The Flower Of Eternity
Chapter 23: North Palace

Northern Palace, At the end of the Northern Region

The snow never stopped falling in that place. The sky is always dark no matter day or night. However the Palace can be seen even from a distance. The Northern Palace was made of ice that never melted, located on top of a snowy mountain peak, appearing to shine in the darkness. So beautiful and unreal, but the trip there is not an easy thing. There was no path on that snowy mountain. No ordinary human could go to the Northern Palace without freezing to death or slipping on ice and falling from a height. But Anna leaves with Leon so she can reach the Northern Palace with teleportation magic.

Anna is grateful not to have taken Vierra with her on her journey this time. The freezing cold air could kill anyone, but Anna was able to survive due to her ruby jewel ring which stored the heart of the Great Fire Dragon that always warmed her. Although she initially felt it was hard to leave her daughter in the Palace under the protection of Irene, the daughter who was still not a week old could die from the extreme cold in the Northern Palace. The palace is now inhabited by Eleanor and Elias.

Leon tells her that Eleanor sends him a letter and asks to meet with Anna. Since Eleanor could not leave the Northern Palace and was confined there, Anna had to go to her.

Eleanor looked nervous as Anna and Leon entered her Palace. Unseen was the face of the ruthless 'Snow Spirit' that killed thousands of people they saw on the border of the Northern Region on the day of Xavier's death. Now before them was a woman cursed for eternal life, confined within the Northern Palace for a thousand years. Eleanor was punished for her actions.

Anna only silently watched as Eleanor knelt before her. His face described the deep regret he felt, but no tears came out of those two icy blue eyes.

"I want to properly apologize to you." Eleanor started her words with a crystal clear voice. "I know you can't forgive me. If I were in your position I would never forgive what I did. You have every right to be angry with me. But just so you know, I never intended to kill him. I love him like my own brother. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry."

Eleanor was still bowed, waiting for words to come out of Anna's lips. Words of forgiveness that feel very impossible, as well as words full of anger. Whichever one, he will accept with a chest. But Anna just silently looked at him from her seat that was already given warming magic.

Leon stood not far from them, hands crossed in front of his chest, swords draped to the side. His eyes were fixed on the two women before him. He watches, just in case something unwanted happens, even though Leon knows Eleanor won't be able to hurt Anna. He won't be able to hurt anyone anymore right now.

"How did you get through it?" Anna asked, after a long time she just kept silent.

Eleanor looked up, looking at him, "Sorry?"

Anna got down from her seat and walked over to Eleanor who was still kneeling on the floor made of ice. He extended his hand to Eleanor. Doubtfully, the former Queen received Anna's hand and they sat on their seats.

Eleanor still looked at Anna in confusion. He would understand if Anna slapped him or vented his anger. He would understand if Anna used her power to burn him or sucked out her energy with her rose thorns. He would understand if Anna tried to kill him at that time even though she knew that she was now immortal. But she did not understand Anna's actions at all which gave her a helping hand.

Anna restarted her words with a more fragile voice. The sadness of losing a loved one still enveloped him. "You've also lost someone you love so much." Anna told Eleanor. "I heard that your lover was killed in front of you and you couldn't do anything to save him. How'd you get through it? Will the pain go away with time? Will his voice disappear from your head one day? Will this endless nightmare ever end?" Ask with teary eyes. "I... I feel like my world has stopped turning. I don't know how to get through this every day. I woke up feeling devastated. Every day feels like torture. But I have to keep looking whole in front of everyone. How'd you get through it?"

Eleanor looked at him with concern. If she could cry, she would have cried by then because she knew exactly what it was like to lose a loved one. He shook his head weakly, "No" he said. "I can't get through it very well. I'm not as tough as you. I became lost in my pain. I want to make it come back to life in any way. Even if I knew it was wrong, I did it anyway. And consequently..." Eleanor could not continue her words. He deeply regretted his actions and did not know how to undo what he had done. "I'm really sorry. I'm sorry." He said while bowing.

Anna clasped Eleanor's hand, "I understand. Because I know what it's like."

"You...forgive me?"

