The Flower Of Eternity
Chapter 3: The Reyes

The next day, Queen Eugene took Anna for a walk around the Wisteria Palace. Although Anna knows Eugene did so at Xavier's request to take her mind off the events in Montreux and Schere, Anna still appreciates the effort by accepting Eugene's invitation.

Wisteria Palace is not as big as Schiereiland Palace, nor as luxurious as Nordhalbinsel Palace. But the Wisteria Palace is very beautiful and unique. Myths say that the palace was built by a fairy king who fell in love with a former queen of Westeria. Legend has it that the Palace was built by the Earth Dragon as a sign of friendship with mankind. While the belief in Westeria mentions in his books that the Goddess of Heaven who built the Palace for his son later. None of these stories are doubted.

Anna so admired every corner and room of the Wisteria Palace that her mind could be a little moved by her anxiety about the conditions in Montreux and Schere. Eugene so expertly guided Anna and explained every room, every carving, every sculpture and painting, and every other, also every plant was there so Anna was so washed away in the streets and did not feel tired at all.

As they reached the main hall of the Wisteria Palace, Anna saw the ceiling filled with purple and pink blooming Wisteria flowers. Anna was so amazed to observe the room filled with Wisteria flowers.

"There are so many Wisteria blooming in this palace." Anna said in Westernia, the official language of Westeria. Although Anna knew Eugene understood her language, Anna wanted to honor the young Queen by using Westernia during her time in Westeria.

"That's why our Palace is called the Wisteria Palace." Eugene.

"I hear the Westerians can understand the language of flowers." Anna said she was now looking at the beauty as the Wisteria flowers fell from the ceiling, becoming a rain of Wisteria petals, like a rain of purple and pink. "Is that really?" Ask.

Eugene smiled kindly, "Not understand the language of flowers, but rather we have meaning for every flower."

"Then what does the Wisteria flower mean?"

"Wisteria flower means 'eternity and longevity' because it can live up to a thousand years. Perhaps that is also why Wisteria is referred to as The Flower of Eternity, the Flower of Eternity. Or in our language, La Flor de La Eternidad. Some poets say that the Wisteria flower also has romantic meanings such as 'drunk by your love' or 'will never be separated' as if describing an inseparable eternal couple."

"It's romantic. I didn't know this pretty flower had such a beautiful meaning."

"But did you know that there is another meaning of the Wisteria flower that not many people know?"

"What's that?"

"Since all parts of this flower are poisonous, Wisteria can also be interpreted as 'Incapaz de ser curado'."

Anna was silent at those words. The incapaz de ser curado. Cannot be cured. Somehow upon hearing that, he immediately thought of Xavier. He was very afraid that Xavier would not be able to recover and would continue to suffer from the poison for the rest of his life. And if they were indeed endowed with a long life, if they would age together, how much would the afflicted live in the torment of the poison for such a long time.

Although Anna knew Ludwig was trying to make an antidote to her poison and kept her informed of the secret progress of her research, Anna had not received good news lately from her sister-in-law.

And right now, when Xavier was away from her in Montreux, Anna was worried that the poison would come back to Xavier and that no one would be able to help her. Whereas only Anna can relieve her pain and stop the effects of the poison on her.

"I don't like that meaning." Anna said at last after a long silence.

"Because King Xavier is sick?" Eugene said pensively. Anna just stared at him, not knowing where Eugene knew about it. "sorry. I shouldn't know, huh? But one of my bodyguards, Theana, is from the Ortiz Clan."

"Sapphire eye owner?"

Eugene nodded. "Klan Ortiz has the privilege of being able to read minds. Theana accidentally read King Xavier's mind when she visited here a few weeks ago at my request. It was from Theana that I knew that King Xavier was ill when he came here. Theana said, King Xavier endured his pain until the end of his visit. And when she was coming home, Theana saw her spewing blood."

Anna had no idea that Xavier had gone to Westeria a few weeks ago. Anna wants to ask what Xavier did on his secret visit to Westeria, but since he now believes that Xavier will not hide any more secrets from her, Anna undoes her intentions. If it was something important he should know, Xavier would definitely tell him later.

"It's not a disease." Anna finally said. "He was exposed to a deadly magic poison. And Prince Ludwig is still trying to make an antidote to the poison."

