Chapter 29 - Admitting I Was Wrong

Xavier’s POV



The sight of Mia’s dead body on the ground was a slap of realization. Someone wanted to secretly deal with the Leonard family and was willing to go to great lengths to do so. Not only that–they almost succeeded.



I immediately suspected Douglas as being the one behind it all. Or maybe someone from the Vampire Kingdom. Regardless, I had to tend to the situation that was happening now and make sure it was resolved.



Still, I couldn’t believe that Eloise was right about everything. And I didn’t believe her at all…



I looked at Eloise who approached my mother without showing any fear. When they first met, she was very timid, and for good reason. My mother did hate her after all.



I figured that after Eloise proved my mother wrong with her innocence, it instilled her with a new sense of confidence.



“Mrs. Leonard,” Eloise spoke calmly. “I would like to thank you for allowing me to prove myself. However, I’d like to ask if you could please apologize to Nora for yesterday. It’s obvious that she didn’t lie and was only acting in my best interest.”



Belinda clutched her chest. “I understand that but you have to realize, I’m still the victim here, too!” She waved her hand and avoided Eloise’s gaze. “Sir Adrian, please be a dear and compensate Eloise’s maid for her troubles. I have some money on my desk.”



“Yes ma’am.” Adrian nodded.



Eloise stopped Adrian in his tracks. “Mrs. Leonard, I think saying “I’m sorry” would be a much better and more sincere apology than money. I understand the stress you’re under but it wasn’t right of you to hit my most trusted maid like that.”



My mother’s face went red. “Alright, alright!” She threw her hands up in the air in defeat. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry for hitting you, Nora. Is that enough?”



I watched as Eloise and Nora nodded in agreement to accept her words, even if they did sound insincere.



“Thank you, Mrs. Leonard. I accept your apology.” Nora bowed.



Belinda crossed her arms and looked away.



I had never seen my mother so embarrassed but honestly, it was deserved–for both me and her. We wrongly accused Eloise of something she didn’t do and she ended up being right.



For my mother, I knew it was a pride thing. She never liked being wrong and to have been proven wrong by a family she hates? Well, I knew she was going to need time to cope with that.



For me, however, I knew I was embarrassed because of guilt.



After hearing that Eloise was a potential suspect for having cursed my mother, my mind was immediately filled with anger, hurt, and betrayal. The days that we spent together prior to all of that were real… at least to me.



So when I got the news, I thought that maybe my kindness and changed behavior meant nothing to her.



Eloise nodded her head to Nora and then began walking towards me. I was expecting her to scold me for wronging her, or maybe to cry because I hadn’t believed her.



Yet, she did none of those things.



“Lord Xavier,” Eloise’s voice was calm and gentle. “I’ve proved my innocence to you and Mrs. Leonard. Does this mean that you will no longer call for a divorce?”



Her calmness was like a slap to the face. I wanted to apologize to her and the words were on the tip of my tongue. Yet, I couldn’t get them out of my mouth. “Yes. Our marriage is still valid, Eloise. I will not call for a divorce. Look, I–”



“That’s good to hear, my Lord. I’ll be heading back to the room now.”



Instead of waiting for me, Eloise simply left the room. It surprised me.



After she was gone, my mother sneered. “How dare she try to act so high and mighty. She needs to get her attitude in check.”



“Mother, please. It’s obvious that she’s innocent. Stop being so hard on her.”



I knew that this whole ordeal had to have taken its toll on her mentally and emotionally. Eloise didn’t deserve this kind of behavior right now.



“It’s hard not to doubt her character. She’s a Wisdom, after all. You know her family cannot be trusted.” Belinda shook her head disapprovingly.



“Mother, please!” My voice was louder than I had intended. “Why are you continuing to be so rude and mean?”



Though this wasn’t the first time she had such nasty things about Eloise, I thought her words sounded harsher.



“What’s wrong with you? I did nothing wrong and you know that I’m right! Have you forgotten how the Witches Council treated the death of your father?”



“You don’t need to remind me,” my voice was suddenly cold. “Don’t use father’s death as a weapon against Eloise when she had nothing to do with that!”



“I can’t believe you. I don’t understand how you can defend her of all people!” Belinda hissed. “Whatever she did to seduce you, it worked. You’re not thinking clearly if you’re defending a family that wouldn’t seek justice for Eric’s murder.”



Belinda let out an irritated groan and pushed me out of her room.



I walked away from my mother without another word. I couldn’t believe that she couldn’t at least change her tone towards Eloise. Especially since she was proven innocent and she was a lot nicer in handling the whole situation.



I walked back to the bedroom–I wanted to Eloise. But when I came just outside of the door, I stopped. I had no idea how to face her or what to say.



