Comrade 28

Posted by Florence, ? Views, Released on September 3, 2025

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CHAPTER 28

Jul 11, 2025

Evangeline’s head throbbed like an open wound as she slowly regained consciousness, her senses crawling back to painful life.

The air surrounding her was stale and fetid, reeking of decay and dried blood, making her stomach lurch violently.

As she struggled to force her eyes open, the oppressive darkness seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, as though it were alive and watching her with invisible eyes.

She released a soft moan, her voice barely audible in the stone chamber, as she blinked away the blurry haze clouding her vision.

Her gaze fell upon her precious sons, Marcus and Adrian, shackled to the damp wall beside her with heavy iron chains.

Her heart wrenched painfully in her chest, seeing their small bodies bound like common criminals.

Marcus’s eyes were red-rimmed from endless crying, his little hands tugging futilely at the metal restraints, while Adrian’s innocent face was smeared with dirt and tears.

Evangeline’s throat constricted as she forced words past the enormous lump threatening to choke her.

“I am here, my darlings. Mama is here with you.”

Marcus nodded quickly, his young face displaying a mixture of relief and terror, as Adrian whimpered desperately, “Mama, you are awake!”

The memory of Lady Cordelia’s vicious blow to her skull came flooding back with devastating clarity, and Evangeline’s jaw clenched against the throbbing pain.

She swallowed the rising panic threatening to overwhelm her chest, steeling herself to focus on what mattered most.

She had to escape this accursed dungeon. She had to remain strong for her children’s sake. The damp cold seeped into her very bones, making her shiver uncontrollably, as she waited for what felt like an eternity.

Marcus and Adrian huddled together pathetically, their small bodies trembling from exhaustion and fear.

The oppressive silence was shattered by the sound of heavy boots echoing outside the chamber door.

Evangeline’s head snapped up alertly, her pulse racing like a terrified animal. T

he massive door swung open with a resounding creak, casting harsh torchlight into the dark room. She squinted against the sudden brightness, her breath catching as

Prince Maximilian stepped inside. Her heart leaped with desperate hope, believing he had finally come to rescue them.

“Thank God, Maximilian, you found us!” she cried out, her eyes burning with frantic desperation.

She struggled violently against her iron chains, her delicate wrists aching from the metal’s bite.

“Please! I am bound—help us immediately!” Marcus and Adrian looked up at Prince Maximilian with their innocent eyes filled with hope, as they whispered urgently, “Uncle Maximilian! Please help us!”

But Prince Maximilian simply stood there motionless, his aristocratic face an emotionless mask, his dark eyes cold and utterly unyielding.

Evangeline’s stomach twisted into a painful knot as he spoke a single, devastating word: “No.”

The sound of his rejection struck her like a physical blow, leaving her breathless and reeling.

As she stared at Prince Maximilian in growing horror, her mind screaming for him to deny this nightmare, another set of footsteps echoed through the chamber, accompanied by slow, mocking applause.

Evangeline’s blood ran cold as Lady Cordelia stepped into view, her crimson lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

“How touching, dear Evangeline,” she cooed, her voice dripping with pure malice.

Evangeline’s vision blurred with rage as Lady Cordelia gloated, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Did you truly believe Prince Maximilian would help you?” The question was like a dagger thrust directly into her heart, as she looked back at Prince Maximilian, her mind screaming for him to tell her this was all some terrible lie.

But he remained standing there, silent and expressionless, as Lady Cordelia reveled in Evangeline’s suffering. “Prince Maximilian serves me,” she declared, her voice dripping with triumph.

Evangeline felt as though the floor had been ripped from beneath her, her vision swaying with horror. This could not be real.

Prince Maximilian, her protector, her friend, the man who had promised to keep them safe, could not be working against her.

Lady Cordelia’s laughter echoed through the chamber, her voice filled with pure delight at Evangeline’s anguish.

“You stole Sebastian from me. You took everything I desired. Now I claim what is rightfully mine,” she spat venomously, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Evangeline’s teeth clenched, her royal spirit snarling inside her, as she hissed, “You will never possess my sons.”

But Lady Cordelia merely smirked, her eyes glinting with victory. “I already do.”

Evangeline’s stomach churned violently, her eyes snapping back to Prince Maximilian, as she whispered brokenly, “Maximilian, please.”

