Emilia’s POV (Cercei’s Mother)


    The night of the Moon Ball


    “Henri, I can no longer endure this,” I told my husband as we stood in our quarters, facing each other.


    He gently drew me closer, his touchforting and familiar.


    “I know, Mon Amour,” he whispered, kissing my brow tenderly. I surrendered myself to the sensation, shutting my eyes as his lips touched my skin.


    “How much longer must I endure?” I inquired, my voiceced with longing. His mysterious smile was his sole reply.


    “Tonight, my darling, we will seize our chance and embark on a daring escape to establish a new life in a faraway sanctuary,” he dered firmly.


    As his words prated my soul, a wave of hope surged through my veins, drowning out the loud thump of my racing heart. Despite the looming uncertainty, I held onto this delicate flicker of possibility, daring to envision a life liberated from the restraints of our current situation.


    “But what if our n is discovered?” I fretted, a hint of anxiety etching itself onto my features. His gentle hand caressed my cheek, soothing my anxiety.


    With unwavering conviction, he assured me, ‘We won’t be discovered.”


    “What if luck turns against us?” I persisted, my doubts unyielding to his reassurance.


    “We will not fail, I give you my word,” he dered, sealing his vow with a kiss on my lips.


    Henri had never broken a promise to me before, and his tirelessmitment braced my spirit. I was acutely aware of our n’s dangerous nature, threatening our lives and those of our beloved daughter. Yet the torment of living under the tyrannical rule of our master was a fate far more agonising than any risks we might encounter on our path to freedom.


    I spent the entire night in a state of nervous anticipation, eagerly awaiting the height of darkness. It was the crucial moment we had been nning for months-this grand ball, the ideal asion for our escape. All we needed was to create a diversion, inciting chaos and panic, allowing us to slip away unnoticed among the guests. Our endpoint would be the town square, where we would board a train and let the wheels carry us to an uncertain destination.


    We purposely kept Cercei out of the loop regarding our n, as we didn’t want her to experience unnecessary panic or concern. Moreover, she is too young to be involved in such a scheme. When the chance allows us, we will swiftly retrieve her. Currently, she is upied with her duties of serving tables while both my husband and I stand near the Alpha, ensuring that everything proceeds as intended.


    “A splendid evening, isn’t it, Henri?” Remus chuckled cheerfully, his wine ss in hand and his touch lingering on my back as his gaze roved across the enchanting dance floor.


    Suppressing the urge to recoil, I bit down my tongue, restraining any visible reaction. Remus, seated at the central table, upied the position of power, with Henri stationed at his right and myself at his left. Observing Remus’ hand on me, he clenched his fist in anger. Our eyes locked, and I swiftly shook my head, attempting to convey a silent warning. We had invested countless hours and immense effort into orchestrating this crucial juncture, and the stakes were too high to permit any misstep.


    “Yes, Monsieur,” Henri forced the words out through gritted teeth, his gaze meeting mine in a silent understanding. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, gathering myposure, and fortifying my determination.


    “Come now, amigo, loosen up a little,” Remus taunted, hisughter echoing again, his hand encircling my waist, venturing ufortably lower.


    Disgust welled up inside me, and I held my breath in hostility. Such unwee advances had be an unfortunate routine that neither Henri nor I had grown ustomed to enduring. At this moment, I silently prayed to the heavens, invoking the aid of every saint, praying fervently that Monsieur would choke on his drink, meeting a fate that would align with his despicable actions.


    Suddenly, an abrupt silence engulfed the room as the music abruptly halted. All eyes turned towards the source of the disturbance, including Monsieur’s. Relief flooded me as his hand retreated,pelled by themotion that had seized everyone’s attention.


    When Remus departed, Henri enfolded me in a heartfelt embrace, tears mingling down my eyes. The moment’s weight bore down on us, both exhrating and terrifying in magnitude.


    “What is the meaning of this?” Remus’s voice thundered through the room, demanding answers.


