My Charlotte Hates Me

Chapter 20: Someday

I heard news from the capital that Arielle had begun accepting refugees from The Balik Empire. I was the most surprised out of everything that Arielle was willing to take those people in despite everything that happened to her in this past year. I decided to leave Eli in Stella's care before going to the capital and investigating further on what was exactly happening within the kingdom without the King's presence.

When I arrived at the castle, I was promptly greeted at the entrance and received by two Royal Maids.

The situation was slightly odd considering that Arielle was one who would always come out to greet me in person whenever I came to visit her. I always looked forward to my visits because she would always receive me warmly like so. However, this welcome is oddly not especially warm or cold either. I just assumed that it was normal considering that most Royal Maids are not the best conversation starters.

Are we not going to the parlor?

"...Where exactly are you leading me to?" I asked.

"I will be escorting Lady Castile directly to Her Majesty. She is currently awaiting for your presence in the throne room," the Maid responded monotonously.

"...I see."

I soon heard several voices being exchanged as I got closer to the closed double doors of the throne room.

"...I might just have to kill you if you are unable to follow my orders," a cold voice said.

I flinched slightly.

Were my ears playing tricks on me? How could I mishear something so gruesome?

I listened further to see if I could hear the continuation of the conversation.

Only silence proceeded...

The large doors soon opened before me. I gave a sigh of relief when I saw that Arielle was alone.

Arielle took notice of me and leapt from her seat and ran towards me. I could hear the strong clicks of her heels as she jumped from the stairs and into my arms.

"Char! I am so glad to see you again," Arielle said as she squeezed my body.

Ah, she has not changed one bit...

"I am so glad to see you again as well," I said as I hugged her back.

Arielle held my hand as we walked to her parlor together while smiling the whole time.

Her smile had not dimmed even in the face of misery and suffering, yet oddly enough, all of her clothes to her accessories were adorned in black as if she was mourning.

I refrained from asking about her choice in clothing and rather tried asking about how she was doing personally.

"I am doing well...Of course it is a little difficult taking on the duties of both His Majesty and for myself as Queen, but thankfully I have several retainers who are both loyal and very talented individuals," Arielle said.

"I see...I wish that I could decrease your burdens, even though I am utterly and entirely useless," I said sorrowfully.

"That is not true, Char. You have already taken on much of my burdens," Arielle said as she held both of my hands. "You took Eli off my hands after all."

Did she just...call Eli, her own son, a burden? No, she is not that kind of person. Even if the world turned against her, she would never think so.

"Would you like me to bring Eli to the castle to see you the next time I come here?" I asked.

Arielle stopped smiling and removed her hands from mine and laced them over her lap. She had a deep look of concern on her face and looked as if she was about to say something from her heart but decided to then say something else.

"...It is not wise," Arielle said coldly.

Wise?

"By whose idea was it that it is better to not meet with your own son?" I asked irately.

Arielle pauses in silence for a short moment.

"...It is mine," Arielle answered.

"Pardon?" I said in surprise.

"It is my idea!" Arielle said in a loud voice before clenching her skirt.

"...Arielle, you obviously cannot mean that you do not want to see your own son, right?" I asked.

"...Take it however you like. It is just better that he stays as far as he can away from me," Arielle said.

There is no way that it is better to have your own child raised by another stranger...

"Do I get an explanation as to why you are willing to take in refugees of an unaffiliated country rather than take care of your own son yourself?" I asked crisply.

"So, you have heard the news...That is right. I would rather take care of refugees than focus on raising my own son," Arielle said coldly.

"...Arielle, you are his mother. Do you intend to leave him with a stranger all his life?" I asked.

"...You are not just any stranger. You are Char...my best friend. That is why I can trust you to raise my child with love and affection. I can only ask you to do this for me," Arielle said with an awkward smile.

There is no way that it is better to have your own child raised by another stranger...

"...Do you want me to raise him until he is strong enough to stand on his own or just until you are able to accomplish the results you are looking for?" I asked.

"...Both, I guess. The world is pretty terrible as it is now, so I will be the change that it needs," Arielle said resolutely.

You have chosen the lonesome path...

"...I will raise Eli as if he is my own son, but you must also take good care of yourself," I said as I held her hands.

"I am counting on you," Arielle said with a smile.

From that day forth, Eli was my son. I took Eli far from the capital and raised him in a quaint town far from the influence of Nobles as Arielle had requested.

I wrote letters everyday with details on Eli's growth to Arielle. Since we were so far out, I could only receive letters from Arielle once every two months. Her letters got progressively shorter with the passing months, making me increasingly worried about her. After seeing that Eli was able to walk on his own, I decided to take a trip back to the castle myself.

On my way there, I noticed the obviously somber atmosphere among the weather and people.

The rowdy streets that were once part of Arundel culture were suddenly eerily quiet and lackluster as if someone had just died.

I was directly escorted to Arielle's office this time. On my way there, the rain started pouring as if increasing the ominous feeling in my gut. I asked the Maid to move a bit faster. I just had to see Arielle as soon as possible. I could no longer stand the slowness and picked up the ends of my dress before running and slamming the doors open myself.

In the distance, I saw Arielle staring outside of the window and crying by herself with a long black veil over her head.

"Char...why is this world trying to take everything away from me?" Arielle asked in a painful voice. When she looked over at me with her tearstained eyes, I had ran towards her and hugged her tightly. "No matter how much faith I try to keep, I always get betrayed by my expectations in the end...Why should I hope for anything anymore?"

"...You still have me," I said.

I was aware that such a statement was filled with arrogance. Even so, I wanted her to rely on me as the remaining constant in her life...the only person who would not change for her.

This was the least that I could do for her as her best friend...no, as someone who loves her so much.

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