?


    "Have you not heard how manynds fell because of her? Thend of green where she came from fell into ruin. In the empire, she became a crown princess, and chaos also ensued, costing the deaths of many royalties and nobles. Lastly, the Haimirich Empire — the empire Abel Grimsbanne governed. That empire was already forgotten and ruined. I won''t allow her curse existence to bring down the Maind."


    It took a lifetime of self-control for Miguel to not argue with his father''s twisted perspective. He kept quiet as he listened to Lord Albert''s sermon before sending him away. Still, his father''s remarks got stuck in his head even after dayster.


    "Did you request for a private audience just to space out?" Miguel snapped out of his trance, seeing a cup of tea before him. When he slowly lifted his eyes, all he saw was the short smile dominating Aries''s face whilst sitting down across from him.


    "Apologies, Your Majesty. I have no excuse." He tilted his head down and then straightened his back. "Thank you for the tea. I am always honored."


    "So?" Aries cocked her head to the side, curious. "Cut to the chase, Lord Miguel. What is it that you want to tell me and you couldn''t wait for another day until our scheduled training?"


    Miguel breathed out while holding her gaze. "Our sparring session always ends up with Your Majesty leaving without a word or listening to a word I say. I''m afraid waiting for it will only dy the matters that had been bothering me."


    "What is it that''s bothering you?" she asked, reaching for the cup of tea to enjoy.


    "I followed your instructions." He spoke directly, watching Aries''s response to what he said.


    "And?" Her brows rose briefly, smacking her lips quietly as she put down the cup of tea. "Did you find out the answers you were looking for?"


    "Yes… I''m afraid I also discovered more than that."


    Aries smiled subtly. "If so, why are you still here?"


    "Thend of green, the Haimirich Empire, and the Empire of Maganti…" he trailed off, observing her reaction, which was only a simple raising of her brows.


    "What about them, Lord Miguel?" she asked when he didn''t speak after a minute. "What about my home country and that empire?"


    "That empire…" whispered Miguel, lowering his eyes until his gaze fell on the cup of tea. His reflection was clear on the still water in the cup. "Do you n to ruin the Maind just like them?"


    Aries chuckled dryly. "n to ruin the Maind just like how I ruined my home and the empire that ruined it? Is that what you''re asking me?"


    "I did not mean to offend."


    "None was taken." Aries shook her head while Miguel slowly raised his head. "You''re not the first person who med me for the ruin of my home. I already med myself for many years, so hearing it from another person was nothing."


    "My apologies."


    "Don''t be." She kept her smile. "Why would you feel sorry for the person who might ruin thend you were born and raised as well?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Miguel clenched his hand under the table, feeling his breathing grow heavy.


    "What would you do, Lord Miguel?" Aries continued. "I ruined three nations, with two of them known as the strongest empires outside thisnd. If I managed to curse theirnd by stepping foot in it, wouldn''t it be amusing to include thend of blood on this list?"


    The corner of her lips curled up amusingly, studying his reaction. "What''s with that look, Lord Miguel? Are you disappointed to hear what you wished to not hear?"


    "If you truly n to ruin thisnd, why are you telling me? You knew that I''d do everything in my power to protect thisnd against anyone who would try to bring it down — even if that person was the sovereign herself."


    "Because... why not?" Her smile stretched confidently until her eyes were squinting. "Whether or not I tell you, nothing will change. I think you know the reason, Lord Miguel."


    Miguel clenched his teeth as his expression turned solemn. After a moment, he lowered his head slightly while his face darkened.


    "Why are you lying?" he asked, making her brows raise.


    "What made you the impression I will lie to you?" Aries watched him raise his head again, a little taken aback at the sadness swirling in his eyes. "Lying… isn''t even worth an ounce of my energy."


    "So you''re just epting things the way they were?"


    "Pardon?"


    "I am not surprised if the downfall of the Maganti Empire was intentional. However, how can you ept and embrace the me for what happened to thend of Rikhill and the Haimirich Empire?" Miguel held back his emotion while keeping his trembling fist on hisp. "How was it that was your fault? You didn''t ask the crown prince of the Maganti to lead his army to thend of Rikhill and neither you urged thete king to step out of thisnd."


    His neck shrunk a little as he breathed a jagged breath. "Did anyone… even apologize to you?"


    Aries maintained her unfazed countenance while listening to Miguel''s remarks, staring at her reflection in the teacup.


    "Did anyone… apologize to me?" she repeated quietly. "Why would they?"


    "What?" Deep lines appeared between his brows while Aries lifted her gaze back to him.


    "Do you think it''s unfair, Lord Miguel?" she continued with the same calm mien. "Life is unfair; no matter how you cursed it or please it, it will always be unfair. As I''ve mentioned, there were many lessons life had taught me. I no longer try to understand why people say or do things, even if they knew it would hurt others. Neither I am waiting for people to apologize to me for ming me for things I am not responsible for."


    "I am no longer the Aries I used to be, and I don''t me anyone for it, nor do I feel sorry about it." Aries shrugged indifferently. "I will ruin thisnd just like how it ruined the peace I painstakingly built. Try as much as you can to stop me, Lord Miguel. If you do, you might just save everyone just as you wish. However, until then, I will not stop or dy my ns."


    Aries lifted her chin, keeping her cold front. "I hope you seed. I really do, Miguel."