I lowered my head and gave Vera a kiss on her forehead. She grabbed my face with her tiny hand. It was my first ti seeing her smile so brightly. She desperately tried to kiss my face as I did to her. I picked her up. She moved her face close to mine and licked . She then giggled as she hugged .
Nona and Daisy, who were on the other side, watched anxiously while making a scene for to hold them. I noticed myself smiling brightly. Lucia sat to one side and watched hold the girls whilst wearing a consoled smile herself. She softly said, The girls really missed you. I couldnt tell them where you were, so I could only comfort them. They couldnt understand , though; hence, they kept crying and making a ruckus
After a mont of lingering, I placed Daisy down and went over to Lucias side. I hugged her and she docilely leaned onto my chest. Daisy looked in our direction and shrieked, while Nona tried to reach us with all her might. Vera then began to cry. Lucia paused for a mont then got up to walk over to Vera. She wiped away Veras tears and softly laughed: You hungry, Vera?
Vera tugged on Lucias collar. Lucia undid her shirt with a smile and carried her back to my side. I noticed Vera flash a smug look at her sisters. Nona and Daisy looked stunned. I was utterly shocked. Vera took her ti suckling.
Shes not hungry at all! Wow I cant believe youre aware of all this when youre still just a kid Vera is seriously frightening I realised.
I asked, Lucia, what exactly happened in the palace? Why did I see such a large statue at Troy City made from pure gold? Who gave the order? I dont believe Freya gave the order. Freya would never do sothing that foolish. Who was it? Who is the current ruler of the North?
Lucias expression looked grim. She tried to find the words, but her expression turned grimr, thereby worrying .
What exactly happened in the North? Whats going on in the palace? I asked myself.
Nothing looked out of place in the Imperial Palace. I noticed the guards around were still the sa as usual. They still obeyed my commands, while the others didnt seem to have changed. They were as calm as though nothing ever happened, but the statue at Troy City told sothing happened. Otherwise, the people around couldnt possibly do such a thing!
Lucia, tell what exactly happened. The only place that cant be in chaos in the North is the Imperial Palace. This is where you all reside; I must ensure your safety. There cant be trouble in the Imperial Palace. Who exactly rules the North right now?!
Lucia gave a solemn answer: .
Huh?
Lucia placed Vera aside. In an absolutely serious tone, she explained, Your Highness, I, indeed, am the current ruler. I honestly did not want to do this. Freya initially acted as the regent, but she changed when you didnt return. She killed lots of nobles and brought their money back. She collected taxes at high rates to erect enormous statues here and in Troy City. You wouldnt believe it, but the design of the statue in the palace towered over the mountains. It was made with pure gold and inlaid diamonds. She even considered reproducing low anthropoids to speed up its construction. Gerald and company tried to talk her out of it, only for her to hurt them. If I didnt stop her then the North wouldve been destroyed!
I gave Lucia a nod. I took in a deep breath and replied, Lucia, what you did was right. I believe what you said. Indeed, Freya cannot continue as Regent if she did those sorts of things; that would certainly destroy the entire North and Troy City. Lucia, you did a great job. You did the right thing. Originally, I didnt believe Freya was behind it. She went too far. I must punish her. Im going to send her back to Troy City to reflect!
I was genuinely very angry. What Freya did was destroying the foundation of the entire North. The North was still unstable. The anthropoids and we were two different races. We used the nobles as a ans of appeasing the people and building trust with them, which was why I didnt lash out or complain despite them not lending money last ti. My purpose in the creation of laws was to stabilise the North in a controlled manner, but Freya ruined it all in just days.
Killing without reason, raising taxes, forcing people into labour and even wanting to reproduce low anthropoids are unforgiveable actions. How was Freya going to be a Regent when she did that? How would the nobles in the North work with us henceforth? Their influence was more significant than ours in the North! All I could do was pray she killed them cleanly.
Lucia smiled helplessly. She grabbed hold of my hand and, in a soft voice, said, Dont be too harsh, Your Highness. Freya must have caught wind of your return by now. She missed you so much that she changed, so shed definitely be the first to go see you, but she hasnt. She locked herself in her room, which ans she already knows how severe her mistake was. She must be blaming herself and in anguish right now. Dont be too harsh on her. She ended up that way, because she loves you. Youre her only family, so I hope you be gentle with her.
I rubbed my face to calm myself down. What Freya did angered enough to want to kill her. Lucia grabbed and rubbed my face. Quietly, she explained, Your Highness, be gentle when you go to her. Dont make her feel too sad. Shes already sad enough as is. Youre her only family. I wouldnt put suicide past her if you abandon her, too.
I nodded: Okay. But Lucia, why havent I seen Nier and Tanya? Where have they gone?
Lucia tightened her hold on my hand: They went to search for you. Before you returned, we had a quarrel when we got together. Nier and Tanya then decided to go and search for you afterwards. I believed that you would definitely co back, and I also had to take care of the girls, so I stayed behind It wasnt that I wasnt worried about you. Your Highness, I waited day and night for your return. I missed you every day But I had to stay here to take care of the g-
I pulled Lucia into my tight embrace before she could finish. Nier and company all left in my absence, so Lucia had to hold the palace together with all she had. It wasnt an exaggeration to say that everybody around went crazy after I left. Nier abandoned her daughter to search for ; Vyvyan took away; Mommy Elizabeth was severely wounded, and even Freya lost it. Lucia was the only one who maintained her composure. She, alone, held the North and palace together. How much did she suffer during my absence, I wondered. She had to keep everything together, take care of her and Niers children. In addition, she had to stop Freya from continuing to err. She was just an ordinary elf and an ordinary mother. Her mana was relatively inferior even in the elven lands.
I pulled her tightly into my chest and whispered, Its been hard on you, Lucia.
Lucia jolted then she leaned onto . She tightly gripped my arm and silently cried. I stroked her back: Sorry, Lucia. Ive made you suffer so much. Im so sorry.
Lucia had always been that way. She wasnt good with words and wasnt by my side every night, but she was always there to protect whenever I was in trouble, and shed always help resolve all sorts of problems. She was always the first to step up to the platform when I needed soone. I think that was why I trusted Lucia and loved her so much.
Our romance seed very plain and mundane, but neither of us would ever leave the other. Wed always go to each others side no matter who ran into trouble. Lucia once beca a mber of the Shadow Squad for my sake. Then, she ate grass and almost died. This ti, she did her best for my sake to stabilise the North. She took care of three kids despite one not being hers.
Dont worry about it Dont worry about it Im your wife, Your Highness Im your wife I should do this much I can do anything for you
Lucia sniffled and blissfully rested on my chest.
While I wasnt so faithful to her later on, Lucia continued to forgive ti and ti again. Lucia loved far too deeply, so deeply that she could forgive for everything, stayed by my side no matter what and protected at all tis. I let Lucia down so many tis and in so many ways.
Next to her ear and in a soft voice, I apologised: Sorry, Lucia Sorry Lucia Sorry
No, I dont mind Ying and Xia
No What I an is I might die soon very soon
Reviews
All reviews (0)