Chapter 13
1734 Words
Imeena left the Palace as soon as I left her alone. I had no idea how she did it and I didn't really care. It was best for now. If I were to see her, I didn't know what I would have done. I hadn't seen her for five years so she changed a lot but I felt that she must have gone to the Duke. I had to keep an eye on them but for now the most important thing was looking after Lichen. I had to protect her and I couldn't push back my talk with Satin much longer. I looked up to her and the Empress had a hard time looking me in the eyes.
"We need to talk."
The Empress slowly nodded and escorted me back to her study. She opened the door for me and I sat down on one of the two couches while Satin hesitated before sitting on the other, facing me. No one else was left in and I crossed my arms still angry. Seeing Lichen neglected, I completely forgot that Satin was the Empress now and that I should have certainly lost my head for the way I spoke to her. I didn't regret my actions one bit but I had to tone it down a bit. Therefore I went back to my most polite tone ever:
"Are you aware of what Imeena did to Lichen?"
Satin froze before looking away and shaking her head. I had to calm down. Polite tone. Polite tone.
"You don't know what your daughter is going through in the Palace?"
Satin opened her mouth but had nothing to say. She didn't care about her daughter at all it seemed. Why? Seeing me frown, Satin looked like she wanted to tell me everything but I didn't want to listen to her story. I was curious about what could have possibly happened, I had to admit. I saw the book. Seeing Satin in love in it didn't mean that she would really be in love with Imeena after all the changes but I saw the way she looked at her during their first night. Well, our first night but she couldn't possibly know that. I wanted to understand but more than anything I didn't care. I was way angrier. Nothing excused the way she acted. Nothing.
"I am not letting Imeena approach that kid. I am going to be her legal guardian until she is old enough and then I'll let her decide for herself. Lichen didn't want to leave the Palace so I am going to stay here with her."
I knew a lot of lawyers. I could do this. Imeena hurt Lichen and I was her aunt. I could win this case. I had to. Satin's head suddenly jerked up, her eyes full of hope. What was she happy about? I thought she didn't care about her kid. After what she said she didn't have any right to.
"Therefore I would like to humbly request your Majesty to let me stay here with my family.
-Of course. A room will be prepared for you right away."
I thought it would take some time but fortunately there was already a room ready. I didn't have anything else to say but for some reason Satin didn't put an end to the conversation and I just sat there waiting for what more she had to say. She looked around the room a bit and finally settled her gaze on mine. I didn't look away. I was amazing at eye contact. I had won all the glaring battles ever and was proud of it.
"Where have you been?"
I frowned. Why was that so important?
"I went to a small village."
I didn't want to give too much detail and Satin felt it:
"I looked for you everywhere... I..."
Satin looked desperate for some reason and I saw her cheeks heat up. I wasn't ready for a conversation about the past so I suddenly got up not having enough patience for this:
"I beg your pardon, your Majesty, but I have to go. I should warn my family."
Satin pinched her lips before nodding:
"Of course, I understand. Go ahead.
-Thank you."
I bowed and left the room as quickly as possible. Lichen being still asleep I sent a message to Persimmon through a maid telling them to join me at the Palace once they were tired with their day. The children couldn't stay awake too long after the journey we had and they arrived at the Palace half an hour after I wrote the message. Hearing about their arrival, I immediately went to look for them but it seemed Satin had been quicker. I didn't know what she was doing here but I could see her standing five meters from the carriage. The next second Light's black hair appeared from the carriage and he jumped down excited at the idea of seeing a Palace. Light was taking in the view with sparkling eyes but seeing Satin in front of Light I felt my heart squeeze. I never noticed how alike they looked. They looked exactly the same and anyone would have guessed who his mother was. Would Satin guess what happened? She would be blind if she didn't notice the resemblance but she didn't know that I ever had s*x with her so how would she connect the dots?
Even if she did understand somehow, I was going to fight for parental rights. I had given birth alone and had raised Light without her help. He was my son, not hers. It was my decision to give birth and Light didn't need another mom in his life. He already had an aunt, a brother and two uncles. He was more than happy and I raised him perfectly. I didn't need help. Moreover, being a crown prince would be way too dangerous for Light. He deserved a normal and safe childhood far from politics.
As I was thinking this, I was approaching the carriage and saw Persimmon come down before freezing in front of the Empress. It took him five seconds to wake up and bow to Satin, his face visibly pale. I only told him to come to the Palace but didn't explain what would happen at all. He didn't dare get up and just stayed bowing, his head spinning at full speed. Alaneo froze in turn seeing Persimmon like this and bowed too while Light and Elm were still lost in the view. They were on the verge of running around when Light heard me approach and turned his head. Seeing me, Light immediately screamed:
"Mom!"
He ran up to me and I raised him in my arms asking if he had fun today. Light quickly nodded and pointed at Elm:
"There was an evil man that tried to hurt my brother."
I smiled. Light and Elm were so cute calling the other brother when they weren't blood related. Hearing his "brother", Elm immediately nodded, hiding behind his father because of the numerous people around us:
"Dad saved us!"
I laughed even more:
"Your dad is truly amazing."
I didn't doubt one second that the boys would take care of Light and Elm and hadn't been worried at all. As we were talking I immediately forgot about Satin and it was only when Light asked about her that I raised my head towards her silhouette:
"Mom, who is this?"
I gasped forcing Light to lower his finger:
"Light, Elm, this is the Empress, Sun of the Empire."
I put Light down and bowed to show the example:
"You should treat her with respect."
The two boys bowed adorably and I thought I was going to melt but then I noticed how pale Satin was. She couldn't stop staring at Light and I felt my heart speed up. Did she understand? How could she? It was impossible for her to understand that Light was her son apart from them looking alike. Maybe she thought that I kidnaped Light from my sister and her. My head was spinning ready to fight my way out of this Palace but then I noticed that Satin was also starring at Elm so I calmed down. Maybe she just didn't like children. That could explain a bit why she was talking about Lichen like that. It wasn't an excuse but it explained.
After staring at the children for long seconds without saying anything, Satin bowed and excused herself running away. No one understood what happened and we just looked at each other before shrugging. Now that Satin was gone, Persimmon finally woke up and he grabbed my arm, bending close to my ear:
"Why are we here? What did you do again?"
I raised my eyebrows:
"What do you mean again?
-I know you, you can't stay put for two seconds. I thought that you would calm down after giving birth but you are even worse. Did you decide to become an Empress suddenly?
-Of course not. But let's not talk here."
My little family followed me to my room and after closing the door and making sure we were alone, I explained to them what had happened. The children didn't have to hear this so I left them with a maid and the knights that let me in the Palace. After my quick summary, Alaneo looked gloomier than ever and Persimmon forgot how to close his mouth:
"Your sister? Imeena?"
I nodded.
"What happened to her? I remember her being all shy and nice before."
I shrugged:
"We were gone for a long time."
Persimmon still wanted to ask more questions but Alaneo got up and placed a hand on my left shoulder:
"Are you okay?"
I smiled before caressing his hand:
"I am okay, Alaneo. Thank you."
But Persimmon didn't believe me and suddenly jumped up:
"Of course you are not fine! How could your sister do this? Who does she think she is? I am going to beat her up!"
The next second a pillow flew to Persimmon's face and we turned to see Karlene walk into the room:
"Know your place. We are in the Palace, Persimmon, and the person you are talking about is the Empress, Moon of the Empire."
Persimmon wasn't convinced:
"I don't care who she is! I..."
But he didn't have time to finish because Karlene covered his mouth.
- Writer
