《The Eternal Oath》


 Prologue

    Most nights, I would have spent it alone trying to make it to the next waking hour. It always felt so cumbersome, as there was none to keep me company other than my thoughts.


    Over the years, wintry grew familiar to me. The other side of the bed had remained cold for the past five, as my husband never bothered to visit the chamber we were supposed to share.


    But tonight was an outlier from the rest. The stars seemed to have glowed brighter, and the moonlit bedroom felt warmer. I knew not of the occasion, but he had finally come.


    I should have asked him questions �D how he was, what did he do that day, and why did he only decide to join me now. But the foreign feeling of being held in his arms possessed my thoughts entirely. I soaked up the warmth I had craved for all this time.


    He said naught to me, but I did not mind. Our marriage was never made from verbality, yet I knew what he thought of me. Although he may embrace me now, I was aware of his loathing.


    He hated me. Enough to make me spend my nights alone, be absent from home for periods of time, and never speak to me unless it was with a scowl.


    But just this once, I wanted to seize this rare display of affection. It was shameless, but I was deprived of him.


    When I came to, it was with the sounds of morn. I got by another night but this time, I had someone beside me. An odd fluttering tickled my chest, finding myself coming face-to-face with his sleeping expression.


    He was my husband, a man who I was supposed to know like the back of my hand. Yet it felt as though I was looking at him for the first time �C in awe like I was rediscovering every detail of him that I admired.


    Stemming from the roots of his head flowed rays of morning sun, graciously shaping his face like a set of curtains. However it wasn''t something that blocked his beauty but rather enhanced.


    I wanted to reach out and tuck them away behind his pointed ears, but I was afraid of the possibility of his wake.


    Just this once, I wanted to delude myself into what felt like a dream. I wanted to succumb into this fantasy a while longer.


    "Your Majesty," the physician looked at me in disbelief, a smile spreading across his face, "You are with child."


    I looked back at them with the same appearance, unable to process any of their words, "What?"


    "Congratulations!"


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    At first, I was shaken with surprise. A concept that had been in the air had finally begun to materialize. Tears streamed from my eyes, a distant emotion that I thought I had forgotten was now resurfacing.


    Joy. It had overtaken me. A child of my own, one that belonged to both me and my husband.


    My husband... That''s right. I had gotten ahead of myself for a moment.


    How would he look at me? What kind of face would he make from such news? Would he want to have a child with a human? The thought terrified me.


    But it wouldn''t remain a secret forever. Especially not when my own body would play a factor in its disclosure.


    "What?!" he exclaimed, "A child?"


    Ah, I knew it. The look of contempt, one that I could have mistaken to be his resting face whenever he''d look at me. I knew that he wouldn''t be happy.


    He continued his glower, staring daggers through my head. "That can''t be. Was that not your first?" he asked. But as if he had reached enlightenment, his eyes lit up, "Unless you were seeing another man while I was gone?"


    My brows furrowed, not understanding how he came to such a conclusion. It was so absurd that I had to shoot up out of my seat. "What? No!" I shouted. It had hurt my pride that he would ever make such an assumption of me. "You were my first! This is your child, Eion," I corrected.


    He seemed taken aback that I had raised my voice, but quickly recollected himself. He sighed before sitting back in his office chair, pinching his temples in frustration.


    Between us was a few moments of silence before he opened his mouth to speak, "Out."


    "What?"


    From his tilted head, he lifted his eyes to glare at me. Through his seethed teeth, he made it clear for me once more, "I said, ''out.'' I will not repeat myself again, Lilith."


    "We''re not done talking yet, Eion. You can''t just throw me out like this�`"


    But before I could say another word, I felt myself be lifted up out of the room. His aide and knight began to drag me out, but my gaze did not leave my husband during. My face was rendered with the shade of confusion, a chokehold of questions failing to leave my throat.


    As months passed, nothing from my schedule really changed. I no longer felt the suffocating desperation of wanting to be acknowledged by my husband. I counted my days with excitement the more my belly grew into shape.


    I spent my free time daydreaming of our future together. I pictured just how lovely my child would be, thought up of the activities we''d do together once they grew old enough, and how I''d welcome them when they''d arrive into the world.


    I wanted them to look like their father. Perhaps then, he would finally recognize my efforts. Recognize me as his wife.


    Before I knew it, I realized that they had become my solace. But the child I looked forward to never came to fruition.


