Entering the main palace, Eleanora headed towards her office room to take some reports to finish.
People were whispering around her, but she chose to ignore them as she walked in with her usual cold expression on her face.
'Take a deep breath… they can't affect me'
'I have done nothing wrong'
'Their looks mean nothing…'
Eleanora kept chanting in her mind as she walked towards the study room.
Her heart was beating faster with awkwardness and the thought that everyone might be looking at her with pity disgusted her.
But there is nothing she can do for now.
So only work can divert her mind and make her feel calm. She won't think about anything else if she is busy… but still his voice kept ringing in her ears.
How proudly he announced that woman's pregnancy news, how the people cheered for the new heir of the empire.
How she was brushed aside by that woman despite her being his lawful wife and Empress.
"Eleanora!!"
Eleanora paused on her steps with a frown on her face as someone called her all of a sudden.
Her jewel blue eyes narrowed with irritation, no one in this whole empire except the emperor can call her by name.
Even her own father calls her with respect.
Eleanora slowly turned her head to see a girl with light blonde hair and caramel eyes waving at her, who was standing at the end of the hall room.
She seemed to be coming out from the emperor's bedroom, where the empress was not allowed to enter.
Just the thought of that woman being with the Emperor where she was crying out in loneliness angered her and she clenched her fists tightly.
'What does she want now?'
'My title as the Empress?'
'She has already snatched everything away from me, I might as well give that to her.'
Eleanora thought in her mind with irritation and chose to pretend she didn't hear her and walked towards her office room.
Her pregnancy was affecting her mood and she didn't want to confront that woman right now.
"Eleanora, wait!"
Jena called after her again as she ran towards her and Eleanora took a deep breath while rolling her eyes.
The last person Eleanora wanted to deal with right now was her.
'Why does she want to pour salt into the wound before I can even fully process what's am going to do now?'
'Do they expect me to shower her child with love and welcome them by stretching out my arms?'
But soon she returned to her senses as Jena grabbed her wrist and forced her to spin around.
And Eleanora frowned sharply at her touch as she yanked away her hands.
!!!!
'How dare she touch me?'
'I am still the empress even if she is carrying the heir!!'
Eleanora unknowingly let out her chilly ice magical aura which made Jena shudder away.
Her caramel-brown eyes went wide in surprise as she dropped to her knees instantly and Eleanora looked at her with confused eyes.
'Was my aura that dominating?'
'No, It shouldn't be…'
Eleanora continued to stare at the woman before her who looked as if she was about to cry and started to whimper while speaking.
"Empress, Please forgive me!"
"I didn't want it to be like this."
Hearing her words, Eleanora became dumbfounded for a moment before she wanted to laugh in disgust.
This woman was always like this.
Calling the empress by her name at first, when no one was around and then addressing her respectfully when people started to gather around them.
"He is the emperor, how could I deny him?"
Jena spoke as tears began to fall from her eyes, making her look extremely pitiful and people around them started to whisper among themselves.
"You know I never wanted things to go this far, but I couldn't help and fell for him too."
"I love this empire as much as you do. Please don't hate me or this child..."
Jena rested a hand on her belly as if to emphasize the point and Eleanora tried her best to control her urge to kill that woman.
She could feel her pulse beating loudly, deafening her ears to bring out her sword and slash this woman.
The audacity she had to say that to the empress as if she were the victim in this whole situation.
Not her, who had suffered and labored for years, even before they had been married,
Not her, who had sacrificed everything to stay with the emperor, only to be treated coldly by him.
'She dares to come to me now with her tears for sympathy?!'
Being the first Duke's daughter, naturally, everyone had assumed Eleanora would be the empress and they already had a prior engagement because of a certain prophecy.
She was declared as his bride, even before she was born into this world.
Eleanora had trained for empress duties long before they were engaged officially.
She had given up her freedom for him.
Her dream was to lead her duchy, sitting on the head chair in the office room of her father.
Jena was nothing.
She was a fling everyone said would end once the emperor became bored.
But it never happened.
Ordinarily, Eleanora would have ignored her.
She would have given her a sharp look and uttered a few small words before leaving to keep the peace.
But not today...
Not today when she had crawled her way in and diminished any hope Eleanora had left to stay with the emperor.
Anger got over her emotions as Eleanora spoke with authority in her tone.
"Get a hold of yourself and know your place! Even if you become a queen your lowly identity will never change!"
Eleanora snapped at her as she let out her chilly magical aura and everyone gasped in fear.
"Did you honestly think I would have sympathy for you? That I would console you? Congratulate you?"
"What did you hope to achieve by coming to me now? Huh?"
"Did you want to rub in my face how you got pregnant by my husband?"
Eleanora could feel the stares as the maids of the palace gathered to watch the exchange.
They all looked on with mixed expressions ranging from sadness to anger and sympathy.
She couldn't tell if it was for her or Jena though.
Eleanora looked down at her in disgust as Jena suddenly broke out in heavy sobs, but she did not move even an inch to help her.
"Your Majesty! Don't be so cruel with your words!"
One of the onlooker maids shouted out, running to Jena's aid and Eleanora's face darkened.
