CHAPTER 541: THE FALL OF A QUEEN

Her past had come to hunt her. It was exactly how she remembered Ariel, that vibrant black hair as dark as night. Her eyes are like the brightest night jewel and her face is carved by the gods

The woman who wrecked her life, the first blood she spilt. Ariel the beautiful woman with no background, Kaiden’s first wife.

"You are meant to be dead," Eleanor managed to say. Her eyes are still wide. Elysia’s brow was still arched at her. She gracefully rose from the chair and then placed the brush on the drawer.

Eleanor watched every action she made, her eyes didn’t look away for a second. Her attention was focused on Elysia’s hands and feet.

Ghost legs could not touch the ground, that was a known fact but this ghost who came to hunt her feet was on the floor. Her legs didn’t hover above the wooden boards.

Elysia smiled, enjoying the look of shock on Eleanor’s face. This was a long-overdue visit. She initially thought of forgetting this part of her life

The one mistake she made but that changed when Cedric entered her life again. After her confrontation with Abrielle, she found herself in Draconia.

Eleanor was a woman she pitied. Her love for Kaiden was so obvious but he was blind to it. It was the same love that made her ruin the lives of others.

"As you can see I am well and alive. Next time you try to kill someone, make sure you confirm they are dead." Elysia chimed with an innocent look which didn’t reach her eyes. They slowly turned cold, and a heavy presence filled the room, which left Eleanor rooted in place.

She looked like the ’ Ariel ’ she knew, but something was different about the woman before her. This woman was not the gentle king consort she knew, her eyes and presence spoke of one thing that made her cold to her bones.

Eleanor wanted to run, sensing this danger, but why couldn’t her body move, not even her hands? Elysia stood before her, her finger tracing the edges of her jaw. "You’re shaking, Eleanor. I never imagined the day would come_" she leaned towards her ears.

Elysia’s breath fanned against the queen’s neck, she shuddered in fear. Her entire body was cold, the same touches from Elysia made her skin crawl sending chills down her spine

"_ I would see fear in your eyes and you have every right to." She whispered. "How _ a..are you even alive?" The queen stammered scared to look at those eyes.

She was the queen of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world. She has seen danger, but never has she faced something like this. Like a demon was right before her.

Elysia smiled, "Does it matter?" She asked with her brows arched. She held Eleanor’s chin, her fingers digging into the perfect porcelain skin. Despite time, Eleanor was still beautiful, worthy of her title of the fairest during her prime.

Eleanor didn’t flinch despite the pain. She was scared, but she was not going to crumble. If this were how she met her death, she would face it head-on.

After all, she had done everything

She killed Kaiden and secured the throne for her son, she had nothing to lose.

Elysia read through her thoughts. Her grip tightened, causing Eleanor to grit her teeth. "Don’t think you will get the easy way out after attempting to kill me then framing my son." She hissed.

Eleanor’s grimace, "Just kill me if you will." She spat at Elysia. Elysia could not outrightly kill Eleanor due to the laws which try to establish the balance.

How much she wished to kill her so that she would torture her in Netheralis until she forgets her name due to the pain and that’s won’t even stop her..

"Death will be too merciful for you," Elysia said, her eyes turned malicious. Eleanor was certain then that the devil doesn’t bargain.

A loud scream pierced through the air, and the guards at the door were startled by the sound and burst into the room. "Your majesty," they called out urgently trying to find Eleanor

At first, there seemed to be no one in the room. Nothing was out of place, nor did it show any signs of a fight here, which puzzled them.

"Queen Eleanor," they called her name, trying to find the queen in every nook and cranny of the room. ..

Their faces were pale and filled with worry. If anything happens to the queen it might cost them their heads. A soft laugh slipped out of a corner puzzling the knights.

They cautiously approached the wardrobe, which strangely had escaped their attention all this time, because it never crossed their mind that the queen would be hiding from them.

One of the knights nodded at his colleague who cautiously reached out for the door handle while he held his sword ready to strike

The door was pulled open, and they were ready to strike, but halfway through. They could not believe their eyes. The laugh rang again, and the knights, confused, glanced at each other, hoping to get an answer.

