Chapter 1 : “The beginning Of The Ending”
Eleanora’s pov ~
“Kill her! Kill her!!”
“How can be someone be so vicious?!”
The people i took care of like my child was demanding for my death penalty as I was pushed into the middle of the podium by a knight.
Because of the silver handcuffs on my hands to restrict me from using magic, i couldn’t keep my balance and tripped down on my knees.
Everyone was yelling that i deserved it.
Then the crowd become silent as he coughed to get their attention towards him, while i struggled to get up to stand.
I haven’t done anything. Am not guilty. My hearts knows it even if no one believes me.
.....
“It looks like everyone is here now,”
Cathain De Valerian Valentino, The emperor of the Valentino empire spoke, looking into the crowd.
Who was my husband till a week ago.
“Today we are gathered here today to bear witness to the trial of Eleanora Dalton, former empress of the Valentino Empire.”
He called me by my maiden name as he divorced me just a week ago. You gave me your name when i was useful and used me.
The moment you achieved your goal, you took away your name from me and threw me away.
I felt bitter in my heart.
His eyes scanned over the faces of everyone around before finally landing on me, who was standing in a shabby white dress, that never once in my life i imagined to wear.
“Do you swear on the God name, Eleanora, that you will tell the whole truth during this trial?”
The emperor asked. I met his piercing red eyes, a shiver going down my spine.
Those bloody red eyes always looked at me with disgust and hatred.
“I do.” I replied loudly and confidently.
“Did you tried to poison the mother of the future heir of the empire?” I almost couldn’t hold back my laughter.
‘The mother of the future ruler?’
A mere maid, who later become a mistress who enjoyed the real privileges of an empress, where me, the real empress was treated worse then a maid, who was also tossed into an abandoned palace?
When my unborn children’s was deliberately killed by them, no one believed me. No one called my child the future ruler of the empire.
Here, he is calling her child the future ruler. I held my breath, my heart racing in my chest.
“Am not guilty.”
The crowd fall silent...
**Two weeks earlier: Annual banquet party**
“Lady Jena is pregnant, From now on she will be appointed as the new queen consort and i declear her child as the future heir to my throne.”
The emperor raised his champaign glass and announced this shocking news the public with a smiling face.
Some nobles who opposed me started cheering, where the knights and people who was in support of me was too shocked to react.
I stared at him in shock too, my face paling.
‘S-She’s pregnant?’
My man, my husband, the love of my life, was telling me he had gotten a girl pregnant.
A girl who was not me.
The emperor forwarded his hand towards the crowd and Jena came forward to took his hand.historical
Light blonde hair with caramel brown eyes, a bright smile on her face which made her look soft and gentle.
Then me, who was standing beside him was soon brushed aside for her to stand beside him.
It was like a slap to my face.
I had given everything to him, suffered everything for him.
And yet here he was, standing in front of me, telling such excruciating news as if he were telling us the time of day.
I quickly stepped down and immediately ran out from there, tears brimming in my eyes.
To hell with my manners as an empress! Who cares about this when the emperor that was supposed to be this empress is not her.
‘You couldn’t even fulfil all your duties as my wife, let alone as an empress. The empire needs an heir. Something you are incapable of, Empress.’
His words ring, twisting deep into my flesh again.
We had been married for four years now and it was true.
I had failed to bear him a child.
It wasn’t as if I hadn’t wanted to though.
Everytime i become pregnant, i would suffer from a miscarraige. They said it was because of my poor health. But i knew it wasn’t the truth.
I am a trained knight. How can my health become poor?
My father is also at the border. So i can’t even ask him for help. After my mother passed away, we grew apart from each other.
The emperor was never interested in me, I could see that clearly.
I knew he was only with me because I was the rightful empress, who was able to help him.
I also knew about his mistress; Jena, who was a mere palace maid.
They had known each other since just before we were officially married or maybe more earlier?
Not only me but everyone saw and knew how he doted on her over me.
I was just a doll to sit on the empress sit and do the works where she enjoyed and took what was supposed to be mine.
He gave her the love that was rightfully mine, and looked at her as if she was his only one.
But every part of my being loved him even if he did not love me. He become my light when i was hopeless, couldn’t find my way in the darkness.
I hold on to him, the light of my life, thinking one day he will realise my true feelings and embrace me.
Once i help him to be successful, he will be proud of my efforts and on me.
I remained hopeful that he would warm to me once I bore him a child.
We will live happily ever after, with out children’s and grandchildren’s untill our hair turns white.
I was the empress after all, his official wife where she was just a mere maid.
He will soon get bored of her as he will realise my love and leave her to come to me. He will give me the same smile that he gives her now.
I am more capable then her, i can even give up my life to save him, which a maid like her won’t.
But that was my biggest mistake.
I belittled my enemy and now the child in my womb will also suffer with me.