But he remained silent, his golden eyes flickering, yet completely unyielding.

As the silence stretched endlessly, Evangeline’s heart shattered completely, her breath shaking violently, anger and despair clawing at her throat.

Lady Cordelia’s smug laughter echoed around her, her victory absolute, as Prince Maximilian turned his back on them, his expression unreadable.

And Evangeline’s world was destroyed.

****

Evangeline had lost all sense of time, trapped in the dark, fetid chamber. The hours blurred into days, each one an endless nightmare.

Her body ached with constant dull pain. Her stomach growled with hunger, and her head spun with dizziness.

The iron shackles binding her wrists and ankles drained her strength, leaving her arms and legs weak and trembling.

The cold, damp air clung to her skin, making her shiver with every labored breath.

But it was the boys, Marcus and Adrian, who suffered most terribly. Their small faces were pale and gaunt. They shivered constantly from the cold.

Their eyes appear sunken from starvation. They spoke very little, their voices barely whispering. Their movements were slow and labored. Evangeline’s heart broke with every glance, her maternal instincts screaming to protect them.

Since Prince Maximilian’s betrayal, Evangeline had convinced herself it was some mistake. That he was not truly a traitor. That he would return for them.

But with each passing day, her hope dwindled, replaced by crushing despair. The thought of Prince Maximilian’s treachery stung like a festering wound in her heart.

As she sat against the stone wall, her arms wrapped tightly around her boys to share what little warmth remained, Adrian’s small voice broke the silence.

“Mama?” The innocence in his voice shattered her completely, and tears welled in her eyes, burning hot and painful.

Then, she burst into tears, deep, painful sobs wracking her body, shaking her to her very core.

As Evangeline’s exhaustion returned, a distant scream echoed in the chamber. It was followed by a vicious battle cry that chilled her soul.

The walls shook violently, and pained cries filled the air. Evangeline’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding frantically.

What was happening?

The heavy chamber doors burst open, shaking the very ground. A tall, familiar figure stepped inside—Sebastian. His eyes were wild with fury, his fists clenched, dripping with blood.

His chest heaved, his knuckles bruised, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the room until they landed on her. Evangeline’s heart lurched, her lips parting in pure shock.

“Sebastian…” she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing.

He stood before her, his eyes locked on hers, his face etched with concern. Evangeline’s body gave out, and she collapsed forward, sobbing against his chest.

The dam broke. She wept, clutching him as if he were the only solid thing in the world.

After several moments, Evangeline pulled back, her face still wet with tears, but her voice was steady now.

“How… how did you find us?” she asked, her hands gripping his bloodstained doublet.

Sebastian stared at her, something unreadable in his eyes.

Then, he exhaled, his grip on her tightening.

“Prince Maximilian.”

The name hung in the air, a poisonous cloud that threatened to choke her.

“Prince Maximilian led me here.”

Evangeline’s stomach twisted painfully, her breath catching.

“What?!”

Florence

Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.

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Comrade

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Comrade

Summary & Review: Comrade

Princess Evangeline of Morwyn sat in the quiet waiting room of the royal physician’s office, her mind a whirlwind of fear and fragile hope. The grand palace, bathed in soft afternoon light, felt both like a home and a cage. She had been married to Crown Prince Sebastian of Valdris for three years, but their union was nothing more than a political arrangement—an alliance forged by their fathers to secure peace between their lands.

From the very beginning, Sebastian made it clear that his marriage to Evangeline was purely out of duty, not affection. They slept in separate chambers, exchanged only polite words in public, and maintained a cold civility that masked the emptiness beneath. Evangeline had once dreamed that time might change things, that she might earn his heart, but years of distance had buried that hope deep inside her.

Recently, however, her body had begun to change. She felt nauseated in the mornings, dizzy, and uncommonly tired. These signs, though subtle, stirred a small flame of longing within her—a desperate wish that she might finally be carrying his child. Perhaps, she thought, a baby could soften Sebastian’s heart and give meaning to their lifeless marriage.

When the physician, Master Aldrich, appeared at the doorway, his kind smile gave her both comfort and dread. He led her into his study, a cozy room filled with the scent of herbs, the warmth of a crackling fire, and shelves of ancient medical texts. Evangeline sat nervously as the old man took a sealed parchment from his desk.

