Morpheus felt his patience and energy wearing thin. "Evanthe wasn't here back then. Was it you who found my soul's existence?"
"Yes, it was me," Cornelia confirmed.
"You should have left it at that. Why did you have to bring me back?"
"If I had not, your soul would have been pulled into the depth of hell and we would never have known...."
Morpheus spat out angrily. "It was my soul that would have suffered. It's all because of you that we are facing this situation. You do not have the right to stop me...."
"It was her who saved you. Though unintentional, it was her choice to save you. Go and blame her," Cornelia interrupted him. "Do not try to deny what you truly want when you can finally get it. Wake up and face reality, Divine Eagle Morpheus. Do you think sending her away or running away like this would solve the issue?
It's just begun, and you have to bear it whether you like it or not."
Morpheus growled, "You are going ahead of yourself..."
"It's you who went ahead of yourself and changed others' destiny. Just because you didn't want to see Ember sad, you wanted to save your dear friend Draven. And because you didn't want to live anymore, you committed the sin of changing destiny and preferred to die in his place. It was all your doing, and you have to face it instead of taking it out on others and blaming them for saving you.
Don't take advantage of the fact that we all care for you and did everything in our power to save you."
"I didn't know she would end up saving me, neither I want any of you to do anything to protect me," he replied, his tone still angry.
"No one had expected it, but she did something impossible. And impossible things happen only when someone deeply cherishes you. You are important to her, do you not get it?" Cornelia asked.
Morpheus stared at Cornelia wordlessly. Until now, she had never acted like this in front of him. In his eyes, she was always the little girl Evanthe once introduced as her new apprentice, a little girl who barely reached his waist. But now, she stood before him, strong and determined, speaking the harsh truths he needed to hear.
"Rest now. No one will disturb you unless you want," Cornelia said firmly. "Do not try to leave and run away because you won't even be able to reach the door in your current state unless you want to crawl your way out. Lord Aureus, take him back inside."
Cornelia clenched her fists at his stubbornness. The next moment, she used a spell on Morpheus, and he went unconscious.
"Uncle!" Aureus panicked.
"I used a spell on him," Cornelia explained. "He is alright. Take him back inside."
Aureus looked at her. "He does not wish to stay and he does not wish to do what you all want him to."
"Wouldn't you be glad if he stays alive and even has a woman he loves as his mate? Do you not care for your uncle even a bit?" Cornelia asked, her tone calm and composed.
"I care, but I also understand his reason. Bonding him to a female who would never love him but is forced to accept him, this is not how things should be done. This is just all of you exploiting the sacred mate bond to satisfy your own hearts under the guise of saving someone. If I were him, I would do the same—die rather than hurt the one I love and put her to unwelcome suffering."
Cornelia had nothing to say to him as what he said was right as well, but she was doing the same. She was doing everything she could to protect the man she once loved or rather still love him. What if he could not be with her, seeing him in front of her was always enough.
"Lord Aureus, take him inside. We will see what to do tomorrow after Ember declares her decision. If she agrees, I am sure your uncle would agree as well."
Aureus started to take Morpheus back inside the room while saying, "Lady Cornelia, you do not know my uncle well. Even if Ember agrees, he would never go through with it. He would find a way out of it even if that way means his death."
Cornelia stood in her place and watched them head back inside the room. Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder.
Without looking at the person, Cornelia spoke, "He is too stubborn, Your Eminence." She referred to Morpheus.
"But he is not wrong," Evanthe replied.
Cornelia turned to look at her. "Trying to save someone is not wrong either."
Evanthe nodded. "Want to take a walk outside?"
Cornelia agreed, and the two stepped out of the cottage.