They could all see the pain in Sir Richard's eyes as he talked about how Anne's family were killed. It was the first time either of them was seeing him that way.
No one spoke immediately. They knew there was still more for him to say since it hadn't ended there.
However, the whole narration had a major impact on Alicia.
She dug her nails into her palms and tried to endure the headache as memories that weren't hers came flooding in.
Parts of the conversation were about something she was familiar with. But now they hit her differently.
"This is all my fault. I... I am so sorry, mother." Anne cried as she knelt with her head touching her mother's feet.
"I know." The woman sounded broken. She crouched down and raised Anne's head to look at her teary face.
Lady Avery smiled sadly as she cleaned off the tears with her hands, but they just kept pouring.
"Do not blame yourself. All of this was bound to happen."
Anne shook her head. "It was me. If... if only I had listened to you—"
"You would have also regretted it for the rest of your life." Her mother spoke gently.
"We... have never had a free life. We are always hiding. Always anxious."
"I was just like you when I was a child. A very curious child. But I listened to my mother. And... I regret it a lot."
"Sometimes I wish I went out to see the world outside our hiding spots. That... was why I let you do all you wanted. Because I didn't want you to have regrets."
"I regret it. I regret it a lot!"
"But you were happy. The times you were there. I... am sorry." Lady Avery said, crying.
"I am sorry that I can no longer make you happy. I... am sorry I cannot let you be with the man you want. No matter how you think about it, Prince Wilder doesn't deserve you. You deserve better. And... I am sorry I cannot help you find a better man either."
Anne shook her head and burst into tears as she held her mother dearly.
"I don't want to leave you. You are all I have. I... I can't live without you."
"This is the best for you. Live a normal life. Maybe one day you will be able to provide us with a home."
"Mother..." Anne could not make out a word and only cried.
"Do this for us, Anne. Live as human. You will be a queen, Anne. You will bear children, and they won't have to live like we did. They are going to have a home and parents who love them. I believe in you. I... be-live in y-you." Her voice broke at the end, but it seemed she was making an effort not to cry.
"I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU!"
"It may take longer. It may not be you now; it may be your child. Or another descendant of yours. But you need to survive to save us. And to release all the aggrieved souls and make them rest in peace." She said, trying so hard not to cry.
"Go now! All preparations have been made. Survive my precious girl."
The woman said and kissed Anne's head. It was a long kiss.
As though she were saying goodbye.
And while tears ran down Anne's eyes, they flowed down the woman's too and dropped on Anne's head like an anointing.
And until the end, Anne didn't want to part from her mother, but she was dragged away and forced into a portal, and with a last painful smile, her mother waved her goodbye before closing the portal.
Anne's friend hadn't gone with her. It was something she had to do by herself. It was her destiny.
Unfortunately, he had also died at the great feast that night.
"Princess!" Harold called and shook Alicia back to consciousness. Alicia gasped loudly and opened her eyes, which had tears streaming down from them while she tried to catch them.
It was unfair. It was so unfair.
She blinked several times, used a hand to cover her mouth, and also threw her face to the side so she wouldn't have to look at anyone or anything.
What sort of sad life did her ancestors have?
Now that she thought about it, had she also been included?
She didn't have it easy at all while growing up. And even after making a name for herself, she had to work twice as hard as other actresses just because of how anxious she always felt about people knowing about her. And her worst nightmare had also come true.
Now, she was thinking about something she hadn't thought of in a long time. Her biological mother. Where was she? What happened to her?
"Do you want to return for tonight?" Harold whispered to Alicia with concern.
She shook her head. She was going to take it all now. She needed to feel the pain once and for all to know who exactly she was going to take out her anger on.
"Queen Anne." Alicia looked at Richard. "What exactly happened to her?" She asked as she sat up in her seat and looked at the man with a dark gaze.
He was one of the elders she respected in the court. But now...
Lord Richard looked down. It seemed like this part was even more painful for him to talk about.
"We do not have all night." Harold reminded him. He sounded cold and angry.
Sir Richard sighed heavily before telling them what had happened. Not the rumours they had heard around. But from the source who had been there.
"It was all Lord Zealot's." He said in a heavy voice.
Even after years had passed and the leader of the witches' village, Lady Avery, was dead, the Moon Kingdom was still tense, most especially Lord Zealot, whose health had taken a major hit. Against Richard's will, he was made to serve Lord Zealot, and for the obvious reason, Lord Zealot held him in high esteem and drew him closer like a trusted guard. So he had been around to see Lord Zealot gradually go crazy with worry.
Since Wilder's body wasn't exactly found and the little witch was also not found, the paranoia continued to eat him up and make him go crazy to the point where he hallucinated and could no longer sleep well at night. The king seemed to have been concerned about his health because he visited Lord Zealot in his chamber twice a week and even humbled himself to care for the man, something Richard never understood since it was the same man who had made his reign hell.
Unfortunately, during one of his episodes, Lord Zealot strangled his wife to death with his hands.
*****
A/N
Sorry about the break. My sick leave was over so I had to resume work.
Next chapter coming shortly.
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