I Will Protect You This Time

! Warning !

This episode contains strong language, violence and abuse which might be traumatizing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Episode 40

(Despair)

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Isabella is walking under a long beautiful pergola trailing with glorious climbing red roses.

[

"A wh*re who slept with different men every night."

]

I didn't do such a thing!

[

"So it was true!"

"She really beats her maid."

"What a monster!"

]

No! That's not true!

[

Lady Azleza Erlshade would have been the Crown Prince. But you came between them just like you did to Grand Duke Roberto and Princess Rubena."

]

I didn't know! I… didn't know. Why? Why does everyone keep blaming me for everything?! Even though I didn't do anything. It's the same everywhere.

I guess he was right.

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"Wherever you go! Everyone will use you! You will be hated everywhere!"

]

Isabella staggered.

"Isabella! Why are you late, child? Hurry up and sit."

Isabella flinched at Alicia's voice.

Haa~

I came here without realizing.

"Bell, Come here."

"Y-Yes."

After that, Isabella walked towards the Gazebo where Alicia was.

Now that I think about it, another person is sitting at the table. Seeing his back and hair… Leonus.

It has been a month since I last saw him. To be honest, I was worried about him. I wanted to see him.

But I don't want to see his face. How can I! When I know the reason he has been avoiding me. 

"Isabella, hurry up."

"Yes."

Isabella answered in a low voice.

A maid pulled out a chair for her to sit on.

"Tha- Greetings, Empress."

"Mother!"

"Yes, Mother."

"Greetings Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

Isabella greeted Leonus without looking at his face.

"Greetings."

"Are you two still fighting?"

"No."

Leonus replied in an instance.

"Sigh~ You kids! Anyways Isabella today we have some important matters to discuss."

"Important matter?"

"Yes. Significantly important."

"Hurry up, mother. I have work."

"Tch! You ungrateful son! Shut up and sit tight. Don't even think about any work until I am done discussing it."

Alicia clicked her tongue.

"Anyways as you know it's already Monsoon. Soon it will be time for The Hunting Festival."

The Hunting Festival… A Grand Competition where the Aristocrat Beastmen compete with each other to kill as many animals as possible. 

It's held for a week in the Beaulow Forest. Beaulow Forest is a deep forest situated on the east side of the Capital. 

Every Aristocrat family is obliged to join the competition.

It's a great opportunity for the Beastmen to show off their strength and skill to others. And the winner of the competition may have the opportunity to raise their rank.

"And this year we will invite Aristocrats from every Empire and Kingdom of Fellmirr."

What? E-Every Empire? Then-

"So Bell you can soon meet your family."

Alicia added with a smile.

"Ah- I see."

Isabella said with a pale face.

"What's wrong, dear? Are you not feeling okay?"

"Oh No! I am fine. It's just that I am a bit tired."

"Oh my! Then I should hurry up. So the thing is you have to help me with the preparation for the Festival. You see, normally we don't invite other Empires. But this time is an exception."

Help her? Someone like me?!

"The Aristocrats from other empires will probably arrive in Fellmirr a week before the festival. We haven't even started giving the invitations yet. Ughh! There's so much to do! So you have to help me, Bell!"

Alicia said in a crying tone.

"Me? But I have never-"

"Mother. She has just started recovering. She is too weak. You can't assign her such an important task."

Leonus said, cutting off Isabella's word. He was silent the whole time until now.

Uh… He is right. But why does my heart ache so much?

"Ah. That… You are right. I apologize, dear. I totally forgot about your health. Sigh~ I was so excited to work with you."

"You should return now."

Leonus said in a cold tone.

"Y-Yes."

Isabella got up from her chair, then started walking after a slight bow.

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The sky is getting darker with thick clouds. 

I don't want to return now. I want to hide somewhere… where no one can find me. 

I feel so guilty… Why? This huge guilt… I never wanted this. Why am I always the reason… Because of me people always get separated. 

I hate this! I hate this feeling. 

An Abuser... A wh*re... Third wheel… A monster…

I… Why am I even alive…

Isabella looked up at the dark cloudy sky with soulless eyes.

Tap*

A drop of water touched Isabella's face.

Rumble~

Suddenly with a clap of rumbling thunder, it started to rain.

Ah… It's raining…

Isabella thought while forwarding her hand.

It's cold…

I closed my eyes and started feeling the rainwater. It feels good.

"What are you doing?"

I flinched at the sudden voice. I hurriedly looked behind in surprise.

