My Dear Flower - The Palace of Canawa

Divorce

July 19 1910
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Five years later, it was a different world for Yza. Her two twins, Vix and Ethan, were the light of her life, and she revelled in the joy of motherhood. But her marriage to Lucius had been a mistake from the start, and the weight of the divorce paperwork sitting on her desk reminded her of that fact all too well.

As she sat there, staring out the window at the bustling street below, Yza couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong. Why had she agreed to the arranged marriage in the first place? Why had she given up her dreams and aspirations for a life that didn't make her happy?

But as she looked at her two beautiful twins sleeping peacefully in the next room, she knew that it was all worth it. Because even though she had given up so much, she had gained even more. She had gained the love and companionship of her children, and the knowledge that she was doing everything she could to give them a life filled with love and happiness. And that was all that mattered.
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As the weeks turned into months, the custody battle between Lucius and Yza dragged on, with both sides becoming increasingly desperate to win. Lucius, unable to accept the fact that Yza had left him for good, sought to prove that she was an unfit mother and that he should have sole custody of the twins. Yza, on the other hand, fought tooth and nail to prove that she was a loving and capable parent and that the twins were better off with her.

The legal proceedings were filled with emotional arguments, with each side presenting their case and attempting to tear down the other's reputation. It was a gruelling process, and both Lucius and Yza were left emotionally and financially drained by the end of it.

In the end, the judge ruled in favour of joint custody, with Lucius having the children for half the year and Yza having them for the other half. It wasn't the victory that either of them had wanted, but it was the best compromise that could be reached.

From then on, the twins' lives were divided between their father's luxurious estate and their mother's Castle. Vix and Ethan grew up in two very different worlds, but despite the complexities of their situation, they learned to adapt and find joy in both.

Through all of the upheaval and conflict, Yza never lost her determination to give her children the best life possible. With her sewing skills, she was able to start a successful clothing business, and she used the profits to provide for her twins. They may not have been together all the time, but they were loved and cared for, and that was all that mattered.
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Lucius and Empress were sitting in the drawing room, each with a glass of Scotch in hand. The tension between them was palpable, and Lucius spoke first, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over the room.

"Empress," he began, "I need to be honest with you about something. The truth is, I never loved your sister in the first place. I was forced into that engagement, and I wasn't given any choice in the matter. From the very beginning, I knew that we were incompatible, but I was trapped."

Empress listened to him in silence, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance. She had always known that her sister was the one who Lucius really loved, but hearing him say it out loud still felt like a blow.

"So it was all a lie?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, it was all a lie," Lucius replied, his own voice heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, Empress. I know that it's not fair to you, but please know that I never meant to hurt either of you."