The two won were sharing happiness over the baby. One would soon be a grandmother, and the other one first ti mother. Both had such a wonderful glow on their faces. They couldn't help smile so broadly whenever they talked about the baby.
After Harlow cald down and no longer kicking, Queen Elara took Emlyn to her private lounge and the two ladies sat leisurely while enjoying tea.
The queen took the opportunity to get to know Emlyn better since now her true identity had been revealed. Queen Elara asked about her parents, what she liked and didn't like, and where she went before she ca to Draec.
"I am truly, truly sorry for what happened to your family," Queen Elara said in a low voice while cupping Emlyn's hands with hers. "I can imagine the pain and suffering that you have gone through because of the war. On behalf of my family.. please accept our apologies and condolences."
Emlyn looked at the queen and bit her lip, trying hard not to break down and cry.
She had moved on from her grudge and no longer wanted to take revenge because she realized that no matter what, nothing could bring back her family from the grave.
However, when the queen herself talked to her about it and showed sympathy, Emlyn couldn't help but be reminded again of her late family.
"Thank you, Queen Mother. I miss them every day, but I try to move on with life," Emlyn finally said. "Mars has apologized for the invasion and we have talked about it many tis."
"He has?" The queen looked relieved that her son had done the right thing by talking to Emlyn and tried to resolve the issue between them. "Ah.. that's good."
She believed, even if both people were in love but if they didn't resolve the conflict between them, and treated it like an elephant in the room, pretending that everything was okay, things wouldn't go well in the future.
Openness, forgiveness, and understanding were just as important as love in building and maintaining a healthy relationship. She was glad to know Mars and Emlyn seed to be quite open and honest with each other.
"Yes, His Highness has done many things to make up for what happened in the past," Emlyn replied. "I know things have not been easy on his part too, because he is feeling guilty for the war and the events that happened before we even t."
The queen agreed. It was war, and people died in the war. However, she was not that heartless to say those words.
She really hoped Emlyn could truly forget about the past and moved on.. to grow roots in Draec and made this kingdom her new ho.
"If you need soone to talk to, you can always co to ," Queen Elara said while patting Emlyn's hand. "It was not easy for too to start a new life in the capital. I was just a village girl who was used to living in the countryside. I had so much to learn and to adjust."
"Thank you for your kindness, Queen Mother," Emlyn said softly. Mars was right when he asked her to move in with his mother while he was away.
In the queen, Elara found a companion, a friend, and a mother figure. She felt so blessed.
They drank tea while talking about their own experiences and what they think about motherhood. Emlyn listened attentively when Queen Elara told her about her experience when he gave birth to Mars.
"It was really hard in the beginning..." The queen admitted. "My mother ca to live with after I beca the queen, but she died a few years later. It was a really lonely ti for . Fortunately, after a while, I found companions among my ladies-in-waiting. You might still rember them?"
"Yes, Queen Mother," Emlyn nodded. "Lady Athibaud, Lady Chaucer, and Lady Preston?"
"Yes, you are right. It's them. Actually, there was another one. She was the wife of the minister of trade, but she passed away during childbirth. So sad...." Queen Elara sighed.
She added, "We got through pregnancy and childbirth together and those experiences brought us closer. They were the ones to keep company and consoled when I lost my babies, and then, our children grew up together."
Emlyn rembered that Lady Preston was childless. Maybe she felt outcasted because the other ladies shared the sa experience as the queen and she didn't? Was that the reason why she took in her orphaned niece to stay with her?
"Did Lady Preston also have the sa experience with you and the other ladies?" Emlyn finally asked that question.
Queen Elara looked at her with a smile and shook her head. "Unfortunately no. It was very hard on her when all the won around her beca pregnant and had children. It also put a strain in her marriage. There were so rumors that Duke Preston kept so mistresses to get children."
"Oh..." Emlyn was very interested in knowing more about the Prestons. "Is that true?"
The queen shook her head. "I don't really know. But one thing for sure, suddenly Duke Preston beca a well-behaved man, and all the gossips about him having mistresses died down. Lady Preston went to the countryside to care for her ailing sister and when she returned, she brought Ellena with her."
"Ohh..." Emlyn knew what happened next. From what her husband told her, he and Ellena had been friends since childhood, together with Edgar and Gewen.
"Lady Preston never wanted to admit it, but I think Ellena is actually her husband's daughter from his mistress," the queen whispered all of a sudden. "Have you seen the duke? He and Ellena look so alike."
Emlyn furrowed her brows and tried to rember Duke Preston's face. Now that the queen ntioned it, she kind of saw the similarities.
So, did this an Ellena was actually the duke's biological daughter? What a scandal!
"If Ellena is truly the duke's bastard daughter from his mistress, then why did Lady Preston took her in and pretended she is her niece?" Emlyn asked the queen.
Her mother-in-law shrugged. "That, you have to ask her. People have their own reasons to do things."
"Hmm.. maybe she just wanted to stay in your circle?" Emlyn asked again. "I an.. all the other ladies have children of their own and they could stay closer to you, mother. Maybe she thought she would be left out without a child of her own."
"Perhaps..." Queen Elara sighed. "It's too bad that things finally end this way."
"End how?" Emlyn didn't quite understand.
"Well... after the incident between Ellena and Mars, our relationship beca bad," Queen Elara explained. "Ellena also has broken off her friendship with Mars. They no longer wish to stay in the capital."
"What?" Emlyn couldn't believe what she just heard. Ellena and her family no longer wanted to live in the capital? Why? And where did they go?
"Yes. After Ellena recovered, they asked His Majesty's permission to leave the capital and move to the countryside," said Queen Elara. "They left yesterday."
"Wh-what?" Emlyn instantly felt her chest was filled with happiness. She didn't know that hearing the fact that Ellena finally gave up on chasing her husband and moved away could make her this happy.
At last, they no longer had to worry about Ellena.
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