"God! I don't know at all. Because he hid it so well. Deadly magic poison? Isn't that very dangerous? How could he survive after being exposed to such a poison? Is there anything I can do for him? Westeria has many medicinal plants. If Prince Ludwig needs herbs to make an antidote to his poison, he is welcome to do research in Westeria."

"Thank you very much. I'll pass it on to Prince Ludwig."

They continued their journey to the other room. But this time Anna is haunted by fears that Xavier may be currently in pain from the effects of the poison and no one knows about it. No one helped him cope and Xavier would not tell anyone and would only endure his own pain.

Queen Eugene sees the change in attitude towards Anna and knows that Anna is worrying about Xavier. So Queen Eugene stopped her steps and clasped Anna's hand, "Don't worry. He'll be fine. Trust him."

Anna nodded. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry if I added the burden of your mind. I heard stress isn't good for pregnant women." Eugene then looked towards Anna's stomach. "May I hold it?"

Anna smiled, "Please."

With hesitation and extreme caution, Eugene placed his hand on Anna's stomach and felt the movements of the baby inside. "He's moving." Said. As he said that, his eyes glazed over. "He's active, yeah..."

"He is active. He knows I'm thinking about his father."

"Have you guys prepared names?"

"But it is natural, even in Westeria, for an heir to the throne to use the name of his parents. Mother of Queen Elizabeth—Queen before me—named Elizabeth too." Eugene then fell silent for a moment, "So.. daughter?"

Anna nodded enthusiastically, "A fortuneteller told Xavier. It's a long story."

Eugene looks very happy, "It's very exciting... Building your own family. Have a child." Said. Eugene smiled, but his gaze seemed to be daydreaming. As if there was something he was thinking. Shortly after, he again said, "Queen Anastasia..." Eugene now stood up straight, looking solemn as if he was about to say something very important. Anna is ready to listen. "Can I make a request to you?" tanyakanya.

"About what?"

"Can we make your son my heir?"

"What?" Anna was so shocked by the plea that she had just subconsciously used her own language, not Western. Her son will be born as the future heir to two kingdoms—Schiereiland and Nordhalbinsel, Anna already knows that. But Anna never thought much less that a Queen from another kingdom would ask her unborn daughter to become the heir of the third kingdom, Westeria.

"Sorry, I should have explained it to you first... I can't have kids. Just like the Queen before me, Elizabeth, can't have children. We the Queens of Westeria cannot have children unless we abdicate the throne. I only found out after becoming Queen. Elizabeth left her throne because of it, because she wanted to have a family and have children. It was like some kind of curse because of the deeds of our ancestors. I don't have any relatives, I don't have an heir, so I want your son to inherit Westeria."

"But why should my son? And won't he also be cursed?"

"To explain that, I was hoping you'd follow me somewhere first."

Eugene then invites Anna to go further into the crown chamber. The crown of the ruler of Westeria is kept there in a glass case. The crown will only be worn during official occasions. As for the other events, Queen Eugene had many other crowns in the room. But from the whole crown, only the crown looks very luxurious, decorated with five types of gems that surround it—Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, Ruby and Amber. And on top of where the crown was kept, there was a large painting. A painting of a man with emerald eyes wearing the crown.

"He was Frederico Reyes, the first King of Westeria." Eugene explained as Anna seemed unable to take her gaze away from the man's painting.

"His eyes..."

"Similar to the eyes of King Xavier. Emerald eyes. You surprised? I thought you knew."

Anna then looked at Eugene. "I mean, I know that in Westeria there were five great clans that used to rule the land of Westeria. They were all extraordinary people who had eyes like jewels. Ortiz Clan, Sapphire-eyed. Clan Navarro, eyed Amethyst. The Torres Clan edged Ruby. The Salazar Clan eyed Amber. And..."

"Klan Reyes, emerald-eyed. Right."." Right." Eugene. He then turned to look at the painting in front of them, Frederico Reyes' painting. "They were known to have inhumane sword skills as well as being able to see the future, which was why the other Clans had great respect for the Reyes Clan. Even the famous Navarro Clan with its abilities that could destroy anything, was extremely submissive and obedient to the Reyes Clan. The kings of Westeria were always from the Reyes Clan. Unlike the Westerians generally, many of the people from the Reyes Clan had snow-white skin just like the northern people. But the Reyes Clan had long since become extinct due to the inbreeding they had done to preserve their privileges. The inbred marriage resulted in the women of the Reyes Clan having difficulty having their children or children disabled and not long-lived when normally people with gem eyes have a long life of up to hundreds of years."