Anna shakes. "No. I can't forgive you." Said. "But I can't be mad at you either because I know how you feel. And I think I can do the same thing you do. If I were a witch too, I might have done the same. I'll kill everyone if I need to so he can come back to me. And I hate myself for thinking that."

Leon could not look at Anna at that moment. He recalled what happened that day in the Northern Region after Xavier's death. Anna's eyes were as red as the flames. Anna had unknowingly nearly killed everyone in the Northern Region including the wolves and witches who were then in the Fire Castle. He destroyed the Fire Castle and turned the snow fields of the Northern Region into a forest of rose thorns that could kill everyone there. His anger and sadness at that time made the earth shake and feel up to the Winterthur region. Some werewolves and witches were seriously injured, others were killed. There were also many fatalities from the Winterthur earthquake. Leon survives because just then, after Xavier's death, Eleanor gets her sentence and Leon also gets her immortality. All the destruction and chaos was only over after Anna fainted from running out of energy.

Anna seems unconscious or maybe she doesn't remember. And Leon still can't tell Anna that because he knows Anna won't be able to forgive herself if she finds out.

"No. You will not go down the same path as me. I know you. You're not someone like me. You have a pure and clean heart. You can get through it better than me." Eleanor.

Anna turned her head towards Leon who was still looking down avoiding Anna's gaze. "I'm not as good as you think, Lady Eleanor." Anna then told Eleanor. "But I think you got your punishment too. So I don't have to dirty my hands to get revenge on you."

"true." Reply Eleanor. "I accept my punishment." He paused for a moment and glanced at Leon, "Which I regret, it's not just me who got the punishment."

"What about your son? What's name?" Ask Anna.

"Elyan."

"Is he here? Isn't the air here too cold for her?" Anna asked, as she could not imagine if her daughter was in such a cold place. He won't let his daughter be there for any reason.

And to answer that question, Eleanor gestured to one side of the room. Elias enters with Elyan and hands the baby boy to his mother. Elias looked at Leon and Anna for a long time, but he remained silent. Without saying a word or greeting the two, he left the room.

"I'm so sorry, Elias." Said Anna.

The words stopped his steps but Elias did not turn to face him. Both of his hands were clenched to the side.

"I understand how you feel." Anna said again.

"No. Don't say such a thing." Said Elias. He was now facing Anna, seeming to be holding back his emotions. "You don't understand. You didn't lose your son. You haven't been locked up here for a thousand years either and you can still die whenever you want. You can end your life at any time if that grief and regret feel harder to bear. I'm so wondering how you can stay alive after he dies—“

"Shut your mouth!" Leon had drawn his sword at Elias before Anna could stop him. "How dare you say that to Tsarina!"

"Leon! Lower sword. It's an order." Said Anna loudly.

Leon did not obey. Even though he knew it was a futile thing. Elias could not die even with King Zuidlijk's sword.

Elias laughed when he saw Leon's sword drawn in vain. Laughter bitter, because at that time he really hoped that someone could kill him so he did not need to feel the sorrow that tormented him for Yeon-Hwa's death. "How does it feel to live eternally, the venerable Grand Duke of Winterthur?"

"Roman?" Ask Anna to Leon. Leon lowers his sword, but has no intention of explaining anything to Anna. "What does that mean?"

"Generic..." Eleanor rebuked him. "Please stop."

Anna was still staring at Leon, waiting for an explanation from him patiently.

"I intend to explain it to you when the time is right." Said Leon.

"Then explain now."

Leon tried to explain it, but he didn't know how to start. She herself did not really understand why this had to happen to her. Elias explained it to Anna.

"He kept half of Elle's soul in him. So he is also immortal like us. He will neither die nor age for at least a thousand years. Like us, he would see everyone around him, one by one, dying before him. At least he's not locked up in this palace like we are."

"When exactly are you going to explain all that to me?" Ask Anna to Leon. He was disappointed to have to know that from someone else. Leon also bore the punishment of Eleanor and Elias, and Anna did not know at all because she was not told. "When, Leon? Is it after I die?"

"Sorry..."

"I'd better go." Said Elias. "Congratulations on your eternal life, Grand Duke." Then he disappeared from that place.

