The Villainess Strikes Back

chapter 17

Rael felt herself being absorbed. Something was pulling her and making heat run through her body. Her already hurt head started to pain even harder.

She groaned as the pain increased and about when she thought that the pain was gonna kill her, it was gone.

And as of it's the most normal thing, her eyes opened slowly. Still weak from the pain, she mumbled the least sets of words required, making the people around her flinch.

" Princess!!!!!" Don shouted, puffy red eyes, starting to fill itself again. He hugged the Princess and cried himself out.

"Wha....." Speechless from the gesture, Rael couldn't help but wonder what on Earth happened. She started to look around while Don gave her a huge hug, and two figures caught her eye.

The Emperor was quietly standing there, his eyes red too, but body too shocked to move any further, while Monte was right beside him.

Rael's eyes caught Monte's and without a word, Monte started crying uncontrollably again, but not like Ra knew, it were tears of relief.

Monte and Emperor had been having such a difficult time since three days ago Rael fainted, that they couldn't imagine how Don was keeping up. He refused to eat or leave the Princess's side, his face now shallow from starving for three days.

All the drama put Rael in a awkward position. But much to her own surprise, she was unbelievably relieved too. The tingling feeling inside her made her feel safe nad secured. She hugged back Don and layed her head, resting.

Clutching his chest tightly, the Emperor was beyond scared. Guilt was pouring rain on him. Looking at his daughter, her crying face, maybe it would be the last time anyone would see this. She had cocked up her emotions inside a box and threw away the keys, at such a young age, that never anyone would notice if she is really fine or not. She acted so mature and tough that he forgot for the time that she was just a  child. Everything happening was his fault. He should have never abandoned her. He should have never blamed his own daughter just because he could not cope up with the Empress's death. And never for a single time did he ever thought how she would be handling all this.

But now I'm remembering all this right? When my daughter was on the door of death?

The Emperor bitterly thought, hating himself for the hundredth time now. He was a monster to himself and the guilt and regret inside him was so huge that he wanted to kill himself. But......karma right? He can't kill himself to go to hell and rot, this was his punishment. Living with guilt for all his ravishing life.

Closing his eyes painfully, a tear escaped his eyes.

****************

"Princess Eleanor!!!!!!!" The door bursted open, revealing a sweaty Martin, mixed with some worry and relief too.

"Martin!!!" His father yelled as soon as his son bursted into the room.

Still same as ever.

Rael smiled fondly at both of them. It's been a week since she woke up and she knew that Martin has been requesting on requesting the king whole week to let him visit atleast once, which he was graciously rejected to. But she missed them. And also, she was really, really in a mood for some normality in her life. Coz ever since that day, she has been treated like a China doll, ready too break off any time.

"Morning, Count Mally and Mr. Martin."

***************

"Why are you going to visit sister? Even I want to play with you." Angelina pouted cutely at Monte. Her cuteness won over everyone present, except for the people for whom the pout was meant to be.

The Emperor ignored her completely, chatting with the Prime Minister about the Eleanor's latest fashion orders, impressed every single time.

" Why should I play with you? I have some important things to handover Eleanor." The prince replied coldly.

"Oh, you mean the ring you ordered from the Zara? Let me join you Prince. Even I would love to accompany you." The Prime Minister said to Monte.

"Oh yeah, you never met Eleanor right?"
The Emperor enquired, smirking.

"Yes, but with your daily chatterings about her, it can give a me a rough sketch though." The Prime Minister countered back, smiling pleasantly.

" Pft." A laugh escaped Monte, but getting a murdererious glare from his father, he coughed it off," then, let's going now then, Prime Minister."

Putting down his fork, Monte got up from his seat and left the dining room with the Prime Minister.

"Your highness, the black merchants have returned and...." Another guard entered and whispered something into the Emperor's ears, making him get up and leave without a second glance on Angelina.

Her head down low enough, no one could see the burning jealousy and embarrassment on Angelina's face. Gritting her teeth angrily, she clenched her hands, before storming off to her room like a mad man.