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Martha turned to face the woman whose appearance was hidden by her hood. "Though I am merely your daughter's nanny, she is like family to me as well. As long as I can protect her, I don't mind losing my life."

The loyalty in her eyes was unwavering, and Sierra could only let out a sigh. As for what it's for, only she herself knew.

Evanthe thought to lighten up the atmosphere. "As long as Dray is with her, Seren should be fine. It was fate that brought them together when we needed someone's help the most."

"Fate," Sierra spoke with a hint of bitterness. "I wonder what kind of fate is written for those two. What they would face... I can't help but feel worried."

"Rest assured. We must put our trust in our children," Evanthe assured. "Though young, they are stronger than they seem."

Sierra no longer spoke.

"I wanted to ask if the preparations for Seren's birthday are done, my Lady?" Martha asked, changing the subject.

Sierra nodded. "I have sent a message to Armen. He will follow our plan."

"You will be meeting your daughter as well," Evanthe remarked as she looked at her companion. Even though Sierra's face was hidden by the hood, Evanthe could somewhat feel the conflict of emotions she was having.

"What are you thinking about, my friend?" Evanthe asked while Martha also looked at her in worry.

It took a long time before Sierra spoke.

"I...I am not sure how she will react when we meet," she admitted with a helpless sigh.  "When she finds out I am her mother, that I am the woman whose reputation made her live as an object of people's disgust and fear, that I am the cause why her father made her spend her life like a prisoner... I don't even know if she will even consider me her mother. Let alone acknowledge me, I don't think she would even want to see me."

"She will understand why you did that..."

"I don't expect her to understand. I am the one who sealed that power inside her and turned her life into hell. It's better that she never learns of the truth. Moreover, my appearance...she might not want to accept an ugly creature as her mother. I will only end up disgusting her."

There was a silence inside the thatched house which Evanthe broke, "We both are guilty for hurting our children and leaving them to live on their own. But, it hurt us as much as it hurt them. Regardless of our reason, they are people with their own thoughts and feelings--we can only accept what they give us in return, whether it be acceptance or rejection."

Sierra raised her head, and though she could not see it, Evanthe could feel her gaze on her. "Why don't you speak for yourself? If your son accepts you back and asks you to return with him, will you?"

Evanthe turned silent. Return. It meant to return to the Kingdom of Megaris, to the palace where she used to belong.

Returning to that place was not just about her son--there was someone else, someone whose pain her guilty conscience feared to face the most.

Theron Ivanov, her husband, the man she loved the most yet the same man who she had hurt again and again. He was the man she longed to see the most, but she had caused him too much grief, she dared not even forgive herself for doing so, no matter the reason behind her actions.

Simply the thought of her husband was enough to make her eyes turn moist everytime she was reminded of him.

A while ago, Sierra had been unable to respond but now it was Evanthe's turn. After a long bout of silence, she finally spoke, "I can't go back with him. We have more things to do regarding the power hiding inside Seren."

"Are you using it as an excuse to not go back to your husband?" Sierra questioned.

"If not for Seren, I would have remained buried under the darkness of that river. It is the cost that I have to pay for the sins I committed. I cannot go back to my family. Esther Ivanov no longer exists in this world. My sole reason for living is to protect your daughter."

"It's been more than two decades. I think you should be allowed to go back to your family and your people. This much time is enough for your sacrifice..."

"Enough. We should first focus on Seren's coming of age," Evanthe interrupted her. She knew it was not so easy to go back as if nothing had happened.

Sierra didn't pester her, and after they bid farewell to Martha, the frozen time resumed for all those in the vicinity of the thatched house hidden in the forest.

---

After rejecting her father's offer to dance, Seren left the wedding banquet and returned to her tower together with her husband. However, she remained unusually quiet throughout their carriage ride back, and sensing her mood, Drayce respected her need to be alone.

"Rest well, my Queen," he said after escorting her inside her chamber. "I will be back before you know it."

Once Seren was in care of her servants, Drayce left as he still had other important things to do.

Her servants helped her change the clothes into more comfortable ones and helped her freshen up to get rid of her tiredness. Seren remained unresponsive when her lady-in-waiting attempted to converse, and in the end, her servants tactfully moved about quietly, making sure they would not do anything that could bother their master.

By the time Drayce entered her chamber, he found Seren all by herself, standing by the window while looking at the view of the starless night sky outside.

Drayce walked towards her, and as he stood behind her, he tenderly wrapped his arms around her fragile body. "What are you thinking about, hmm?"

She casually laid her head against his shoulder. "Nothing."

Drayce didn't buy it. "Thinking about your father?"

Seren stayed quiet for a moment before replying, "Yes."

"What about it?" he asked.

Seren felt a little hesitant to answer. It wasn't that she didn't trust her husband, but it was not easy to put her thoughts into words. Yet she realized that if not now, she might never get the courage to honestly confess her feelings about Armen Ilven.

She took a deep breath, her eyes still on the night sky.