Chapter 172 - Don't Suffer Alone

Yelena slowly blinked and look at the man who was in front of her. "Uncle Lucian." She murmured.

Maj. Gen. Lucian was stupefied! She was fine just a while ago and the investigation result was also positive. How come she was like this?

"Yelena, what happened to you? Tell me. Is something wrong?" He said to her patiently while the two men stared at them from the side.

"Uncle Lucian." She murmured once again and narrowed her eyes at the ground. "I hurt Ella. I don't think she will ever forgive me. She will hate me."

The Commander didn't understand what she said at all! However, he can't do anything but console her. "Ella is your friend, Yelena. Why would she hate you? She won't do that."

Yelena slowly shook her head but she didn't utter a single word. Then Maj. Gen. Lucian gently helped her up.

"Yelena, you should go home and rest. It's not good to stay here for long." He glanced at the two men and they promptly walked to them. "Can I trust her with you two? She is the only daughter of my best friend and also like a daughter to me. I won't forgive you if anything happens to her."

"Don't worry." Jason Moravsky quickly said. "If you don't trust us, you can call and ask Mr. Arista. He will be able to identify both of us. We already worked for Mrs. Arista for years now."

The Commander scrutinized the two men for a few seconds and finally made up his mind. If he didn't have an important meeting, he will surely go with them! "Fine. Bring her home. I will inform her family." 

Jason promptly ushered Yelena to her car and told Alan to drive her back. Then he slightly bowed before the Commander and rushed out after thanking him. Then he drives his car, following Yelena's car right away.

*

Both Jason and Alan quietly stared at Yelena after they brought her back to the hotel suite. They made her sleep on the bed as she fell asleep on their way. However, it seemed like nightmares were troubling her sleep.

"Shall we call a doctor?" Alan asked Jason with a worried face.

"No." Jason promptly said. "I'm familiar with the way she is now. A doctor won't be much helpful."

"Then what will we do? Are we just going to let her stay like this?"

Jason remained quiet for a while. He saw his old self in her and that made him clenched his fist. "She will be fine after a while. We should let her rest for now."

"Alone?" Alan asked again. He was deeply concerned as he was responsible for her safety.

Jason heavily sighed but before he could answer Alan, they heard the doorbell. Was her family here?

Alan quickly made his way to the door and when he opened it, one man was standing in the door. He recognized the man as the head of the Arista family and the grandfather of the Acting Chairwoman. He quickly bowed at the sight of the grandfather.

"Where is my granddaughter?" General Logan Arista asked as he walked inside. He was still in his uniform as he went straight there without going home.

His eyes swept around the hotel suite and Jason Moravsky came to him. "Mr. Arista, this way." 

When he entered the room, he saw Yelena lying on the bed. Just like him, she still hasn't even changed but she was already asleep. He approached her and when he noticed her pale face, he heavily sighed. What happened to her again?! Didn't she already suffered enough?!

"I will stay with her. You can go now." He said to the two men. With that said, Jason and Alan bowed and leave right away.

With a troubled face, General Logan Arista slowly walked to his granddaughter and sat on the bed beside her, holding her hands. Could this be because of that investigation? But he received a report stating that she was declared not guilty. However, just the thought of it pained him. He was the General yet he couldn't protect his granddaughter.

When he heard her mumbled in her sleep, he was all ears, leaning down to hear what she said. The moment her words reached his ears, his heart broke.

"I'm sorry, Marvin." That's what she mumbled.

His face turned gloomy as he was overwhelmed with sadness! "What will I do with you?" He muttered as he heavily sighed once again.

* * *

"Ella. I know you're angry at me but... don't leave just like this. I can't let you be alone." Arias was holding onto Ella who was turning her back at him. He had told her all his suspicions and everything he knew about her father's matter. However, he still didn't speak about one thing.

Ella wasn't in her right mind. She couldn't even think properly and besides, she finds the situation too suffocating. "How can I believe everything you said? I agree that the man on the video was my father but... how can you say that he is a murderer? The one he killed was Yelena's brother?!" She made a deliberate pause and slowly turned back to Arias. "Don't you say that you admired and respect my father?"

"Do you know how much I wish for my suspicions to be false? But every piece of evidence point to him! How can I just ignore them when... " Arias instantly shut his mouth, refraining himself from speaking more.

"What are you trying to say?" Ella grunted. 

Arias shook his head. "It will only make you more angry at me. I don't want that." He took a deep breath and holds her hands. "Ella, I know you're hurt. Even I cannot believe and hold back myself for years. But now, I cannot do that anymore. What's wrong must be set right. I won't ask you to forgive me as that would be too selfish of me. But please... don't suffer alone. I won't allow that."

Ella fell silent for a while and after what seemed to be forever, she narrowed her eyes at her hands. Then she breaks free from Arias's grip. "I need time." She muttered and walked away from him.

Arias watched her until she was out of his sight as there's nothing he could do. Being persistent will only hurt both of them. "I break my promise many times in just today." He murmured and then turned around, leaving the place.

* * *

In the royal palace of Edeladon, Felix was in his room reading some of the articles that were published in the day.

Before noon, he called Yelena when he heard about her identity being revealed. The latter said that she was on her way to the Headquarters for an investigation and he can't reach her since then. By now, it was already 10 p.m. in Edeladon and he was quite worried.

Was something wrong with the investigation? But even if that's the case, it's already 8 p.m. in Silveren. Why was she still not available? At these times, he always hated the distance between them the most! He can't just go to her and check her out. It was always so tormenting!

Then Matthew walked inside, making his way to him. "Your Highness." He bowed to greet the Prince.

"How did it go?" Felix promptly asked him.

"His Majesty indeed submit the request for Legislative Reforms but... I don't think it will work out. Even in today's emergency meeting, more than 80 per cent of the Members of Parliament are still against it." Matthew informed him.

"What about the citizens?" Felix asked, rubbing his temples. He was having quite a headache due to all the hassle.

"Yesterday night, the people started a petition to stand against the abolition of the monarchy. By now, the petition already garnered more than 4 million signatures. Our country's population is around 8 million. By 4 million, that means more than 80 per cent of citizens who are of legal age are against the abolition. The number of signatures still grew each second."

Felix narrowed his eyes at the articles which were displayed on the screen of his tablet. He fell silent with fully occupied thoughts.

"Your Highness, do you really want to push through this? I doubt that you will succeed." Matthew asked when the Prince remained silent.

"My grandfather always told me one thing. To put the people first and always respect their opinion. I still feel that way and if the people insisted, there's nothing I can do." He sighed and added, "I thought that the people will change their minds once they know the truth. But I was wrong."

"The people love and respect you the most, Your Highness." Matthew promptly said. "You're their Crown Prince and they can't wait to see you on the throne. Ever since you were young, they predicted that you will make a great King who will lead our country to a whole new level. They won't waver because of this incident as you're not the one at fault."

Felix slightly smiled but his attention was quickly shifted back to his phone. She still didn't call and that distracted him completely.....