Seeing the older man close his eyes, Esther turned towards his wife to plead earnestly. “Mother, what is easier? To let me give birth to that child or let Theron be tormented for eternity? We can prevent him from suffering such a fate. Please I beg you to not let that happen. You understand me, don’t you, Mother?”
Despite her pitiful sobs, the older couple still chose to remain silent so Esther had no other choice but to grasp at straws.
“In the past, when I had saved Mother’s and Theron’s lives, both of you had promised to fulfill a wish of mine. That wish promised under the name of the Ivanov Family remains unused even up to this day.
“As the saviour and friend of the royal family, please grant me my wish to save my husband! I believe that the words spoken by the previous King and Queen of Megaris hold great value and that they won’t go back on their words. Honour and responsibility, are those not what the Ivanov Family represents?”
King Esteban trembled under the raging emotions seen in those caramel-colored eyes. What little defence he had left inside him had collapsed. He heard his wife sigh helplessly and turn towards him. “Esteban, we…I think we should help her.”
“Bu—”
“We should help her fulfil her destiny,” she interrupted her husband before turning to look at Esther. “I am not agreeing with you just because we had given you our words, but as a wife myself, I can understand how desperate you are to protect the one you love. Since you say it’s your destiny, then let it happen. Perhaps…perhaps in the future we will regret this decision, but isn’t it better to regret knowing you did something rather than helplessly watch and do nothing?”
At that, King Esteban said nothing.
On the other hand, Esther’s face lit up with relief hearing the woman’s words. “Thank you so much, Mother. We have to leave for the temple at once. We have to start the summoning ceremony as soon as possible before Theron returns.”
Queen Theodora looked at her husband who let out a heavy sigh, with his head still shaking, but she knew that he was already convinced as well. If he weren’t, he would have been vocal about his refusal.
As the previous king had finally agreed, a carriage was quietly arranged for him while Esther simply disappeared and went back to the temple to check if everything was ready.
It took the royal carriage time to reach the temple as it was slow due to King Esteban’s sick condition. By the time they arrived in the Temple of the Divine, the sun was almost setting.
Sir Galien, who was in the courtyard waiting for the King and the Queen, found himself puzzled seeing another carriage arrive. His eyes almost bulged in surprise when he saw the former king step out of the carriage.
“Y-Your Majesty?!” He hurried to bow and greet him. He then saw a second carriage come in, and this time, the former queen was there. “Uhh…”
As if shocking him twice wasn’t enough, he also saw Esther come out from the temple to get her in-law. He had been in the temple for hours and knew that aside from the priests, no one was truly there.
Sir Galien even stationed another knight at the other exit of the temple so that he would know when exactly the King and Queen would return to the temple. He was sure he was keeping an eye everywhere…yet…
‘When did she return? I have guards on the exits…A hidden tunnel?’
He bowed towards Esther. “Your Majesty, you are back. Is his Majesty inside the temple?”
She shook her head. “I am taking Father and Mother inside. Please stay here.”
Not knowing what was happening, Sir Galien could only salute and obey the order.
Esther entered the temple with her in-laws. The High Priest had already prepared everything before they arrived at the temple.
“Your Excellency,” The High Priest bowed to The previous King and the Queen.
King Esteban accepted his greetings and heard the High Priest, “Please this way, Your excellency.”
The previous king followed the High Priest in his slow footsteps. Though he was sick, with the help of Esther’s power, he could bear his sickness for now.
The two women stood outside in the hall waiting for the ritual to be done.
The previous Queen looked at her daughter-in-law, “Are you sure about it, Esther?”
Though her heart was breaking inside, Esther nodded, “Yes, Mother. Nothing is more important than Theron.”
——
Meanwhile, when the ritual was being carried on in the temple by the High Priest, King Theron reached the ancient temple. The High Priest’s apprentice opened the door for King Theron.
Just as they entered the temple, they heard the old Priest, “Seems like once again someone is here to seek the answers.”
The apprentice bowed to the old man and informed the king, “Your Majesty, the old priest looks after this temple.”
The king bowed to him, “Your holiness.”
The old Priest looked at King Theron as he chuckled with a sigh, “I see the fortune of love but clouded by sacrifices. Such a fate.”
The King didn’t have time to understand this and asked, “I am seeking a way to lift Devil’s curse.”
She said the same,” the old Priest mumbled.
King Theron didn’t pay attention to what he said and was in hurry to get what he was there for, “Please tell me where I can find it.”
“That door, go there and I am sure it will let you inside unless you are not too late,” the old Priest answered as he pointed towards the wooden door.
King Theron hurried towards that closed door which opened on its own for him. Just like Esther, he was welcomed by that opened book as if it was waiting for him.
He hurried towards the book and finally found the page where it was written about the other way to lift the curse.
