In Time And Memories

Chapter Thirty-Seven

My head tilted as we walk towards the royal garden. As expected, there's no minesoua has bloomed yet. The last time I went here was Prince Pierre's eighteenth birthday, it's three years ago.

"What are we even doing here? I thought you're going to tell me something?" I asked him impatiently.

He still has that smile on his lips and he didn't even answered me. We only stopped walking in front of the stone bench here in the garden.

"Broth—" My words were cut off when I noticed a figure. I looked at it with confusion. It's wearing a black robe that's why I couldn't recognize whether it's a woman nor a man.

Then the figure slowly revealed her identity, it's a woman with red hair. Her hair is a different shade of red and it's lighter than mine, however, what I noticed is her eyes. Yellow eyes that shines against the moon.

My mouth gaped. Her tears suddenly rolled down and she has this longing expression while looking at me.

I have an idea who she is but I don't know what should I react.

"Azelaine," she called my name in a soft way. "My daughter..." She tried reaching for me to an embrace but my feet voluntarily stepped back. She looks surprised and horror washed through her face.

It's my mother, Duchess Linia of house Laurenze.

The one who left us when I was only five years old, the same woman I despise. She left me when I needed someone to guide me, someone who could shower me with love and happiness. But she neglected her role as a mother. And I don't even think that I can forgive her easily.

"Laine," my brother called my name but it came out more like a warning.

I turned my back. "Let's go back inside." I took one step ahead but my brother caught my arm and held it.

"Let's hear what mother has to tell us."

"What for?!" I abruptly pull out my arm from my brother's grip. They only looked at me with furrowed eyebrows while my mother is crying her eyes out.

Tears also started to fall on my cheeks. I can still remember how lonely I was, thinking about why dis my mother left us. The time when I was craving affection from a mother. Wondering how does it feel to be taken care of your mother.

I was still a child and I barely even remember her voice that time. No, rather, I can't even imagine what her voice sounds like.

"She left us! She left me! And now she suddenly showed up, expecting that I will listen to whatever she has to say?!" My chest hurts. It hurts so bad that it's even constricting my lungs.

She bit her trembling lips. "I...I only did I have to do..." Ha! Excuses.

"Really? Is that even more important than your role as our mother?"

"Laine, that's enough. Mother did that to protect us," my brother said. I looked at him and gave him a bitter smile.

"To protect us? Then she should have stayed with us! That is how you protect someone you love!" I'm already gasping for air and I don't even think I can last long in this conversation. My head is also starting to throb.

"Sometimes protecting someone you love does not mean you have to stay with them!" My brother exclaimed. I saw a hint of pain in his eyes.

I scoffed. Whatever they say, I will not listen to it. The feeling of abandonment is something carved deeply in my bones. If some people thinks that the person they left behind can easily forget their action, no. It gives them fear that someone might leave them again and again.

It might be simple to some but it hurts more than they think it is.

"Then why do you have to show up now? Where were you when I was desperate looking for my mother?!"

There's suddenly a sharp pain on my head which made me stumbled a bit. My eyes are shut tightly while my hand is on my head.

"Princess!"

"Laine!

"Azelaine!"

I can't react to their calls because of my throbbing head but I felt that someone wrapped their hands on me to support my body.

"Are you alright, Princess?" It's Prince Urus' voice.

I was supposed to answer him but my voice came out like a moan. I tried standing up properly but I stumbled again. Luckily, Prince Urus managed to keep me from falling.

My head feels like splitting into pieces and it's throbbing so bad. I couldn't even properly open my eyes.

"I will support the princess now. People has been looking for her," Prince Urus said.

"Please let me," my mother said. I don't know what it is but I just felt something on my head and the pain has subsided. Although my eyes are still closed and they seem weak that I can't even open them.

"Please excuse me, Princess," Prince Urus whispered on my ear.

I didn't know what he meant but I was surprised when my feet suddenly left the ground. Prince Urus carried me in a bridal style then he let my head lean on his shoulder. I couldn't even protest since my body suddenly feels weak.

He started walking and the atmosphere has became silent. I can finally hear the faint music coming from the palace.

After some time, I tried opening my eyes and it successfully did. We're still in the garden but it's far from where we were. I tapped his shoulder, gesturing him that he can put me down.

"I'm deeply apologizing, Princess," he suddenly said out of nowhere. My forehead creased. Why is he suddenly apologizing?

"Are you feeling well? Do you want me to call a doctor?"

I shooked my head. "I feel fine, no need for a doctor, Your highness." We walked side by side. I still don't know how should I act when I'm with him.

When we're near the entrance, I decided to ask him. "Why did you marry me?" My feet halted and so does he. I stared at the ground while waiting for his answer.

"Because I wanted to."

I smiled bitterly. I was hoping for more detailed answer and something with a valid reason but in the end, he's still a jerk.

———

correct name pronunciations:
pierre - pir
ytrius - itris
thiane - thay-an