All Rights Reserved

∞ | Epilogue | ∞

Castle Inanis, Vallisrem

Adrastea had always thought that love was soft, gentle, warm and forgiving. Even as a child, that had been the kind of love she had always dreamed about.

She was mistaken.

As she grew older, she realised that kind of love was the stuff of fairytales. It was an illusion; a bedtime story given to young girls to make them dream and hope.

No, love wasn't like that.

Love wasn't kind, nor was it gentle like a feather brushing softly against your cheek.

Instead, she had come to learn that love was hurt, pain and sorrow. It was hard and unyielding and yet fragile. It was like a heated iron stoker plunged into your heart. It was grief, anger and selfishness.

Basically, love is giving someone your heart, soul, mind and body and trusting them not to hurt you.

Nonetheless, she treasured it.

A soft kiss was pressed onto her bare shoulder and she turned to see Rhydderch staring at her through lazy half-lidded eyes.

"What's on your mind?"

She shook her head, sighing in content as his calloused fingers pushed her hair to the side before planting more kisses on her bared shoulders and neck.

"Nothing," she said, turning to smile at him. "It's just five years have passed this fast. That's all."

The look in Rhydderch's eyes gleamed and a smirk settled on his handsome features. "That is because things have turned out for the better, wouldn't you say?" he drawled out.

"Yes," she admitted before getting to her feet, allowing the soft midnight blue silk of her dress to drop to her feet. "They have."

It was true. Things had changed for the better.

Effectively, people were no longer discriminated because of who they were. It had worked. Society had changed drastically ever since Rhydderch held the reigns. But there were some instances where prejudice appeared sporadically. She wasn't surprised by that of course. No one could change and rewrite history that spanned centuries.

However, it gave her comfort to know that things were getting better, even though progress could be slow.

"But I have to say that I prefer this dress to the others you own," he commented, eyes taking her form in with dark eyes.

"Clearly," she remarked with a small grin, hands smoothing down the elaborately designed dress that bared her shoulders, showing the graceful arch of her neck.

"Don't you have to get ready? I'm sure the council will need their Regnant before the celebrations begin later."

Rhydderch shrugged, hands running through his dark hair as he slid on his black robes. Robes that were specially designed for Regnants.

"I know, but I wish to check on Henryk first."
Immediately, a smile bloomed on her face at the mention of their son. Her precious darling boy.

"Aren't you coming?"

She nodded. "I will. I just have to settle my hair first."

She watched from the reflection of her mirror as Rhydderch took a seat on their bed, watching her intently as she teased her hair to the left before pinning it with pearl combs that he had gifted her about two years ago.

Her eyes met his through the glass and she could feel her cheeks flushing a tad bit as his eyes roamed her body lazily before his eyes met hers. The wicked gleam in those blue eyes of his made her breath hitch.

"Weren't you supposed to check on Henryk?"

Her soulmate smirked. "I will."

She shot him a wry glance as she smoothed down the long brown curls that were left as they were. "This isn't the first time you've seen me getting ready for the day."

Rhydderch leered as his back pressed against hers. "It isn't, yes. But it's the first time I've seen that dress."

She turned to face him and automatically, his hands landed on her waist and he ducked his head down to meet her gaze.

With bated breath, she waited for him to close the distance between them.

He did.

Their lips met and she smiled against his mouth before pulling away slightly. "You have that council meeting to get to," she reminded softly, enjoying the scowl that flashed across his face.

"Later," he said, a dark gleam entering his eyes as his fingers dug into her hips.

A thrill shot down her spine.

She bit her lower lip and nodded her head as twin pink spots appeared on her cheeks.

With that, she pulled his hand and led him out of their room. Together, they walked down the hallway and stepped into Henryk's room.

And there, asleep in his cot was their three-year-old son. Watching from the corner of the room, never had she thought that Rhydderch would have a paternal bone in his body or yet alone had entertained the thought of fatherhood.

She had been so sure that Rhydderch wouldn't accept her carrying their child, but he had surprised her immensely when he carried Henryk for the first time and had been there every step of the way, teaching him, speaking to him and just being there in his life.

However, there were times that she felt that Rhydderch was trying to leave an impression on their son based on his rather...questionable values.

But then, she didn't have to worry too much, Henryk would have the opportunity to be his own person and to decide what values and morals he would choose as his own. Rhydderch would just be offering a particular perspective but surely there would be others who would do the same, including her.

However, such thoughts didn't dwell too long in her mind and when she looked at the way her soulmate cradled Henryk in his arms before lifting him up, causing their little boy to squeal and she couldn't help but feel deliriously happy.

* * *

"Mama, look!"

Adrastea broke out into a grin as Henryk toddled towards her, hands holding onto a handful of flowers.
"Are these for me, darling?" she crooned, accepting the bunch of poorly plucked flowers.

"Uh huh, Mama."

She laughed before setting the flowers on the side. "Thank you, darling. They're lovely!" 

Lovingly, she pressed a kiss to his chubby cheek before he squirmed away to head back to the pond where there were a series of ducklings swimming about.

Affectionately, she watched him clap at the ducks, her face glowing.

No longer was she just a medic or a soulmate to the Regnant of the five cities, she was a mother and she adored it.

Things had changed, yes.

The five cities had been reunited with just one Regnant with the death of Medeia. It had been easier when Rhydderch was revealed to be the son of the late Dmitri Karstovoka.