After that maid, someone else also came for Jena's aid; Marquise Brayden Hill, the aid of the emperor with a frown on his face.
His violet eyes looked up at Eleanora with burning hatred but she only looked back with uncaring eyes.
"She's pregnant, Your Majesty! How can you say such horrible things to her when she only wanted to make peace?"
Sir Brayden spoke angrily and Eleanora raised an eyebrow in question.
She had a higher status than him but yet, he still dared to talk with her in that manner.
"And… who do you think you are to talk with me like that, Marquis Hill?"
Eleanora asked him with a deep intimidating tone and he just looked down as he couldn't find words to refute.
She wanted to lash out at him as well but it was enough.
Sir Brayden and the maids were consoling Jena as she kept apologizing to Eleanora.
And only then did Eleanora realize that she had become a villain.
Her heart ached in pain when she found no one taking her side and looked at her like she was the culprit.
Eleanora could feel a heavy burden in her heart as she turned around to leave the main palace without taking her reports, but she kept her head up.
'Dalton's will never bow down!'
She thought in her mind, and everyone had to bow down to her whether they wished to or not because she was still the Empress.
People are still obligated to show her the respect she deserves even when they do not want to.
She normally conducted herself properly, with no flaw in her etiquette as an empress should.
But this time, Jena got on her nerves.
Eleanora quickened her speed as she walked out from the main Palace and reached her own mansion.
She lives all by herself there, only with her palace attendant Rena, and her personal maid, Maria.
The only people allowed access to this area were her maids and the emperor if he wished.
But he never came here after sending an attendant to announce his orders for her to move here.
The moment she reached the bedroom, Eleanora tossed herself on the bed as she finally let out her tears of disappointment.
"Why is this happening to me?"
"What have I done wrong?"
Eleanora mumbled in between her sobbing and the door slowly opened up as an elderly lady entered her room.
"Your Majesty…"
A sad-looking Rena appeared at her bedroom's doorway, her eyes were full of pity.
The tears Eleanora tried to hold back began to fall as she heard her voice and Rena immediately rushed to hug her tightly.
"Sush... it's okay, Your Majesty."
Eleanora softly sobbed in Rena's arms, grabbing onto her as if she was grabbing onto her own life.
Rena was an older lady who had acted as a mother to Eleanora, ever since she had become the Empress.
Her own mother had passed away when she was barely six, in an assassination attack while saving her.
"Calm down, Empress,"
Rena whispered, stroking her shiny silver hair but Eleanora's tears wouldn't stop.
At first, Eleanora felt like her world was ending after hearing the emperor's words but in reality, she was greatly disappointed.
Why did it never cross her mind that if he could keep that woman so close to him openly then he could also touch her?
Why did she expect loyalty from him when he was betraying her openly?
She was really naive.
Now she was feeling disgusted that he touched her with the same hands that touched that woman.
He kissed her with the same lips that kissed that woman.
"I can't take this anymore,"
"I wish to leave this place, Rena…"
Eleanora mumbled against Rena's chest and the hands, which were stroking her hair paused its movements.
"What are you even saying, Your Majesty?!"
Rena spoke with a shocked voice and Eleanora shook her head.
"I have nothing else to give to anyone anymore… I am tired now."
Eleanora's interaction with Jena had only solidified in her mind that leaving this place was the best option.
'No one needs me here anymore...'
'I don't want to lose my child again…'
Eleanora's mind wandered, remembering the faces that had surrounded her during the confrontation with Jena.
She was sure now they were in sympathy towards Jena, not her; especially thinking back to Brayden and his look of hatred.
Which once used to look at her with admiration…
They held no love for her anymore.
She had helped raise this empire to the top but she knew their respect for her was no longer sincere.
And moreover, she can't bear his betrayals anymore.
She has given him everything, and he couldn't even grant her respect and honesty in this relationship.
'I can't hold onto someone who doesn't want to be mine'
How they celebrated Jena's pregnancy, where her last pregnancy ended up with a tragedy opened up her eyes.
No one celebrated her child's coming news or mourned for their unexpected death.
Eleanora always had suspicions about being poisoned but she couldn't understand, who and how it was done.
'No, I can't risk this child anymore because of them... I need to leave this place to keep him safe,'
Eleanora shook her head and pulled away from Rena who was looking at her with concern.
"Do you really want to leave this palace, Your Majesty?"
She asked and Eleanora nodded, this was the final straw for her child to survive and start a new life.
"I've made up my mind, Rena, It will be best for everyone."
Eleanora continued to speak in a low voice and Rena stood still before her with a sad face.
"I have dedicated my life to the empire, to the emperor; but I need to do this for me now."
"I guess, I also deserve a chance to be happy and someone who will love me back."
Disappointment clearly flashed across her face as she finished her words.
Rena opened her mouth to say something but the door burst open behind them all of a sudden; shocking them to their core.
Eleanora gasped and turned her neck sharply towards the sudden intrusion.
There was only one person she could think of, who would dare to make such an entrance in her room.
Those familiar bloody red eyes glared at her again, filled with hatred and rage.
.
.
.
He came to her palace for the first and last time...