I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 37
At the peak of her youth, Maevia had already obtained everything she longed for.
She had a husband whom she loved and a social standing befitting her previous status.
Despite his cold attitude, her husband let her do everything she wanted and gave her everything she desired.
Soon later, she became the grand duchess of Argentine, as her husband received the title of the archduke of Argentine.
When Maevia thought her happiness couldn’t reach a greater height, her son was born.
Isaac Argentine.
If asked, she would not hesitate to say that it was the greatest day of her life.
Sadly, that happiness didn’t last long.
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Maevia never thought that she could love anyone more than her husband.
But she did.
Greatly and sincerely.
That person was her son.
And she wasn’t the only one.
The king, amidst his happiness, granted the duchess a land.
It was meant to solidify the ties with the Talia kingdom and a token of gratitude.
Because for the first time in what exceeded a century, magic was reborn in the royal family.
A few years later, underneath the pressure from both nobles and the holy city, the king had to crown an heir.
On a round table, where the three pillars consisting of religion, magic and noble blood, ruling over the kingdom sat, a decision was finally made.
The second prince was to be crowned heir instead of the first.
As his son, Isaac would grow up to be the warrior who would once again rid the world of Maghulls and restore the once glorious honor of the royal bloodline.
The decision however wasn’t fulfilled.
For, the first prince’s maternal grandfather, duke Ilkar, who held a great share of power in the kingdom, greatly objected.
His grandson, the first prince, who had proven himself to be worthy of the title, was by religion and law the rightful heir.
His argument however was renounced by the high priest, as by the time Albert was conceived, the king and the late queen had yet to be married.
On the other hand, the nobles argued that Albert only had a sick baby daughter for an heir.
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Amidst the conflict, a tragedy occurred.
The young boy who was to be the honor of the royal family didn’t live long to fulfill that desire.
After investigating the matter, the culprit was found to be a maid associated with princess Ena, wife to the first prince.
At the king’s order, the maid’s entire bloodline was wiped away from history.
And away from the public eye, a trial was held separately for the princess.
Only Albert believed in his wife’s innocence.
As greedy as she was, Ena was incapable of hurting an infant.
Even as he pleaded and protested, his words were vain.
At the end of the trial, Ena was executed.
And the Haedis family fell along.
His father’s word was above all.
For he was king.
That day, Albert came to a sad realization.
Unless he had the crown, his words held no weight.
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Drowning in her own despair, Maevia unwillingly gave birth to her second child.
For better or for worse, the child was born with mana even greater than his late brother’s.
As sadness and fear filled her heart, Maevia held no feelings for the child.
On the other hand, Edward backed away from the struggle for the throne, in order to protect his son.
All the while, he never blamed his brother.
In fact, Edward more than anyone was convinced that Albert was more suited to be king than himself.
Yet, meaninglessly, he lost his son, and his brother lost his wife, whom he terribly loved.
That argument however was worthless to Maevia.
A deep hatred flared inside of her once loving heart.
For her husband swore allegiance to his brother, who was crowned on the spilled blood of her son.
As furious as she was, Maevia couldn’t vent her feelings on her husband.
No matter how lenient he was towards her, she was still helpless in front of him.
The only person more helpless than herself was that child.
Her own flesh and blood whom she had taken her anger on.
Even as she did, Maevia never healed.
Eventually, she was unable to stay in the same place where Isaac’s blood still remained.
Maevia left for the land she was granted, leaving Zachary behind.
Far in the south where only the peaceful wind blew, her condition gradually improved.
While the duke visited recurrently, their relationship also mended.
As a new life was slowly sprouting in her, Maevia started feeling like she once again had become a mother.
Along with that feeling, a sense of guilt awakened.
In hopes to atone for her mistakes, Maevia reached out to the son she had neglected.
Unfortunately, the son she met again after years was no longer a helpless child, but a young man stronger than herself.
And much colder than his father.