Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 337: I am expecting

But her gaze landed on the canvas that portrayed a beautiful woman.

Esme was not unfamiliar with the face for some reason.

It seemed like she had seen it somewhere before.

As she looked at the painting, Esme realized that if she had to guess, then she would think that the woman in the painting was none other than her mother whose paintings she had seen in the Reis Castle when she was young.

Esme looked at the painting a little longer before looking around. Her gaze shifted to the letters strewn across the bed.

There were very few of them, nowhere near to the number of letters exchanged between a pair of lovers.

Her feet moved on their own till she found herself sitting on the bed and holding a letter in her hand.

’Zeph,

It has been a month since we last met. I promised to meet you near the northern forest border but my duties have been holding me up.

After the death of my adopted father, the kingdom has been chaotic and I am scared. With all the responsibilities that have been weighing on my shoulders, I am intimidated. You know my truth, unlike the other people who think that I am the true inheritor of this throne. I am just an orphan who is repaying the late King’s kindness by bringing peace to his kingdom before his son inherits the throne. I am scared, Zeph. I am afraid I might not overcome the chaos.

Anastasia.’

As Esme placed the letter down, she realized that there was undoubtedly a lot of trust between her mother and father for him to tell her his name and for her to reveal her origins.

Esme hesitated for a moment before she pushed herself to her feet, deciding to wait for the King.

At that time, a maid walked in and curtsied to her, ’’Your Highness, His Majesty has said that he will be here in some time. In the meanwhile, you can read the letters that he has left here for you.’’

Following the maid’s departure, a few more maids walked in and set a small table near the King’s bed, presenting various delicacies to her.

’’His Majesty says that you should not starve yourself. You are in the growing age, Your Highness. The more you eat, the better His Majesty would feel as a responsible father,’’ the maids echoed with a straight voice before they left the room.

Esme’s lips twitched slightly.

She glanced at the food presented before her before she looked back at the letters strewn across the bed.

All the letters were stitched by a loose thread that held them in place.

Inhaling a deep breath, she picked up another letter.

’Zephyr,

I have established peace between the four kingdoms and united them into one. They are all under my rule, going by the name Nevesray.

I have picked the fastest horse so I can come to see you. Do not blame me for anything when you see me.

Anastasia.’

Although it was not mentioned why her mother would be blamed, Esme figured that it had something to do with her being unable to meet her father on time because of her duties.

She picked up another letter.

’Zephyr,

I know I went back on my word again. But give me some more time. Once the kingdom is safe, I can leave it to its inheritor and come to you. Forever. The children are too young for me to leave these responsibilities to them and I owe my adopted father too much to turn my back to this place when it needs me.

I will be seeing you in a few days. Take me to see the beautiful places you were talking about. We can spend some days there. Do not be angry, Zeph. And if you must, be angry at a nearer distance.

Anastasia.’

Esme placed the letter aside, taking the one next to it in her hand.

’Zephyr,

I... have not been feeling well. I lost consciousness in the royal court today and that had some of the court officials believing I am about to die after going through these wars.

All these old fools think I do not sense their evil intentions. They can stop coveting the throne for as long as I am alive.

And I have been thinking of you. I have heard of chaos in the West. Why are there invaders in Defire? Have you been doing good?

Anastasia.’

Esme frowned and placed the letter down before she held the letter next in line in the thread.

’Zephyr,

Your thoughts kept lingering in my head throughout the day. And now that I am sitting by the window, looking at the moon, I cannot resist the temptation of penning this letter.

Now, do not show up in my room the way you did the last time when I told you about my sickness. It gives me a scare. Your existence is special and I do not want there to be any threat to your life.

Some maids in the castle saw you leaving around the time when I had my guard visit me. And now, people have been believing that I am having an affair with my guard. Your Majesty, my reputation holds you responsible for its ruination. Remember to compensate for my losses soon.

Silly me. I did not tell you what made me think of you today, did I? I am expecting, Zephyr. There is another life growing inside me that belongs to both of us.

Anastasia.’

Esme placed the letter down, eyes damp with tears as pearls gathered on her gown.

Why read a story whose end was known?

The thought crossed her mind but her fingers moved on their own to pick the next letter.

One after another, Esme read all the letters, feeling the void in her heart till it was filled with the love shared between her parents. All the insecurities of her younger self vanished into thin air as she realized that all along, she was not unwanted. She was wanted, she was adored by her parents.

As Esme continued reading the letters, she did not realize when the daylights started fading.

By the arrival of dusk, she was left with two letters left in her grasp.