"I begged, I cried, I repented for my mistakes.

With the hope that you look at me with the love you have managed to hide somewhere.

.....................................................

King Harold's eyes hardened at the lady begging at his feet.

The softness in Eva's eyes and the power of her loving heart, not settling well with him.
She can melt at such a site, but he couldn't.

Not when this lady has destroyed so many lives, her own being one in them.

" I....I am sorry.....I beg....I please....Eva..my daughter...I beg for my mistakes"

Her voice had turned lower towards the end, sobs breaking through her lips, stopping her from continuing.

Eva moved forward to pick her up when Harold's grip on her arm stopped her.

"But Dad!"

"Not a word. You go inside. I will handle this"

Eva's eyes again landed on Claire.
Her clothes were worn out, it looked like she has not taken a bath in ages.
Her figure was stick-like, bones sticking out and her face, a sight of pity and agony.

"But Dad..she is your wif-"

"My wife died the day she tried killing my own daughter. The day her humanity died, Claire Miller died for me"

His hard words making Clare go break in another chain of sobs.
Her eyes staring at the cold ones of her husband, who only mustered hate for her now.

"Get up and leave my premises this instant!"

The coldness in Harold's voice surprised everyone.
Charlie did not interfere, knowing it was his father's decision after all.
He was the one who got broken by his mother's betrayal.

"I said out!!"

This time Harold roared, making the lady in rags to shudder in fear and get up.
Her thin frame shivering as she did so.

"I know...I have betrayed you Harold...but trust me...I have always loved you. I.....I am sorry...haven't I suffered enough?...please just accept me back.......please....."

Harold's jaw tightened, the very next second he had tightly held her shoulder and shouted at her.

"Love? Don't even dare to say that word from your filthy mouth..you bit**. You don't deserve anything. People like you never change...you just want the status, the prestige of a queen back. You want your position back...you don't want me!! "

She looked down, teardrops landed on the tiles.
How can she tell him that he was the only one she wanted?
He won't believe her.

Eva tried stopping Harold from degrading Claire any further but he refused.
Daniel held Eva's desperate form in his arms, telling her not to interfere.

"Yes, you are right my King. I don't deserve you. But what can I do......I can't live..I can't love you...what is the use of my meaningless existence then."

Her eyes moved to Daniel's calm ones.

"Why didn't you kill me that day! Why did you let me live! I die each and every day! I just can't....."

Harold left her shoulder stepping back from her.

"You can continue this drama outside. You are interfering in a family gathering. I hope you know this?"

Claire lowered her head, her steps moving back.
She stumbled on the carpet behind and fell down, but no soul stepped forward to help her.

Harold instead glared at her now, daring her to stay and longer.
Eva wanted to help, so did Charlie but they knew they couldn't.

"Fine. I will leave. You won't have to see this ugly face standing outside your door every day. You don't have to get angry seeing me...But...just let me tell you, your highness...I have loved you and will always love you. It's fine if you don't know...but I can't go on like this anymore. Your hatred kills me every day...it's better if I end it forever. Goodbye, your highness...I...I am sorry for interfering"

Harold refused to look at her, Charlie tightly held Anna's hand for support while Eva was thrashing in Daniel's arm.

"No...mom wait!"

Claire just gave Eva a small smile. Something she never did all her life.

"I am sorry"
Was the only thing she mouthed as she turned to leave, her eyes stopping on Harold to see if he stopped her.

On seeing him ignoring her, she took a deep breath and excited the threshold.
For once in life, she was sure of what she was going to do next.

Her steps faltering and tears blurring her eyes.

On the other hand, Eva pleaded her dad to stop her.

"Dad! Please stop her! Didn't you see her! She needs you dad! Hasn't she suffered a lot already?"

Harold looked at his daughter, his eyes softening.
Turning his back, he was going to leave when the guard stepped in.

Worry evident in his voice.

"Your majesty! The lady....she is standing on the road...she is refusing to move aside"

Harold's heart felt heavy all of a sudden.
The thought of losing her, making worry to be evident on his features.

His steps rushing outside, to be followed with hasty steps of everyone else.
Their eyes widened when they reached the main doors.

There she stood in the centre of the road welcoming death.

Her eyes closed as she welcomed the car coming towards her at very high speed.

Harold knew then and there, she will not be moving.
She was surrendering to death, the very next minute.