    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty. I''m so sorry."


    Those were the only words that I could register from the physician. I was lying down over my bed, drenched from the labor of my exertions. Instead of being given a baby in my arms, I received a slap in the face by my reality.


    My body grew cold as the weight of it all sunk in, and the pit of my stomach suddenly felt heavier than it did prior.


    It had been so exhausting. Everything.


    What did I do to constantly be pushed around by the ones closest to me? By the unknown force of life that robbed my only happiness away from me?


    I did everything that I could do to please them. To please him. Why couldn''t I just be rewarded at least this once for all that I''ve been through?


    Whatever I said couldn''t get to him, even if I had studied for years to learn the tongue he spoke. What was the point of it all?


    I was far too tired to think any further. Once more, I was miserable. Once more, I clung onto something that I felt like I could never have.


    And before my vision could get any darker, I wanted to make it known. That if I could, I wanted to change the fate that was set for me.

 【1】Us Again

    Seated in a room were two families; separated by a coffee table, one side contained humans and the other elves. The king and queen of Dorsatra were sat next to their daughter while the elves from Eilnelis had their emperor, son, and a translator.


    "Thank you for coming all this way, Your Imperial Majesty. We are very honored that you paid us a visit to discuss our children''s marriage," the king, Hugo Alden Dorsatra, said. He flashed them a polite smile, but failed to hide the tremble in his stiff fingers.


    The elven emperor, Slyreith, spoke in a foreign language the royals didn''t understand. In contrast to the king''s timid attitude, Slyreith was much more relaxed.


    As soon as he finished his reply, the translator spoke on his behalf, "Don''t worry about me. I am looking forward to joining our nations together as much as you are. And there is no need for formality. We''re now family."


    The king eagerly nodded, trying to maintain his expression. "Of course, um, S-Slyreith! Haha!" He let out an uneasy laugh, rubbing his hands together to comfort himself.


    He then quickly changed the topic, readjusting his focus to the girl sitting a seat down from his right. He gestured over to her, "Please meet my lovely daughter. Introduce yourself to the Emperor of Eilnelis, dear."


    A girl, no older than 18 years old, sat gracefully in her chair with a straight back. Her hair of midnight draped down the sides of her face, the color of lavender peeking through from the back of her neck.


    She was none other than me, but only eight years back into the past. My tinted lips smiled gently at the emperor, my cheeks creasing along with, "Greetings, Your Majesty. My name is Lilith Evelyn Dorsatra. It is an honor to meet you."


    "The Emperor says it is a pleasure to meet the princess as well," the translator said. He then gestured over to the grump boy that sat beside him, "This here is Eion Feyrith Eilnelis, the heir to the Emperor and Her Highness''s fianc��."


    With a bow, he added his own introduction, "And I am Faelan Helewyn Celestina, your translator for today."


    On the side, Eion grumbled something with an annoyed look on his face. It must have been offensive, because the translator quickly elbowed him in the side. "I''m terribly sorry for his attitude. He''s not usually this ill-mannered," he gave Eion a stern look before shifting his expression back to face the Dorsatras, "He was just so excited to be here today. Isn''t that right, Eion?"


    I looked at him in expectation, nervously looking out for a reaction. But his head remain turned towards the window, showing disinterest to the discussion. I pursed my lips, unsure of what I was hoping from him.


    After all, it was only me who had changed, while everyone else was stuck as their past selves.


    It was only a few months ago that I found myself awake in a room that I hadn''t realized I had missed. It was the bedroom that I grew up in, back in Dorsatras before I was wedded off to live in Eilnelis.


    At first, I thought that it was a dream. But days would continue to pass by and I came to the conclusion that it was far from it. It all felt too real for it to be a mere illusion.


    Then... what happened to me?


    I was met with a vanity mirror, a fresh face that I hadn''t seen in eons �D the reflection of my younger self. One that hasn''t faced any hardships, who held her head up high with pride and was surrounded by love.


    By some miracle, or perhaps misfortune, I had went back to the past. I already knew that I had a stillbirth, but it was even more condemning that I wasn''t able to at least properly send them off.


    I thought that I could burst into tears in that moment. Not out of relief or sadness, but a built-up frustration I had against the entity that tugged along my strings. I had many questions, and I spent most of my time contemplating my existence.


    Why was I here? What happened to my former body? My baby?


