The funeral proceeded smoothly. However, the moment that the coffin of the little girl is buried the Emperor tried to stop it desperately. Alarice hugged him tightly so she could stop him.
"Let's let her go now. Please... let's let her be in piece." she keeps on saying to the Emperor
Weeks after that Alarice met Elisha. Alarice asked Elisha to have an afternoon tea with her.
"I know what you did." she said after sipping her tea
"Oh my, Your Majesty. Care to explain?" she said looking rather calm
"There's no point in denying it any longer, Elisha. We've had evidence and the knight whom you conspired with mentions your name before he died." she said
Elisha's face paled.
"Mikhail is dead?"
"Oh, so his name is Mikhail?" she said coldly.
Even though her children didn't really die, attempting to poison them is still a crime. She didn't know how long can she hide the twins so before any information about the twins went out, she needs to eliminate the threats.
"How dare you?!" she shouted as she splash the tea on her face
Alarice looked at her coldly which made Elisha flinched.
"How dare you kill my child." she said and the knights suddenly grab Elisha, which made the latter to struggle.
"Banish her to a far away land and strip her of her title. Make sure she'll never step here in the capital again. Give her sufficient fund to start a new life again." she said
Elisha glared at her.
"You can't do this to me! I hate you! I only did what's right!" she shouted without any feeling of remorse
"For killing the first princess you deserve death penalty but in consideration of the second prince I will only banish you. I'll convey my decision to the Emperor." she said as she stood up when the maid offered her a towel to dry herself.
"Mom!" the crying and confused Naveen called.
Alarice flinched. Naveen will be the most affected in this situation.
"Mom.. you'll stay right? You will not go anywhere right?" he asked his mother who was about to be dragged away.
"Your beloved Empress Mother is going to depose me."
Naveen's teary eyes looked at her. She look at him intently. Without saying a word the boy understood that what his mother said is right.
"Please no. My mom's not a bad person." He said
"I'm sorry. Naveen. Drag her." She firmly ordered as she turn her back at them.
She heard Elisha's hysterics and Naveen's cries.
"I hate you, Empress Mother!"
--
"She was dragged down by the order of the Empress but will be able to live peacefully as a commoner." Reported Pierre to the Emperor
The Emperor without life in his eyes ordered.
"Make her experience a painful death. Don't let Alarice know of her disposal."
"Affirmative." Pierre obliged..
It took Nicolas some months again to be able to go to his office and work. Alarice has always been there which made Nicholas feel a little bit better. Their days passed just like that. Until weeks later, Alarice asked for a divorce.
"You're going to leave me, too?" he asked
Alarice smiled sadly.
"I believe we no longer have any reason to be together." She said
The Emperor sighed. He wanted to stop her but he was just so so tired of everything. At this point he feels like an empty shell.
In fact, in the back of his mind he knew this will happen. Alarice will leave him. And after his neglect that results to the death of their child, he know doesn't have the right to stop her. This was the consequence that he have to face.
"If I beg you to stay. Will you stay?" He asked hoping that she'll stay
Alarice slowly shake her head.
"We're both hurt right now. I think this is the best time to part ways. Maybe time can heal the both of us but right now, I don't think seeing each other will make us feel better. I don't want to see you, your majesty. Let's part ways." She said
With a heavy heart, Nicholas sign the divorce paper.
On the last day of winter, the sun looses his moon completely.
*****
3 years later
"Ember! Stop drawing on our walls!" Alarice gently Yells at a 2 year old baby girl.
The little girl has a wavy blonde hair with ocean blue eyes. A spitting image of his father.
"This is called art Mommy." Ember with her childish tone reason out
"It's ugly." An arrogant tone that came from a child said
Alarice glanced at her son. A two year old boy who was arrogant and mature for his age. An epitome of a ruler.
He has a beautiful face with ocean blue eyes and silver hair. A mixed feature of his parents.
"Shut up Emery, brother Mael said it's cute." Ember said
"No it's not." Said the boy and the two started fighting with each other.
"Stop it both of you or no snacks for a week." Alarice said and the two stop fighting.
"Face the wall and down on your knees. Reflect on your actions." She said and the two children oblige with their cute pouty faces.
"I'm here!" A boy said on the outside.
The two children jump out and head towards the door.
"Brother Mael!" Both of them shouted
"Did you bring me sword?" Ember asked excitedly
"What about books?" Emery said
"Of course! Only for my favorite siblings!" He said and gave them his gifts.
"Stop spoiling them!" Alarice said
"It's fine. It's nothing." Mael said
It's been three years since she got divorceand they are living quietly in a far away province. Almost at the boundary of the Philleon empire. Mael was the only one who knows their location. And he visited them after every season ends.
They were all living peacefully at a small Villa. Far from the luxurious life of an imperial member but life there is so peaceful.
Her parents already know of the twins and are waiting for them to go home. But Alarice was waiting till the children is of age to travel long distance. She plans to stay on her home country permanently when the kids grew up.
It's a life she achieved after all those struggles that she experience. She was now contented
The end.
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It's a bit late but ...