Book 14: Chapter 32


    I lowered my head and gave Vera a kiss on her forehead. She grabbed my face with her tiny hand. It was my first time 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 me. She then giggled as she hugged me.


    Nona and Daisy, who were on the other side, watched me anxiously while making a scene for me to hold them. I noticed myself smiling brightly. Lucia sat to one side and watched me 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 onlyfort them. They couldnt understand me, though; hence, they kept crying and making a ruckus


    After a moment of lingering, I ced 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 moment then got up to walk over to Vera. She wiped away Veras tears and softlyughed: You hungry, Vera?


    Vera tugged on Lucias cor. Lucia undid her shirt with a smile and carried her back to my side. I noticed Vera sh a smug look at her sisters. Nona and Daisy looked stunned. I was utterly shocked. Vera took her time 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 pce? Why did I see such arge statue at Troy City made from pure gold? Who gave the order? I dont believe Freya gave the order. Freya would never do something 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 grimmer, thereby worrying me.


    What exactly happened in the North? Whats going on in the pce? I asked myself.


    Nothing looked out of ce in the Imperial Pce. I noticed the guards around me were still the same as usual. They still obeyed mymands, while the others didnt seem to have changed. They were as calm as though nothing ever happened, but the statue at Troy City told me something happened. Otherwise, the people around me couldnt possibly do such a thing!


    Lucia, tell me what exactly happened. The only ce that cant be in chaos in the North is the Imperial Pce. This is where you all reside; I must ensure your safety. There cant be trouble in the Imperial Pce. Who exactly rules the North right now?!


    Lucia gave me a solemn answer: Me.


    Huh?


    Lucia ced Vera aside. In an absolutely serious tone, she exined, 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 pce towered over the mountains. It was made with pure gold and iid diamonds. She even considered reproducing low anthropoids to speed up its construction. Gerald andpany 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 means of appeasing the people and building trust with them, which was why I didntsh out orin despite them not lending me moneyst time. My purpose in the creation ofws was to stabilise the North in a controlled manner, but Freya ruined it all in just days.


    Killing without reason, raising taxes, forcing people intobour 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 means she already knows how severe her mistake was. She must be ming 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 me enough to want to kill her. Lucia grabbed me and rubbed my face. Quietly, she exined, 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 definitelye 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 andpany all left in my absence, so Lucia had to hold the pce together with all she had. It wasnt an exaggeration to say that everybody around me went crazy after I left. Nier abandoned her daughter to search for me; Vyvyan took me away; Mommy Elizabeth was severely wounded, and even Freya lost it. Lucia was the only one who maintained herposure. She, alone, held the North and pce 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 rtively inferior even in the elvennds.


    I pulled her tightly into my chest and whispered, Its been hard on you, Lucia.


    Lucia jolted then she leaned onto me. 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 me whenever I was in trouble, and shed always help me resolve all sorts of problems. She was always the first to step up to the tform when I needed someone. I think that was why I trusted Lucia and loved her so much.


    Our romance seemed very in 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 became a member of the Shadow Squad for my sake. Then, she ate grass and almost died. This time, 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 herter on, Lucia continued to forgive me time and time again. Lucia loved me far too deeply, so deeply that she could forgive me for everything, stayed by my side no matter what and protected me at all times. I let Lucia down so many times 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 mean is I might die soon very soon