Chapter 96

96 “The Curse Of The Imperial Family”

When, Eleanora and Cathain reached the emperor’s room, there was only Alexander and the sleeping emperor.

As emperor Valerian felt the crown prince’s presence, he slowly opened his eyes to look at them.

Alexander narrowed his eyes and a frown appeared on his face as he saw them holding hands.

He felt a raging storm inside of him, which wanted to separate them right instant and pull back his daughter on his arms.

Even Cathain could felt the hostility in Alexander’s eyes and Eleanora tried to break free their hands but Cathain hold them more firmly.

‘What is he trying to do?!’

Emperor Valerian eyes lit up a little as he saw Cathain and Eleanora standing together while holding hands.

He knew his son well.

The crown prince always pretended like he had a gurge against the crown princess but the emperor could feel his hidden emotions behind of it.

.....

He always compete against her and what he didn’t liked wasn’t that Eleanora was always better, but she never noticed his efforts or his presence.

Even though they was engaged, the couple never spent time together before like other kid couples.

Once, Cathain had overheard Eleanora’s conversation with another noble lady about her ideal man, where Eleanora said she want someone like her father.

Who will protect her, love her and will be much stronger then her.

But hearing it, Cathain felt like she was saying she didn’t liked him.

Everyone praises her for being so brilliant and genius, saying the crown prince is so lucky to get her.

Was she mocking him?

Couldn’t she just say that, she liked someone like him?

In furry, he didn’t even attended his own engagement ceremony that he was looking forward.

‘Am not good enough for you, not strong to protect you... then just stay with your father who is strong enough to protect you for the rest of your life!’

But soon, he regretted his decision when he heard Eleanora carried the whole engagement ceremony all by herself instead of calling it off.

She become a laughingstock because her fiancee refused to show up, in other words, rejected her.

He wanted to apologise many times but couldn’t bring himself to do it and kept hesitating.

“Duke, Go and declare my will.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Valerian’s words bought back Cathain and Eleanora’s attention to him again.

“Cain... Come here.”

Cathain was a little shocked as emperor Valerian called him by his nickname after a long period of time.

Eleanora slowly loosened his hands and step back with her father to gave them some privacy as they closed the door.

Cathain went forward and sat beside the emperor slowly as both of them was awkward with each other.

A heavy silent stayed for a long time and after a heavy sigh, Emperor Valerian started to speak.

“You have grown up really fast... You know, this is the room where you were born. I still remember how small you was that it made me afraid to hold you...In fear that i might crush you.”

Cathain chuckled but he was also a little shocked to know this information as, usually the birth of the baby happens in empress palace.

Then how could he be born in emperor palace?

“I had imprisoned you mother in my room... because she kept talking about leaving me and went back to her parents.”

A tear left emperor Valerian’s eyes as he continued to speak, ignoring the shocked expression of Cathain.

“I didn’t had much power back then. I was the fourth prince whose mother had no backings.

Your grandmother was the third concubine of the emperor, who had fallen for my countryside countess mother at first side.

He bought her to the imperial palace, full of danger which eventually took her own life.

Because, out of the five children’s of the emperor, I was the only one who had both black hair and red hair, presenting the royal family.

They tried to kill me but my mother got in their way to protect me.

Father couldn’t bear the pain of losing her, he had failed to protect her and soon he followed her to the afterworld.

I killed my all five half siblings and rose to the throne with the current duke of Dalton.”

Cathain looked at his father and he could feel his pain and regrets.

“You know, why Duke Dalton, who had no reason to help me did that?”

“...Why?”

“Because it was duchess Eunicelia whom i was engaged at the first place. He had fallen for her when he went to Arendell to confirm our engagement.

But her carefree nature had attracted him towards her.

So, in return of my annulment with her, i asked his help to rose to the throne, using the blood oath that every Duke of Dalton has to take.”

Cathain never thought of something like this. He knew the story but never knew things were so deep.

