Rebirth Of The Evil Queen

Chapter five

As the night went on they set up tents, and Selene was offered a luxurious one by a guard of her father. She wanted to refuse, insisting that she would sleep by the fire with her adoptive father.

“Selene please” " the Duke said as he approached it was cold and he was worried that his daughter who was brought up with diamonds and silk wouldn't be able to handle sleeping out by the fire on the cold ground.

“Your Highness my family and I will manage”, she said.

When she referred to the Duke as "Your Highness," he became visibly upset.

"Selene, you must sleep in the tent. It's not appropriate for you to stay by the fire," the Duke said, trying to keep his voice calm.

But Selene, defiant as ever, shook her head. "I will stay with my father, like I said my family will manage."

The Duke's face reddened with anger, but before he could respond, Selene's adoptive father intervened. "Selene, please. It will get cold tonight. Think of Elias. If he catches a cold, you know it takes him a long time to get better."

Selene glanced at Elias, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes as he hurdled by the fire covered in a blanket visibly shaking. Her resolve softened, and she sighed. "Alright, I'll sleep in the tent. But my father should also be provided with shelter from the elements" she said, casting a pointed look at the Duke.

The Duke nodded, though his expression remained strained. As Selene settled into the luxurious tent, her mind was far from at ease. She lay awake, staring at the canvas roof above her, thoughts of the impending return to the capital swirling in her mind.

She planned to tell her father to not tell the king, but she knew it was futile. The moment she set foot in the capital, the king would find out she was alive. Would he try to kill her again, upon discovering that his previous attempt had failed? Did her father know about the king’s assassination attempt, and did he do nothing to stop it? The distrust she felt toward her family, who had turned their backs on her, only deepened. This was why she had planned to live peacefully as the daughter of a hunter.

As the night deepened, Selene's thoughts became darker. The memories of her past life in the palace haunted her. The betrayal, the poison, and the loss of her child were wounds that had never fully healed. She wondered if her father, the Duke, had known about the king's plot to kill her. Had he turned a blind eye? Or worse, had he been complicit?

Her thoughts turned to the king. What would he do when he discovered she was still alive? Selene shuddered at the thought. The king had always been a ruthless man, and his hatred for her had been evident, she remembered the hatred she saw in his eyes when she tried to explain that she didn't poison Estrella. If his reason for trying to kill her was because she harmed his beloved, She knew he would not rest until she was dead. In her previous life, she wanted to believe so much that it was Estrella who wanted her dead and not her husband, her beloved.

She couldn't trust her biological family. They had abandoned her when she needed them the most. They had watched as she was stripped of her crown and sent to the monastery. They had done nothing to stop it. Selene's heart hardened at the thought. She would not rely on them again. She had to protect herself and her loved ones.

Even in her past life, they watched as she was separated from her son and locked away in a mansion on the outskirts of town.

Selene turned on her side, trying to find some comfort in the unfamiliar tent. She thought about her adoptive father. He had taken her in when she had nothing, given her a home and a family. She owed him everything. She would not let anything happen to him or Elias.

As she drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with plans. She would confront her father.

The next morning, Selene woke up early. She was determined to face whatever awaited her in the capital with strength and resolve. She walked to the makeshift kitchen and took some water from the barrels stored outside. She planned on washing her face and Elias’.

“When will this stop?”, Rhys said.

“Don’t you see how the servants talk behind your back?”, he asked she could see the anger on his face. But Selene decided to ignore her brother and continue with her business.

Seeing that he got no reaction from his anger got the best of him and he struck the wooden bucket from her hands. Selene looked at the spilled water on the ground and pressed her lips in anger.

“What kind of behavior is this General Harren?”, she yelled.

Rhys was happy to get such a reaction from her because it didn’t mean she had changed into a completely different person as he thought. “Let me make this clear, I’m only traveling to the capital because I want to be with grandmother in her final days after that I’m returning back to my life. I want nothing to do with House Harren, not you or Duke Harren. I have no ties to you. The Selene you knew is dead”, she said and walked off leaving him speechless and others that watched.

This is not what Rhys wanted. How can she cut ties with them?

Selene packed up her belongings and helped her adoptive father and Elias get ready. The maids and guards watched in stunned silence as she worked. They couldn't believe that the once-proud queen was now performing such menial tasks.

The news of the fight between his children had already reached the Duke’s ears most importantly the part where Selene renounced the family and broke off all ties. If it was the old Selene he would have thought she was just throwing a tantrum and would eventually ask for help after she got herself in trouble. But he too believes his daughter is dead and the new person she has become wants nothing to do with them and that makes him panic.

The journey to the capital was long and arduous. Selene kept a close watch on Elias, making sure he was comfortable and safe. Her mind continued to churn with questions and doubts.