"I will get the crown prince." One finally broke the silence and rushed out of the room. His body was trembling with tension because of how they were going to explain what their eyes just saw

******

Shortly after a run, the knights urgently knocked on Lucian’s door. He was in too much of a hurry to even wait for permission to come in when he entered straight away.

"Your highness." He called out, which was followed by an unexpected shriek. Lucian was sitting on a couch with Callista all over him. She jumped off Lucian, her cheeks were flushed, her ears red. She could not look at the knight

Lucian was puzzled at first but his cold glare soon reached the knight. Before he could complain about the knight’s behaviour the young knight quickly got on his knees

"I am sorry for my lack of manners but something urgent needs your attention." He explained, scared to meet the formidable crown prince.

Lucian got on his feet and took fast strides to the knight. He gut told him this was something heavy. It was hard to ignore the way his stomach churned.

Callista quickly organised her dress and followed Lucian. A soft frown was on her face although she tried her best to act calm. Nothing bad could happen now, especially since they were close to the coronation.

"What is this urgent matter?" Lucian cocked his brow in a questioning manner. The knight swallowed the lump in his throat before his lips parted then he answered.

"It is something the prince needs to see with his eyes. I can’t say." He said as if it were forbidden. Lucian’s frown deepened. What could it be?

"Fine then, lead the way." He agreed and left the room. They rushed through the busy hallway of the temple, running.

The further they walked, the heavier Lucian’s chest felt with thoughts. This was the direction of his mother’s room.

He feared something bad had happened. A few steps from the door, he spotted a small group of maids and temple servants. They were whispering but their voices went silent once they spotted the Prince.

Lucian’s fist clenched, his jaw slacked. Without a word, he rushed past them into the room. "Lucian," Callista gasped. Fear was finally gurgling up her throat.

She held her dress and ran after Lucian. They got into the room, and a few servants and guards were present. Lucian immediately felt something was off.

"Where is my mother?" He asked, swallowing a lump. They didn’t notice him at first until he spoke. His voice drew their attention.

There was something wrong with their eyes. Their lips felt heavy to speak. They didn’t say it out loud, but their eyes said it all.

Lucian followed their gaze deeper into the room, his ears perked up hearing a song. It was a familiar lullaby his mother used to sing to him as a child

His heart squeezed uncomfortably, and Lucian’s footsteps slowed down. He followed the song from his memory into the inner chamber.

"Please, can you come out, your majesty? " A maid pleaded, Eleanor’s song stopped.

Lucian froze seeing his mother’s condition. She was sitting in a cupboard with her hair in her mouth.

At first it wasn’t noticeable but on a closer look. Callista held his hand comforting him. Lucian just stared in shock, confused about what to do.

Eleanor stared blankly at the visitor, she blinked her eyes. Those eyes weren’t the eyes of a queen. They were clear and naive like a child.

"No ", Eleanor stated, then puffed her cheeks. "I won’t leave here until my prince charming comes." She giggled.

Her fingers went back to counting her hair strands out loud. Lucian could not bear to look. His eyes stung, his voice softened. "Mother?" He called her

Eleanor halted, her brows furrowed in confusion. Her eyes found him, then went wide in excitement. Lucian was elated at first until her lips opened. "Kaiden." She said,

But later frowned, "You are not him. Where is Kaiden?" She asked, her attention was solely on Lucian.

"I am your son, he is dead. " Lucian admitted, his voice croaked.

"NO!!" She screamed and her reaction started to spiral out of place. She tugged her hair screaming no over and over again.

"Kaiden can’t be dead." Eleanor cried, curling up into a ball. "He can’t be dead."

It was said that the queen went insane due to grief after the loss of the king. Unknown to them who was behind it.

Elysia appeared materialised out of thin air. A strange, intimidating presence welcomed her. "You finally returned." His sharp words broke the silence.

Elysia’s head darted to the voice. Her brows pulled together. "Cedric." She blurted, surprised to see him waiting for her.