BXBX NOVEL Chapter 258 Aftermath (3)
The rest of the elders didn\'t make any sound as they only looked sympathetically at the devastated Kazimir.
He was one of the greatest worries they have the moment the truth about the Vesalas comes to light.
What will become of Kazimir?
Will he be an enemy standing beside the Vesalas or will he stay as a Seirende with such disgraceful ties with the traitors?
Either of the two would leave his dignity as the First Prince destroyed. And now they are witnessing the prelude of this dilemma happening to him.
But it seems like before his reputation comes to ruin, his heart and mind would crumble first.
"Father… I had my suspicion… It started when the matter of the investigations and sanctions happened. But now I clearly can\'t deny… that my maternal family…" Kazimir\'s raised trembling hand covered his face with shame.
He knew what it meant to see Orel on that battlefield - his maternal family had something to do with the chaos that was happening.
"I tried to warn Antoine… I tried to warn everyone… But it was too late… We got ahead of ourselves… Hic... Hic.. and cause… and caused everybody\'s harm! Ahhhhrrr…" Images and sounds of the death and struggle during the battle kept haunting his mind as he was explaining everything to his father.
It torments him every time he is reminded of the events at the battle in the third district.
"He is unstable right now and it seems like remembering the recent battle plagues his mind, soul, and spirit. He may not be hurt physically but the damage inside him was severe." The High Priest immediately stepped forward and used his spiritual power to calm Kazimir.
Instantly, the hysterical Kazimir drifted to deep sleep. His ragged breathing calmed down and the tears in his eyes came to a pitiful stop.
"What should I do…" Emperor Valentin was already out of ideas, he was long tired of everything he had to take care of. And even if he wanted to ease Kazimir\'s condition, he could no longer think straight and this might do his son more damage than good.
"For now, let\'s call on his family… I mean the Princess Consort and the little prince. Their presence may help the First Prince\'s emotions stabilize." The High Priest suggested, knowing that these days the relationship Kazimir had with his little family was improving. He wanted to bet on that fact as he also had no idea how to heal the wounds of the heart.
"Let\'s do that then…" Emperor Valentin took Kazimir\'s worn-out hands, it was full of obviously self-inflicted wounds.
He looked at him and noticed how far his son was from his previous high-profile demeanor. All the pride, the haughtiness, and even the dignity of a prince were gone without a trace.
All that was left was devastation, confusion, and self-blame.
Soon, the elders dismissed themselves to help with the chaos in the Capital and Princess Consort Arielle rushed to the bedroom. After explaining everything, Princess Consort Arielle assured Emperor Valentin that she will do her best to accompany and look after Kazimir.
With that, some of the burdens were lifted off the Emperor\'s shoulders. But before he can focus on the retaliation against the enemy, there\'s one last group of people he had to look for - His second son\'s family.
He had to at least inform them of what happened, especially to the First Queen Lucia. But he didn\'t know what to say. All these years he hadn\'t treated Lucia as a loving husband but only maintained a reserved and cordial relationship with her.
But now, he will go as his husband and as Antoine\'s father. How in the world could he explain to her everything? That Antoine was most likely dead and that his body couldn\'t even be tracked?
But just as he was on his way to the First Queen\'s palace a letter was urgently delivered to him. So instead of going straight to her place, he proceeded to his office instead.
Looking at the seal in the letter, Emperor Valentin knew that it was from First Queen Lucia. His heart was nervous but he still opened it.
The content of the letter surprised Emperor Valentin. It was only two sentences but it was enough to give Valentin a ray of hope.
"I trust the vision that I saw… His Majesty Emperor, believe in your sons\' destinies…"
His aged face seemed to have been lightened a little bit with a helpless smile. But the doubt still loomed in his heart.
All the facts point to his second son losing all chances of survival. What kind of destiny awaits him other than death?
"Believe in my sons\' destinies…" He remembered Kazimir\'s condition and he never forgot Leon\'s predicament. What kind of destinies awaits them?
