Chapter 67
"What I just don't understand, why do you also have markings of windem" mama asked king hermes who is still kneeling on the floor and panting on the sofa.
“Why did Psyche use the markings of windem on you? And why did Luke just let Psyche use that on you? ” mama asked king hermes but he still didn't speak.
"Answer me you traitor" mama whispered annoyed before she stretched out her hand in the direction of king hermes and from there in her palm came a light that quickly flew at the feet of king hermes.
King Hermes almost jumped in panic because of that and although he was not hit, there was fear and shock on his face especially when he saw the floor cracked by the light coming from mama's palm.
“Again, why did Psyche use the markings of windem on you? Did you betray her too like Luke and I did to my family? ”
"W-we never betrayed you" he said before looking directly into mama's eyes. His eyes were full of determination and determination as if what he was saying was true so I frowned. He’s a good actor.
Mama laughed but it was the opposite of the look on her face, she was not happy. “You never betrayed us? You think I will believe that? ”
“No, It’s true Diana. It was all just a misunderstanding. I never intend for Alen to die- ”
King hermes's words were suddenly interrupted when mama spoke, her tone of voice was louder than usual. "The courage to say his name after you hanged him even though you know he will never be able to do everything he was accused of"
"No please listen, Alen didn't die because I hanged him, he died at the hands of Psyche's rebel staff" Mama stopped for a moment before frowning when she looked in my direction.
“Is it true?” He asked me and that's when I remembered that mama's jaw wasn't merging with my body when papa died. I nodded so he turned his gaze back to king hermes.
"It was supposed to be a show," King Hermes began. He paused for a moment and watched mama's reaction first. When he saw that he did not speak, he must have had the courage to continue speaking.
"We wanted to show Psyche that the relationship between the Knoxx and the royal family was not good so we cut the engagement between Alissa and Luke at the same time as I judged Alen as the leader of the rebels but Alen knew about it"
"What?" Mom suddenly laughed. “Do you think I will believe what you say? Why would Alen let you hang him? And why didn't he tell me about it if what you're saying is true? ”
"Alen was dying" King Hermes said suddenly so we all suddenly fell silent and we could only hear the wind blowing and breathing.
King Hermes lowered his collar even more before looking up as if exposing the markings of windem on his neck.
“Just like what happened to me, Alen had markings of wind when he encountered Psyche once. Although Psyche didn't know you were Anna at the time, she suspected the royal family so she didn't hesitate to attack Alen who she knew was an ally of the palace. ”I'm not sure if king hermes is telling the truth and there is no proof in the sayingshim but I couldn’t help myself to believe when I saw the stance in his eyes. If He was really lying, even simple disdain or aversion I would notice but nothing. He looked straight into mama's eyes and kept every word he uttered.
"No one still knows how to erase the markings of windem and Alen knows that he could die at any time so he didn't tell you our plan"
Suddenly I remembered the last conversation my dad and I had in Plaza De Rinos, He was losing weight and his posture seemed to have lost its energy and he looked at me as if he had given up on life. I couldn’t stop my eyes from watering as I remembered that.
‘What kind of pain must have you felt?’
I'm sure it's not a joke that the pain brought on by Psyche's markings of Windem is based on the condition of king hermes that I can see the gradual weight loss and the vomiting of blood earlier. What pain could dad have experienced while he was going through all that alone? How much pain did he feel while waiting for death and not being able to say goodbye to the people he loved?
I didn't notice that my fist was clenched until Trevas suddenly touched it. I looked up at him and he smiled softly at me before covering our hands.
“What were your plans at that time really? Why did Alen agree to be hanged if he’s already dying just like what you said. And why are you just saying ‘this’ thing now? You should have told Alissa earlier when you found out she was in Beifang ”
“When Alen found out that Psyche suspected the royal family, we've concluded that every family that is an alliance of the royal family can be affected like he did with Alen so when the cases against Alen came out he ordered me hang him and cut offengagement of Alissa and Luke to make Psyche think that the Knoxxs are already fighting. I plan to tell you the truth after that day but I don't know that at the same time that Psyche's men rushed to Plaza De Rinos to make sure that Alen was dead, he was also the one when they attacked Knoxx manor so I didn't have a chance. to tell the truth ”When King Hermes said no, he turned to look at me.
He covered his mouth before bleeding again and trying to speak. “I’ve always cared for you Alissa, I’ve watched you grow up from a little girl to the confident woman you are now. I sent Luke to Beifang to look for you but when I heard that you were doing well in Beifang I told him to just let me go there and ‘don’t make a fuss until I heard what happened to Vivian firlame and Psyche’s appearance in Beifang”
I don’t know how I will feel as king hermes says those words to me while staring into my eyes. I’ve always hated him because he didn’t do anything before to stop papa’s hanging but now that I know the truth that papa himself begged him to do that I felt a mixture of conscience and shock. I’ve always wanted to have my revenge against him but I feel like now I’m the villain.
He didn’t do anything wrong yet I judged him and didn’t give him a chance to explain himself. I was so carried away by my desire to take revenge on him that I didn’t realize that I had become blind to the truth and just believed what I wanted to believe.
I was gripped in my chest when I felt pain there especially when I stared into the eyes of king hermes who was wrapped in the sign of the gradual depletion of his time here on earth.
Although neither king hermes nor I became close when I was growing up because he was always in the palace hall or in meetings with ministers, he was never mean to me and I was disgusted with myself because I just now realized about things that's it.
“I’m sorry…” I whispered but instead of answering he just smiled before leaning on the sofa and closing his eyes. There was a look on his face that he was ready to rest.
I tightened my grip on Trevas' hand before I suddenly sat down on the sofa behind me. My knees are weak but I still can't take my eyes off King Hermes' face.
“I’m sorry…” I whispered again but like before he didn’t answer.
‘It’s too late’
My grip on Trevas' hand tightened and I couldn't hold back my tears when he sat down next to me and hugged me tightly.
To be continued.....