Forgotten Wife Let the traitors kneel Down (by Patricia Maradiaga) novel Chapter 297

Part II: The Marriage Mark

When Alessandro left the guardians‘ room, he found Dantriel leaning against the wall opposite.

“Finally, you appear.”

“Have I been in there long?”

“It’s already past midday.”

“Do you know where Abril is?”

“She’s not in the palace.”

When Dantriel said that, Alessandro grew worried and asked, “Where is my wife?!”

“The queen took her to see a place, but don’t worry, she’s fine. She’ll be back before nightfall.”

Without Abril there, Alessandro didn’t know what to do. Dantriel seemed to notice how lost he felt without

Abril and his daughter, and said, “Do you want to go get something to eat?”

“Yes.”

Dantriel started walking, turned for a moment when he saw Alessandro wasn’t following, and called out,

“Follow me, I know a good place to eat.”

“I’d rather wait for Abril to return.”

“They’ll take a while to come back. Do you plan to spend the whole day staring at the wall until they

return?”

“I suppose that’s not a good idea.”

“Her Majesty said she would take Abril to visit several places and then have a picnic. It’s foolish to wait

around for them.”

Alessandro started walking, though he didn’t want to leave, he decided to do as Dantriel suggested. “Walk, I’ll follow you.”

“Good choice.” Dantriel resumed his pace, and Alessandro followed a few steps behind in silence. When Alessandro saw they were heading for the palace exit, he asked, “Where are you taking me?”

“To eat, I’ve already told you.”

“Are we leaving the palace?”

“Yes, I feel suffocated if I stay here all day.”

“I don’t want to leave; I want to be here when Abril returns.”

“We won’t go far, so don’t worry, let’s go.”

Alessandro ended up following Dantriel. After they left the palace and walked a bit, Ethan appeared before

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them and greeted them.

“Hello, are you alone?”

“Yes, Abril is with the queen.”

+25 Points

Disappointment was evident on Ethan’s face; it seemed he had hoped to see her that day. Something

Alessandro didn’t like, but knowing Ethan’s interest wasn’t really in Aby, but in her mother Sophia, he said

nothing.

“We were going to get something to eat, do you want to join us?”

“Of course.”

Ethan accepted without any emotion. They continued walking a few more streets until they reached a

restaurant. When they entered, they were respectfully received. Everyone stood and bowed their heads

until they were led to their table on the second floor, where they could see everything happening on the

first floor.

Several beautiful young women approached and served them a drink in small bowls, leaving a teapot in

the middle of the table. Dantriel remained silent, drinking, and Alessandro did the same as he had nothing

else to say. It was Ethan who broke the uncomfortable silence by asking, “Is Abril alright?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I hope to see her before you leave.”

“We won’t leave tonight, so I don’t think that will be possible.”

“I thought you’d stay a few more days!”

“I’m worried about my kingdom and what Cira might do in my absence.”

“I see.”

Seeing Ethan’s disappointed face, which had become even more noticeable, Alessandro said, “I suppose

you hoped to talk to Abril’s mother again.”

Ethan remained silent, unable to deny what Alessandro was saying, as it was true. When he had learned

that Sophia’s spirit had taken control of Abril’s body, he had wished to speak with her again.

Alessandro took a sip of his drink and continued, “She is already dead, and even though she occasionally borrows Aby’s body, that doesn’t mean she will return. So don’t expect it; her life is over, she won’t have

another,”

Ethan drank his beverage in one gulp and responded with great sadness, “I know that, I know she’s dead, I know she won’t come back, but I still can’t forget her. No matter how many times I tell myself she’s dead, my heart still refuses to listen.”

Alessandro understood perfectly how Ethan felt because he knew what it was to love someone beyond

reason.

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+25 Points)

After a few more drinks, their food arrived. There were various dishes: chicken, meat, and vegetables.

Everything looked delicious. Alessandro took a bite of the meat; it was tender and melted in his mouth.

He was amazed by the feast when Dantriel asked, “What do you plan to do when you return to your

kingdom?”

“I still don’t know.”

“I thought you had found the answers you were looking for in the guardians‘ room.”

“I feel like I have more questions than before. It seems I can only wait for the gates of Hades to open.”

Alessandro stabbed his knife into his meat with such force that it made the table vibrate. “I can’t do

anything to prevent the gates of hell from opening.”

Dantriel said, “If you know you can’t prevent it, you shouldn’t torment yourself over it. Live in the now and

stop worrying about tomorrow.”

Alessandro relaxed his hand a bit, which had turned white from gripping the knife so tightly. “I suppose

you’re right.”

***

Maya went to the tavern; she wanted to say goodbye to all her friends before leaving, as she didn’t know if she would ever see them again. Meanwhile, everyone gave her warm hugs and joked with her, except Leo, who stayed in a corner watching with a serious face.

Maya approached him and asked, “What’s wrong? Why the serious face?”

Leo stared at her intently, taking a few minutes to respond. “You don’t look well.”

“Sorry for not looking pretty for you.”

Maya joked, but Leo’s serious face didn’t change. “Are you sick?”

“I’m fine, Leo.”

“That’s not true. You’re unwell, and saying goodbye to everyone proves the severity of your condition.”

“Sometimes I’m surprised at how observant you can be; it’s a beautiful day, we should go for a walk like we

used to.”

Leo still had a serious face but followed her. When they left the tavern, she breathed deeply; it was a perfect day for a walk.

As they walked through the streets, Maya stopped at several stalls, buying food at some, fruit at others, and sweets at others. She handed everything to Leo. When Maya stopped at an accessory shop, Leo said, “I don’t plan to carry anything else.”

After trying on a hat, Maya left it where it was and continued on her way. “Aren’t you going to tell me what’s wrong? I thought you made me come out so others wouldn’t hear us.”

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“No, I just wanted to go for a walk and remember good times.”

“Are you bored of the luxurious life with the little prince?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Then why don’t you come back?”

“I didn’t say I don’t want to be with Cassian; in fact, I’ve been thinking about getting married.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Yes, why are you so surprised?”

“You always rejected marriage.”

“That was because I hadn’t found the right person.”

“Have you told your father and brother yet?”

“Not yet, I’ll tell them tonight. You’re the first I’m telling.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

+25 Points

Maya sat on a bench in a small square and watched the children play. “Are you pregnant?” Leo asked

suddenly.

“Of course not, well, I don’t think so.” Maya had been feeling nauseous, but dismissed the idea, thinking it was due to the journey. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s hard for me to believe you’re getting married.”

“I’ll get married because I want to be united in every possible way to the person I love.” Maya looked at her left hand and said, “I want to have the marriage mark on my hand and remember that I’m not alone.”

“You could wear a ring; you don’t need a marriage mark for that.”

“Marriage marks forge a deeper bond, so I want it.”

“You know the marriage mark binds you to that person forever, right?”

“I know, it’s a mark that can’t be removed by anything, only by death. That’s why I want it.”