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Caelus comes back from the palace looking like he'd gone to war. The nobles are pressuring him to make a choice despite his neutral stance on the matter of the crown princess' recent blunder. But he has to choose whether he likes it or not.
"Hes,"
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember what you said before? Your purpose, I mean?"
"Of course. I want the crown prince and Diana to apologize to you and regret what they did."
"Well, can you say that you've accomplished your goal?"
"What?"
Those are the remaining things I haven't fully achieved, Cael. What are you talking about?
Hestia thinks but doesn't say out loud.
"Tomorrow, I intend to announce to the emperor and in front of the nobles that I do not wish to dethrone Diana."
Hestia's mind goes blank.
You're going to do what?
"You don't want to depose Diana?" She repeats his words to him thinking he may have said them in error.
"Yes. Things aren't well right now and quite honestly, I just want to live a happier life regardless of those two. They have apologized and that's enough for me. I don't bear a grudge in my heart anymore so after tomorrow, I would very much like to focus on us instead."
Truth be told, the Duchess have stopped listening intently after the Duke declared his intention. The rest of his words don't even register as all she can hear at the moment, is the loud beating of her heart.
" So... You're going to save her?"
A strange sense of awakening struck Hestia.
Oh, that's right. This is a novel. The main characters are the ones running this shit show and I am just an extra. A negligible extra.
" Hes, please listen to me,"
Cael places his hands on Hestia's face and forces her to look at him. He does notice the change in her overall demeanor but dismisses it, thinking that this will pass, because Hestia is someone who isn't easily shaken.
If only he knew how wrong he was.
"Do as you please," The Duchess says nonchalantly, trying to keep her composure as normal as possible even though her heart's been shattered into pieces.
But Caelus doesn't need to know that. Although, if he even has an ounce of affection for me – it's not necessarily love, but at least consideration for a dear friend – perhaps he would have chosen my desired outcome. I guess I'm neither.
Caelus leaves early in the morning like he was supposed to and by lunch time, just like that, Hestia hears from Countess Erinnis that there would be no abdication.
The Duchess laughed like a demented witch as she threw the letter into the fireplace. Her world's been turned upside down again and she felt like her mind was about to snap. How many times has she regressed?
I have achieved my goal? Far from it. We've both made sacrifices to get to this point but because of what you did, Diana won't even get a mere slap on the wrist. I guess the joke's on me.
Hestia never imagined that there would come a day when she would hate her derelict favorite. She's so disappointed of how it turned out and she wanted to leave this novel so bad she would do anything. Except she's afraid of getting physically hurt so anything that doesn't guarantee instant death is out of the question.
Isn't that just ridiculous?
Maybe she's pondered for too long and she found herself seated on the railing in the balcony. She turned and dangled her feet to the other side where she saw how far she was from the ground.
Jump off.
Her mind says but she can't do it. Besides, this height would only give her broken bones at most and that would have hurt more. She has suffered enough for two lifetimes.
Then, she hears her favorite's carriage reaching the porch and sees him disembark. It was a brief eye contact because she hates him at the moment and she unconsciously looks down once again, her feet swaying without a care, failing to see the disturbed expression on her husband's face.
The next thing she knew, she was dragged away from where she was seated, and ended up entangled on the floor with none other than Caelus.
Wow. Did he run all the way up here? Also, why is he being rude?
The Duke was holding onto her so tightly it was hard to breathe. Although Hestia was confused at first at the sudden intrusion, it was made clear now by his silent sobs that he thought she was going to jump.
And because she always had a soft spot for him, she utters an apology first. Tells him she wasn't going to hurt herself and that she only wanted to go back.
Oh.
"I really wasn't trying to do anything to hurt myself, Cael." She reassures.
However, this doesn't put Cael's mind at ease.
After the incident on the balcony, Caelus stayed glued to Hestia's side despite her protests. Deep down, she appreciates this but...
"My heart hurts,"
Hestia mutters under her breath as she replays the things she did for Caelus. Yet, even after all that, he still chose to save Diana and Helios without a second thought.
Sure, he's thinking about the welfare and reputation of the empire, but wouldn't it be better to dethrone the current crown princess? Even without Hestia's schemes, Diana isn't fit for the role. The Duchess is quite sure that even Caelus is aware of that fact. Perhaps, he still has lingering feelings for the saintess?