He couldn't stop himself, but the question remained.
If he could save her on time?

"Claire!"

"Mom!"

They managed to shout but she was oblivious.
Death, being the only oblivion she wished to dive into.

The loud honk of the car was heard, her fists tightening in anticipation.
While Harold rushed to her, scared of losing her forever.

"Dad!"

Eva screamed, seeing her father stand in front of death, to protect Claire.
Her eyes widening at the thought of losing both her father and mother.

He held her waist and pulled her to the safety of his arms.
Not afraid of facing death himself.

Everyone had their hearts throbbing in their chests.

But then the driver drifted the car and it came to a halting stop.
Screeching sound of tires and clouds of smoke engulfing the silent road.

Everything stopped.
Except for the thumping of everyone's heart.

Harold held Claire safely in his arms as she cried with all the regret and pain she had in her heart.
Her grip on Harold tightened, not believing that after everything she did, he still stepped forward to save her.

"Are you fine?"

Harold asked with concern all evident on his face.
To which Claire just nodded, enjoying the bliss of his warm embrace.

Sobs were heard and Harold sighed, pulling her closer.

"I am sorry.....so sorry...I.."

She spoke through her sobs, her voice cracking with desperation.

"Shhhh"
He said stopping her from continuing any further.
Finally accepting the repenting one in his arms.

Everyone had smiles on their faces as they saw them melting in each other's embrace.

Charlie had Anna in his arms as he saw his father, truly happy after such a long time.

While Eva stood with tears of happiness in her eyes, Daniel hugging her from behind.
A gentle kiss is placed on her shoulder.

Claire had her arms open for both her children and that's when they rushed towards her.
Welcoming their mother, with their warm hugs and smiling lips.

That's how a reunion looked like, with not to forget, the little bundles of joy welcoming her by circling her and making them all smile.

....................................................

The full moon was illuminating through the glass windows, making the couple to stare at it in admiration.

Eva laid on Daniel's arm, while he continued to play with her silken locks.

"You know Dan....the day I first saw you...I was afraid"

He gave her, his full attention.
Eager to hear her version of their love story.

"Your blue eyes...they made me feel so weak and affected that I couldn't help run away from them"

He smiled while holding her hands in his large ones.

"Then the day you kissed me...it was my first kiss."

He knew this already, but he wanted her to continue.
To show he didn't know about it.

"I was always scared of relationships and commitments. So when you told me that day at the party that you wanted me to be your girlfriend in front of everyone. I...thought I will end up like my mom...pregnant and single...so I lied to you that I wanted to break up because of my career"

He got up, not knowing this was the true reason for their break up after college.

"I thought...I was being a distraction and you wanted to focus on studies"

She smiled, pulling him back to lay her head on his shoulder.

"Distraction? Well, you are always one but not that much that I will choose anything above you.
You would have taught me and helped me..instead of distracting me...I knew you Daniel....I knew how you were"

"Really?"
He asked smirking.

"Yes my dear king, you are the most perfect man I have ever met.
You do care but try not to show, you are brave and honest, you are faithful and loving. You are what every girl dreams her man to be"

He pulled her closer, stopping her from continuing any further.

"Aren't you being a lot cheezy today? What's the special occasion?"

She smiled.
Not knowing how she tells this to him.
Her heart beating faster in her chest

"Well you see my dear husband....today is the day when it all started"

He looked at her confused, trying to show he doesn't get what she is saying.
When he knew exactly what she meant.

"You don't even remember Dan! I guess I was the only one crazy for you! "

He smirked, knowing it was working.

"What now? Come on stalker! We are together now...how does it matter!"

She just got up, not in the mood to continue this talk.

She was going to leave when he held her wrist and pulled her back to his chest.
Making her shriek in surprise.

"What are you doing Dan! Are you-"

" 17 years ago.

22nd January

10.50 am.

School parking lot."

He spoke, making her heart to stop.
Her eyes staring into his blue ones.

"Was the first time I saw these innocent brown orbs staring at me with anxiousness and fear"

She blushed looking down, while he places his finger on her chin, lifting up her face.

"And that was the very second, I fell in love with them"

He sealed their bond with a kiss on her forehead and that's how a nerds crush on the king was made infinite.

...................................................

Crushing on your majesty was my hearts untamable compulsion,

While loving him, my life's first and last obsession.

-Evalinge Knight

...................................................