Chapter 52: Chapter 52

ELOISA

The Palace Grounds, Kingdom of Howard

Howard was in mourning.

It had been a day since the news about the Deity spread throughout the Kingdom. The entire Ecanus had paid respects to the fallen Deity by visiting the Palace Grounds. The King had ordered the gates to remain open as long as the Deity's final form, a white butterfly, was ready to depart the realm.

The Palace Grounds were transformed into a funeral viewing. An orderly line can be seen from beyond the gates. In the middle of the courtyard, a dais was set up where a giant glass dome was standing tall, glistening under the bright sun.

Eloisa had been one of the Ecanus who was patiently waiting for her turn to pay her respects. But she had another agenda as to why she was here.

If it weren't for Deity Flora, Eloisa would never set foot in the Palace again. She wanted nothing to do with the Royal Family anymore.

She closed her eyes and tried to forget what she saw that day:

Gian's sword plunging on the Deity's chest as if she was a mere paper. The Deity not being able to dodge those poisoned arrows, dealing one last blow. Her falling and dying in Gian's arms.

Eloisa shuddered at the memory. Her hatred towards Gian grew even more. How dare he do this to his own family? The Deity might not have been family by blood, but she was every Ecanus' family. She was a great loss to the Kingdom of Howard.

If the gossip she heard from June was true, that the Kingdom is in great peril from unknown enemies, then what will happen to them? Now that she's gone, how can they be prepared for dangers coming their way?

“You can do better, Gian. I know you can. You can still undo your mistakes. Throw away your foolish ambition and serve the kingdom as a prince. There is still good inside you. All you need to do is to let it out.”

“Remember who you are and what you are.”

The Deity's last words were etched on her mind. Her hands closed into fists as the line moved forward and she approached the gates. The sight of the Palace made her sick. What once was a place she dreamed of exploring as a princess was now gone. And the thought of Gian being able to walk freely as if he did not betray the entire race of Ecanus made her want to slit his throat herself.

From where she was, she could already keep sight of the Deity's memorial. A lone butterfly was fluttering around the dome. Eloisa's heart was crushed, the heavy weight of what she knew became even heavier with every step she took. She had the power to make things right. She had to expose Gian's betrayal in order to balance things.

It made her wonder if she would be doing the same if Gian had not done her wrong? If it was her who he came home with the night at Pruneé? Would she be able to live with the love of her life being a traitor?

The answer would be no. Her loyalty to the Crown would still matter. She had thought about it and her decision was resolute, even if circumstances were different.

The Royal family was up there, near the dome. They were receiving words of condolences from the people. Sadness was evident in the King's and Queen's faces. Eloisa could feel their anguish in losing one of the most important pillars of Howard.

Gian was up there with them as well. His face just blank as he shook the hands of the people. Eloisa wanted to scream at him, but she realized that causing a commotion would spoil a solemn event.

As Eloisa approached the foot of the dais, she shook the hand of the Queen as she was curtsying. When Queen Regina recognized her, she took her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry for your loss, My Queen."

"Thank you, dear Eloisa. It has been so long since I've seen you." The Queen said. Eloisa could see Gian look up in her peripheral vision.

"And I you, Your Highness." Eloisa moved on to curtsy to the King. He only gave her a nod and nothing more.

Eloisa could feel Gian's gaze on her but she remained focused on the King, willfully wanting him to take notice.

It was after a while when the next person to Eloisa had moved and the other people on the line were stretching their necks to see who was holding up the line.

King Malik finally noticed and narrowed his eyes at her. "Do you have something to say?"

Eloisa, not even flinching at the King's heavy gaze, firmly said. "May I have an audience with you, Your Highness? I do not wish to cause any disturbance at a place of mourning, Your Highness, but I believe you deserve to know the truth. My conscience could not take it anymore."

The King looked dubious while the Queen's face was riddled with worry. Eloisa finally met Gian's eyes and in that moment he realized that Eloisa knew what he had done. He turned white as sheet.

After quite some moment, the King regarded Eloisa and said, "Very well, let us proceed to the Throne Room."

Eloisa curtsied and waited for the King and Queen to make an exit. She did not bother to wait for Gian and immediately followed the Royals inside the Palace.