"Do you want to catch a cold?"

Leonus said while frowning.

The Crown Prince… He is drenched because of the rain.

"Come."

Saying that Leonus grabbed my hand and took me inside a Pergola nearby. I followed him without saying a word. 

I can't look him in the eyes. I feel suffocated. This guilt… It increases as each second passes by. 

Why are you so good to me? Even though because of me, you can not be with your loved one. Don't. Please… This kindness… It's sweet yet poisonous. 

"My Lady! Goodness! You are drenched! You will catch a cold."

Suddenly Ella came running out of nowhere and started grumbling worriedly.

"Ah… Greetings, the Crown Prince."

"Why wasn't anyone attending her?"

"There was one. But she…"

"Don't give any excuse."

"I apologize."

Ella apologized while bowing her head.

"I was the one who told her not to come."

Isabella said in a low voice.

"Sigh~ Return to your room. And you. Take good care of her.."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After that, Leonus snapped his finger and teleported both Ella and Isabella to her room.

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"Oh my goodness! Princess! Why is she drenched?!"

Cande exclaimed after seeing Isabella. Her shoulder was covered with a towel.

"She was walking alone in the garden."

"In this rain?!"

"Yes."

Cande hurriedly bought dry towels. 

"Let me dry her hair. You should get changed, El. Or you're going to catch a cold too."

"Yes. I will be right back."

Saying that Ella hurriedly left the room.

"Goodness My Lady! How are you so drenched! What were you even doing in the rain?"

Cande grumbled while drying off Isabella's hair with a towel. 

"..."

"Come to think of it, where is Anne?"

Isabella flinched at Anne's name.

"My Lady… Are you okay?"

"..."

'She is trembling! She must be feeling cold.'

"Wait a minute, My Lady."

Saying that Cande hurriedly went near the cupboard and took out a nightgown. Then she started undressing Isabella and noticed her wrist.

Gasp*

"Goodness, My Lady. What is this?"

Isabella's wrist was bruised blue and black where Anne grabbed a little while ago.

"H-How? It must've hurt!"

'Sh*t! What the h*ll just happened?!'

Cande thought while clenching her fist.

But soon she composed herself and changed Isabella's dress into a nightgown. Then hurriedly brought an ointment and applied it to her wrist.

After that, she went near the fireplace and lit it up. Then she put a stool in front of it.

"My Lady. Please sit here."

Isabella sat in the tool without saying a word.

"My Lady, how are you feeling now? Does it hurt?"

"..."

'Why isn't she replying? Ughh. Something must've happened… She looks so pale. Tch! And this weather. Sigh~ For now let's just keep my mouth shut.'

After that, Cande started combing Isabella's hair without saying anything on that thunderous gloomy rainy evening.

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<

Half an hour ago.

Rumble*

As the dark grey clouds are obscuring the sky, continuous thunders are striking with rumbling noise.

'Ughh~ The sky is getting darker. It will rain anytime. Where the hell is My Lady?!'

Ella thought while hurriedly looking around the huge garden.

'D*mn it! I shouldn't have left her alone with that b*tch.'

"The Crown Princess left a few minutes ago. Soon after her the Crown Prince and the Empress also went back to the castle."

A maid said while cleaning the Gazebo.

"Is that so?"

'But I didn't see her on my way back.'

"Yes. And why didn't anyone accompany her?"

"What?"

"Yeah. The Princess came here unattended. Now that I think about it. She looked kind of pale."

'Damn it!'

Ella cursed as she thought about what could happen.

"Which way did she go?"

"Umm… That way probably."

The maid replied while pointing in a direction.

'But that is in the opposite direction of the Castle.'

"Okay. Thank you."

Ella said while running.

"Ah- okay… Well, she sure is in a hurry."

Saying that the maid continued doing her work.

After that, Ella started looking around the garden for Isabella but couldn't find her anywhere.

Rumble~

Suddenly Thunders crackled loudly and it started raining heavily.

'S*it?! Where are you, My Lady?'

Soon after she found Isabella and Leonus were under a pergola.

'There she is.'

Anne sighed with relief then soon ran towards Isabella.

>

'My Lady… Why did she look like that? Such soulless eyes… S*it! Did that b*tch tell her everything? D*mn it! I was late.'

Ella thought while gritting her teeth.

"I should bring her some hot soup."

Ella said while drying her hair with a towel.. Soon after she changed her dress and walked out of her room.