Destiny… There was one in the Empire who had a bright destiny. That would be Eli, his future daughter-in-law!
Eli is the Subject of the Oracle!!! How could he forget?!
The one who would bring hope in the middle of the chaos!
Two oracles went down in the Seirende Empire and all point to two things. There will be chaos and there will be hope!
That hope will arise in the next generation - Eli!!!
Could it be… could it be?
At this moment, Emperor Valentin had a crazy thought. It made him laugh at himself, but he couldn\'t help to think -
What if Eli could somehow affect the seemingly dark destinies of his sons just by being inside the Imperial Family?
He raised his hands into prayer and deeply asked the Creator in Heaven. If it was hope, then could he be merciful not to take Antoine\'s life as well?
Even if it costs the throne, he will gladly step down, just to see his sons alive and well.
Just as he was praying for miracles upon miracles to descend to his land, the chamberlain\'s voice announced; "His Highness Third Prince is seeking audience with His Majesty!"
"Let him in!" Emperor Valentin felt his heart stop as his youngest son finally came.
While all this farce happened he knew that the youngest was out there in the dark, preparing for the retaliation they were about to do.
But whether what he brings is a piece of good or bad news, he didn\'t know if his heart was ready.
Nevertheless, he still hardened his heart and prepared for the worst. Whatever news his son would bring he will take it along with the other burdens he had to take.
Leon, who had the same cold and expressionless face, looked at the Emperor. But before uttering anything, he sealed the place with an isolation array, knelt, and victoriously declared;
"Father… Eli, Kayden, and the rest succeeded. They… WE finally found a cure to the curse!"
The Emperor fell at his feet, feeling like a huge burden was finally taken off his shoulders but after bearing it for too long, he fell to the ground with a myriad of emotions.
"Finally… Finally, there\'s hope… Heavens… but we are too late. Your second brother…" The Emperor lost count of how many tears and emotions he had let out in this chaotic night.
But no words could be enough to describe the kind of feelings he was experiencing right now.
Despair, agony, anger, helplessness, hope, and relief. All of these emotions occupied his heart and mind that he could no longer express himself outwardly.
Leon looked at his Father, who was trembling as he was still trying to process everything that happened. He went beside him and stiffly soothed his father\'s trembling shoulders while he said with assurance;
"Father… worry not, for we are not late. Antoine is now in the underground Temple being treated by Kayden. There\'s hope… so fear not.
The stage is set and the time has come. It\'s time to sweep the capital.. no the Empire, clean off the traitors!"
-
The morning before the attack started.
Kayden and Eli, along with Nathan and Keren wore a very serious look on their faces. They were all staring at a certain crystalline bottle that contained a sparkling blue potion.
Their hearts seemed to have come to a stop as they stared at the bottle and then at each other. They were lost in a daze as if something had given them the biggest shock of their lives.
"I think we did it???" Nathan broke the silence by awkwardly announcing the success of their work.
Everyone let out a helpless laugh at Nathan\'s antics.
It was not that they were not happy that they finally managed to complete the cure, but it was the fact that it was so surreal that they couldn\'t react for themselves and stayed dazed for a while.
From thinking that the task is impossible to complete within a short period of time, to the potion finally working after countless tries… They, the inventors themselves, couldn\'t believe it!
The first type of cure to the curse powers was finally completed!
"If this still doesn\'t work then we can conclude that the solution for the curses couldn\'t be found in the field of medicine!" Kayden was next to recover as he replied confidently.
His unkempt appearance couldn\'t mask the deep rejoicing he had in his heart. But his words finally woke everyone into a daze, everything is real. The potion, the results of the tests, they are all real!
"Yeah…" The females in the group finally let out an emotional reply as the tears of happiness, relief, and exhaustion rolled on their cheeks.
"These panda eyes of ours are worth it!" Nathan shouted and even pointed at his two panda eyes from being sleep-deprived for a few days.