Chapter 257 - Not so simple (2/2)
When she became Queen, she learned a lot from her first husband. ”Back then, I disagreed with him a lot. But, at the end of the day, I would always take my words back. Because I saw first hand the sufferings and pain that people had to deal with.”
Her thoughts broke off when Daichi stood up and made his way over. He picked her up in his arms and gently laid her down onto the bed - and buried his face in the crook of her neck. ”Ever since his death, I've been doing my best to make you happy. To make you smile. But, I wonder if I'm doing such a good job. Even now, all you can think about is death.”
”Daichi, you don't have to blame yourself,” Orthez mumbled as she ran her hands through his hair. ”My twisted mindset has been set in stone since a long time ago.” Her mother was not the best role model, but even then, one would think she would raise her children usually. But, that's not how it was. She saw death countless amounts of times; she saw the severed heads - the twisted limbs - all that blood when she was younger. ”Mother had a peculiar hobby of hanging all her victims in the throne room. She would point them out to me one by one and explain how she tortured them.”
Orthez felt Daichi tremble, and she smiled, ”You've heard this tale plenty of times. Why are you still getting worked up about it?”
”Of course I would, if...if I knew you back then.. I would have…”
”Don't be silly; nothing would have changed. Would you have been able to stop my mother from going crazy?” Orthez paused. ”I've already long accepted it. I'll carry the weight and sins of my mother and my ancestors. I'll bring them down to my grave. I won't let any of my children carry them.”
But, it seems like it's far too late for her to help Lethia. Orthez was not aware of what had happened to the child, and before she knew it, it was too late to stop her.
”Orthez, if you die. I'll die too.”
”Ssh,” Orthez cooed. ”Don't talk about death. Even if I die, you will not die with me Daichi.”
”Don't be so selfish, do you really think I'd..”
”Lyn, think about our daughter. It's enough for her to lose and resent me. But you? That child loves you a lot; she will still need you even after she takes the throne.”
”Orthez..”
”Daichi, you've already given me so much happiness. You don't have to do anything more than this.”
After that man's death, Orthez never thought she could love somebody else. But she did, and that's why she wants to treasure her feelings. Treasure the moment she has left with him before the storm comes. ”Daichi, why don't we go somewhere?”
”A trip?” Daichi seemed surprised. Orthez understood why, when was the last time they went anywhere together?
”Just around the Kingdom.”
Daichi smiled, ”My wife really works too hard. But sure, it'll give us an excuse to go out and have a date.”
Orthez rolled her eyes and pulled the man away from her and sat up. Daichi sat up too and hugged her from the back, ”Don't worry about anything, my dear Orthez, I will make sure nothing goes wrong, okay?”
She said nothing in reply and just basked in the feeling of being held in his arms.