“What happens if someone brokes his blood oath?”

“Tragic Death.”

Cathain felt a little shiver as, just how much love had forced the duke to take the blood oath even at the risk of his own life?

“Cain... our imperial family has a curse. We don’t get to protect the person we love and lose them.”

Emperor Valerian spoke in a low voice. Neither his father, or him could keep the woman they loved safe.

Instead, they indirectly became the reason of their death.

“And... Why is that?”

Cathain’s heart sank at that thought. The dream of his first life and visions of his second life seem to prove the curse existence.

He couldn’t kept her happy or safe, even if he loved her, he ended up the one who hurted her the most.

“There is a tale that, it’s because the first emperor failed to save the first empress, saintess Ariande, who sacrificed herself to protect the human kind.

He couldn’t accept that fact and blamed everything for taking her away from him. His vengeful sprite still searches for her soul and when he fails, he tries to destroy everything to make her show up again.”

Emperor Valerian’s words helped Cathain to realize that his dream was really his first life. So, is he-

“Unexpectedly, i named you after your mother which ended up as the same name as the first emperor. Then the prophecy of your bride...

When the duke didn’t kept her name as the first saintess like priest wanted, i was somewhat relief. I don’t want you to suffer the same fate like us.

But as you grew up, you started to resemble the first emperor more and more, which made me feel afraid and train you more strictly.”

‘Maybe I have already suffered the same fate as you all in my past life... by losing her. But i won’t lose her again in this life!’

“Cain... You are a human before everything. And think of her as the only one where you can be yourself.

Instead of thinking what she or everyone might feel, express yourself to her, tell her your concerns.

She wouldn’t look down or think that you won’t be able to protect her. Two is better then one.

Husband and wife should help each other... this is what one really should do. This is what marriage really means.

Don’t repeat our mistakes and... live happily my son.”

“I promise... I will make her accept me willingly and never hurt her. I will protect and cherish her, Father.”

Cathain spoke in a serious tone as he looked at the sick emperor.

“Your mother loved you very much... when she first knew she had you, she was very happy. I had saw the brightest smile on her face that day. But i failed to protect that smile.

I thought locking her down with me will help me to keep her with me, but in the end, i made it easier for them to harm her.

I am dying to meet her again, Cain. I really want to see her and tell her that how much i love her and missed her.

I regret treating her like that. If it wasn’t for me, maybe she could have married a prince of another kingdom which had no fight for powers like here.

But even if i got a second chance, i will try my best to cherish her properly, i can’t let her go and see find happiness with another man.”

Emperor Valerian’s heart clenched in pain as he remembered the past scene as to why he had imprisoned Empress Catherina.

...

“If it wasn’t for you... i might have married a prince of a small kingdom like us and live happily without worrying about assassination every night!”

Empress Catherine, who was six month pregnant spoke as she slowly slipped down on the floor.

.....

Infront of her was Emperor Valerian, who was standing with a sword, full of blood from the assassin he just killed.

‘Cathy...’

He took steps towards her but Empress Catherine become terrified of him.

“Stay Away!! Don’t come closer!!”

Emperor Valerian stopped on his steps for a moment before he walked towards her as he threw the his bloody sword away.

“D-Don’t...”

Empress Catherine kept on crying as she was afraid. Emperor Valerian hold her cheeks with his bloodied hands to wipe away her tears while cupping her face into his hands.

“Cathy... Why are you always like this? Why don’t you just understand me? Am trying my best to protect you...”

Hearing Emperor Valerian’s words, Empress Catherine slapped away his hands from her face.

“Protect me?! You know this empire would never accept a small kingdom princess like me, you still need power to grow up to protect this empire.

But what about me and my child?! am even afraid to sleep now, Vale!!”

Emperor Valerian kept kneeling infront of her and both of them kept silent. The room was filled with Catherine’s sobbings.

“Let me go back to my Kingdom, Vale... I will return with our child after you have solved down everything here-”

“Impossible!!”