    Yet, I was unable to avoid the inevitable event that led me to both my happiness and misery �D the day that Eion and I first met.


    It was when he was visiting the human kingdom with the emperor, having our encounter through passing. I had forgotten that he would be visiting around this time. And just like my past life, I found my body reacting the way it did before.


    I was stun-locked with enchantment, my eyes latched onto his being for that brief moment. But re-experiencing such emotions terrified me. I didn''t want to make a fool of myself again.


    Instead of watching him pass the halls like my youth once did, I chose to run away.


    ???


    The meeting between the two families shortly ended, the elves being excused first. It went just as it did in my past life �C a formal exchange between the two families.


    It was an arranged marriage, one for the sake of both of our nations. And like the na?ve girl I was, I fell for him. But this time, I didn''t want to come off as a dolt no more.


    Left in the parlor was now just the Dorsatras. My parents exchanged worried hushes, most of it being my mother comforting my father. I wished not to involve myself this time, so I walked on out shortly after the elves. I didn''t want to see my father become an anxious mess again.


    Down the hall stood the elven emperor and his translator not too far from the doorway. They were right in the center, proving difficult for me to maneuver past them.


    "That darn folly... When will he learn to grow up?" Faelan sighed, pinching his temple.


    Slyreith reached a hand over to pat his shoulder, a warm smile over his face. "Haha. You worry too much, Faelan. You cannot rush a child''s growth. It takes time," he chuckled.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Forgive me, Your Majesty. But you worry too little. Eion''s not a foal no more!"


    With a finger, Slyreith calmly hushed the elf. "Shush, boy. Not so loud. You''ll worry the princess," his light colored gaze gestured over to me.


    I awkwardly stood nearby, greeting them both with a curtsy. "Good afternoon, Your Imperial Majesty and Lord Faelan..." I didn''t expect them to notice me so soon.


    Slyreith gave me a smile, beckoning me to approach. I obediently clicked my heels across the polished floors to where he was, being mindful to create a respectful distance.


    Out of all of my encounters with the Eilnelis members, Slyreith was the one I had the least interactions with. This was due to his hasty retirement after he fell ill not too long after Eion and I officiated our marriage. I''ve only ever seen him from afar, and... in his bed rest before he passed.


    "It''s a shame," Slyreith began, "How could Eion storm out as soon as the meeting was over? Just look at how lovely his fianc��e is."


    I wasn''t sure what he wanted to say when he started, but out of all the things he could have said, this was not what I was expecting. I was so thrown off, I let out a, "Pardon?"


    Faelan seemed to be just as startled, quickly readjusting to work mode. "Oh! Well, the emperor says that you''re..." his face grew a bit rosy, as if he was hesitant to say it, "... Lovely."


    I blinked, wondering why Faelan was translating it for me when I understood well. I had forgotten that they didn''t know that about me yet; I already knew how to speak their tongue.


    Perhaps if it were the old me, I would have needed Faelan''s assistance. But I had regressed to the past with the knowledge I''ve retained. I could put my years of studying into use.


    I gave him a polite look, an idea sprouting in me. "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. You flatter me," I replied back humbly, using their native language. It was basic conversational knowledge, so it shouldn''t raise too much suspicion.


    Albeit simple, it was enough to impress them both. "Oh? Well, that''s a surprise. You know Kwenia?" Slyreith asked, cupping his chin in curiosity.


    I nodded my head sheepishly, "Yes, I do. I''m not very good at it yet, but I''m still learning." Which wasn''t false. It took approximately six years to be nigh-fluent; all of which were for the sake of wanting to understand Eion better.


    But learning the language unlocked a better grasp of the elven people instead, and they''ve taught me so much of their culture while I was there. Yet there was still so much more for me to learn before I regressed. I wouldn''t find it comfortable to flaunt my knowledge, especially in front of a native.


    Slyreith scoffed at my demure display, waving a hand in dismissal. "Nonsense. It is quite rare for a human to trouble themselves learning our language. Wouldn''t you reckon, Faelan?" he looked over at the translator beside him.


    "Y-yes! It is rather an impressive sight. If I didn''t know any better, I would have thought you were a fellow sister from that sentence alone."


    My chest felt light, a strange flutter that caused warmth to seep across my cheeks. I was being recognized, by my in-laws no-less. It was a pleasant yet embarrassing feeling.


    "Perhaps this should make things easier," Slyreith stated, a nod of approval over his pleased expression.


