Empress

"My mother was a very peculiar woman," Asterus said to his aide who was helping him dress in his night robes. "Not a very respectable way to view one's mother in, as you would say."

"The previous empress was indeed an extremely distinguishable individual," the aide replied.

"That habit of yours is disgustingly similar to your father," Asterus said looking at his aide. "War really is the place where your family belongs."

The aide looked up at the emperor and said," I'm flattered you consider us in such bright lights, your majesty. But what habit, sire?"

"Be spiteful, at least," Asterus yelled. "I sent your bloody son to be a hostage to a war-prone kingdom! The least you could do was to be spiteful! Did Kasia's coldness rub off on you?"

"My wife is a very kind-hearted woman, your majesty," the aide said, helping the emperor into the bed. "She has been everything but cold to our family."

"You think I don't know how you two raised Ignis?" the emperor mumbled.

In response to this, the aide just looked at him with a sarcastic smile that said," You are the last person I need to know from about how to raise my son."

"Ha," the emperor muttered. "Does Kasia still think that how we were raised by our mother was wrong?"

"Her actions say in affirmation," the aide replied.

"Our mother was one of the best mothers out there. We should be nothing but grateful that she was able to do it all the while being an empress," Asterus said.

"My wife believes that children should not be raised to be trusting of anyone," the aide continued. "From birth to all the moments he was in our sight, we have developed an instinct in Ignis which tells him how much to trust people. At first, it was simple rules he had to follow, but at some point, he learned to do it subconsciously. To the point, he started to see through his own parents. He became aware that we didn't love him."

"How foolish," the emperor remarked. "Love between parents and offspring is nothing but a deep instinct of nourishment and dependence."

"Ignis was always a sensitive child. He was always quick to pick up on others' feelings. That made him vulnerable. Kasia had her reasons for what she did. It was all for Ignis' good in the end," the aide said.

"What if we really had abandoned him in the court before?" Asterus asked.

"That would've been his fate," the aide replied.

"Duke Blaqua, be more spiteful. You regret it, don't you?" Asterus said.

"...."

There was no response from his aide. Duke Blaqua remained quiet.

"Our mother was a peculiar woman. I'm saying it again because I emphasize on 'peculiar'. the emperor said. "She didn't have an ounce of affection towards anyone."

Duke Blaqua looked at the emperor, astonished.

"Empress Sylvia was very kind-hearted as per to my knowledge," he said.

"It was all a façade. Her eyes said it all. Her entire life, I don't think she held even the tiniest bit of feelings for anything,' Asterus continued. "She had the eyes of someone who looked at others as if they were objects. She must've treated us three no differently than dolls she was playing house with."

"..."

"Her expressions of joy and sadness scared me. It was frightening to witness something like that firsthand. I once saw her practicing smiling. It was the first time I saw her expressionless face and as a child at that. It was like looking at someone who wasn't human.

Her ability to mimic every human expression was terrifying. Over the years it was trained to the point of perfection. Her every action was calculated and predetermined. As if she knew what was going to happen. And then she felt joy in how it went exactly as she predicted. It was as if everything was under her control. Like she had absolute control over this world.

But she was different to one person. Father. She genuinely loved father. The affection she showed to him wasn't calculated. Being with my father was the only time when I found my mother look human.

She died as if she was going to sleep. It didn't shock me, though. She had always decided to die before father because she knew she wouldn't be able to take it if father died in front of her."

"..."

"My mother wasn't human."

"..."

"She wasn't a witch either."

"..."

"Nor a mage."

"..."

"She detested sorcery. She might've been somewhat of a healer but that was never all."

"..."

"She was something stranger..."

"That's enough, your majesty. I don't need to know any more than this," Duke Blaqua interrupted the emperor and abruptly left the room.

"Not even a good night?" the emperor mumbled with a chuckle.