The Debt Of Fate

Chapter 339: Treated well.

Duke Thompson estate

"My Lord, what about our daughter?" The moment he returned from the palace Duchess Anita asked. She never expected that the king she had been so proud of that her daughter married would become disposed of.

’i was not allowed to see her, His highness locked her up but I heard she still got to eat and drink," Duke Thompson said. He prided himself about being able to calculate and win in both end but he had disowned one daughter and it had caused him countless set back.

"My Lord, why don’t you speak with his highness, Elizabeth can get ride of the baby, and return home," Duchess Anita said. She was worried that her daughter would die with Edward and his family.

"You better keep your wild dreams to yourself, the only reason why our daughter still breaths might be because of the pregnancy. Have you forgotten it is against the law to kill a pregnant woman? Given that Elizabeth once poisoned Anastasia causing her to give birth early, do you think without her connection to king Edward she would be speared?" Duke Thompson asked. He knew how to look at the entire situation.

Then, are we just going to watch her die," Duchess Anita could not accept it.

"Do we have a choice? Everything is according to his highness decision," Duke Thompson said and brushed past Duchess Anita.

Duchess Anita seeing that her husband would not do anything but leave their daughter to fate cursed him in her heart. She felt that it was because he held such little power and therefore no king care for him.

"Prepare the carriage," she decided to go and see her brothers. Although there father was still held from returning to the royal city by the Duke of Ironhaven, she believes that they might be able to help.

"Why have your come?" Lady Robert asked the moment she saw her daughter walked in.

"Mother, save my daughter," Duchess Anita bursted our in tears .

Lady Robert looked at her daughter and sighed. Saving Elizabeth would have been easy, if she had not poisoned Anastasia recently.

"Go back, your brothers are still held back in the military camp. Nither of them had bend a knee, they are waiting for your father," lady Robert said.

Only now did Duchess Anita remember that her brothers had fought on the side of king Edward now that he was in hiding even their life was already had to save.

"If only you had treated her more like a daughter we would not be in such situation," Lady Robert said. Her husband also had children by a mistress. Although she dealt with the sons secretly she never bothered about the daughters. Daughters did not have right to inherit in most cases so what was the point in fighting them.

"Then, what should I do? Should I watchy daughter die?" Anita asked.

"If you can’t bear to watch, you can go and knee at the palace gate, beg for mercy. Perhaps giving that he is counting days to the throne, he might listen to you," Lady Robert said. Although she felt her daughter was seeking death, she knew better than to stop her.

Hearing her mother’s suggestion, lady Anita thought it was a good idea.

She immediately left the house hoping to get to the palace but it was already late, so she was forced to return home.

After all, going to the palace so late would only cause her trouble.

....

The next morning Duchess Anita arrived the palace very early the next morning, she first asked for audience with Anastasia, to her surprise it was granted.

Anastasia was in a good mood, now that her children where returned to her safely.

When she entered she heard rumors that the king had found his children and that they returned safely the night before.

It was said that the maid beside Anastasia had taken the children hiding and refused to come out after hearing that prince Ernest was missing and lady Anastasia was unconscious. Only when she heard that Ernest was now the one on the throne did she come out of hiding.

Duchess Anita felt her heart burn with hatred when she realized that Anastasia was back to the palace and once again sitting at the queen’d court.

Although a formal ceremony was yet to hold, Ernest was the king and she was his queen.

"Your highness," she bow d unwilling.

"Lady Thompson," Anastasia respond. She did not ask her to sit. Seeing this Anita was angry but remembering she was here to save her daughter she swallowed that bitterness.

"I am here to beg your highness, to show my daughter, your sister mercy," Anita went on her knees.

"Mercy... You and you daughter know the word mercy?" Anastasia asked.

Anita lowered her head, to although she was begging but only She knew she was trying to hide her hatred.

"Lady Thompson, your daughter is pregnant with the child of king Edward, her fate would be decided by my husband not me," Anastasia said. She had no plans to show mercy .

She almost lost her children because of Elizabeth. Time and time again Elizabeth had tried to harm her. This time she must meet bear the consequences of her actions.

Hearing this, Duchess Anita bowed and left but she went straight to knee at the palace gate begging for mercy. She expected a few people to feel sorry for her and join her in begging but her actions only made everyone remember the truth.