Uros gets Cael's attention and tells him that Helios has once again invited himself to the duchy. Although the Duke outright refused to meet Heli, Heli insisted on being let in.
Hestia is annoyed with this but what can she do? Helios is the crown prince and he basically does whatever the hell he wants.
Maintaining her etiquette, she sits up and greets the future king and excuses herself. Caelus frowns and grabs her hands, not wanting her to leave his sight.
Hestia removes her husband's hands from hers and tells him she's taking a walk to the garden to get some fresh air — her tone bordering anger or resentment or both — then grabs her shawl and drapes it rather forcefully on her shoulders which made both men flinch.
Hestia sits on the bench and looks up at the sky. In the end, all she did seemed insignificant.
Well, after all, I'm an outsider. An extra.
She mutters once again to herself like a mantra. Because, what else is there?
Haahh, I feel like a fool. If I knew this was going to be this way — no, I would still stop Caelus from ending his life. But maybe I should have handled it in a more subtle way. Ugh. It's no use thinking about these things now.
The Duchess closes her eyes briefly but she's taken out of her reverie when the annoying crown prince suddenly appears out of nowhere and takes a seat right next to her, personal space be damned.
Why can't this guy just leave me alone?
"You're deeply hurt aren't you?"
Hestia frowns and retorts with "You don't say," If her words could kill, Helios would have already dropped dead.
What an absolute asshole, honestly.
"It was me who asked Cael to speak up. You can call me incompetent or whatever. You can even call me names but I only did what I could. Deposing Diana is not the solution."
"It is the solution, Hyperion. You're just too incompetent — you said it yourself — to see past that, to see the bigger picture. What's more baffling is how you had the audacity to ask the friend whom you abandoned, for help. Caelus lost his will to live because of you and Diana. I barely got him out of the hellhole you two had put him in, just for you to push him back in again. What's worse is that he has allowed it. So, yeah. I'm sorry for being deeply hurt,"
You piece of shit, she wanted to add but stopped herself.
She has had it.
"I don't care anymore," Hestia says dismissively and continued. "After all, you, Caelus, and your precious Diana will always be the main characters in this god-forsaken story. It doesn't matter what I do."
"What are you talking about?"
Hestia stands up and says "We're done here. Please show yourself out of Cael's estate." ...with all the venom she could muster, then walks away, leaving a bewildered future king.
This wasn't how he envisioned this conversation to go with the Duchess.
Hestia makes her way back to the manor, secretly patting herself on the back for sparing herself from a sob speech that the crown prince was waiting to deliver.
Well, tough luck, Helios.
Hestia finds herself back in her room and sees Cael still miserable on her sofa. He could have at least sobered up for her sake.
She can't believe this man is crying for her and even though she can feel his sincerity, she cannot get over the fact that he still gave Diana everything for the second time.
It's not like Hestia is asking to be loved back. She just wants those who hurt her beloved to grovel, ask for forgiveness — to sincerely apologize — and regret everything. They can't even give Caelus that and yet this man just gives and gives.
The duchess doesn't like it but once again, that glaring fact reared its ugly head.
I'm just a lowly character who wasn't even involved in the plot in the first place.
"Cael, I thought about it," She pauses. They had this brief conversation about getting away from the capital for a while to focus on their relationship.
The Duke looks up, hopeful. But when his eyes meet Hestia's, that sliver of hope disappeared. Her eyes are empty as if she's given up. It's the same look she had during that play. It's the same look he had when he wanted to cut his life short.
"I want a divorce. I know I said I'd follow your lead but my heart hurts, Cael. I thought I could endure it when you decided to STILL give Diana your everything despite what she's done. But it hurts. I gave you EVERYTHING! All you had to do was stay still. Then again, that's just who you are."
"Hes, I'm so, so, sorry."
Cael closes the gap between them, takes her hand, and kneels before her, pleading yet again. He's never seen his wife weep like this. She has been scrutinized, humiliated even, but she never shed a tear or complained. But tonight, she's so...broken.
She would have forgiven him in a heartbeat if the circumstances were different.
"Me too," Hestia replies as she pries his hand off. "If you don't mind, I would like to be left alone,"
Her ears are suddenly ringing, her surroundings all too blurry as she clutches her chest in pain as if it's being twisted. The Duchess staggers and Caelus, even though dazed, catches her fall and that's the last thing she sees before closing her eyes.