---

Gian

The Throne Room, Kingdom of Howard

Someone was with them in the tower that unfateful day that Deity Flora died.

It was Eloisa.

Gian felt his insides churning with fear as he walked inside the room. The King and Queen were already seated at their thrones. Gian, who came in last, walked towards the King's side, his footsteps echoing in the great room.

And there was Eloisa, standing in front of them, her hands curled into fists and with a determined look on her face.

"So, Duchess Eloisa, what of this truth you speak of?" The King asked.

Eloisa then took a deep breath and spoke, sealing Gian's fate. "I saw what happened when the Deity..." Eloisa's voice broke with emotion. "I saw how the Deity died."

The Queen gasped and the King suddenly warned her. "You better not be telling lies, Duchess."

Eloisa was crying now. "I also know who helped the shapeshifters reach the portal, the one who had been giving out information to the enemies."

The King was livid. His knuckles were white from clenching them too hard. "Who?"

The Duchess looked at Gian in the eyes, her face full of regret, hurt, and most importantly anger. "Gian."

Gian waited with bated breath as to how the King would react.

"Do not throw heavy accusations like that, Duchess." The King said.

"It's true!" Eloisa cried out, her voice echoing. "The Deity was casting a spell for her vision, then it was clear as day that Gian was the one who led the man-vultures into the portal. It was also where Gian mentioned wanting Colter dead. I saw Gian plunge his sword into the Deity and ordered poisoned arrows to finish her off. I saw and heard everything with my own eyes, Your Majesty. I would never lie to you. I swear on my family's name and my ability."

Her eyes wandered to Gian who was staring at her. "I loved your son with all my heart, yet here I am, not wanting to condone his wrongdoings."

Gian closed his eyes, not wanting to see or hear more of Eloisa's words. It was even more painful to hear it from someone else rather than experiencing it first hand. From her point of view, it seemed like he was indeed the one to blame.

“You can do better, Gian. Remember who you are and what you are."

Flora's last words were like a punch in the face. How could he have done something so barbaric? Causing the only person who believed that he still had kindness in his heart death?

The silence was so loud that one could hear a bobby pin drop. After quite a while, the King dismissed Eloisa.

"Thank you for your candor, Duchess Eloisa. You are dismissed."

Eloisa, with tears still streaming on her face, curtsied to the King and Queen. She faced Gian and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry."

Gian could only look at her, his entire body numb with humiliation and the guilt of what he had done. He watched as she turned away and ran out of the room, her sobs still echoing through the chamber.

Once they were alone, the King turned to look at Gian. Before Gian could speak, a sharp slap landed on his cheek. Then followed by another.

"Useless! You ungrateful ingrate! Out of all the people, it's you who would betray me. Your own people? And what of it? Because you wanted your brother dead?"

Gian's eyes brimmed with tears at the impact. "I'm sorry."

"You should be! Compromising the entire Kingdom! Spreading all our resources thin! And how could you kill the Deity?"

"It was never my intention to kill her!" Gian roared back. "Yes, I was there when she cast the spell. Once she found out what I had done, feeding the enemy information as to where Colter might be, I tried to stop her. I never intended to kill her, Your Highness! You have to believe me. I only wanted to scare her. It was the shapeshifters who threw the poisoned arrows. I was trying to bring her back."

Gian fell to his knees. "I was blinded by my greed. I never meant for this to happen. I never meant for the Kingdom to be in danger. I shall accept every punishment you bestow me. I am now realizing the course of my actions. I know I'm wrong. Please forgive me, Father."

The King landed another blow to Gian and he whimpered in pain. "You have truly outdone yourself, Gian. I was counting on you. But I guess you too have disappointed this family."

King Malik left him on the floor and went out of the room. Once he was gone, Gian broke down and cried. He swore to himself that he would give his all for the Kingdom, whether it cost him his life.

Gentle hands wrapped around him. Queen Regina had went over Gian and gave him the slightest comfort she could give.

"I'm here, my dear Gian. I'm here." The Queen hushed him, tears falling down her face.

All of a sudden, Gian felt like he was a child again.