React to WMMAP

18. Roles reversed-2

⟨"eh????? What's with this??" Athanasia exclaimed in pure confusion.⟩

The next day.

"Her majesty,the empress has invited the prince for tea." A red-head royal guard bowed as he said.

All the maids and knights were astonished to see the empress' right-hand man to come personally to the abandoned palace.

"I understand, sir." The head maid said as she hurried off to inform the prince.

****
"Y-your highness! Her majesty has invited you for tea!!"

"...huh?" The little boy who was holding a book in his hand responded a beat later.

"Mother?" He muttered, his eyes sparkling.

He raised his head and said,

"Alright. Let's go then."

"Yes, your highness!" The maid exclaimed.

****

"Blessings and glory to the moon of the empire." All of them bowed at the empress.

"Rise." The voice was cold. Too cold.

They all rose and the first thing the prince saw were her jeweled eyes. The same as his. But, they contained so much coldness. So so much, that he shivered subconsciously. He tried to look at her again but this time he found that there was something else in her eyes, something on the verge of breaking out, something unknown.

He let the thought pass as he sat down opposite his mother upon her instruction.

"M-mother." The prince called out nervously, peeking at her from time to time to see her expression.

The empress did nothing but stare off at nothing. Her expression was blank. She seemed sleepy.

Was mom too tired from all the work? I should not disturb her then.

He shut his mouth and quietly drank his tea, occasionally admiring his mother's beauty.

His thoughts shifted towards his father. Nobody ever mentioned it to him before... Who was his father? How did he look like? What was his name? Why was he not here? He heard that mother and father loved each other very much, then why was he not here? He heard his mother was a very cheerful person before, so she was she like this now?

He didn't know. He didn't have the means to know. He couldn't afford to know.

He shook his head.

I should just focus on mom. If she is sad because dad isn't here then I should not bring him up and hurt her. I'll be with mom always.

If others knew his thoughts, they would be heartbroken that such a young child was so understanding that it seemed outright.....bitter.

Days passed by, and their the mother-son relationship grew to be closer. The empress would show a small smile from time to time at her son's antics and she would never admit it, but she felt distressed at how careful he acted around her.

She wanted to tell him not to, but had no idea how to express it to him, especially since she erased her emotions (which were gradually recovering) and her memories (except for her husband's as she, for some reason, could not erase him.) And so, she had no idea how to act around a little child, which happened to be her own son.

Sigh.

She decided she would let him act how he liked.

Atleast when he sees that she doesn't mind, he would stop being so careful..maybe...

The prince, who couldn't hear  her thoughts continued to think of ways he could make his mother happy.

Sometimes he would give her a drawing he made of her, sometimes he would also try to bake but it always turned out burnt so he gave up there. Sometimes he would come early in the morning and give the sleepy empress a flower crown.

Nevertheless,their relationship was definitely going in a positive direction. So positive that it seemed unreal.

And the prince grew up.

***************************************
(628 words) I just can't seem to like mentioning their names!

Well, you may have already guessed who the prince was considering the title, but his name won't be the same. Sorry but this is a child of athy and luc and so, they won't name him badly.