Luckily, Adrian came by and told me that one of my generals needed me at the barracks which I was more than happy to oblige. I needed a chance to clear my head before seeing Eloise again anyway.



Eloise’s POV



I couldn’t get the sight of Mia’s dead body out of my head. It was mind-blowing to me to have figured out that she was the one who placed the curse on Belinda.



She was Mrs. Leonard’s most trusted maid, too… But why?



When I got back to the bedroom, I cradled my right hand against my chest. Allowing my hand to absorb the curse hurt me way too much.



And I did it for someone who wasn’t even grateful for it. But she matters to Xavier, so I guess it was worth it.



Thinking about Xavier made my heart but I didn’t want to dwell on it, so I shoved him out of my mind for a little while longer. Or at least until I had to face him again.



“Lady Eloise! Your hand… is there anything I can do?” Nora rushed to my side.



I waved her away and smiled. “No, I’ll be okay. I just need to rest and get some good sleep.”



“Are you sure? I can go grab some bandages and maybe get a priest to—”



I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Nora, calm down. I promise I’ll be okay. Just let me get some sleep, okay?”



Nora nodded her head before leaving me alone in the room.



I waited a few minutes to make sure she wasn’t going to barge back in. When I knew that she actually wasn’t going to come back, I pulled out my mirror from inside the night table.



“Mona… Mona. I summon you to me.”



The mirror gave off a faint glow for a few minutes before shining a bright purple light. Mona’s face smiled at me from the mirror before she floated outside and sat next to me.



Mona took my hand in hers. “Eloise… what have you gotten yourself into this time?”



“I absorbed a curse from an ungrateful mother-in-law. Can you help me?”



She nodded her head. “Of course, Lady Eloise. It won’t take long.”



I watched in awe as her healing magic worked wonders against the curse that burned my arm. It only took a few minutes until the burn marks were completely gone.



“Whoever cursed the bracelet that was used against Mrs. Leonard, they sort of knew what they were doing but are still amateurs.” Mona laughed.



“Well, hell, they almost succeeded with taking her out AND framing me…”



“You’re too smart for them, Eloise. It’ll only be a matter of time until you catch the real culprit. But in the meantime, make sure you’re careful with your hands for the next few days. Don’t overuse them!”



I nodded. “I won’t, I promise. Thank you so much, Mona.”



Mona smiled. “Anytime.”



Mona paused before she continued, her expression became more serious. “You’re going to have to work faster and harder to build your magical powers against Xavier. Look at how uncaring and indifferent he was to you being framed! Now more than ever you need to get stronger so you can change the fate of you and your family.”



I nodded again. “I’ll do the best I can. I won’t let him take the people I love away from me.”



Mona smiled once more before floating back into the mirror and leaving me alone.



Once I was alone with my thoughts, I began to think about just how deep the Leonard family’s prejudice against me really was. When something happened to Mrs. Leonard, no one dared to think that someone outside of the castle could’ve been responsible.



They immediately thought it was my fault and didn’t even give me a proper investigation. They didn’t even apologize for what they put me through after I had proved my innocence.



Mrs. Leonard did but I had to force her to give me one. It wasn’t even a genuine apology!



Would killing Xavier alone truly be enough to change the fate of the Wisdom family’s demise? Was there not another way?



My marriage and closeness to Xavier could surely change the relationship between our families, couldn’t it? He already saved them from Douglas’s attack, even if he didn’t help them directly. Maybe this would be a first step to fixing the alliance we once had?



I was beginning to question my thoughts on how to kill Xavier and if I could get around it. In the midst of the chaotic thoughts and once exhaustion caught up with my body, I fell into a deep slumber.



After what felt like days, I woke up to the sun of midday shining brightly in my face. I stretched my body as I sat up on the bed. I felt better than before even though my hands were still a little sore.



Nora came to the room and brought me an exquisite lunch and I quickly scarfed it down. After our meal, I had Nora stay behind so we could chat about the cursed bracelet.



“I don’t understand,” Nora said. “How could anyone from the Leonard family get access to a bracelet like that?”



“I don’t know. These gold bracelets were specifically only crafted by my family. Witches Land had the best forges and jewelry crafters to be able to handle gold. On top of that, we were the only ones who could imbue it with such magic anyway. We wouldn’t give magical jewelry to anyone outside of the family unless it was a special occasion.”



Nora tapped her finger on her chin. “What kind of occasion are we talking about?”



“Well, the most important ones usually involve a marriage between two families. We would give our jewelry as a gift and token of the new family alliance…”



Nora and I exchanged glances as our eyes widened.



“The only person who isn’t in the family…” Nora started.



“...that got engaged to a Wisdom so they could get in the family…” I continued.



“...is vampire prince, Adam!” We finished together.