She supposes it wasn't all that bad. At least she got to see his face one last time.
"She's suffered from a severe heart attack. The next 24 hours are crucial. If the duchess doesn't regain consciousness by then,"
The doctor's look is grim and this resonated with the entire household. Hestia has been a steady presence in the duchy and she was unbelievably kind to almost everyone except for those who treat her and her husband with contempt.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm sorry, Duke Caelus. You must prepare yourself for the worst."
Caelus sat by her bedside and held her hand, begging once more for her to open her eyes. He even promised to take back his word and do whatever she asked of him.
In the end, her condition deteriorated so fast that even divine powers couldn't cure her.
The Duchess drew her last breath as morning breaks, leaving the household in shambles.
Caelus is inconsolable. He's blaming himself for what happened. But... would anything really change if he had kept his neutral stance as Hestia wanted?
Was it really wrong to want a simple and peaceful life away from all this madness? Or perhaps he failed to make Hestia understand why he did the things he did. It wasn't because he had lingering feelings for Diana. Regardless, Hestia was hurt to the point that her heart gave out.
The wake was held for an entire week. People from Illion and Attica flocked to the public viewing area for the Duchess, offering their condolences to the Duke. Out of all the noble and commoner attendees, two people stood out and Caelus wasn't particularly happy about it.
"I'm sorry, Cael." Helios spoke but the Duke said nothing. Diana was about to reach for Cael's hand but she stopped midway when the former glared at her like he's disgusted with her mere presence.
"Say your piece and leave. My wife despises you both so I don't want to aggravate her any further."
Caelus is once again a shell of what he used to be. He wanted to follow her more than anything but figured that his punishment would be to live the rest of his life without her. Maybe, if he followed her a little later, her anger would be appeased, and they could be granted a peaceful existence when they're both reborn.
The years passed by quickly. Helios ascended the throne with his new wife. Things didn't work out between him and Diana but Caelus couldn't really be bothered with it anymore.
He had no desire to marry so on his deathbed, he entrusted the duchy to the current head and their chosen heirs. They are more than capable, what with the foundation that Hestia built.
He woke up with a start. He's been sent back to the time when he was abandoned by the two people he considered his closest and dear friends. Armed with the knowledge of the future that's about to happen, Caelus set out to find Hestia.
It wasn't that hard to locate her in this timeline. The difference is that she has no idea who he was and she seemed like a completely different person than the one he knew. The one who suddenly barged into his home one day to stop him from ending his life...
Caelus thought perhaps he should follow the exact timeline of when they were supposed to meet. So, he did just that and waited. He swore he would treat her better this time around and give her all the love she deserved.
That time has come and gone and still no Hestia in sight.
No, he can't give up like this and waste another opportunity.
Instead of watching from the sidelines, he went ahead and approached the future Duchess. Except he was blocked by a man — a commoner — and asked what the hell he was up to, approaching a MARRIED woman, and a pregnant one at that.
What in the hell happened? This was supposed to be his second chance with Hestia. Maybe, he's still being punished.
"I apologize."
Hestia finally takes a good look at him and Cael thinks she finally remembers, however, all she does is ask to be pardoned.
"Oh my, Marquis Caelus. My husband and I deeply apologize for this misunderstanding."
Her husband's eyes widened as he too, recognized the noble that he had sank to his knees and bowed profusely to ask for forgiveness.
Nobles can punish commoners on a whim without much of a trial and he doesn't really want to try his luck as he's a father-to-be.
"Forgive me just this once, Marquis."
"No, it's my fault. Please raise your head."
"Thank you, Your Grace. We'll be on our way then."
Caelus lived out his days like that. Waiting, hoping. Maybe it was his just punishment. Still, if it's any consolation, at least he got to see her again. Happier, healthier, not worrying about anything else.
Caelus wished she ended up with him in this second life, but then again, all he ever wished for her after she saved his life, was for her to be happy.
In a different world, the person who possessed 'Hestia' is living her best life. The gods granted her wish to return to the 'real' world, for the price of having her memory wiped out.
Of course, she's happy now. However, when fleeting moments come, she feels like she's lost something but couldn't figure out what it is.