a bitter smile, pretending not to care. “Elvira, I’ll give you one last chance to come with me. If you refuse, I’ll never seek you out again. Don’t miss this opportunity. You have one day to think it over.”
With that, he turned on his heel, unwilling to give her another chance to refuse.
But she called after him.
“There’s no need. I don’t need time to think. I’m not going with you. The kingdom needs you. You shouldn’t be wasting your time chasing after me. Leave–while you still can.”
With that, she climbed into the carriage, holding her son gently and whispering to soothe him.
Vesper sat at the front, reins in hand, his expression alert and cold. If Elvira hadn’t been there, he would’ve drawn his blade and gone straight for the kill. Alistair froze, staring blankly at the silhouettes retreating into the distance. His heart twisted painfully, yet he didn’t try to stop them again. Chapter 22
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Silas was baffled.
“Your Majesty, didn’t you say you were bringing Lady Elvira back to the palace? Why let her go again?”
“If you truly wish for her to stay, you should speak from your heart. How else would she know how deep your feelings run?”
“And Vesper is a killer, a man who lives by the blade. How can he possibly take care of Elvira? If you don’t fight for her, you’re handing her over to him for nothing. Then what was the point of all your effort over the years?”
Alistair let out a deep sigh. His voice was light, almost inaudible.
“What good would it do to bare my heart? She doesn’t love me. She doesn’t want my love. She only wants her freedom.”
“But I will never let her belong to Vesper!”
A glint of cold determination flashed in his eyes. Without another word, he ordered his men to follow Elvira’s carriage from the shadows.
He had never intended to truly let her go. One day, she would belong to him again.
Chapter 22
