The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband Chapter 579: Her decision
Previously on The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband...
A chilling cold descended upon the room, a palpable gloom settling over Cedric. He recalled with stark clarity how deeply his wife had cared for that feline. He had harbored doubts about her affection, and it now appeared his suspicions were indeed founded.
All this time, she had been cherishing another man. Abrielle and Yuki both perceived the abrupt alteration in the atmosphere. Cassius paid no mind to the young "boy."
Yuki could undoubtedly manage him. Maximus—known also as Yuki—let out a sigh and then inquired with a grave expression, "Have you finally reached your decision?"
Abrielle clasped Cedric’s hand and offered a nod. "I had anticipated we would be meeting Cassius," she admitted, her gaze filled with genuine surprise at beholding Maximus. His violet eyes held a captivating sparkle.
"He appeared to be otherwise engaged, and I happened to find myself with a moment to spare," Maximus responded smoothly.
Abrielle's thoughts returned to events of a few days prior, when Cedric had sought her out following his trial.
"So, what is your choice? Will you remain to be my queen, or will you depart?" he had queried, his voice laden with emotion. He harbored a fervent hope that she would choose him, but even if she did not... he was resolved not to relinquish his pursuit.
It presented a formidable dilemma. She had found herself falling in love with him and had even contemplated building a life together here, yet the ache for her family weighed heavily on her heart.
"Cedric..." she began hesitantly. "Is it truly within the realm of possibility for me to regain my life? I have met death in both of my existences." She voiced her profound concern. Cedric, too, had harbored a curiosity regarding this very matter.
"Not precisely... it is contingent upon certain factors," a composed voice interjected from the side. Their gazes snapped towards the gazebo's entrance, where Cassius stood, a faint, enigmatic smile gracing his lips.
"What do you mean by that?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Cassius advanced a few paces before commencing his explanation.
"Should you opt to remain in this current life, our task would simply be to guide your soul back to its physical vessel. Despite your passing several days ago, your body has been meticulously preserved. However, if your choice leans towards the other timeline, the situation becomes considerably more complex..." he elucidated.
A sense of foreboding washed over Abrielle.
"The flow of time in this realm and the other is synchronized. A full year has already elapsed, and it would prove exceedingly difficult to reverse the temporal current and prevent your demise. Such an alteration would invariably impact the destinies of numerous individuals, and Temeris would certainly object..."
Cassius's lips curved slightly, recalling the strong opposition Temeris had voiced against averting her death. Halting Maledicta and Callista's actions would be a delicate maneuver, but if successful, the past year in this world would undergo significant transformations.
"To circumvent temporal disruption—and given that we cannot ethically revive your already decomposed remains without causing a significant scandal—you would necessitate reincarnation into a lineage of your choosing," he stated plainly.
Abrielle was plunged into profound contemplation. Her fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against her thigh. "I am unsure of what course to take..." she confessed, her voice trembling. "I apologize, Cedric, but I also yearn for them..." she whispered, a catch in her throat.
His heart ached at her words. She must possess a deeply cherished family in her original world.
"Well..." Cassius began cautiously, "You are not required to hastily commit to a decision. I shall grant you three days for deliberation." He paused, then added with a hint of reluctance, "However, as a gesture of goodwill, I can offer my assistance."
He proposed granting her and Cedric an audience of two days within this realm. This would afford her the opportunity to reconnect with her family before making her final choice.
He extended a chance for peaceful closure. Abrielle's grip on Cedric's hand intensified. Her voice resonated with newfound resolve as she declared, "I am deeply appreciative of this benevolence. And I have rendered my decision." A gentle smile then bloomed on her face as she looked towards Cedric.
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The heavens above were resplendent, as if heralding the dawn of a new era. Many had harbored doubts about the advent of this day, yet it had undeniably arrived.
The carriage drew to a stately halt before the magnificent cathedral. Abrielle offered a tender smile as she observed her husband disembark, clad in resplendent ceremonial attire. She harbored no uncertainty regarding his success in the ancestral trials, yet she felt an undeniable pull to see him one last time before the grand ceremony commenced.
They had not exchanged words that morning; he had departed at the earliest light. Tears welled in her eyes—truly, they had defied the very hand of fate.
Cedric advanced towards her with measured steps. Undeterred by the curious gazes of the assembled onlookers, he reached out, gently brushing away a stray tear from her cheek.
"There is no need for you to weep," he murmured, his voice soft and reassuring.
She gave a small sniffle, bravely holding back the encroaching tears. "I never fathomed I would witness the day the villain ascended to the throne..." she chuckled, a touch of melancholy in her laughter.
A smile graced his lips as he took her hand. Abrielle's initial reaction was one of bewilderment.
"And that very same villain intends to enter alongside the villainess who narrowly escaped death," he teased, his eyes twinkling.
She stood momentarily stunned. Cedric was expected to proceed down the aisle unaccompanied.
"But..." she faltered, the words escaping her lips in a breath. Her intention had been to discreetly make her way to her designated seat before his grand entrance.
"My wish is for you to walk beside me—not ahead, nor behind, but shoulder to shoulder, as my rightful queen." He tugged gently at her hand, his gaze unwavering.
The grand doors swung open, and a hushed reverence fell over the assembly as they rose to welcome Crown Prince Cedric von Drakkar.
As she walked, hand in hand with him, Abrielle's thoughts turned unexpectedly to Lucian.
Following her choice to remain with Cedric, they had journeyed back to Draconia, where he swiftly consolidated his authority. His loyalists and Alfonso had already secured complete command, and every individual aligned with Eleanor's faction had either been vanquished or stripped of their esteemed titles.
However, one significant matter remained unresolved—Lucian.
Despite surviving the harsh battle, Lucian was irrevocably changed, no longer recognizable to Cedric. His memories were gone, a consequence of Cassius saving him by wiping his slate clean. Cassius had declared, "He was merely another casualty of war." Yielding to Bernice’s desperate pleas, Cedric chose to spare Lucian, but with an ironclad condition: Lucian was forbidden from ever returning to the capital. Bernice, accompanied by her brother and her new husband, departed Vitalis, establishing their new life in the territory of Kelvax. Cedric found himself questioning his own decision to let them leave, yet he couldn't deny he had. Kelvax remained under his dominion, allowing him to maintain a watchful eye. Bernice had consistently shown him kindness, a rare warmth from a sibling he cherished. Astrid, meanwhile, had already been wed into a prominent family, her spouse's lineage forming a significant pillar of the Draconian Empire. The Silverheart family, unwavering in their loyalty, had historically served as the monarchy's steadfast blade. Without a second thought, they pledged their fealty to Cedric, thereby ensuring the protection of Astrid and her young daughter. With a profound sense of sorrow weighing on him, Cedric advanced towards the front lines. He and Abrielle proceeded past Rebecca and Pierre, who observed their daughter's imminent ascension with a mixture of pride and apprehension. She was poised to become the very first Empress of the Draconian Empire—no longer simply a king's consort, but the sovereign Empress of a nascent, newly formed empire.