Chapter 168 - An Everlasting Separation

With the Great Arctyr's soldier charging towards the war like a mad bull, Golden Camellia decided to exert its full power against the Great Arctyr. The war had breached out to other cities near Dionde and in only a few months, the war escalated, almost half of Golden Camellia was ransacked.

Both sides were losing at this point, Great Arctyr's war fund had been depleted and it started s.u.c.k.i.n.g on the main budget of the Great Arctyr. Meanwhile, the ruined cities in Golden Camellia also caused great financial damage on the country.

A year after the war started, the war was still going on and it was clear that the war already destroyed both countries.

But the Great Arctyr didn't back up, they kept fighting without rest. It shocked everyone, it was amazing that a country was so dedicated to its Great Princess that they didn't mind dying for her. Every other country in the continent started appreciating Great Arctyr for its high morale and dedication, and slandered Golden Camellia for its treacherousness.

The truth is, the painting of Great Princess Celine and her daughter Princess Camille became a national treasure in Great Arctyr. The royal family showcased the real painting in a public meeting.

"I, Taron Hessel Signe, Fourth Prince of Great Arctyr, swear that I will take back my precious sister, our Great Princess Celine and her daughter. This is the painting that was taken from Golden Camellia, it is painted by my own niece, Princess Camille."

The people observed the painting made by their supposed little princess, it was just a simple, yet detailed painting. There was emotion inside the painting that hurt their heart, because Celine and Camille were smiling under the Great Arctyr, but it was only her wish. The truth was, they were abused and locked inside Golden Camellia for years.

The people, both men and women cried in the city square. They were heartbroken imagining the pain their beloved Great Princess had to go through.

Because Celine was a brilliant and generous princess that loved to go through one city to another to help the one in need.

The royal family agreed for the people to copy and mass produce the painting, in only a few months, the painting became a sacred painting for them, it symbolized the patriotism of a true Arctyrian. Because Great Princess Celine and her daughter Camille didn't stop believing in Great Arctyr even though they suffered for years.

That was why the Great Arctyr refused to yield. It would be an insult to their fatherland, Great Arctyr, to return without their Great Princess.

"Taron, you have been staring at the painting for hours, go take a rest."

"One moment, mother," Prince Taron kissed the lower side of the painting, where Camille had her narrative written. The Queen's eye was wet with tears, she couldn't stop crying. Had she known that Emperor Leopold was this cruel, she wouldn't let Celine marry him.

"Your brother's death will not be in vain," the Queen said. He had lost his first son in this war. He was stubborn to command the army during the invasion, because he wants to reach his sister as soon as possible, but in the end, he got assassinated by Golden Camellia's assassin.

"I know, mom. I will help my second brother in this war. If I died during the war, you still have Tator, he can be a good king," Taron said. He looked at his little brother who was only four years old, sleeping on the Queen's embrace.

Queen tightened her embrace, she didn't want to lose all her sons, but at this point, everyone was dead set to rescue Celine. The Queen nodded and said, "Fatherland shall bless you, my son."

Taron nodded, he was ready to fight the Golden Camellia. He set off with his older brother with many soldiers rallying behind them.

'Sister, we will save you.'

***   

How long has it been? A year? Or maybe two since she got separated with her daughter. Celine was waiting every day, hoping that Camille would return, but it seemed impossible now. She didn't even know whether Camille was alive or not.

"Is there any news about her?" Celine asked her maid again. She asked every day and her maid only shook their heads. There was no information about their little princess. They tried to persuade the guards outside, so they knew whether Princess Camille was alive or not, but they only closed their mouths.

The maids were scared with their princess' deteriorating health. It was true that the palace finally gave them enough food, but the Great Princess kept vomiting her food, now her body was even thinner than before.

"Miss, you have to eat…" the maid urged her again and again, but Celine only smiled and said, "I will eat when I know that Camille had eaten first."

Celine sighed, she took a painting that Camille painted before, the last one before Camille got taken away. She hugged the painting, and tears dropped on to the ground.

'Mom misses you so much, Camille. I want to see you at least once before I die…'

***

It had been two and a half years since the war started, and not once Camille had ever seen her mother. They were still within the area of Royal Palace, but they still couldn't see each other.

Camille had learned everything Golden Princess Elena had thought, and she was even better than her. Against Elena's scenario, Camille could solve it easily, like a chess game, she could turn the situation around in her favour.

She was going to reach ten years old soon, and every year, her wish stayed the same. She wanted to see her mother, once, only once is enough for her. But it was almost impossible to do.

Because both the Emperor and Empress seemed to tag together to limit her communication with the outside world. Thus, she was stuck in this small palace for three years. Although her growth in politics and other things were indeed miraculous, it was amazing in Elena's eyes. 

���In a few days, you are going to be ten years old, what do you want for a gift?" Elena asked.

"My mom," Camille replied short.

Elena sighed, "Camille, I know you missed your mom, but I cannot do anything. I am way too old to fight against both Emperor and Empress with absolute power like them."

"I don't blame you, I just… want to see my mom…"

Of course, Elena understood Camille's worry. But, unless there was some sort of miracle that the Great Arctyr could finally destroy the Emperor, their reunion would never happen.

Until the time when Camille finally reached ten, on her birthday, there was a screaming in front of the main hall. Golden Princess Elena and Camille peeked from the window and saw a man drenched in blood, his face was empty, as if he just suffered a mind numbing experience.

"I want to see Princess Camille," he said slowly. The Golden Camellia guards around him were already seized, but he didn't kill anyone, he just silently waited.

"Camille, stay here, I will face him," Elena said.

"No, ma'am, I will face him," Camille said. She had the feeling that this person didn't mean harm to him. She opened the door and walked downstairs. When she faced the tall man in front of him, she asked, "I am Camille, is there anything I can help you, sir?"

Taron finally saw his niece for the first time, this girl is now ten years old, and she had lived a harsh life and separated with her mother for almost four years, she didn't even know what happened to her.

Taron hugged his niece, his body trembled and he whispered something, "My little Camille, your mom… she passed away."

'Passed… away?'

Camille felt the world crumble around her, she could feel her body was numbed as her gaze blurred. Tears streamed down and Camille asked in a low voice, "How?"

"She… she died because she was too sickly, she was always waiting for you, Camille…" Taron fished out a letter from his pocket. "This is the letter she wrote on her deathbed, the maids said it is for you…"

Camille receive the letter and opened it;

-To my dear Camille,

My beautiful Camille, I know it is too late for me to say, but I'm sorry for being weak. I'm sorry for giving you a hard life, I'm sorry for letting you go, I'm sorry because I can't protect you.

My beautiful Camille, mom is a weak woman. I let myself stomped by everyone because of my naivety. That's why, mom wants you to be strong. Be strong, so you can protect the one you love. You said to me once, that you want to protect me. But you don't need to do it anymore.

Camille, I beg you to protect the one you love, to protect your family in the future. Please make sure my grandchild will not suffer the same fate as us. I will leave you my Great Princess ring, keep it as a reminder of our memory, please never forget your useless mom.

My Winter Camellia, I believe you will bloom into the most brilliant. Mom loves you, I always love you, my precious daughter.

Celine.-

Camille took the Great Princess ring and for the first time in four years, Camille finally cried again. She bawled out like a normal little girl in her uncle's shoulder. Camille wailed, calling her mom's name over and over.

Taron wiped his niece's eye with his handkerchief and he was surprised with her eyes. Camille's eyes turned pure black for the first time.