Episode 84

It was an utter mess, and I didn’t even know where to begin untangling it all.

Faced with the tearful eagle who had lost one eye yet stood there looking relieved, I could only let out a long sigh before turning away.

“I’ll hear the details once we’re back at the palace.”

With that, I got back into the carriage.

Lothania clung to my side, refusing to leave even for a moment. Inside the carriage speeding toward the palace, she held my hand tightly, sighing in relief over and over again. Then, like a small puppy, she burrowed into my arms and murmured softly.

“I was so scared. If you weren’t here, Mother… I’d truly be alone. I was so afraid you wouldn’t come back.”

“Not come back? That’s nonsense, Lottie. You’re my only family, and this is my home,” I said, tapping the tip of her nose with my finger.

Her long lashes, still wet with tears, fluttered before she smiled, revealing her adorable little teeth.

“Mother, I’m so glad.”

“And I’m so glad to have you, Lottie. Thank you for being my home.”

“Thank you for coming back, Mother.”

We embraced tightly, laughing together.

I had believed Aiden would come to save me, and I had believed Lothania would be waiting for me to return.

Without those two, my days as Lian’s captive would have been unbearable.

With the small child who had become my “home” waiting for me, I finally arrived at the palace I had missed so dearly.

We were about to head straight to the Empress’s Palace, but the carriage stopped as soon as we passed through the palace gates.

Curious, I looked out the window and found Melbrid sprawled on the ground in front of the gates, crying.

What on earth was going on now?

Why was Melbrid in that state, and why wasn’t anyone comforting him?

I sighed, ready to step out of the carriage again, but Lothania clutched nervously at my skirt.

“Mother.”

“What’s wrong, Lottie?”

She didn’t answer, only fiddling with my skirt and mumbling wordlessly.

“If it’s hard to say now, we can talk later. Let’s bring Melbrid inside first.”

“But Mother, Mel is…”

She finally began to speak but trailed off again.

I thought I might understand what she wanted to say, so I patted her head gently and smiled.

“Melbrid is Melbrid, isn’t he?”

Her trembling eyes met mine before she nodded hesitantly.

The fleeting look of relief on her face showed how much she had been worrying.

Melbrid is Melbrid, and Lian is Lian.

According to the laws of Belpator, treason could implicate family members, but that was just the law on paper.

To me, Melbrid was nothing more than a sweet boy with an angelic face who used to follow my daughter around.

“Melbrid, get up.”

“Y-Your Majesty. Hic. I’m sorry. Hic.”

“I said get up. Oh, goodness, how long have you been like this?”

I tried to help him up, but Aiden suddenly appeared, grabbing Melbrid by the collar and lifting him off the ground as if he were a bag.

Melbrid dangled helplessly in Aiden’s grip, continuing to sob and apologize.

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. Hic. My… my brother, hic, he was wrong…”

I shot Aiden a glare, then let out a sigh at Melbrid’s words.

Yes, Lian had been terribly wrong.

Not just to me, but to so many others.

He’d believed no one would ever cry for him, and now he had made his younger brother sob like this. What a foolish, pitiful snake.

At the end of my carriage procession, a single wagon followed, chained tightly. Lian was said to have been silent and docile ever since his capture, confined in that wagon.

What was I to do with him?

And what was I to do with this boy, whose only fault was having a fool for a brother?

Still deep in thought, I finally told Aiden, “Put him down.”

Aiden set Melbrid back on the ground. The boy wobbled for a moment before steadying himself and wiping his face roughly with his sleeve.

By then, Lothania and Vitrain had approached as well.

Vitrain watched Melbrid with cautious eyes, while Lothania glanced nervously between us, her expression conflicted.

Once he had calmed down a little, Melbrid bowed his head and apologized again, more clearly this time.

“No matter what, my brother’s wrongs are unforgivable. But I apologize on his behalf, Your Majesty.”

“I know how you feel, but apologies are for those who have done wrong, Melbrid.”

“My brother won’t apologize, Your Majesty. He… doesn’t understand emotions.”

Anyone else might think Melbrid was saying something strange, but I understood him perfectly.

He had his brother pegged.

Lian was someone who didn’t grasp emotions, someone incapable of apologizing.

Melbrid, on the other hand, bowed his head again, apologizing for his brother’s sins.

“You’re better than that fool,” I said with a small laugh, but Melbrid didn’t lift his head.

I’d thought it before when I met Lothania, but sometimes twelve-year-old children had more sense than adults.

At his age, I had been an immature brat, yet Melbrid was more mature than his older brother.

He could have begged me to forgive Lian, to spare him, to not punish him.

I’m sure he wanted to, but instead, he swallowed those words and kept his mouth shut.

After all, in just two weeks, these two beasts had turned the empire upside down.

While I had returned safely, the abduction of the Empress was a crime of the highest order. Depending on how the case was handled, it could even be considered treason.

That was the law, the adult way of seeing things. Children, however, should act on their hearts, yet both Melbrid and Lothania were holding back, afraid to speak their minds.

“Melbrid.”

I called his name softly, and his pale lavender eyes turned to me, filled with fear.

I smiled gently and said, “Mel, I can’t tell you anything definite right now. I haven’t made up my mind yet. But I promise this: I’ll give you, that fool, and Lottie the time you all deserve.”

My ambiguous words left Melbrid looking on the verge of tears again. But his expression lightened slightly, perhaps realizing I wouldn’t punish Lian immediately.

Lothania, however, tilted her head, her round crimson eyes seemingly asking, “Me too?”*

For now, I couldn’t offer her any clear answers either.

Instead, I extended my hand to her.

Without hesitation or doubt, Lothania took it, smiling sweetly at me.

I held her small hand tightly, silently vowing to protect my daughter from the painful truths she would one day face.

Then, I turned my gaze back to the boy who would have to stand on his own.

Though I felt sorry for him, there wasn’t much I could do for Melbrid.

In as gentle a voice as I could muster, I said, “For now, return to the Crown Princess’s palace. I’ll let you know as soon as there’s any news.”

“Ah… Yes, Your Majesty,” Melbrid replied with a slight nod.

Lothania looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated, her words dying in her throat.

Seeing this, Tito stepped in to explain.

“The Zernia Duke’s residence is partially destroyed, so Melbrid is currently staying in the Crown Princess’s palace.”

“The duke’s residence? What happened to it?”

Instead of answering, Tito glanced at Aiden, who quickly averted his eyes to the horizon.

At this rate, if I were kidnapped a second time, the empire might not survive.

“Well then, Mel, stay there for a few more days. I’ll think about where you should go after that.”

“Yes, Mother,” Lothania replied, relieved, while Melbrid gave a shaky nod and expressed his thanks.

After sending the two children to the Crown Princess’s palace, I was finally able to return to my own.

As I entered, welcomed by the tearful greetings of my maids, I paused and turned to Tito.

“Tito, there’s a child named Amy who came with me. I’m thinking of bringing her into the palace as a maid. Can you make the necessary arrangements?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. And tell Amy to bring what I asked her to prepare.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Tito left to fetch Amy, I turned to Aiden with my next question.

“Where is Lian?”

“I’ve sent him to the prison at the Guards’ encampment,” Aiden replied.

Hearing his answer, I looked up at the sky. The sun was already setting.

I had intended to change clothes—or at least lie down on my bed for a moment—before heading over, but if I did, it would be too late.

“I need to see Lian.”

Aiden’s expression grew grim, but there was no helping it.

There was something I needed to give him.