22

It's been ten years since Anthonette set foot in the capital. She occasionally shopped in the trendiest shop and unlike her previous three lives she had the time and money.

Going in the Capital was something she always talked about with Anthony. Eden probably overheard and planned this trip to get on her good side. It kind of worked, she didn't feel looked down like she was at the palace.

"Mommy are we there yet ?" She looked to Eden to help her out with his question but he was busy admiring the scenery. She looked at him longer than she should have. "Mommy, why are you looking at Daddy like that ?" The innocent eyes melted her heart instantly.

"Well, because he's handsome." Her eyes met with Eden after the awkward statement. She begged he didn't listen to their conversation but his smile drowned all hope she had.

"Who ?" Eden questioned.

"What do you mean ?" Anthonette feigned with a nervous chuckle. "Who's handsome ?" Anthonette was sure he was teasing her.

Crimson, she was as red as a tomato. "It's nothing..." She turned avoiding his gaze. Anthony chuckled mischievously.

"Mommy loves Daddy.." he giggled as Anthonette tries to tackle him in their carriage. Eden stared at Anthonette with a pitiful smile and resumes enjoying the scenery.

••••••

It was obvious why Eden chose to take his wife to the capital. It was the Zpirit festival, an holiday where rich noble families take their family to have a good time. You can as well refer to it as a family vacation.

Anthonette had never went to one, she was always too busy trying to live another day but just for today she could enjoy it but with her son.

Eden got out of the carriage and quickly tries to help his wife down, just like before their journey began she ignores him and helps Anthony down instead. She felt guilty this time around, she didn't like it one bit.

The royal carriage stopped at the a private property that Eden purchased years ago. Through rumors, Anthonette found out that he bought the property in her name. A man servant comes out and bows to the royal family.

"Your highnesses." He greeted the both of them but suddenly began conversing with Eden. "Everything is prepared as you ordered, I'll assist with your bags." A group of servants attended to their bags as the family explore the property.

Eden was excited so he didn't hesitate to show every single nook and cranny of the house to Anthonette. It even had a personal playground for Anthony, he forgot about the two adults and proceeds to get busy with his playground.

They left with to the care of a maid while Eden tells her what he's planned for her.

Anthonette couldn't shake the odd feeling that something was off, it's not like she would know, it could be a memory trying to reminiscent but she gave up a while ago on recovering her memories.

She really needed them, she wanted to see how the immature stuck up Eden turned to this matured loving husband, it felt like a dream.

The atmosphere was silent now, Anthonette took a while to realize that Eden wasn't chatty anymore.

They kept walking for a few minutes of deadpan silent.

'This feels odd.' Anthonette thought to herself. "Did you ever forgive me for what I did ?" She caught his gaze, she didn't quite comprehend why she was nervous all of a sudden, she began suspecting he might have a hand in dark magic.

She thought it was about time to bring this up again. They were alone this time. "I'm aware that I requested that you do that to me but I don't think I can ever find my self forgiving you." Eden didn't hide his hurt, this woman had been avoiding him for long but he still found her words hurtful.

"I-i tried to get my memories back, I saw every single doctor but they couldn't do anything about it. Everything is odd after ten years, I become an empress performing my duties. I know you had nothing to do with it but if I don't get my memories back, I don't think I can bring myself to fall for you again..." Eden held her face like it was fragile, he peered into her puddled eyes, his grip got firm until he lets go of her.

He backs away in disappointment.

"I need a drink." Glued to her step, Anthonette wondered if she should apologize. After thinking through it, she opt for an apology, she owed it to him.

She was the one to blame anyways since she was probably in a dark place to make that request. Eden didn't deserve to be hurt like this.

Again she heard them, the gossips. She ignored it as always but today was different.

"There she goes again, if only the Emperor listened to his father he wouldn't have ended up stuck with her." Anthonette didn't know where the rumors were coming from.

She was the only one in the entire corridor but she could hear the mummurs.

"She's lucky the Emperor loves her to death even though she's lost her damn mind. I wonder how he keeps up with her madness, it must drive him nuts as well." Anthonette was hurt but also pissed, normally the mummurs were quiet and pitiful but the ones she heard were degrading and got louder by the minute.

"Hello..." Anthonette yelled at the top of her voice but they resumed their conversation. "Where are you hiding ?" Anthonette yelled.

Under her breath she hissed "why are all of you so loud ?"

She didn't get a reply, the mummurs got louder, it felt as if they were in front of her but again she was the only one in the corridor.

"She isn't stable to be Empress all she does is paint him as the bad guy when she was the one who threatened to kill herself if he didn't do it."

Anthonette twirled round realizing that the voices might only be in her head. That was her only explanation, it was her conscience judging her.

"Every night the Emperor wanted to die everytime he touched her, he was mad with disgust after seven years he never touched her again." Anthonette fell to her knees wrapping her hands over her ears.

"I heard that she's convinced she bore a son."

She could hear the sheer laughter that followed. "Hilarious everyone knows that Anthonette is childless and delirious. It's sad that she made the emperor play along."

"You know he couldn't bear disappointing the Empress at the end she doesn't even remember him." The voices died down, Anthonette slowly stood up. The first thing she thought was to call Anthony as she ran down the corridor.

"Anthony..."

"Anthony..."

"An...." She felt a small tug, she turned around to see him with a worried look on his face. "Mommy ? Are you okay ?" She smiled on hearing his voice. Yes this is her proof that she had paid a price, that she would no longer regress.

"Don't hold him so tightly." A voice popped in Anthonette's head. "He doesn't exist." In an instant Anthony disappeared from her grasps. Again she called for him but he never came.

"Anthony.. " she muttered in a pout looking down at her palms.

Every single memory with Anthony she was accompanied with people giving her looks. Now she understood. At first she thought they were disgusted at her for begging her husband to sleep with her in her vegetative state.

It was never that, maybe it could be close but mostly it was only just because they thought she had gone mad.

If Anthony wasn't real, did she really sleep for 10 years ?