Darian was assigned a servant to guide him to the Empress's Garden, a place meticulously built for the Empress's beloved wife, and the place where Darian's mother wanted to enter.
Darian walked through the garden, surrounded by different flowers, some of which he recognised from his past life memories, while others were unknown.
Finally, in the middle was the Empress Mireal Valenhardt sitting on the table in her elegant demeanor.
THUMP....THUMP...
Darian's heart beat like crazy, calm down, idiot, he told himself.
Darian recalled his memories of the novel empress's character Mireal, who was the typical good mother in every other fantasy kind, loving as always, and she supported Elaine from the start of the novel. Maybe it was because her mother and the Empress were childhood friends. What a fucking plot armour bulshit isnt?
She is aware of Darian's presence; she put the cup down, letting silence and the servants leave them by the simple CLANK of the cup. You're playing big, huh, empress? Fine, I will play along.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" Darian asked, keeping his flat tone.
Mireal paused for a moment and continued to take another sip and place the cup on the saucer again,
CLINK ....
She averted her gaze to Darian. Her red eyes stared towards him; she was analysing him.
"You look different, Darian, "she said softly, her voice sounded like a knife stab to him, "healthier, sturdier."
"Is it a praise, your majesty?" Darian replied, "Or you think I would have returned dead from the woods."
Mireal didn't flinch. She gestured to the empty chair opposite her. "Sit Darian."
Darian sat, but his mind didn't relax. Why did she want to see me personally? Why now? His mind filled with questions. There was a cup already filled, but he didn't dare to drink it and waited for the empress's inquiry. However, she didn't say anything; she continued to drink her tea. Finally, Darian broke his silence.
After taking the last sip. "You..... have become honest, Darian." She put the cup down, she continued, "Too honest if the one Darian I know wasn't like this, he would throw up the tea and start insulting me and made a scene already."
Her eyes were leery, "What are you planning, Darian? This change in attitude, the duel,arvhrry... all doesn't make any sense."
"It seems you are a different person...are you even Darian? What have you done to his body?"
Min-jun froze internally. Damn. She's sharp. I need to deflect, Min-jun thought frantically. I can't act rationally. She expects the Trash Prince. She expects the hate. Let's just go with the Darian way. His face twisted into a grin.
"What's the matter, empress?" Darian sneered, leaning close to her, "Are you scared that I, the so-called trash, will outrun your precious children in everything?"
Mireal's expression stiffened. Darian continued, "Or are you jealous that I might steal back what you stole from my mother, empress?"
SMASH!.....
She slammed her hands down on the table, rattling the silverware, spilling Darian's tea cup."Darian, stop it now!" she yelled, losing her composure. "How could you say that to me, even though your mother died, I was always doing everything for you, yet you pay me back with insult? If you say that again... If you dare bring her up..."She stood up, her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of the table.
"I... I will..."
"Will what?" Darian interrupted. His voice was cold. He stood up slowly, matching her height. Punish me? Execute me, go ahead, it will be better than pretending."
"Darian, how could you?" Her face became teary-eyed. He leaned close to her.
"You are a hypocrite, Mireal, you think everything you've done for me is because of love, isn't compassion? Kindness? bullshit !"
Darian let a laugh. "Don't make me laugh, Mireal, it's not love, it's because of your fucking guilt !"
Mireal felt like it was a slap on her face. Tears fell from her face. "You can't stand looking at me because I remind you."
Darian's words were cruel, yet they were true. Mireal, too, knows it. "You try to be the' benevolent mother' to wash away the guilt. That's what I hate more, Mireal, don't mix up guilt with love. I hope you understand what I am saying.
The silence that followed was suffocating. The Empress of Highhelm, the woman whose head dropped, unable to speak, weeping, she too knows her kindness towards Darian is just pretentious; her immense guilt was not towards him or his biological sibling, Darian, but towards his mother.
"Darian ...." she wished with a trembling voice and tearful eyes. "Please leave now!"
"I am not planning to stay here either," Darian replied and turned back. "Also, empress, I hope you forgive yourself now and stop pretending it was all your fault ."
With that, Darian left the garden, leaving the empress alone for a moment. She cried, she wasn't sad or happy, her tears felt taste of relief from a burden.
"Forgive me, Ophelia."
When Mireal turned her back to the entrance, Kayle was there, his face was shocked.
"Mother, what happened? Didn't you say, Ophelia, I see!" It's like he knows the reason for his mother's tears.
"Kayle. Wait, it's not what you think." He didn't stop, walked out with rage in his eyes.