The sound of the wind brushing against the curtain is slightly melancholy despite the dazzling bright sky that shines through the glass window. Even though nothing had changed from the previous night, the morning came again greeting without a delay. I was afraid to open my eyes because of what was about to happen. But if I don't do anything, nothing will change. However, my body's ache from yesterday has miraculously healed. Hence, I sat up slowly while grinding my teeth, worried that it was all in my head. Then I noticed a small note on my bedside table that read, "I apologise, Deanna. I understand how difficult it is to forgive me, but I will do everything in my power to make amends. Regards, Helios ". Hence, at the end of that letter, I knew that Helios was the one who healed me. Despite that, I can't show that I am all better, as it seems impossible. Moreover, I can use this circumstance to my advantage.
On the other side of the duke's household, Duke Remus was confronting Lady Chlaricia about what happened last night.
"Here," the duke said with a stern voice as he handed over the financial report that had been compiled and investigated by Baron Marcius.
"What is this?" Lady Chlaricia said with a dumbfounded look. A few seconds after she glanced through the pages, she was terrified yet tried to look composed.
"Tell me what the meaning of all this, haven't I given enough? " The Duke said, as Lady Chlaricia was still flipping through the pages.
"I don't understand. Don't you know me well enough? I am your wife. How could you trust this blindly and treat me like this? " She said with a disbelieving face, which hid her furious self.
"You're still lying to me, Chlaricia. I heard what happened yesterday. Deanna is my child and your child as well. How could you treat her like that?" he said with a high tone voice and gradually slow down. He was sad, as he didn't know what to make of that incident. All the things that were running inside his head were, 'Why is this happening?'
"Mine? I have never for once thought of her as my child, and for all that I know, I only have one daughter, and that is Eliana. " Chlaricia spoke with contempt.
"Chlaricia!" The Duke shouted at her.
"You think it's all my fault? It's you. You are the reason all of this happened to me. I love you, Remus, but have you ever given me your love? Why can't you just let go of your dead wife? " She said
"Chlaricia!" he shouted.
"Angela has nothing to do with this, and Deanna as well. If you hate me, let it all out on me, "he continued.
"Why should I give you the benefit of that? I want you to suffer like me, to be ignored and unloved by someone we love," she said.
The Duke stayed silent as his mind thought of what she had just said. He started to blame himself for all the things that happened and started pitying Lady Chlaricia.
"Chlaricia, I am sorry for all the things that I have done to you, but the things that you did to Deanna have gone out of control," he spoke with a calm voice.
"I don't want to see you here. Go to Apricus," he continued, as he knew Prince Lex would do something about yesterday's situation. Since he believed it was his fault that Lady Chlaricia acted as such, he believed he had to make things right, and that is by giving a second chance to Lady Chlaricia. Apricus is where Duke Remus's summer house is located, which is in the south of the country of Quirinus.
"So now you're going to throw me?" she was angry at hearing the duke's demand.
"Do you know who witnessed your monstrous act yesterday?" he said with a firm voice.
Then he turned his face away and said, "I don't want to hear any more from you. Get your things ready and leave before dark,"
Without a word, she stomped her feet and walked furiously out of the office without any last greeting.
The first person she went to after she met the Duke was her beloved daughter, Eliana. She was burning with rage at what happened just now. She didn't realise her mistake, but only thought of herself as the victim.
Eliana was getting ready to go out with Lady Dulcea as the spring ball approached sooner than expected. Hence, many new designs were out in stores to capture the hearts of all the maidens across the country.
"Eliana!" Lady Chlaricia slammed the door open and shouted furiously.
"What?!" Eliana was shocked and surprised at the same time.
Lady Chlaricia sat herself down and called the maid who was helping Eliana get ready.
"Get me a drink," she said.
"I need to cool myself down. That stupid girl, she thinks she's already won," she continued with a despised voice.
"Why are you here? I'm going out in a few minutes with Dulcea," Eliana said, as she was amazed by her beauty from the reflection in the mirror.
"How can you relax when your mother was thrown out of here?" she said.
"Oh dear mother, what are you fussing about? Go do what you do best, seduce him. It's not like I don't know you've been playing around with that Baron's son," Eliana said with a devilish smile.
Despite that, Eliana knew that her mother's lover only sought her wealth and that love was just a manipulation. She knew what her mother did behind her father's back, though she didn't say anything, but merely watched from a distance. She thought that it was not in her position to advise, and it didn't concern her about her mother's life, as long as it didn't interrupt her life.
She was shocked, as she didn't know that Eliana knew about this.
"How did you know? Did your father know about this?" she said.
"Dearest mother, try to think about it. Do you think he knew? " Eliana said.
She stayed silent as Eliana walked forward and held her mother's shoulder.
"I am a good daughter, mother. How could you not trust me? " Eliana continued with a smile on her face.
"Mother, I love you, but I have to go now. I have to look my best for my beloved Calisto," Eliana said, as she mesmerised herself.
"Hmph, you're not helping. Whatever you do, remember to think about your future. You're not going to live like this forever," she said as she turned and walked out the door.
After her mother went out of her room, she called her maid to continue dressing her to go out with Lady Dulcea.
Lady Chlaricia went to her room feeling dissatisfied, victimised and annoyed. She knew she couldn't back down from this fight, so she decided to protest for the last time.
It was time for Lady Chlaricia to move, but there was no sign of her. Hence, the duke walked towards her room to confide in her.
"Chlaricia, open the door. It's time already. Don't be stubborn, "he said.
"I don't want to go. This is my home, my daughter, and you are here. Why should I go? Why are you trying to separate me from Eliana? " She cried.
"Evander, I love you. Don't you love me? Please, my love," she said as she gave the duke a hug with a sobbing sound and sought empathy from the kind duke.
"Chlaricia, listen, it will be only for a while. I will come get you when everything's fine. Okay? I would never leave you alone," he said as his hand stroked the back of Lady Chlaricia.
As Lady Chlaricia knew she couldn't convince him anymore, she just stayed quiet and walked side by side with Duke Remus as he guided her towards the carriage.
The Duke bid farewell to Lady Chlaricia with a solemn face. He stood there for quite a while till the moon were right up his head.
We will learn from our past mistakes and the future will be better for us. Living is the process of learning, not just socialising or eating or even enjoying yourself. Each day, without realising it, we learn something new, from how to walk, read, to different tastes of food and different routes to take. However, never pressure yourself by thinking only about the past in order to make amends. The guilt that builds up in our minds will eventually kill us. It was all from the mistakes that we made or the things that we should've done. Although we try to change ourselves for the better tomorrow, never let others bring you down. They would guilt-trip us for their own strength. They will toy with us till we leave with nothing but only a name. Hence, remember that you are growing each day. You know what's right and wrong. You will grow beautifully from the scar that you build as you grow up. Furthermore, you know yourself better than others know you. So let them talk whatever they want to talk about you. Just remember, you have the right to not listen to their words. Decide what best for you and your future, not let others be the judge of you.