Anna absorbed the new information she knew because it was never written in any book. Now he understands... The reason Eugene asked Xavier to pay a visit to the Wisteria Palace a few weeks ago. Eugene's reason for asking their son to be his heir.

Maybe Xavier still has the Reyes Clan bloodline from Irene, he thought.

"Is it possible Xavier..."

"I don't know either." Eugene immediately replied before Anna even finished her sentence. "When I first met him, I asked him because the owner of the emerald eye is very rare. Because the Reyes Clan has long been extinct. But King Xavier himself definitely did not know if he was indeed a descendant of the Reyes Clan or just happened to have those rare eyes."

"His mother also had emerald eyes. The Winterthur Clan usually has icy blue eyes."

Eugene agreed. They have the same suspicions, but have not been able to prove them. "You know about the late Queen Irene? Everyone knows the story because just that time a man from the Winterthur Clan cheated on him, you know, wolves are usually very loyal to their partners. I'm sorry if this offends you, but that's the story. Former Grand Duke of Winterthur, Rudolph Winterthur, while performing the duties of King Nordhalbinsel and settling in Westeria for half a year, met a new prostitute who was beautiful and very young. He falls in love with her and spends half a year with her alone and unwilling with other comfort women. He was about to take the woman to Nordhalbinsel when he found out she was pregnant with his child, He even asked the then King of Westeria for permission to take her and say that the woman was his soul mate, but the woman refused when she found out Rudolph had a family. The woman died giving birth to her child, and Rudolph took the child to his residence. His wife, Liliana, however, was furious and threatened to kill their sons if Rudolph insisted on letting the emerald-eyed daughter stay with them. Liliana is not angry at the affair itself, she berated him because the prostitute was indeed the soul mate of her husband, she was angry that the girl did not look like a member of the Winterthur— family without blond hair and es— blue eyes so it would make people around them gossip about her and tarnish her pride. Eventually forced, Rudolph exiled his only daughter to Schiereiland. I think you know more about the story."

"Then the emerald-eyed daughter, Irene Winterthur, became a general at Schiereiland. And when she was old enough, Grand Duke Rudolph Winterthur took her back to Nordhalbinsel to marry King Vlad." Anna continued the story.

"true."

"Could that comfort woman be one of the Reyes Clan's family members?" ask Anna.

"It is doubtful, because the Reyes Clan must have lived a life of treasure and was highly respected in Westeria. They were descendants of the first King of Westeria, so they should have lived like royalty. But that's not impossible."

If Irene Winterthur's birth mother, Xavier's grandmother, was from the Reyes Clan, then Anna could understand why Eugene wanted her son to be Westeria's heir. But there was still one thing that troubled her mind, Anna finally went back to asking, "Then the curse... What would happen if our son was your heir?"

"When my ancestors seized the throne from the last Reyes Clan King, the curse came into effect. Any woman who becomes Queen of Westeria, whether through marriage to the King of Westeria or ascending the throne for being heir, will have no children unless the woman is from the Reyes Clan."

"Xavier knew about this?"

"When he visited a few weeks ago, I explained all this to him. Then he said that he had no right to make his own decisions, so he asked me to speak directly to you. I'm sorry if I'm too presumptuous to ask for something like this. But I just want to return Westeria to the true owner of power. To someone from the Reyes Clan."

"Is that why you wanted to leave Westeria to our son? Because you think Xavier was a descendant of the first King of Westeria? Descendants of the Reyes Clan? Then our son is from the Reyes Clan and will not be exposed to the curse?"

Eugene nodded in confirming. "Because of that, and everything else. Westeria, especially me, is indebted to King Xavier. I might not be Queen of Westeria without her help. If you are willing, then me and all of Westeria will protect that child just as we protect our heir to the throne with all our might. And by making him heir to three kingdoms at once, that child is a guarantee of peace in the future."

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