NEW HOPE

The sky glooms and the air feels ominous; bedarkened and weeping. Leaves flew along the current of the cold wind. The heavy dark clouds dominate the sky and the rain began to fall. People who witnessed the execution earlier had left the gallows, leaving the dead body of Mort hanging on the rope. Except for the two prison knights escorting Mort and Chadwick who will cremate the body.

"What a masterpiece." Said Chadwick as he look up at the corpse coldly with hands thrust into his pocket.

The rain soaked messily his hair and he then motioned the two knights who were drenched in rain to take down Mort's body and follow him to the cremation.

Sumire was brought back to her room. She was still unconscious while Lunaire was holding onto her daughter's hand. She had mixed emotions after finding out the truth. It never occurs to her that Sumire would be lusted by her Uncle. A solemn tear fell down her cheek; her body looked calm compared to how tangled her mind was.

Chaise, constantly sniffing like he was resisting tears, felt the water creep out of his left eye. He can't believe that the person he hates the most turn out be Sumire's savior and had sacrificed a lot for his daughter.

He never expected that Dreygur tried to rape her and Mort took revenge for Sumire. As a father, he failed greatly to protect her. Hands clenched on his side, Chaise drowned himself in conscience and shame for everything he did and the hurtful thing he said to Mort. It's too late for him to express his gratitude and ask forgiveness. He can't turn back the time.

"If only..."

Eyes squeeze shut, Chaise breathlessly uttered when a single orb of tears rolled on his cheek. He feels so much pain now. Deep emotions stir with no other outlet but through his long-lasting sobs. He wanted to be angry with his mother but he knows that she is just doing her duty. But he wish they had at least been given a few days before Mort was hanged. Especially since they know the reason why the hunk killed Dreygur.

"Damn it." Chaise cursed while looking at his daughter who looked weakened lying on the bed with eyes red and swollen. It hurts him to see her in pain and agony.

The maiden didn't sleep all night nor eat as she was worried about Mort. Now the man she loves is gone and she learns about the despicable thing Dreygur did to her. The pain she felt tripled and the death of her beloved would certainly left her scars permanently. Witnessing Sumire grow into a fine lady, Chaise knew his daughter love only one man. And that person was Mort. If only he could bring back the time.

Klauss, Laurel, Leroy, and Lyric wait outside the cremation room as deafening silence washes over them. No one tried to utter a word. The twins were crying silently on the side while Klauss was just holding back himself from bursting into tears.

Laurel, on the other hand, wonders how to tell the Aslanov family after what happened to Mort. She could already imagine the family would declare an all-out war on North Le Frère. Laurel let out a deep heavy sigh. They decided not to go to the gallows earlier because of the fear that Klauss might get lost and create unnecessary problems. Now, she regrets it. She is asking herself if only they go to see him, knowing there is no hope of salvation. They didn't even look for Narco who was missing last night. She couldn't blame the young man because Klauss might end up killing him for putting his Boss on death row. Hand running through her head, Laurel shut her eyes unable to understand why Narco had to do that.

After waiting for more than an hour, the cremation room was opened and there emerge Chadwick with a small black and gold jar in his hand where Mort's ashes were placed. He handed over the jar to Klauss. The man carries a transparent heart-shaped necklace filled with Mort's ashes.

"I'll just give it to my niece. She needs it right now. If that's okay with you." Chadwick said, revealing the necklace to them. Klauss coldly stared at the la​va​liere for a few seconds before nodding at him.

"Thank you," Chadwick added then turned his back on them. Before he could take a step forward, Klauss spoke which stopped him.

"I heard you are next in line to the throne. I advise you to change your shitty rules." Klauss sardonically said.

Chadwick didn't bother to turn around and just flash a wide smirk. He no longer responds and strides out of the place. Klauss, Laurel, and the twins walk in the opposite direction to prepare for their departure.

When Chadwick reached his niece's chamber, the Massoullèves greeted him and Sumire was already awake. Back leaning against the headboard of her bed with eyes lifeless and swollen, staring into nothingness. He entered the place with a frown face.

"Mort's ashes," Chadwick said casually while handing the necklace to Sumire.