"Leon, I'm not mad at you. I just..." Anna paused for a moment, looking for words. Leon usually doesn't keep anything from her. And Anna usually knows everything about Leon. "I don't think there's a secret between us."

"I'll explain it. Right after this visit."

"I should be the one to apologize to you. Because I—“

"It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault. You saved me that day so how could it be your fault. I'm going to live forever, it shouldn't be something to regret, right? At least you'll never cry over my death. Because I won't be dead anytime soon."

"Leon, I—“

"Your Majesty, this is not the main purpose for us to come here." Cut Leon immediately before Anna discusses it further. He doesn't want to talk about it right now. He then turned his head towards Elyan who was on Eleanor's lap. The baby boy was so tiny but looked perfectly healthy with reddish white skin and sparkling eyes. She smiled broadly as she looked at Leon, her little hands trying to grab Leon as if knowing what the Grand Duke's purpose was to the Palace.

Leon immediately turned his eyes away from Elyan. "I wonder why he didn't freeze to death here." He said to Eleanor.

"He's a Winterthur. Cold air is not a problem for her." Eleanor's Lie.

Leon snorted, knowing that Eleanor was actually using magic to keep her son warm in the freezing air, "You should be telling the truth that you were hoping I'd take him to the Winterthur residence."

"Leon..." Anna warned. "We've already discussed this.”

"I understand." Eleanor. Embarrassed at the request he made in his letter to Leon to take his son to the Winterthur residence and live there. But Eleanor also could not let her son stay isolated in the Northern Palace. Eleanor did not want to part with her son, but she had no choice. His son cannot stay with him if he wants to live normally. "I knew you'd turn down—“

"I'll take him." Cut Leon straight away. "I'll make sure he grows up well groomed and gets the education he deserves like a Winterthur boy. And when he grows up, he is free to set his own course. Go back to this palace, serve for Imperial as my successor, or go wherever he wants."

Eleanor's eyes widened in disbelief at what she had just heard. He did not expect his son to be treated well. Everyone must have a grudge against him and probably will take it out on Elyan. So his request to Leon was only to let his son live in the Winterthur House until he was old enough to live independently. But hearing Leon say all that, was completely beyond his expectations.

Eleanor prepared to kneel before Leon to express her gratitude, "Grand Duke—“

"Don't thank me for that proposal from the Tsarina." Leon said coldly. He turned to Anna, who was smiling at him because she finally convinced Leon to take care of Elyan. "If it were up to me, I would have killed that kid before I became a traitor like you."

"You didn't say you agreed. Did you change your mind after seeing her, Leon?" Hardik Anna's. But he smiled proudly at Leon who was willing to put away his personal grudge on Eleanor and chose to take care of Elyan.

Leon refuses to answer, but Anna is right. Upon seeing Elyan, Leon thought to himself. If only the King and Queen had not made him their adopted son, Leon would not have known how his life would be without parents or guardians.

"Thank you very much." Eleanor said to Anna.

"There's one more thing... Before Xavier died, he had already prepared a ship for you." Said Anna. Eleanor nodded, confirming. "Xavier told me. Said you aspired to travel the world on that ship. But now that you can't go anywhere, I'll give the ship to Elyan if he's old enough to sail. Elyan did not need to serve Imperial if he did not want to. He's free to go anywhere and have his own life."

"You don't have to do all that—“

Leon immediately interrupted Eleanor, "We are not doing this for you, but for Elyan. We still can't forgive your mistakes. But it wasn't Elyan's fault. The boy had no fault whatsoever."

Leon immediately took Elyan out of Eleanor's hands. With a heart that was very painful Eleanor let her child be taken from her. One more punishment for his guilt that he must bear. Life is far apart from her beloved baby, her only lifeline, the only thing that makes her life feel beautiful even in the confinement of the Northern Palace.

But Elyan who still did not understand anything seemed to smile happily at Leon's hand. Eleanor put her eyes on her son, not wanting to miss his bright glowing smile that she could see one last time. Eleanor will never see her son again.

"Don't tell him about me." Eleanor's Message. "Let her grow up without knowing that her mother is a murderer."

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