84 Chapter 2 (1/2)
There was a light tapping on Min's door about ten or twenty minutes later.
”Min…” A gentle voice came from the other side as if to try to take back the lewd dirty voice she had produced only a short time ago.
Min didn't respond, but as the door had no lock, it creaked open a moment later anyway, and Alliana stepped into Min's room. Min was lying on the bed at this point. She had stopped crying, but now she only felt hollow and alone.
”Min… I'm sorry you had to see that.” Alliana stated bluntly. ”I thought you'd be out a little longer…”
She stopped as if knowing that that excuse was a bad one. Min mumbled something into the pillow that was unintelligible. Alliana took a few steps closer, cocking her head to listen.
”Elmindreda…”
”I thought you loved father.” Min's voice only slightly broke when she said this.
”I do! Your father means the world to me.”
”How? How is that possible when you cheat so easily?”
”It wasn't easy!” Alliana's voice tightened as she approached, but she relaxed as she sat down at the foot of Min's bed. ”I didn't decide to do this for my own satisfaction.”
”Then… why?”
Alliana gave a sigh. ”I… I've always been… a beauty. From the moment I was born, I was told how beautiful I was. I was told I must marry a great man, because only a great man deserved to be with someone as beautiful as me. Even being selected by your father, it had more to do with my looks than anything else I could add to our relationship.”
”Then, you don't love him?”
”Of course, I do! I love your father. That's why…” Alliana seemed to be trying to find the right words. ”Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. Everyone has a weapon for them to fight with.”
”What do you mean? L-like my bow?” Min asked hesitantly, finally looking up from her pillow.
”Yes, but not just a bow. Skills can be a weapon. Being good at talking can win a war. Being good at cooking can win a heart. Being good at sewing… I'm so proud that you have so many weapons you can fight with my little Min. You're already better at sewing and cooking than I ever was. But me… I was never good at any of it. For years, I simply sat by and watched as your father fought to provide us with a good home, never doing anything to help.”
”You… raised me. Kept the home clean…”
”Yes…” she gave a sorrowful smile. ”I convinced myself that was enough for a time, but as I saw my husband fight on alone, as I saw my daughter quickly become defined not by her beauty, but by her talent, I knew it wasn't enough. But I only had one thing to use, one weapon.
”What weapon?”
”My body, Elmindreda. I could fight with my body. Do you understand?”
Min scrunched up her face and then shook her head while throwing her hands up. ”No… No, I don't get it at all. You looked like you were having fun and…”
”Do you have fun when you shoot arrows? Does Evan… does your father have fun when he brokers a good agreement? Just because you find enjoyment in something you must do, doesn't negate the fact you must do it. A few years ago, Hectus was close to having your father ousted from the council. So… I used the only weapon I had. My beauty… my body… I slept with him, and he changed his vote.
”Hectus has continued to be Evan's major opponent, but as long as we carry on this affair, he doesn't try to go after Evan… or you.”
”M-me?” Min asked in alarm.
”Why do you think a marriage between you and Hectus's son hasn't been arranged? Dante certainly wants to make it a reality. However, I prevented this from happening… for you. It may be a bit untraditional, but I have used my body to give us, all of us, a better life. Can you understand that, Min?”
”I…” Min still tried to wrap her head around it, but she just couldn't. ”I can't. Y-you've betrayed dad. You betrayed me!”
”No, Elmindreda. Stop, it isn't like that.”
”I won't stop!” Min was shouting now. ”And I won't stay here!”
”Min, please.” Alliana reached out to grab Min, but Min pulled away before she could.
”No! You… I thought… that our family meant something. However, you… you're a whore.”
Slap!