The Second Life's

XCI - Puzzle Pieces (II)

I, who was a child, lay helpless on my bed. Layla changed my clothes soaked in sweat many times. My mother looked at me from a distance. It seems like his mind is moving away from me. As usual, this memory I can't remember until now.

After Layla finished changing my clothes for the third time, Mom told her to come out. As soon as I was alone, Mom approached me and frowned.

“Either what was planted by Concubine Sienna upon you,” muttered Mother. It shocked me half to death. “Mom should be more sensitive. Take it easy, Charlotte. I will free you from this suffering.”

Mother took out her magic and addressed it to me. His magic filled my body and cast the dark magic given by Consort Sienna.

“I've reached my limit,” mumbling Mother. “If my magic is not divided into several parts, I can still cast the remaining magic of Consort Sienna left in the brain of Charlotte.”

In my brain?

“Sorry, Charlotte.” Mom touched my forehead. Mother's magic appeared from the end of her index finger. “Will Mom grab a little tainted memory inside your brain.”

That's why my memory is messed up, huh? Mom picked up some fragments of my childhood memories.

Is correct. Mother retrieves a memory that has been damaged by the dark magic of Consort Sienna.

I looked back and found my mother there. The goddess standing next to me, has already disappeared. In a state of sculpting, I looked at each other with my mother. Mother first approached me.

Did you know everything?

“Not everything,” I said. “There are still many questions I have to ask Mom.”

Mom just smiled. And his memories began to show a different scene again. Now, the scene where Mother was in the Imperial Palace.

This is all I can show you.

In Mother's memory, Father was seen fighting with Mother. Speaking of the Concubine of Sienna who was openly protected by Father. Why would you protect a vile criminal like Consort Sienna?

“He will bring disaster in Vanhoiren Empire!” my mother cried without a doubt. “We can still prevent it all!”

“What are you talking about? Stop making palace buzzes with your nonsensical words, Eva. I feel nothing from him that could expose the Empire to catastrophe,” said Ayahanda.

“Not yet,” errata My Mom. “Please trust me, Your Majesty.”

“Go home, Eva. All I need is to clear your mind,” said Ayahanda.

“Don't blame me if something happens. At least, I've reminded you of this.” My mother finally left the palace.

The protective magic that Mother gave to the members of the Empire, I have already taken back. Mother stopped being an Imperial witch and stayed home taking care of you.

“Then? Why did you die?” ask me Mom.

Because of Consort Sienna.

I clenched my hand. “A-what has Consort Sienna done? Is he terrorizing our family?”

Less is more like that. Mother cannot fight him. Dark magic is magic that can evolve depending on the price at stake. That's why, Consort Sienna can easily get Mom cornered.

“She got what she wanted, but why is she after Mom too?”

Before you die, he'll keep chasing you. The witch's heart is the thing she's after.

Witch's heart?

Mother made a protector in our residence. Take the mana in your body, and put it in Mom's wand. And lastly, Mother channeled all of Mom's magic power inside that wand as well.

Yeah, Mom did it all for our family. Without mana, this weak Mother's body became helpless. It only took me a month to die and leave this world.

I just kept quiet. Unable to say a word in front of my own mother. Broadly speaking, Mother sacrificed herself, for the sake of the family. But, I don't know why I feel like Mom's being selfish. Leaving me alone with Father, and I remain trapped in the shackles of the Imperial family.

I shouldn't have thought this way. Stupid me.

Excuse me. You're selfish, right? Sorry, Charlotte.

“Don't say that, Mother. Don't .. hiks ...” I'm crying instead. No, this is not what I want. I don't want to look good in front of my own mother.

I can't touch you, because we're only in your subconscious.

“No. I don't have to say that,” I said slowly. If I feel Mom's embrace again, I'll have a harder time letting Mom go. Although my little heart cried out to want it, I still had to be strong to face all of this either together or alone. “I'm happy to see Mom's memory. Thank you.”

You deserve to be happy, Charlotte. With the people you care about. Including Dad.

This is our farewell.

“Rest in peace, Mother .... I love you.”

***

I woke up in my office chair. Inside my body, I could feel the mana that was about to overflow out. Is this the power of my mother? Yeah, correct. It belongs to Mom.

Geck! Geck! Geck!

“Queen, are you inside?” ask Chloe from the outside.

“Yes. Come in,”, I replied while cleaning up the mess I didn't make.

The door opened, and Chloe came in with jasmine tea for me. I can finally enjoy my tea again.

“Ratu ..., do you spend the night in your workspace?” chloe asked who was picking up the papers strewn on the floor, as I sipped my tea.

“Yes. I accidentally spent the night here because of the fun of working,” I said lying. How could I have told Chloe that the Goddess of Virtue and my dead mother came here and gave me a vision. Chloe could think I was losing my mind.

“Please think about your health, Queen. I don't want the Queen to get sick again and be tormented,” Chloe said.

I smiled at Chloe, then nodded. “Yes, Chloe. Thank you for taking care of my health. I want breakfast now.”

“Good, let me prepare first. Dayang Matilda will come to help the Queen get ready in the room,” Chloe said.

“Oh yes, prepare a train for me as well. And tell Knight Franklin, he and I will go out of the palace,” I said.

“May I know where you are going?” Chloe looked polite.

“Impire Palace. I want to see the state of the Emperor,” I said, showing a happy expression full of lies.

As fast as lightning, I could catch the anxiety in Chloe's eyes. She seemed to want to say something, but was held back by him. She probably wouldn't have wanted to if I'd known that Rose Hindley was pregnant with Idris' child. But I already knew that.

“What's up, Chloe?” I fished him a little.

“Ah, no. Does the Queen not want to just rest at home?” chloe's proposal. “Looks face Pale Queen.”

“There's something you're hiding from me, isn't it?” I looked at Chloe, hoping she would open up to me, and tell her that.