    “It’s time,” Henri whispered beside me, his words barely audible in the middle of the noise. I nodded instantly, relentless perseverance zing in my eyes.


    “I will retrieve Cercei. Go and prepare our belongings,” he instructed, his voice brimming with urgency before he hastened off searching for our daughter. With bated breath, I retreated slowly, ensuring no prying eyes followed my movements.


    I hurried to our quarters and retrieved the bag hidden beneath the bed. To seamlessly blend in with the guests, we needed attire that matched their elegance. Although Icked extravagant gowns, I did possess a few formal dresses that would suffice for the asion.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Each passing moment only intensified my nerves, but I forged ahead, undeterred. We had left behind all our belongings, save for this bag, containing only the garments that would help us assimte into our new identities. Clutching the bag tightly, I made my way back to the rear of the mansion, where the apple tree stood, serving as our designated meeting point.


    This was our designated meeting point, a secluded area free from guards and prying eyes. The forest route was not an option due to heightened security, leaving us with no choice but to escape in in sight and evade detection amidst the chaos of the grand ball.


    I paced back and forth, my anxiety escting with every passing second. Henri and Cercei were nowhere in sight, and the minutes continued to tick away, far beyond the time they were meant to arrive. Panic began to grip me, and doubts infiltrated my thoughts. What could be causing such a significant dy?


    When Henri approached, a sigh of relief escaped my lips, and a glimmer of hope rekindled inside me.


    A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, ready to express my relief, but it faltered after seeing the worry across his face. Something was amiss, and my heart sank as I realised Cercei was not by his side.


    “Where is Cercei?” I blurted out anxiously, impatience betraying the worry coursing through my veins. Henri’s gaze held mine for a fleeting moment before he responded.


    “She’s in trouble,” he finally replied, his words hanging heavy in the air. Panic surged through me, demanding immediate answers.


    “What do you mean? What happened?” I pressed, my nerves tingling with tension. Henri massaged his temples, his expression pained.


    “Lord Lucian held her captive at the grand ballroom. She identally spilled a drink on hisp, and now Vienna is furious,” he hissed, a mixture of anger and frustration colouring his tone. He facepalmed as if grappling with the weight of the situation.


    “How is she?” I inquired anxiously, my motherly instincts fiercely protective.


    “I must go back to the ballroom to ensure Monsieur doesn’t inflict punishment on our daughter,” Henri responded, his words heavy with sorrow. I nodded, my voice barely a whisper in acknowledgment.


    “Go back inside. It’s too risky for you to stay here. I’ll give you a signal once everything is in ce,” he uttered, gently kissing my forehead before he disappeared into my sight.


    Legs quivering with fear, I mustered the strength to return to the grand mansion. My footsteps were as light as a feather, my mind consumed by thoughts of my beloved daughter. The fear swelled deep inside me, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a wless night-this unforeseen turn of events threatened to shatter our meticulously crafted n.


    I returned to our quarters and sank onto the bed, tears streaming down my face. The thought of going back to the ballroom was too risky; if Monsieur caught sight of me, he would never allow me to leave his side again.


    He is a monstrous figure devoid of mercy and consumed by pure evil. He never bothers to conceal his true nature, not towards me or even histe wife. His inappropriate touches, words, and maniption of power and authority to bend everything to his will fuel my profound disdain for him. I yearn to plunge a knife into his heart to end his tyranny. Yet, I am fully aware that such an act can’t be aplished through strength, power, or circumstance. Our only recourse is to flee, to escape his clutches. I know without a doubt that he would pursue us relentlessly, no matter the corners of the world we sought refuge in. Nevertheless, I cannot endure another day in this horrible ce.


    I stared at the wall and realised the extent of my loathing for this mansion. Every corner of its structure serves as a haunting reminder of the kind of monster Remus truly is. Every brick and wall embodies the painful memories of how he molested me.