    He then faced me, placing a kind hand over my shoulder. "Eion may come off as harsh at times, but he is a good boy. I hope that you two can learn to get along," he said with a low voice.


    Something behind his old gaze told me that he was worried; a concerned warmth from a loving father. I couldn''t tear my eyes away from his, sucked in by the words he spoke. Because that sentiment was one that I shared with him.


    I gave him a smile of reassurance. I wondered if I would be stepping over the line for this, but I wanted to show my determination. I placed a palm over his hand that was on my shoulder, patting it gently.


    "I know. Thank you."


    For a moment, Slyreith seemed surprised. But he returned my expression with another smile of his own. He seemed thankful.


    ???


    In the past, I had a hard time locating where Eion was whenever he''d visit. It was typical for him to avoid me. But with my knowledge from the future, I knew all of his favorite spots in the royal castle.


    Resting in the rose garden beneath a gazebo was Eion, standing beside a pillar. His slender fingers cupped a pink flower, drawing in his elegance to take in its aroma.


    I stood nearby, slightly taken aback by the serene complexion he had amongst his usual bothered look. He always seemed to prefer the outdoors, which would partially explain why he was never home when we lived together.


    With an unsure voice, I called out to him, "Eion?"


    I did not expect him to hear me at all, but he stepped back onto the platform in surprise. Once he realized that it was me, he quickly whisked his head away.


    All I could really do was smile. His behavior made me feel nostalgic, oddly enough. I knew that it was far from ideal, but seeing his younger self act in such a way was somehow endearing. It reminded me of just how young we were, and how childish he was then.


    "I was wondering where you had ventured off to," I began, slowly approaching him. I made sure to keep my distance, careful not to scare him off, "I see that you are enjoying the roses."


    He didn''t say a word, having his back turned towards me. It was slightly discouraging, but it wasn''t something that I was unfamiliar with.


    "They''re lovely, aren''t they? My father had it made for my mother when they got married."


    It seemed that he had grown fed up of my rambles, as he was now stepping off the platform to leave. I knew that it was awkward between us, even I had wanted to turn my heel around in embarrassment. But this was a rare opportunity, and I wanted to make the most of it.


    My hand reached out to him, not sure what I was trying to grab onto, "W-wait!�`" Before I knew it, I misplaced my footing over the path and began to stumble.


    Eion looked back at me, his eyes widening from the sight of me falling. He was quick to reach out, stretching his arms for me to land in them. I squeezed my shut as he held onto me, waiting for the impact of our crash.


    He had cushioned my fall, his gloved hands grappled over my shoulders. I rose my head up off his chest, a sting coming from the bridge of my nose. I clasped over the area to suppress the pain, failing to realize that I was on top of him until he had said something.


    "Princess," he groaned.


    I let out an exclamation in surprise, my face having gone cold. I had never seen him look this flustered. His platinum blonde hair was sprawled over the dewy grass covered in petals of rose, his button-up slightly disheveled thanks to my face that had been pressed into him earlier. He was laying directly underneath me, a grimace etched over his lip as he was trying to recover from our fall.


    For some reason, this angle awoken something in me and shame began to creep up my neck as I grew more wary of it.


    But his grouch quickly pulled me back into reality. In his native tongue, he said, "Get off."


    I must have been in a daze, because I couldn''t comply right away, "Sorry?"


    Eion glared at me suspiciously, confused as to why I was still on top of him. He carefully sat up, setting me aside so he could stand again. He began to dust himself off, grumbling to himself in his elven language.


    Although late, I followed suit. It was only then I began to recollect myself, trying not to replay what had just happened in my head.


    "I-I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to," I tried to explain myself, but I was far too cautious of his emotional state to say anything else. I also felt as though I should leave out the part that I was mesmerized by him, but I digress.


    With a huff, Eion rolled his eyes to dismiss my words. But they soon shrunk in alert after he took another glance at me. I wasn''t too sure why he was looking at me like that, but I received an answer soon enough.


    Down the cupid''s bow of my lip, I felt something warm trickle past it. It was the taste of iron.


    I reached up to my face to dabble at it, noticing a deep scarlet had rubbed off onto my fingers.


    This had never happened to me before, yet it did, and I wished that it didn''t have to be with him. I wanted to start things afresh but it seemed like God was toying with me.


    Why was it that all I''ve ever done so far in front of Eion was embarrass myself?