Chapter 229 - Fluttering Feelings (1)

'A month has passed and I am once again pregnant.

We have won the war against the Empire of Apollo. It was being celebrated by the empire along with the news of my pregnancy and the emperor would have another child once again.

Alistair, that piece of crap, was hoping that it would be a boy this time. He looked quite happy about the news, to be honest. But I am not, there is a 50% chance that this might be another female and he would kill it once again which is devastating. I want to stop him but I can't or else I would also be killed.

If I tried to run away, he threatened to kill my family.

If I stayed with him, he would abuse me.

I was trapped like a bird in the cage.

He kept me wrapped around his hand and controlled me like I was his little puppet. If I was given one wish right now, I wish that he would choke on the wine that he is always drinking and die.

I am silent but I am not blind, that's why I am writing this even though it might take hundreds of years before the truth would be revealed. This has been going on ever since the founding of this empire, there were records of the death of those children that they kept in the library and while I was reading it, I was discovered.

I am sure that they burned that book afterward.

I am afraid, but that doesn't stop me from doing this.

I just hoped that this time it would be a male and not a female instead.

1st of April, 28th year of the 7th Emperor.'

A few days have passed ever since that happened.

The shocking revelation and truth of their bloodline.

The Elders were able to confirm that the book was indeed written by the 7th Empress and it seems like they don't know the truth up until now. It was also revealed to her brothers who were quite shocked and didn't know how to react at first when they heard about it.

But their father was hesitating and was troubling on how they should tell them about that matter but he ended up calling them all except for Alexandra in his office and discuss it. So Alexandra doesn't know how their discussion went and how her father dealt with it.

That reaction that gave him was expected, of course, because that's how most of them reacted. But they were able to recover from it and act like everything was normal as if it was something small though it was bothering them.

That is to avoid these things happening once again.

So that history won't repeat itself.

So that no more innocent lives would be sacrificed for their bloodline.

So that the 7th Empress efforts and sacrifice would be worth it.

Although he knows that they won't do it as they have experienced or they have a little sister whom they protect and love. It was just like a reminder or a warning, telling them to not be like him who almost killed Alexandra not until Diana arrived.

Only a few people know about this truth. The members of their bloodline and the Elders.

Her father doesn't know how he should tell this to the people they are ruling or the citizens of their empire. I'm sure that their reaction would be worse than her brothers and there would be some backlash. The image and reputation about their bloodline would be ruined and the people might not believe or trust them.

Although it would be nice that they know about it so they won't be fooling their selves about what they believe in their bloodline and what the history books were telling them. However, the Elders have advised him to not tell the public about this yet as it might also cause an uproar. They have to wait until they find the right time.

The thought of those innocent children being killed just because they were females and they want to maintain their image was making her feel sad and sorrowful. There would be this clenching and tight feeling in her chest. It feels like something as creeping up her skin, a tingling, and creepy feeling that would send a chill down her spine.

They just couldn't talk about it freely as if something was restraining them. It was hard to talk about it.

To think that the members of their bloodline have been doing this just for their reputation and image. To think that the truth has been hidden from them for hundreds of years. To think that what they believed in was wrong.

I'm sure that something has changed, even if it's just little. But they were acting that everything was fine. They went back to normal immediately afterward as they were distracted by another appalling news that they received two days after that.

Alexandra let out a sigh before she took a sip from the cup of tea that she was drinking.

The news about Elise Clarissa Greenwood.

"Have you heard about the latest news, Mari?"

"What news? There are so many things going on."

Alexandra was with Maribelle and Amanda at the moment. Having their afternoon tea party as they came by to visit which is a good thing so that she could distract herself with all of the things happening right now and the thoughts that would go on inside her head every time she is alone, and she got nothing to do.

"The news about the Baron's daughter," Amanda said.

"Who?"

"Elise Clarissa Greenwood," This time, it was Alexandra who answered as she placed down the cup of tea that she was drinking. She grabbed their attention, making them turn their heads in her direction. Amanda flickered her fingers as she heard the name.

"Yes, her! She was the one who got her powers awakened, right? I heard that she is a wielder of holy magic which is quite rare."

"Dark magic is much rarer. As far as I know, at this current age or generation or whatever you call that, there was no wielder of dark magic in this empire. There are some for holy magic," Maribelle fired back as she ate the muffin in her hands.

"Probably no one has been identified yet. There might be someone," Alexandra responded as she leaned back against her seat. She feels relaxed when she is with them, it feels like she can forget about the things that she has been worrying about for days as she would be talking with them.