"Her daughter had tried to poison lady Anastasia, she almost lost her children, yet now she seeks mercy."

"God has eyes indeed, this mother and daughter planned and stole lady Anastasia’ husband but now he is the king on the run"

"Go back and home and hide, stop been an eyesore"

"Indeed when there is aother, there is a daughter"

No one knew who started it, but some threw a stone at Anita calling her shameless.

Then another, and yet another, people curse her for been a vicious woman.

Anita was so scared, although she wanted to save her daughter her life was also important. So she hurried into her carriage to hide. Unfortunately the people did not let her go.

The first stone struck the side of the carriage with a sharp crack.

Then another.

And another.

The horse reared violently, neighing in panic as stones continued to rain down. The coachman shouted, trying to steady the reins.

"Stop! Stop!" he yelled at the crowd.

But anger had already spread like fire through dry grass.

"Shameless woman!"

"Poisoner’s mother!"

"Go die with your traitor daughter!"

A larger stone struck the horse near its eye.

The animal screamed and bolted.

The carriage lurched forward violently, wheels grinding against stone as it shot down the palace road. Duchess Anita, who had barely managed to climb inside moments earlier, was thrown against the wooden frame.

"Control it!" she screamed.

The coachman pulled desperately at the reins, but the horse had lost all sense. Its eyes rolled wildly. Foam gathered at its mouth as it charged blindly through the streets.

Vendors leapt out of the way.

Stalls overturned.

The carriage wheels struck uneven cobblestones at full speed.

Inside, Anita was slammed from side to side. Her head struck the inner wall with a sickening thud. Blood trickled down her temple.

"Slow down—" she tried to shout, but her voice broke.

The carriage hit a broken stone near the market corner.

One wheel cracked.

The next moment—

The entire carriage tipped.

Wood splintered.

The structure flipped onto its side and skidded across the street before crashing into a stone fountain with a deafening crash.

The horse tore free from the broken harness and ran on, disappearing down the road.

For a moment—

There was silence.

Then gasps.

Someone screamed.

A few brave onlookers rushed forward.

The coachman lay thrown several feet away, unconscious but breathing.

The carriage door hung twisted and half-broken.

Inside, Duchess Anita was pinned beneath splintered wood. Blood pooled beneath her head and soaked into her fine robes.

"She’s still alive!" someone shouted after pressing fingers against her neck.

"As expected, the wicked would live a thousand years," someonr spat.

Because the horse had gone crazy, the royal guardsvwere force to get involved not wanting the innocent to die

"Get help! Quickly!" a guard shouted.

Servants from nearby estates hurried over with blankets. Guards came together to lift the broken frame off her fragile body.

Her breathing was shallow.

Uneven.

Her eyes fluttered open for only a brief moment.

Everything around her was blurred.

The shouting.

The faces.

The sky above.

She tried to speak—but blood filled her mouth.

Anita never thought that her attempt to save her daughter would end like this.

By the time word reached Duke Thompson, she had already been carried back to the Duke’s estate.

Physicians were summoned immediately.

They worked frantically.

But the injuries were too severe.

Internal bleeding.

A shattered rib piercing too deep.

A head wound that would not stop bleeding.

Duke Thompson stood outside with his son Sam.

"I warn mother not to go," Sam whispered. He loved his sister but he knew they were powerless against her case. Since Ernest had yet to make a move, it was best to watch but his mother would not listen.

Duke Thompson"s expression wasrigid, his hands clasped behind his back. He was unaware of her plans he would have stopped her.

Duchess Anita’s breathing grew weaker with each passing moment.

Once—

She opened her eyes.

Just once.

Her lips moved faintly, as if trying to say her daughter’s name.

No sound came out.

Then her chest rose—

And did not fall again.

The room went still.

The physician slowly withdrew his hand.

"My Lord... she is gone."

Silence filled the chamber.

Duke Thompson remained unmoving for a long time.

He had calculated every alliance.

Measured every risk.

Played both sides when necessary.

Yet in the end—

He had lost one daughter to ambition.

And now his wife to hatred.

He wondered if everything would have been different if he had treated the mother and daughter well.