CHAPTER 452: LAST WISH

It was just a simple cut from Lucian’s sword that caused this. She was aware Lucian’s blade was cursed but it could not be that bad.

If the strongest mage currently in existence could not help, then who was she going to run to? The Gods?

.

"Let’s not rush into conclusions before having a clear understanding of the first prince’s condition." The scholar spoke up. He was grey and knowledgeable, from Abrielle’s guess the scholar was the same age as the emperor.

At least the scholar looked his age. "If you may. I would love to have the room." The emperor requested. Abrielle nodded, she approached Cedric who was seated at the bed quietly watching them.

Cedric’s face was stoic but he was amazed. He didn’t expect she would be able to convince the emperor so easily. He knew how crafty the Ceaphyr family were.

They weren’t called the descendants of the god of wisdom for fancy.

Their sharp blue eyes could see through anything the same way Aurelius easily saw through him. She held Cedric’s hand, the faint sparks from their hold reminded her he was still here.

Cedric wondered what deal his wife had made with the emperor. His heart ached knowing it wasn’t easy to convince this man.

She had a lot to say. She wanted to tell him everything was going to be fine now that the emperor was here. Still, she could not form the words. "I will be outside waiting. I know you can win this battle." She said instead. Cedric’s hold on her hand tightened. He was a bit reluctant to let go but he just had to

Abrielle turned and then nodded at the emperor before marching to the door. "I will try my best." The emperor mentioned as they crossed each other. His genuineness gave her a faint sense of hope.

The door closed, and the air shifted. Abrielle could sense the strong magic fluctuating through the air. "You should have some rest Abrielle. The emperor would take a while." Aurelius suggested seeing the large dark circles under her eyes.

"I am fine, I can wait." Abrielle insisted. She has a lot on her mind. She has been so occupied with Cedric that she forgot about their allies

"I still advise you to take some rest." Aurelius insisted. Abrielle sighed her eyes lacked sleep. She could not sleep in this condition.

"I will try to rest. Also, before I forget, how are my companions from Draconia faring?" She inquired, despite being in the same castle, she hadn’t caught sight of any of them.

Aurelius stepped closer barely a step away from her. "They are fine, I know you don’t want them knowing much about your husband’s condition. They have asked some questions which weren’t my place to answer." Aurelius explained.

She was grateful he was more understanding than she imagined. She didn’t know why he was helping her but she owed him a lot. "I am glad then." She muttered

"You should be. It is time you go to bed Abrielle." Aurelius’ voice trailed, and a sudden exhaustion fell on her.

She wanted to scream. To cry. To beg the gods, if they even existed. But she stayed upright, numb and silent. Her husband was dying, and all she had left was hope she was clinging to desperately.

Her eyes grew heavy and slowly closed as the darkness took over her

Aurelius placed her under a sleeping spell to help her sleep. She fell into a deep sleep, then into his arms, before he swooped her off her feet and carried her away.

He didn’t owe Cedric anything. And yet, holding Abrielle in his arms like this, he felt a weight he hadn’t asked for the burden of keeping her whole in a world that kept breaking her.

Aurelius’s gaze lingered on the door a bit longer. He wondered how things would go. Cedric knew his condition more than anyone and tried telling her, but she was finding it hard to accept that death was closer than it seemed.

Could Silvanius buy Cedric more time? Aurelius’s eyes shifted to the figure fast asleep in his arms. He didn’t want to see her hurt but reality could be hard to accept.

****

Last night Aurelius had a visit from Cedric. The first prince appeared at his door, covered in sweat, as if he had fought a difficult battle, which was getting to his study. Aurelius was certain Cedric didn’t walk the distance.

"How were you able to get here?" He asked Cedric who could barely stand. Aurelius gave him a hand and helped him to a chair to sit. Once he held Cedric he could feel how faint his power had grown

"Willpower and desperation," Cedric replied. He was surprised he could teleport himself here. Using his magic was more excruciating than walking but he had to see Aurelius. Abrielle was going to see the emperor tomorrow and he didn’t have high hopes about it

Cedric was just awaiting the final verdict of his condition. "What brings you here? Moving around or using magic will only make your condition worse." Aurelius stated, his brow arched at Cedric ..

Cedric smiled, he seemed amused baffling the crown prince how he could still smile in this condition.

"Abrielle has high hopes about tomorrow but I am more of a realist. I don’t think I have more than 2 days left. My legs and arms are technically dead already. I am basically a moving corpse. The only reason I held on this long was because of her." Cedric explained. He glanced at his only limb that he could still move freely.

The curse in his body was eating up his magic that sustained him. Aurelius could also sense it. He could barely sense the dark magic that shrouded Cedric in the past

"She will love you to fight," Aurelius mentioned and Cedric’s hand clenched. "I have already fought long enough but my story is coming to an end."

"The reason I am here is because my intuition tells me I can trust you more than Abrielle’s cousin Adeline. When I am gone I want you to protect her and make sure she moves on. I hate the thought of her being with another man but that will be the best way to move on from me." Cedric requested.

It hurts saying those words. Imagining her smiling with another destroyed him completely, but if that was the cost of her smiling again, he would accept.

"Why do you trust me?" Aurelius asked him, sounding a bit puzzled.

"My intuition is never wrong. I heard the rumours about me being a demon and movements to kick me out are widespread already. I have tried my best to convince Abrielle but she is too stubborn. In the worst case scenario, I want you to take her away to somewhere she can start afresh without being known as the wife of a demon...." He sighed, each word getting more difficult to say.

"Consider this a dying man’s last wish. I should have let her go when I was warned of our fate but my selfishness didn’t let me let go."

He didn’t know if he’d wake again. But if he didn’t, at least he’d made sure someone would hold her hand when he no longer could