Unforgivable (Helsa)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elsa was at a loss for words at the sudden question of her husband. She blinked a few times, trying to come up with the words to say to him. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know if she should lie, tell him the truth, or overall avoid the question but a voice in her head was telling her, there's no point in hiding it.

"Elsa?"

She took a deep breath before nodding her head. "We did...", she says honestly and Frederic let out a hard, frustrated sigh. "But it was a very long time ago, thirteen years ago when I was a really dumb girl..."

"Is this why you aren't sending him to the Southern Isles? And giving him to his brothers?", Frederic asked her and hastily, Elsa shook her head.

"No! No, definitely not, I'm doing this for Helena. Frederic, I can't live with the guilt knowing I killed her father, that I took a child away from her father", Elsa tells him. "I know it seems all absurd and crazy knowing what he's done to me in the past but I...I can't live with it."

"Elsa...", Frederic sighs before shaking his head. "You should've told me. It's all making sense now."

Elsa looks down, feeling guilty. "I didn't know how to break it you."

"It explains why Hans said that to me...take care of you", Frederic says and Elsa suddenly looks up. 

"He said that?", Elsa asks and Frederic nods begrudgingly.

"Yes, he did", Frederic says bitterly. "But I uh...I gotta go."

"Frederic, wait", Elsa tries to stop him but he doesn't.

"Give me a moment to think about all of this, it's a little too much for me to handle...", Frederic says before walking into his study leaving a guilt-ridden Elsa behind.

-

"The trip will cost you about a seven hundred each to Corona. About a thousand to Maldonia and four hundred to ", the sailor said to Hans.

Hans nodded understanding the situation. "I see...I need to board this ship by tomorrow. When will you be leaving?"

"Sorry, sir but we'll be leaving in the next two weeks", the sailor says sadly and Hans lets out a sigh, nodding his head before thanking him and walking away.

Hans kept searching and searching for a boat that would leave within the next few days. But with zero luck. As he was walking down the pier, he noticed the Southern Isle ship. It was still here even after the conference ended. He paused for a moment as he looked at the flag, the infamous red Southern Isle flag.

Hans had no country. He was neither a Southern Isle citizen or a Maldonian. He was stateless. He has been for eight years. Sometimes, he wonders how in the world will he ever become a citizen of another country. Where will he and Helena go....as of now, he doesn't have much of a plan.

He just wants to find a new country, settle there hopefully and find a decent job his daughter can be proud of. Maybe become a sailor, maybe work in an inn, and maybe even a merchant. Wherever life takes him....

"Why the long face?"

A voice suddenly spoke up from behind him. Hans jumped a little before turning around and he saw his brother, Ivar standing behind him. He was with only his guard and no sign of John anywhere.

Hans was still angry at Ivar for banning him from ever seeing John ever again. But that didn't mean it would stop Hans from doing so. He was still going to write to him no matter. John was a big part of his new life and John appreciated him and treated him like his own father.

"Nothing...", Hans says, feeling annoyed to see him. It was like was everywhere. "I'm just walking around...where's John?"

"In the ship", Ivar replies, looking at Hans like he was very suspicious.

"Oh...I see", Hans nods, swallowing a lump in his throat before briefly glancing to the ship. "Why haven't you left yet?"

"Is it any of your business?", Ivar answers him and Hans felt his hands clench for a moment but he quickly shrugged it off.

"Fine, I understand. I best be going-"

"Wait", Ivar stops him right before Hans could walk away. Hans pauses for a moment before turning to him again. "Tell me the truth. What are you doing?"

"Look, Ivar, I don't need to explain anything to you-"

"Just tell me", Ivar demands and Hans was quiet for a moment. He hated it when his brother belittled him. But just moments later, there was a shift in Ivar's mood. He went from being so guarded, angry to suddenly soft, and even concerned? Hans hasn't seen this side of him in thirteen years.

"I-I...", Hans trailed off, not knowing what to say. The look on Ivar's face was killing him.

"Hans", Ivar sighs, suddenly. The pride in his eyes were disappearing. "I know you and I had our differences...we fought a lot, I cursed you, and even came here to spite you....but John has spoken to me. He told me that I shouldn't live like this anymore. That I shouldn't harbor my anger towards you anymore...you were the only one I trusted among our brothers and we failed each other..."

Hans hitched a breath. He felt his heart race in his chest as tears began to stream down his cheeks and sting his eyes. His words, were the exact words he wanted to hear thirteen years ago. He didn't know why but it felt so surreal, tear-jerking to hear it now but his next phrase was the very phrase that Hans had been anticipating for more than a decade to come out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry...brother."

And at that moment, Hans felt all the pain, hurts, and anger he felt towards his brother diminish. Hans didn't say anything but merely smiled before hugging his brother and just like that, all the things that were said and done, all those painful mistakes and wrongdoings, forgiven and erased.

"I'm sorry too...brother..."