Rites to Wrongs [Completed]

Chapter 2

The King stood waiting for her, "You look much better with your hair adorned"

"Thank you, your Majesty" she replied.

"Now where would you like to go today?"

"Where ever you desire" she replied.

"Alright then, let us take a walk in the garden"

They walked in silence for a while, "What do you think about my offer?" he asked. She stopped and turned to look at him, "My freedom for the Kingdom....." she said then turned to look ahead, "I...accept".

He smiled and walked in front of her then raised his elbow for her to take, she looked at him for a moment and stepped forward to link her arm with his.

The hatred she had of them killing her parents, families and friends had been so strong. In the past, she would've exacted her revenge, but after 700 years has passed. It all but dissipated after she has seen countless humans and their Kings vanished to the ground.

Such existence as theirs, have lived their life in sufferings year after year. The payment is already paid.

"Darling come here" her mother stood by the door and smiled warmly.

"Heehee, mommy, mommy. Look, look at what I made for daddy" she ran towards her and hugged her.

She lifted Elpis face up and asked, "Oh my, what is it that you made?"

Elpis put on the biggest smile and whispered, "Shhh....don't tell daddy it's a surprise"

"I won't tell him, now show me" her mother said lovingly.

Elpis opened her hand, "A beautiful brooch" she smiled warmly at her mother. "Tis also the color of your hair mommy, he will surely love it!" she exclaimed.

"Oh my! I am sure your daddy will love it because tis also the color of your hair" she said and touched Elpis's nose.

"Heeheeheehee...." Elpis giggled.

"Now tell me, who is the one that taught you how to make this?" her mother chastised her.

Elpis looked at the ground and started to feel guilty for learning how to make something without permission from her mother or father first. "Tis...tis, promise me you won't reprimand that person? Because, because I begged and I begged for them to teach me" Elpis continued.

Her mother kept quiet and just looked at her with raised eyebrows.

Finally, Elpis could not help it and confessed, "Mommy tis Marianne, but it's my fault! I told her I want to give something to daddy for his birthday! I wanted to give him something special but could not think of anything! So....so....I happened to chance upon a lady giving a man a brooch and he looked super happy! And then I asked Marianne about it.....and she smiled. She told me any man would be happy to receive a brooch from a lady. I then thought that daddy is a man and he would be happy to receive a gift from a lady like me" Elpis breathed in and paused, she looked up at her mother to see her reaction.

But she did not show any, instead she waited for Elpis. "So....so....I demanded Marianne to teach me how to make one......and I made her promised me to keep it as a secret" she finishes and smiled at her mother.

Her mother looked at her suspiciously, "How can you make Marianne made a promised to you?" her mother asked not understanding how a child can convinced an adult to keep quiet, especially when the child is banned from learning anything without informing her parents.

Elpis smiled nervously, "Ummmm......." she showed her best and sweetest smile to her mother.

"I can tell, you're not telling me everything"

Elpis quickly looked down at the ground again "Promised me you won't tell Marianne that I told you?"

What a devious child, her mother thought endearingly, "Alright, I shall not tell her, now what is it?"

"Tis because the lady I chanced upon was Marianne" Elpis blurted out quickly, "and please don't ever, ever tell her" she added, "she won't ever talk to me again, if she knows that I told someone else".

Her mother's eyebrow shot up, "Marianne.......hah" her face lit up in a smile, "I did not know that she has someone she's interested in"

"Shhhh mother" Elpis put her finger up.

"Ahhhhhh....shhhh" her mother smiled and gave her a wink.

"Be careful" he held the tree branch over her. She turned to look at him, "Thank you" Elpis said and ambled past him.

"What do you think of my garden so far?" he said next to her.

"Very beautiful indeed, your Majesty"

"Indeed it is, but tis very big, if I were to show you all, twill take me days" he smiled at her.

"I am sure"

"Since I have shown you what I can, let us discuss when we should begin with my offer"

Elpis smiled apathetically, "As you wish your Majesty"