Apparently, while she had been filled with grief at the sight of Jarek, Rhydderch's rational side had appeared and he had dealt with Medeia before checking on his friend.

Jarek's death was a hard pill to swallow but it had been both a sacrifice and a relief.

She would love him for all that he had given her - a life with Rhydderch. Without him, she would never be where she was now. Henryk wouldn't have been born and Rhydderch would probably turn into a sociopathic dictator who didn't care what he did so long as he attained his goals.

However, she knew that he was happy, now that he was reunited with his soulmate, Eria, wherever souls went when they passed. But she would miss him.

Together with Rhydderch, they had created a small memorial of sorts to honour those that they had given so much. Lyla's name was on it, the twins and even Jarek and a few other people that Rhydderch had known.

Darius hadn't reacted well to the death of his closest friend. In fact, he had sunk into depression until Ava had pulled him out of it. Currently, they were off travelling but at least, they were alright.

Looking down, she glanced at her ring finger and smiled wryly. The gold band that was encrusted with diamonds almost blinded her when the sun shone on it.

Rhydderch Thomas Karstovoka.

That was his real name and Thomas was just his middle name. The thought of Rhydderch's actual name hadn't occurred to her until their wedding ceremony.

She guessed it was silly but it had completely slipped her mind. And now, she was Adrastea Karstovoka, consort to Regnant Rhydderch Karstovoka.

"MAMA!"

Startled, she looked up and her heart slumped in relief to see Henryk running to her, face shining with excitement. Quickly, she glanced back at the Valiants surrounding the area to quickly give a curt nod to show that everything was alright.

Even five years have passed, the paranoid characteristic of Rhydderch's still hadn't faded. She hadn't opposed to the men following them, she felt safer - more secure when they were around. She wouldn't risk the well-being of her son for anything. Not even her discomfort at being trailed.

"Look! Duck!" Henryk was cupping his hands together, a yellow duckling in his hands.

"Oh, Henryk, you have to put it back, it's Mama will get terribly upset that you took her baby away," she chided gently and Henryk blinked up at her.

"Because the Mama will miss him?"
"Yes, of course," she said, thumb reaching out to clean away a smudge of dirt on his cheek.

"Okay, Mama." With that, he headed back to the pond.

She sighed and settled for enjoying the peace and calm of her surroundings. She was blessed. Lucky to have made it out alive with Rhydderch. But of course, they all had scars from everything.

She had the physical ones on her arms from her torture at Vlad's hands but Rhydderch had pyschological ones that consisted of nightmares of the day at Endyr's Cliff. 

He had eventually informed her about it in a very detached manner and she knew it was to preserve his pride.

But what was a war without scars?

"Mistress Karstovoka."

Adrastea rolled her eyes and she looked up to see Izla's smiling face.

"I told you to call me Adrastea."

"Did you?"

"Yes." She shot her sister-in-law a flat look but Izla seemed to grin even more at that.

"Why aren't you in your study? I would have assumed you'll be there making more brilliant breakthroughs."

As Rhydderch's wife, it was looked down for her to be a Medic once more as told by some of his advisors but she had insisted and they had reached a compromise of sorts where she could be a researcher.

Over the years, she had made many medical breakthroughs and she was glad that she was still making a difference.

"I would, but I wanted to spend some time with Henryk. He's growing up so fast - too fast, actually."

Izla beamed at the mention of her nephew. "He is. Where is my precious nephew, by the way?"

"There, at the pond." She pointed and Izla nodded before making her way to the edge of the pond where Henryk was now tossing pebbles in.

Izla was by far the person who had changed the most. She was happier now and was living life to the fullest, after everything the twelve years in captivity as Medeia's personal group of assassins had snatched from her.

Adrastea smiled, hugging her knees to her chest, deeply content as she watched Izla play with Henryk.

* * *

"Sleep well, darling," she murmured, tucking the soft thick covers over Henryk.

There in the dim light, she gazed down at him.

Henryk who was so much like Rhydderch that it made her heart ache. He had his father's blue eyes and dark curls with the addition of his angular face structure but was now full of baby fat. But that was where their similarities ended.

In comparison, Henryk was a quiet gentle boy who didn't have an ounce of the ability to scheme and manipulate like his father.

Inwardly, Adrastea guessed that Rhydderch could have grown up in this manner if he had a normal childhood and didn't face the horrors of life.

Gently, she smoothed his hair over his forehead with maternal affection before she pressed a loving kiss on his chubby cheek. She would do anything for him.

With one last smile, she tenderly caressed the side of his face before she left the room.

Abruptly, she was met with dim sounds of jeering and shouts.

Curiously, she made her way down the long hallway to a balcony that gave her the view of the throne room in Castle Inanis.

The sight that greeted her made her press her lips into a thin line. There were about a few men dragged in with chains on them. The room was filled with jeers and taunts and the volume was so loud that she could barely hear anything.

Her eyes scanned over the many people in the room before they settled on the figure seated on the throne.

Had things really turned out for the better?

Adrastea watched as Rhydderch's eyes gleamed dark, a sinister smirk appearing on his face as he regarded the crowd before him.

She ignored the clenching in her gut and glanced away.

∞ FIN ∞

Explanations for this ending and whether there will be sequels is in the author's note! 

Chapter dedicated to @mumzie24 :)