With a gentle voice, Master Aldrich delivered the news that would change everything: “Your Highness, I’m delighted to tell you that you are indeed expecting.”

Evangeline’s breath caught in her throat. Her trembling hands broke the royal seal and scanned the words written neatly across the parchment. Pregnant. She was truly with child. Before she could even absorb the shock, Master Aldrich continued, beaming with joy—she was not carrying just one baby, but twins.

The revelation sent a rush of emotion through her—relief, disbelief, joy. Twins! Two heirs for the royal family. The weight of that realization made her dizzy, but it also filled her with warmth and purpose. For the first time in years, she smiled with genuine happiness. Perhaps this was the miracle she needed to mend what had long been broken.

In that moment, she imagined Sebastian’s face lighting up with pride and excitement. She pictured him embracing her, maybe even thanking her. The thought filled her with renewed courage. She thanked Master Aldrich graciously and insisted that she would tell Sebastian the news herself. This moment, she decided, must belong to them alone.

Walking through the grand marble corridors of the palace, Evangeline’s heart felt light for the first time in years. Servants bowed as she passed, but she hardly noticed them—her mind was focused only on Sebastian and the life growing inside her. She wanted to see him, to share the joy, to believe that maybe, just maybe, love could still bloom between them.

As she approached the door of Sebastian’s private study, her steps quickened. She called out softly, “Sebastian! My lord, I have the most wonderful news to—”

But her voice faltered.

Through the half-open door, Evangeline froze at the sight before her. Her husband stood with Lady Cordelia Ashworth, daughter of the Duke of Greymont, wrapped in his arms. The woman’s fiery red hair cascaded over Sebastian’s shoulders as he held her close. Evangeline’s heart stopped when she saw him tilt Cordelia’s chin upward and press his lips to hers—a tender, passionate kiss filled with the warmth and love she had begged the heavens for all these years.

It was everything she had ever wanted—and it wasn’t hers.

For a long, unbearable second, Evangeline could only stare. The parchment with her pregnancy confirmation still trembled in her hand. Then, in a broken whisper, she said his name: “Sebastian…”

The Crown Prince turned sharply, surprise flashing across his features before being quickly masked by his usual calm. Cordelia paled and stepped back, though Sebastian’s arm lingered protectively around her waist.

“Evangeline,” he said evenly, as though she were a stranger interrupting him, “what brings you here?”

Her throat tightened. She forced herself to stand tall, even as tears burned behind her eyes. “I… I live here,” she managed, her voice quivering. “I’m your wife.”

Sebastian’s cold gaze didn’t soften. “Is there something you need?” he asked, the same way he might address a court official.

Something inside Evangeline broke. Just minutes ago, she had been radiant with hope, ready to tell him that she carried his children—the future of his line. But now, staring at the indifference in his eyes and the woman in his arms, she realized the truth she had avoided for too long.

He would never love her. Not even their unborn children could change that.

A calmness settled over her—a cold, regal resolve that masked the chaos in her chest. Straightening her shoulders, Evangeline met his gaze with all the dignity her title demanded.

“Yes, my lord,” she said clearly. “There is something I need.”

Sebastian raised a brow, perhaps expecting her to plead, to cry, to beg for an explanation. Instead, she spoke words that shattered the silence of the study.

“I want an annulment.”

Both Sebastian and Cordelia froze. The shock in their eyes was almost satisfying. Cordelia gasped aloud, pressing a hand to her mouth, while Sebastian’s expression turned dark and unreadable.

“What did you say?” he asked in a dangerously quiet voice.

Evangeline’s chin lifted higher. Her hands no longer trembled. “You heard me perfectly,” she said. “I want our marriage annulled.”

In that instant, the timid princess who had once waited for scraps of affection was gone. What remained was a woman who had found her strength—not through her husband’s love, but through the pain he had caused.

Inside, she knew she carried the next heirs of the throne—his heirs—but she would not allow that to bind her to a man who treated her like a political pawn. She would raise her children with dignity, even if she had to walk away from the palace to do it.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the crackle of the fireplace and the unspoken consequences of her declaration. But Evangeline didn’t wait for a reply. Gathering her skirts, she turned toward the door, her heart broken yet unburdened.

Her steps echoed through the marble halls as she walked away from the man who had never seen her—and toward the freedom she was finally claiming for herself.