Chapter 823:Elena Plight

Chapter 823: 823:Elena Plight

At the end of the cliff, a small wooden house had been built inside the back trench of the Blanks. It was a quiet place away from the noise of the mansion and the busy streets. The house stood near the edge of the mountain where the ground slowly sloped down towards the valley.

Across the place was a beautiful valley covered in lush green grass and trees. Small streams flowed between the hills and reflected the clear sunlight. The gentle breeze passed through the valley and caused the leaves to sway softly. Birds could be heard chirping in the distance while the clouds slowly moved across the blue sky. There were no crowds or loud noises here. Only the sound of nature filled the surroundings and made the entire place feel peaceful.

At the top of the mountain two people stood side by side and stared down at the valley. Ethan had his hands behind his back while Elena stood beside him with her hair gently moving in the breeze.

"I can’t believe life can be so peaceful where you don’t have to worry about everything except lazing around."

Elena let out a soft sigh as she looked across the valley. There was a faint smile on her face which seemed strange on someone who had spent most of her life surrounded by responsibilities.

"Walking out freely without any constraint and don’t be conscious of anything around. Thinking like this, I wonder if the life I was living was even a life." The woman spoke sarcastically and then looked at the white-haired man beside her.

Ethan chuckled when he heard this and shook his head slightly.

"I think I understand why Sir Ethan rejected the throne."

"That’s why I never want to be a Royal. The life of Royals is worse than that of a dog. Constantly worrying and everything and every matter around." Ethan said and looked at the Crown Princess.

Elena’s lips curled into a faint smile when she heard his words. She then stepped down from the small slope and looked towards the valley again.

She hadn’t lost herself after stepping down from her position. Rather she had found a new sense of freedom that made her glow with an ever youthful charm. Without the constant pressure of being the Crown Princess she looked much younger than before.

Elena’s eyes were laced with sorrow as she remembered the countless years she had spent struggling. Everything she did was monitored. She couldn’t even sit and relax without someone noticing her.

Being the Crown Princess who would soon become Empress and be titled as the Mother of the Nation meant that she couldn’t show a single moment of weakness. Every word she spoke and every action she took could affect the people around her.

Thankfully, the previous Prince wasn’t a decadent who filled the harem with beauties. He might change after becoming an Emperor, but until then she was his only wife and Charles was their only son.

Elena lowered her gaze as she thought about the past. The peaceful valley in front of her made those memories feel even more distant.

Ethan looked at her for a moment and then turned his gaze towards the current situation of Arcadia.

’If only they had reined their greed a bit, things wouldn’t have developed as such.’

The thought crossed his mind as he quietly watched the valley below. The destruction caused by the four families and the political struggle that followed had changed far more than just the ruling families. It had affected countless ordinary people as well.

For a moment neither of them spoke. They simply stood there and enjoyed the quiet surroundings that neither of them had been able to experience for a long time.

Elena remained silent for a while as the gentle breeze passed through her hair. The peaceful view in front of her should have made her happy, yet a faint sadness remained in her eyes. She had finally escaped the life that had bound her for so many years, but that freedom had come at a heavy price.

She lamented her fate for a moment before slowly turning her gaze toward Ethan.

Her eyes lingered on his handsome visage. The white hair moving gently in the breeze made him look even more striking against the peaceful scenery. Elena stared at him for a few moments without saying anything, as if she was trying to make up her mind about something.

Ethan noticed her gaze and turned his head slightly.

Their eyes met.

Elena didn’t look away this time.

There was something different in her eyes. It wasn’t the expression of the Crown Princess he had known before. There was no authority or responsibility in them. Instead, there was a quiet longing that made Ethan feel slightly uneasy.

She took a slow breath and looked away for a moment before turning back toward him.

"I am a widow now."

"??"

Ethan was struck with disbelief upon hearing this. His calm expression froze as he stared at her.

Seeing her move, Elena spoke, "I have chased Charles away to your city and asked to tour around a bit."

"So?" Ethan asked with a faint unease.

Elena didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she stepped closer.

Ethan instinctively straightened his back as he watched her approach. She stopped only a short distance away and raised her head to look directly into his eyes.

"As a former Crown Princess I can’t be your wife but as Elena will you please grace me with your presence.."

Ethan’s expression became slightly stiff.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Ethan spoke while taking a step back.

Elena followed.

He took another small step back, but Elena continued moving forward. Her eyes never left his, and the faint sadness in them had disappeared. What remained was determination.

For years she had been unable to choose anything for herself. Her life had been decided by her position, her family, and the responsibilities placed upon her.

But now she was simply Elena.

And for once, she wanted to make her own choice.

Ethan noticed the change in her expression and felt his unease grow.

"Elena..."

Before he could say anything else, she suddenly moved forward.

She took a leap directly toward Ethan and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ethan’s eyes widened as he instinctively reached out to steady her.

Elena held onto him tightly and looked at him from such a close distance that Ethan could feel her breath.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Her eyes remained fixed on his, and her expression carried a mixture of nervousness and determination. Ethan could see that she had already made up her mind.

Then she spoke fiercely.

"Please devote some time to me."

Saying this, she leaned forward and kissed Ethan intensely.

Ethan froze at the sudden kiss, completely caught off guard by how quickly the situation had changed.