Saving The Abandoned Empress

179 “Punishment”

Penduline, Capital City Of Rua Kingdom~

“Have you started to get more accustomed to this place?”

“Yes, I am. Thank you for your consideration.”

Eleanora replied politely but her tone was rather cold.

“My apologise, that we can’t treat you better during the battle.”

The king’s aid, Zachary spoke with a humble voice.

“May... May i ask why you’re treating me so well? I am yours war hostage afterall.”

Eleanora asked as she looked around the luxurious room she was staying at.

“You are the future empress of the empire, My Lady. Although we are currently at war, we can’t ignore the influence that the imperial family holds.

.....

Not to mention of you being the only saintess in this continent and your father’s position.”

“Also... You might not remember as you helped a lot of people, but among those people; you once healed a Rua’s soldier, who’s one of my man.”

“What’s his name?”

“Yes, His name is Zack. When he was captured by the imperial army before, you saved his life by healing his injuries.”

“I see, i just wanted to help as this is why i had given the powers at the first place. If i don’t use it, then it’s a waste of it.”

Eleanora spoke with facts, as she knew this was the reason of her getting the powers.

She hid her powers in her last life and thus it caused her more sufferings.

The goddess also wanted her to help people, change the fate of destruction and bring peace in this world instead of chaos.

“But still, For that, it is my sincerest thanks to you for saving the lives of the Rua’s soldiers, who were caught during the last battle, including my man’s.”

Zachary spoke as he bow down his head, infront of Eleanora to show respect.

“I-It’s okay...Sir-”

“You can call me Colonel Zachary, My Lady.”

“Thank you for treating me well, Colonel.”

“You are welcome, Rest early; My lady.”

Eleanora sighed heavily as she leaned on the sofa, staring at the ceilings blanky.

‘Is he alright?’

‘He should’ve started to move according what i planned... I need to start working too.’

The reason why Eleanora wanted to come here was to collect evidence.

She is sure that the epidemic was not planned by the people of Rua as a war strategy all alone.

The disease spread from the blood of the people’s of the dark land.

It’s a weird blood type which doesn’t harms them as they are born with it but when normal people gets affected by it, they dies.

This is also why it took the imperial army almost four years to win that simple battle against the Republicans to take over the dark lands.

‘The war captive soldiers are working in our empire under surveillance...

It’s impossible for Mendel to get his hands on them, unless someone from the empire is directly helping them…’

Eleanora had suspicions on Duke Ravens, but without any solid evidence; she can’t accuse him.

She also has to consider the relationship between her and the Raven Siblings.

Her relationship with Jennifer is not that good, but till now, she could see that Jennifer has changed in this life.

She just can’t stubbornly hold onto the past, and refuse to acknowledge the present changes.

Eleanora gripped the red crescent moon shaped locket in her hands and her body slowly started to heat up because of the warm mana coming from it.

‘I miss home...’

After a week~

Eleanora sneaked out from the room she was kept in secretly and looked around to make sure that, no one followed her.

She observed the knight patrolling routine for a week before she decided to take action.

In this whole week, she sneaked out from time to time to look around this place and finally guessed that the important papers should be in the study.

Where people will suspect the less.

She wasn’t tied up because of the silver cuffs at her hands, which forbids her from using magic.

This also gave her the chance to not get a strict surveillance.

Eleanora sneaked into the study room and started to look for the documents, which might prove her suspicions true.

She carefully searched so that no one would suspect of anything.

‘Damn it! Where did they put it?! They should have signed a contract for sure if they exchanged some short of deals!’

Eleanora felt frustrated as she failed to get something even after searching for a long time.

But right then, she heard the door opening sound from the outside and her heart skipped a beat with fear.

‘Oh no- who is it?!’

“DAMN IT!!! HOW DID THE IMPERIAL ARMY PREDICTED OUR MOVE!!!”

“WE HAVE LOST ANOTHER BATTLE AND THEY ARE JUST A INCH AWAY FROM TAKING OVER THE CAPITAL!!!”

“YOU BUNCH OF TRASHES!! WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?!”

Mendel yelled as he threw the pen holder towards Zachary’s direction, Which he barely managed to dodge and got a slight cut on his forehead.

“Your highness, Calm down. Our soldiers are trying their best and they are also exhausted because of this long battle with no break from training.”

“THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!”

Zachary’s expression darkened as he heard their kings words.

From the very start, no one wanted this unnecessary war and sacrifice their lives.