Her pair of orbs look at the ashes and accepted it. Sumire could hold the heartbreak no longer and her shoulder dropped into a disheveled heap as her grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. A sorrowing maiden, grieving over the death of her beloved, clutch the necklace and placed it on her chest.

Chaise was furiously staring at his brother. He was trying to connect everything inside his mind. He feels that Chadwick is the one behind playing the videos in the crowd.

"Chadwick, were you the one who played the video?" Darkened face, Chaise asked directly with a firm tone, much to Chadwick's surprise.

"That's so smart of you, yes." Chadwick responded with a smug. Chaise quickly stood up and in just a blink of an eye, his fist landed on Chadwick's cheek leaving bruises on the side of his lips.

"You fucking know from the start! Sumire was just a child, you know what that bastard did to her, but you hide everything from us? If you had told us what happened when they had an accident, all this would have been prevented! And there's a ninety-nine percent possibility that the operation you did to her even though she barely had any scars was to erase her memories!" Chaise lashes out his anger while grabbing his older brother's collar. Chadwick just frowned at him.

Stunned in her place, Lunaire gasped at what she heard. Cornelius and Aireina looked at them in disbelief while Blanche and Claire exchange glances.

"If you found out what really happened right away, what do you think would happen? Dreygur will be punished by banning him. If I didn't erase those horrible memories, Sumire will carry it for the rest of her life. The child will be traumatized. And one more thing, you should be thanking me if I didn't do anything, the chances of Dreygur succeeding in his plan bring worst to her!" Chadwick firmly said. Slightly staggered, Chaise couldn't believe what he said.

"You fucking lunatic! You did it so you could use it against Dreygur! Because you wanted that twisted throne! And now you have it. Congratulations! I wonder how many thousands of corpses you hide before you get the throne you fucking desired!" Chaise shouted sarcastically who could no longer contain his anger.

"I did it to protect her." Said Chadwick in a plain tone, which made Chaise enraged. His eyes blazed in anger.

"No, if you truly wanted to protect my daughter, you should have done it before. But you delayed it because you intended to use her against that bastard! You are a selfish psychopath! You care about nothing but yourself!" With nostrils flared, Chaise said emphatically and those words snapped Chadwick.

"Think of whatever you want to think. But while you are having fun under the limelight, I was tasked to fucking bury my hand under the deepest mud just to protect the family against the Underground organization that wants to destroy our foundation. What do you think is the real reason why the Massoullèves are invincible in the Underground? It's solely because of me. Father's righteous ass didn't save this family. It was fucking me all along. I don't care what else you say about the throne waiting for me or how I got it. I work for it. This is what I deserve."

Every word that came out of Chadwick's lips was calm but with emphasis, which stopped Chaise and let go of him. A deafening silence reigned the room. But after a few minutes passed, Sumire's weeping echoing the room. Sorrowful tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her shoulders trembling with the force of her emotions. She struggled to breathe as she let out a series of hiccups which made the family panic.

"Don't stress yourself out too much. You are weeks pregnant, Sumire." Chadwick said which surprise everyone in the room.

Slowly, Sumire stopped crying and turn her gaze to her Uncle while her hand unconsciously held her belly.

"Is it true...Uncle?" She asked, trying to gather herself while silent tears silently ran down her cheeks. She wanted to make sure of it.

"Positively," Chadwick replied in a serious tone. Without bidding bye, he leaves the room.

Everyone was left speechless. All eyes darted on the maiden after the door closed. The Massoullèves were not knowing whether to be happy and celebrate the good news or what. They wanted to rejoice after knowing Sumire was carrying a life in her womb but they couldn't because of Mort's death. Chaise, on the other hand, wants to understand what his older brother said but it is still wrong to hide the truth. Her daughter was used for a selfish reason just to get the throne for himself.

"Mort and I are going to have a baby..." Caressing her belly gently, Sumire mumbled as she sniffled between words. Her breathing was ragged but slow. A few tears rolled down on her cheek. Her face was still wet and she took in a sharp breath every now and then.

She wanted to smile but the death of her beloved vanished her smile away.

