How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 27 - Whispering Truths

--Valeria POV--

I sat beside my mother's bed, sunlight spilling across the linens as it warmed the quiet room. Her thin, cool hand lay over mine, comforting me despite its frailty while my father sat close by; the lines around his eyes were noticeably deeper, but his gaze remained soft as it rested on us.

We spoke of the smallest of things as if there would be time for many more days like this; the way the garden smelled in the morning, the flowers which were in full bloom, and even the stray cat that had started sleeping by the kitchen door.

I remained composed, smiling softly and reacting to her every story as I normally would, I tried to cherish this moment knowing that it was the last, but neither of my parents were blind to my grief-stricken eyes.

I wished Evan were here so that he could have said goodbye to his grandparents. And my brother too, who had no idea that I was here right now. And lastly, my husband, but that was a thought that I did not let become anything more.

As my mother's arm outstretched towards me, I leaned in closer to her so she could rest her hand on my cheek, her fingers going to brush strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Messy as always, just like your father." She chuckled, and I felt a hint of truth touch my lips as I returned her smile with my own. As an empress, my hair was always kept neat and tidy, but the journey here on horseback had clearly ruined that image which I was forced to uphold, but right now, I could not care less about that perfect image.

"But wild nonetheless, just like you." I responded as pride filled her eyes, her smile widening.

"I was worried for a moment that being Empress would make you forget who you are, but you are still the same Valeria whom I gave birth to; wild and graceful, filled with laughter and kind words, beautiful beyond imagination, and so much more. Oh, how proud I am, my darling." She laughed as I went to hug her laying figure, and her hands automatically went to pat my back.

"But I am scared mother... To live in a world without you, without your love and your support. Who am I to go to when I wish to cry in my mother's arms? Who am I to look to for help in raising a child? I am naive, I know nothing, and I am scared that I will make mistakes that only you would still be able to love me for." The words which had been hiding in my gut spilled forth without a mask, and she listened to all of it, continuing to pat my back and smile.

"Despite all your strong suits, you have always been such a big worrier. Thinking of the worst 'what if's' instead of the good. No life lasts forever so we are forced to learn how to say goodbye, and just as I moved on from my parents' deaths, the same will come to you." Those are not the words I wished to hear.

"Do not speak like that, mama." I whispered, feeling the tears prick my eyes. "Life without you will never be the same." And that was a fact that I knew was true.

"Perhaps not. But that does not mean that it will be a bad life." I sighed, moving away from her as I brushed my tears away, meeting her harmless smile.

"I love you, mama." Her smiled widened.

"Oh, my darling, I love you too. And know that I will never be gone far; you will always have me watching over you." I caught my father nodding in agreement to her words as he moved to hold her free hand, kissing her knuckles.

"I will tell Evan all about you. So much so that he will feel as though he knew you better than I did. And everyone close to me will know that I am a strong person only because my mother was even stronger. I will not let them forget." While she could not have cared less about her reputation after her death, my words still held a strength which caused her eyes to light up.