Rivals

Chapter 15: Freedom/ Epiglogue

Evangeline

The king finished the final preparations so that he would not leave Adaresa in chaos. He had asked for one thing before the coronation so that he would be alive to see. He asked Julien and Odette to hold a small wedding so that he may attend it in his final hour. As happy as everyone was for the two couple, everyone was also sad for what was to come. King Marlan was a kind king, one of the greatest to go down in history. He had given everyone their title, Odette and Julien as the new king and queen, and Kaden and Evangeline as the new grandmasters.

The king had asked to be with Evangeline alone in his final hour but no one allowed such arrangement. The newly wed and the grandmasters all stood with their king in the forest where they awaited the final hour before sunrise. Evangeline took off the amulet hesitantly holding it to her chest. "You can change your mind, you don't have to die for me."

The king shook his head with a smile. "Don't say it like that child, please live a happy life for me."

Evangeline turned her head so the king would not see her cry.

"Don't cry my child, I am happy with my decision," the king tried to convince them.

The king took the amulet from Evangeline before cutting his palm with a dagger and holding the amulet in his bloody palm. "Oh lord, just how you had sent my ancestor to save humanity from demons and sent my ancestor to save humanity by locking away this darkness, please accept my blood in ending this darkness once and for all." The king fell to his knees as blood began to drop from his nose. "Oh lord accept my humble sacrifice and keeping humanity safe. Oh lord, accept my humble sacrifice from the light that is in my heart and so there may be light in the heart of others." The king groaned in pain as he was crouched on the floor. Evangeline ran to help him but Kaden held her back despite her hitting and yelling for him to let her go. "Oh lord, accept my sacrifice and let me return to you. Let me return to my master once more."

Evangeline grabbed her chest and screamed in pain feeling something had been ripped out of her. She sucked in a deep breath of air feeling as if she was breathing for the first time. The king slumped on the ground with no movement or sound coming out from him. Evangeline managed to break out of Kaden's grasp to run to the king. She rolled him to his side to find that he had passed away and that the amulet had turned into a translucent gem once more. She held the king's old and frail body to her chest as she began to sob. Odette dropped to her knees beside her sister, hugging her and the king as well.

The funeral preparings had been set beforehand. The whole kingdom had attended the funeral and was made aware of king Marlan's bravery, pureness, and kindness. As their first duty as king and queen, Julien and Odette had ordered that a statue be made in honor of King Marlan in the middle of town hall. The kingdom showered it in flowers and illuminated the whole town with candles.

When the ceremony was over, Evangeline was ready to call it a day. Her body had been exhausted with the removal of Lord Gywith's spirit and with all the crying for her departed king. After a long bath, Evangeline got dressed into one of Kaden's white chemise. She raised the sleeve, inhaling his smell as she walked back into her room from the connected bathroom.

"You know you could always smell the real deal," Kaden said making her head snap up in his direction. He was laying on her bed with his hands behind his head and his ankles crossed. He eyed her body up and down while licking his lips. "Have I ever told you how much I like seeing you in my clothes?"

"Really?" Evangeline asked walking with a sway of her hips towards her bed.

"Yes, very much," he said, as he swallowed hard, his Adam's apple moving up and down.