"But why can't I be happy at all?" Lips trembling, Sumire's hands were shaking while holding her stomach where their child is. Lunaire quickly come to bed and hugged her tightly.

"Darling, you need to be strong for your baby and Mort," Lunaire said gently as she patted the maiden's back. She wanted to cry and join in her daughter's pain but she had to be stronger now Sumire needs her. And especially since she was going to have a grandchild.

A great pang gripped her heart, Sumire was crestfallen thinking her baby will grow up not having a chance to see Mort, their father. The maiden swears she will give all the love and attention to their child. Her cries turn to whimpers, Sumire's embrace tightened on her mother's arms. She will pour out all of her tears now. By the time she leaves this room, she must be strong for their baby even if it hurts. She can't be weak now a life and hope are growing inside her.

Blanche thought of following his dad, couldn't talk to his cousin. He is ashamed of what his father did but he can't be angry with him because Chadwick sold his soul to the devil just for the Massoullèves. Blanche bowed to everyone respectfully and they nodded to him. He strides out of the room in silence.

Don Severus and Queen Zèlle were sitting silently in the throne room. Both feel with each other. No one attempted to speak. The Queen was staring into nothingness. She could not burst into tears as she was feeling too numb. She can't feel anything at all right now. She was forced to take someone's life who did nothing wrong but to protect her granddaughter she failed to do so. Now, Sumire is definitely suffering from her decision. She can understand if Sumire won't forgive her, she can accept it but it was still hard for her.

Don Severus, her husband, on the other hand, was just observing the Queen who was staring at the paintings on the walls. He was waiting for Queen Zèlle to speak or cry. That was the first time his wife had a hard time making a decision. If she doesn't follow the rules, more people will be affected and the situation will get worse. She was torn between her people and her family.

"Wife, don't you think our oldest is too heartless for the throne? But he deserves it. I mean this country needs a ruthless ruler. So, let's just say it's his fate to sit on that throne... And I asked him to do that without killing you." Don Severus broke the silence reigning between them. Hinting to force Queen Zèlle to retire.

"Do you think Sumire will still talk to me?" The Queen's voice almost broke. She had a lump in her throat and was blinking away the tears.

"Of course. She's too kind to ignore you." Don Severus replied in a serene tone. Queen Zèlle turns to his direction and flashes a forced smile.

They were back to silence again. And a few minutes later, the massive door of the throne room was opened and Chaise was spat out there. The man approaches their place with a sullen face.

"Mother, we're going home to the Brethren. Don't worry about Sumire, you don't need to ask for forgiveness because you're not at fault. You're only bound by the throne and rules. She knows you're having a hard time too. Sumire said you should go back home in Brethren when she gave birth to her and Mort's child." Chaise reached out and handed over the letter from Sumire to her.

Queen Zèlle's pupils slightly dilated at the news. She wanted to rejoice knowing Sumire's pregnancy but after what she did to Mort, she felt heaviness in her chest.

"From Sumire," Chaise added and the Queen finally burst into tears. She hugged her son and cried hard on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry." Tearful, Queen Zèlle begs for forgiveness.

"I promise I will go home to the Brethren and stay there for good." She added between her sobs and Chaise wipe the tears off his mother.

He flashed a smile and then came out of the throne room. Chaise nodded to his father who was already outside.

"I will go with your mommy. I will make sure that she will come home with me. Now that Chadwick is definitely to sit on the throne. Nothing is impossible." Don Severus said and tap on his son's shoulder.

"Thank you, Dad. We will wait for you."

...........

A week after Mort's execution, everyone has returned to the Brethren, except for Narco who is still not showing up to Klauss. The Aslanovs heard what happened, they couldn't believe the ruthless and feared man in the Underground would meet his end. They refuse to believe Mort is dead even though his ashes were on display.

Mischa, who was carrying the jar of Mort's ashes, weeping on the sofa. Mort was the only brother left to her and now he is gone.

"What should I do? No one will lend me a black card anymore." Mischa sobs as she hugs the jar of her brother's ashes. Looking at his granddaughter, Don Zagreus heaves a sigh with a slight frown.

"Let's just accept this."