"What about the Dark Wizard? I heard that he is a wielder of Dark Magic," Amanda asked her in a curious tone of voice

"He might be dead already," Maribelle said in a dead-pan voice as if she didn't care at all. The Dark wizard was famous, Alexandra would sometimes see his name written in the history books and such but there was no image or portrait of him. It was said that he would appear in battles with his face covered and wouldn't speak to anyone. It doesn't appear that he is close to someone and it was estimated that he had lived around more than 300 years.

That's probably why there is not that much information about him. It would only conquer either one page or half of it.

"I wonder if the wizard is good looking or handsome," Amanda said, having this daydreaming look in her face while her eyes sparkled. What kind of imagination is Amanda having? Alexandra doesn't want to think about it.

She still remembered that time she first met Amanda. She was so innocent and gentle as if she doesn't know that much thing about men but it turns out that he would daydream about them. Maribelle is that type of friend who tries her best to be calm and composed but when it comes to Arthur and the things that she is interested in, she would be energetic and active.

"He might be not, that's why he is hiding his face."

"But what if he is just hiding his identity? What if he is a prince or noble that escaped and you know that most of the nobles and princes are handsome, right? What if he is actually handsome and he is just hiding it because he doesn't like girls? Like he doesn't want them approaching him."

"He is not Arthur."

"I'm not saying that he's Arthur but what if those are the reasons."

"That's impossible."

"Some people who hide their faces are actually pretty and good-looking."

And here comes their bickering that seems like a debate for her. Alexandra finds them similar to her siblings and she would just watch them exchange words while either sipping her tea or laughing. Right now, she is currently drinking her tea while eating cake as she watches how their argument unfolds.

But then Alexandra remembered something about Amanda.

"Amanda, aren't you engaged?" Alexandra asked her. She recalled Amanda crying and complaining about her family pestering her about looking for a man because she's turning 17 already, so they decided to engage her with someone.

"Yeah but I broke the engagement a week ago."

"How?" Alexandra and Maribelle said in unison, they were curious and a smile was found on Alexandra's lips. It was different from her usual smile, it was mischievous as if it was indicating that she was interested and she wants to hear her story badly.

You just can't break an engagement easily especially if it was arranged by your parents. I'm sure that she went to greater lengths just to do that, she thought to herself as she leaned her upper torso forward to the table, her elbow being propped up by the surface as she rested her chin on top of her palm.

"I somehow rebelled and told them that I liked someone."

"Harrison? Our palace wizard?" Alexandra asked her, her tone of voice was serious. I thought she was over about him already because I told her that Harrison has someone else that he likes, she thought to herself.

"Yeah, and they said that they want to meet him. I panicked and told them that he doesn't like me but I am going to do my best to pursue him and such."

"What did your parents do?"

"They just sighed and told me that the engagement would still be continued. They even assured me that I would like that guy but no, he isn't my type," Amanda grumbled as she slumped in her seat. Alexandra ate the cookie that was in her hand before she spoke once again, "What's your type, then?"

"Harrison."

"That's not a type," Alexandra replied as she looked at her with disbelief.

"Someone like Harrison," She gave her a thumbs up and grin right after she spoke and Alexandra just sighed.

"Geez. So does that mean that the engagement still hasn't broken off?" Maribelle asked her. Amanda pouted her lips before she averted her gaze and nodded as a response. Figured, Alexandra said inside her mind as she leaned back against her seat. "What are you going to do then?"

"Princess, you're close with Harrison, right?"

"What about it?" Alexandra asked her in a nonchalant voice.

"Can you let me meet or talk with him? I want to ask him a favor and I know that you know what it is going to be about."

Ah, to introduce Harrison and pretend that they are couples or something.

Alexandra stared at her, humming as she was in deep thought. I'm sure that Harrison would decline because he said that he has someone that he likes and this kind of thing would annoy him but I also want to help my friend. I am stuck between two choices and I don't know what to do, she thought to herself and panicked inside her head.

"I-I don't know about that."

"Please, princess. I really don't want to be engaged with someone as of now and I don't like that person. I will only marry the person that I love," Amanda said and her tone of voice changed as she approached the last sentence that she spoke out. She started to rock her torso rock back and forth as she let out a groan.

"I'll try though Harrison might decline. He doesn't like to do those kinds of things and besides, he also has someone that he likes."

"At least just once, just this once."

"I don't know."

"Please, princess. Pretty please," Amanda pleaded with puppy eyes, trying to look cute as much as possible so that she won't be able to resist her but that doesn't work on Alexandra. Maribelle just did her own business and listened to their conversation, it isn't about Arthur anyway, why would she join? Besides, she doesn't even have something to say so it's better to remain silent.

"B-But—"

"Princess, why are being hesitant?"

"No, it's just that—"

"Do you like Harrison?"