But they had to since it was the king’s order.

Then they kept on fighting and making strategies even during the war break.

No one has rested since this war started and trying their best to win, with their life’s at stake.

It’s only Mendel’s plan to defeat the Valentino Imperial Family and turn this kingdom into an empire again, conquer the crown princess.

“BRING ME LIQUOR!!”

“Your highness, drinking much isn’t good for-”

“SHUT UP, YOU TRASH!! BRING ME LIQUOR!”

Zachary frowned as he become silent and clenched his fist tightly.

“Yes, Your highness.”

Where, Eleanora who just jumped out from the window held her breathe as she felt relief that her plan is going well.

‘Thank god, if i didn’t observed this place carefully and hide behind the window in time, i would get caught for sure.’

Eleanora carefully climbed through several balconies to reach the room she stayed in and entered the room by the window.

‘If it weren’t for this damn handcuffs... I wouldn’t have to go through such a long journey to reach this room!’

After stepping inside of her room, Eleanora sighed as she failed to get the informations she wanted.

‘I should try to find them in another place tomorrow-‘

Eleanora became alert as soon as she felt another persons presence in the room but she was grabbed by someone before she could react.

“WHO-”

Her blue eyes widened with shock as the person infront of her slammed his lips over hers and Eleanora tried to push the person as her stomach growled with disgust.

Eleanora couldn’t push the person because of the handcuffs on her hands and she felt even more disgusted when she saw that the person was wearing Rua’s army uniform.

“Mmmph!”

Without thinking much, she bite the persons lips as hard as she could and taste blood flowing inside of her mouth instantly.

.....

“Woah! Relax! It’s me, My empress!”

“What-”

As Cathain pulled his head a little away from hers, so that she can see his face clearly;

Which made Eleanora finally calmed down a little.

But her face was still puffed up with anger, and her lips turned red because of his blood.

“Don’t cry... It’s me...”

Cathain pulled her in his embrace as he sensed that she was about to cry.

“You dare to attach bombs on your body, let yourself act like a bait but cry... after being kissed by me?”

“I am hurt, My empress.”

Eleanora didn’t spoke and continued to sniff.

She doesn’t want to admit that she really felt relieved and happy after seeing him here.

“What are you doing here... Shouldn’t you be there... leading the army?”

“How can i lead the army when i think about you being bullied and crying for help?”

Cathain spoke as he pat on her head and Eleanora spoke in a low voice.

“I can protect myself...”

“But you was still kissed forcefully and couldn’t even push me- What would you do if it wasn’t me?”

“Who can do this kind of perverted acts except you?”

“...I would kill that person, whoever dares to do this to you anyway.”

Cathain spoke as he slide up her bangs a little to kiss on her forehead.

“Am sorry for coming so late...”

“It’s- I was scared...”

At first, Eleanora wanted to say that it was okay but then unknowingly, she found herself speaking the truth.

She burried her face in his chest as she spoke and clenched his clothes with her both cuffed hands.

“It was really scary...”

“I thought i would really die...”

“I didn’t wanted to die...”

‘again,’

Eleanora swallowed her last words and Cathain hugged her more tightly.

“Then who told you to act alone? Huh? Your safety matters the most to me... You not only tricked me but the entire army.”

“Do you know how worried everyone is for you?”

“Thank god that your father isn’t here, otherwise you would be widowed by now.”

“Pff-”

Eleanora chuckled as she heard him mentioning her father and being widowed.

“It’s alright now, Am here... Don’t worry,”

“I will protect you, no matter what happens;”

Cathain spoke as he reassured Eleanora and moved away a little to look at her.

Eleanora’s face turned a little red and then she tried to change the topic as she was feeling weird.

“This looks ugly on you... Why are you wearing Rua’s army uniform?”

Eleanora asked as she frowned a little because of seeing him wearing the enemy’s knight uniform.

“Do you think they would let me live, if i entered the Penduline borders and wore our imperial knight uniform?”

“That’s true... When did you came here?”

“A week ago,”

“...Then,”

‘Why didn’t you came to meet me earlier?’

Eleanora wanted to ask that but she didn’t knew either she should speak this out or not.

“Our Army is proceeding like you planned and the war is in our favour.

Everything is prepared and it would only tale a few days for us to win this war.”

“...That’s good,”

“Okay, Now that everything is good...”

Cathain paused on his words a little as he bent down to carry up Eleanora on his arms, before he finished his sentence.

“Let’s talk about how i should punish you for being disobedient.”