Chapter 74

“Heather, what are you thinking about?” Mabel asked her daughter, who was looking at Juan and Diona. She was leaning on the door of the room where Juan was resting.
Juan was unconscious on the bed right now, with Diona by his side, tending to him. She was cleansing him with a wet cloth. Her eyes filled with worry, tears dampening her face every now and then, but it did not deter her from taking a break for herself.
It took Heather back to the time when she had to tend to injured Alexander in Mystes. Even though it was out of her obligation and willingness to treat everyone who came her way, no other person had such an emotional impact on her as Alexander. Within no time, that duty turned into an emotional attachment and dedication to get him back on his feet.
Her mother’s question bought all those memories back, and Diona’s response to Juan’s condition further intensified it.
“Diona's affection for Juan complicates everything. I have always seen her as a compassionate woman, but during my amnesia, she was so stoic and firm. But now, I see that a glimpse of her former self is back. But what I fail to understand is: When did Diona and Juan happen?"
“Life is a complicated mess, dear. Perhaps there is more to the story than it looks. Diona made it a point to see me periodically over the two years that I lived with Hans. I was also aware that she was somewhat responsible for our suffering, yet I could not accuse her or ill-treat her.” Mabel stated, thinking back to all those times when Diona took care of her in her own way.
“Is there a possibility that she might have acted against her will?” Desperate for validation, Heather turned to face her mother.
“It could be a possibility. After we all were separated from each other and I found home with Hans, Diona was the person I met from the past. There was a sense of understanding and regret in her eyes. Even when she knew that she would not be able to fill your role in our lives, she made sure to visit me as often as possible. There was a definite shift in her personality, which we are all aware of, but I have always felt the heart of the young, vulnerable woman, which she tried hard to suppress.” Mabel elucidated, her eyes watering.
She nodded. “If that is the case, everything changes. We cannot punish her for something she did not have under control, even if it could have been avoided if she came clean to us from the very beginning.”
“You are not wrong, Heather. But one often takes irrational decisions when gasped with fear.”
Heather nodded at her mother's words, which were true in many ways. However, Diona's reaction towards Juan made her reflect on her relationship with Alexander. From the moment they first met, it was much different than when she found him injured in Mystes.
It was definitely love at first sight. Even though their alliance was long settled, they did not have ill feelings about it. The mere desire to know their companion made both of them take the first step and secretly meet each other.
It was rather surprising to both of them to receive a letter to fix a place to meet, and they did. Since then, there has been no going back. The alliance elated both families, but then, one fine day, everything changed.
The Contessa and Heinrich then were no longer the same people that they are now. They were generous to an extent. Sure, they have always been firm, and ruling their realm has been their first priority, but at the same time, they were reasonable.
But now that is not the case.
Alexander had changed a whole lot deal. It was baffling. Sure, the two Alexander’s were a bit different, but yet so similar. However, Alexander, whom she knew, would have never betrayed her.
But what she could not understand was how everything had changed in the blink of an eye. She does remember the attack on her and how she lost her memory. Diona lured her and attacked her, but how in the world does no one remember her?
What kind of external spell has been cast so that even when she remembers everything, none of the others do except her parents?
On the other side, Alexander was fighting another battle.
There was no sign of Juan, and it was worrying him. It was unlike his brother to disappear for such a long time or act on the spur of the moment. Further, Heather was also missing. He had asked his man to search for her, but there was no sign of her in Warsavor.
Additionally, everything became a puzzle with that unknown man in the picture declaring himself as her father. It has also come to his knowledge that Mabel has also left their town.
He went to meet Hans to get the information, but they denied knowing about it. It did not settle well with him. He was confident that they were hiding the truth, and they were hiding it well. Unfortunately, he cannot resort to irrational means for his own personal gain.
Apart from that, he swore not to pay heed to his parents. He has had enough of them, and he can no longer walk on their expectations.
But he knew that to find Heather and get to the bottom of the truth, he needed to possess the title of king to get access to his power and the means to achieve the difficulty.
The only way to do so is to get the people of the town to vote with their hearts.
It is rather absurd.
The way a king is selected in their town is through either of the four ways.
First, when the present king passes his realm. Second, if the current king dies, his elder sons inherit it. The third is when the elder son gets married, and the title is passed to him, and the fourth is when the significant population in the town gives their consent through their hearts to appoint him as the king.
He knew that the fourth was the only way for him to achieve that, and he would do everything in his power to win over the people of his community.
But this would not deter him from finding his Heather. He has found her once, and he will find her again.