Bad

Not feeling the courage to face their solicitude and even less their many and inappropriate questions, Ariadne decided, despite her pain, to go for a walk in the palace's inner gardens, where no one else, she hoped, could ever find her and disturb her for a very long time. Strolling through a colorful and lively park as vast as a miniature kingdom, where flower and tree beds were cleverly planted by skill and magic, Ariadne finally ended up in a place she guessed secret. At the very end of an endless labyrinth, hidden by high walls, she found a huge portal engraved with a magical symbol and on which was clearly written "forbidden entry". Undoubtedly this prohibition encouraged the princess even more to brave it, ignoring the words inscribed and the closed door, she pushed the heavy fighter, who gave in to her great amazement, whereas she would have sworn that it was sealed by a very powerful spell, and entered with a resolution that reminded her of a being who had loved her in the astral darkness.

And inside, as she had probably suspected, Ariadne discovered an enchanting place, outside time and space. A place of wonders where thousands of magical flowers covered fertile, warm and benevolent soil. Thousands of winged creatures occupied a starry sky and sang on the branches of gigantic trees that crowned the celestial vault. Creatures of all kinds and sizes, free and natural, populated the small living kingdom. None of them were hostile to his presence.

Ariadne loved the sanctuary.

- It looks like a moving picture of life and freedom.

- I knew someone who had said the same thing. But he's been gone a long time.

To this amazing voice, the princess quickly turned around. And by recognizing her interlocutor, she gracefully straightened up before making a deep bow.

- Your Majesty.

He responded with a slight nod of his head.

- I would have preferred you to have recognized the ban on foreigners as much as you had recognized me.

- I...

He imposed silence on her with a wave of his hand and asked, intrigued.

- Who are you, princess?

- Ariadne Yhoemes Adegeor prin....

- I know. I know. You are Princess Adegeor, famous for her beauty and brazenness, but above all for her total disregard for the obligations that her rank as a royal member would require. Fortunately for you, you were born in the parallel branch," he added with a shrug of shoulders, mockingly.

- If you know everything about me, why ask the question again.

- Because it is not your name I am asking for, it is the nature of your powers, and its greatness.

- What... Forgive me for coming in here, Your Majesty. I don't understand.... Ariadne stammered as she stared at her imperial host with her dazed eyes.

- No, please, don't do that. Don't try to mislead, because the very fact of being here is already clear proof of what you are supposed to be. I must admit that I am very curious to know this kind of extraordinary magic that has allowed you to penetrate this sanctuary so easily.

- You mean there was really a protective barrier?

- The best there is since it was created by my father himself, in order to be sure to seal this place forever, the protection spell is so powerful that it would destroy anyone except the members of imperial blood, would dare even try to penetrate inside.

- But there was only one sign saying: "No entry allowed" so I thought...

- And yet you who are a stranger, or at least as far from us as we can be, have managed to get in without any damage, Astieme continued as if she had said nothing. I immediately ran as soon as I felt the spell dissipate like a simple fog on a summer morning. Then I demand to know how you succeeded in this miracle.

Ariadne looked at him for a moment before slowly shaking her head, swinging her beautiful sparkling hair in the pure wind.

- I don't know how I made majesty. I only know that nothing hurt me and that I came in.

- And, I repeat, it is an obligation to find out why, because it is very serious....

Ariadne frowned, quite nervous.

- What do you intend to do to me, Your Majesty?

- I'm not going to hurt you, don't worry.

- All right, because I assure you right now, I know how to fight.

The emperor made fun of her words.

- I have proof of that. Sit down, please.

- Here?

- Right there, by the fountain.

Obeying, Ariadne sat down at the edge of the great fountain where the waters exuded a fascinating song.

The magnificent ruler knelt before her and began by taking her by the hand.

Ariadne had all the time in the world to admire his beauty. All obstacles have disappeared and her view has cleared.

The sovereign's hair was blonder than the moon's rays, and his eyes were as green as the pale bottoms of an immortal lake. His body was majestic, comparable to that of a work of art jealously protected by the guardians of history. His imperial costume, white and garnet, added to his splendour. Ariadne was also impressed by his delicate touch, filled with kindness and terrifying mastery.

She could not help but smile tenderly.

But whatever it was, nothing that this emperor kneeling with such magnificence before her will ever be enough to illuminate any part of her heart. Never. For this heart was already lost for all the others, eternally conquered by a single being whose beauty for her was no equal.

And even if she was perfectly aware of the fact that this person had shocked the world with his will and his whole nature, he was for her, and would always remain the greatest of all.

At that moment, then the emperor of history stood before her, sublime as always described, and even more, she only dreamed of her incomparable lover, and imagined him in his place, kneeling before her, declaring his love. And during this time, she would in turn caress his perfect body damaged beyond compare, and capsize his soul to madness.

- This place is beautiful. Ariadne whispered to calm her burning fantasies for a moment.

- Yes.

- Did you build it? She asked, although she already knew the answer.

- No, my brother did it.

- Your brother? I didn't know you had one. No one has ever mentioned it.

- That's normal, because he was banished from the empire.

Banished, like him...

- I'm sorry, I didn't know.

- Yeah, so few people do.

- But you kept his place secret and peaceful.

Astieme bit his lips for a moment and sighed.

- Yes, and in a way, there was no other way. Because I am totally troubled by the feeling that this person inspires me, and has always done. I don't know if I should hate him for what he did or if I should continue to love him as a brother. In any case, doing both at the same time seems too difficult.

Ariadne kept quiet for a moment, upset and then laughed tenderly, seeing her solitary love again and again.

- The most horrible crime that can exist is surely forgetting to love.

- Yes, it is, isn't it?

- Do you miss him?

- Every day. And at the same time, I hate him so desperately. A spiral of destructive and downward feelings, if you ask me, that terrifies me every day. Look, that's him on the fountain, the boy pouring water.

Ariadne turned around to see the statue. A masterpiece, created, shaped and completed with such adoration, he could only be for him. Ariadne got up, stunned and closed her eyes, smiling nostalgically. Should it still be? Deep down, she probably already knew.

This wonderful boy who seemed to love life so much and was too spoiled not to sink, could not be anyone else but him.

- He is beautiful. Was the only remark she decided to make.

- Yes, I know. There was time I saw this beauty every day.

They remained silent for a moment, contemplating the statue of the being they both loved as infinitely and yet as differently as one could love.

- There is an even bigger and more beautiful statue of him in the woods. Astieme resumed, standing up, trying to contain his voice. The creatures say it's the heart of the sanctuary.

- I easily guessed that he himself made his own statues? Pointed out Ariadne, ironic, but deeply touched by their affection.

- No, replied Astieme, to his great surprise. He had friends, few in number, but faithful, loyal, and as broken as he was. Astieme shook his head. They were all crazy about him. And when he told them that he wanted something beautiful as a sanctuary, they were all happy with it, and they built all these wonders. To tell you the truth, my brother has achieved almost nothing here. These rare and magical trees, these flowers, these creatures by the thousands, so grandiose and so kind, this rich land and this sparkling water, everything here was offered to him with love. I remembered being shocked and envious of so much affection. An affection that he had chosen to destroy for reasons beyond my mind.

- Kistarat?