Chapter 2

In the intricate tapestry of my aspirations, I wove threads of ambition and anticipation for Salien, my son. From his first breath, I envisioned a future where he would ascend the throne, a beacon of imperial glory. Yet, the weight of my expectations became an unspoken burden, a mantle he could never fully bear.

I yearned for a ruler, a sovereign whose reign would transcend the annals of history. The empire deserved a leader of unparalleled strength and wisdom, and I believed Salien held the potential to embody these qualities. However, the lofty standards I set for him were a labyrinth of unattainable heights.

Love, that elusive emotion, remained elusive within the confines of my maternal heart. It was a void I couldn't bridge, despite the care I extended. Duty, a stoic cousin of affection, found a dwelling in the recesses of my emotions. It became a commitment, a binding force that fueled my relentless pursuit of the destiny I had envisioned for him.

As we ventured into Reisen village, the crucible of societal injustice unfolded before our eyes. Slavery, an abhorrent stain on the empire's conscience, gripped the lives of the innocent. Amidst the turmoil, I witnessed Salien's resilience, a flicker of strength that kindled hope for the empire's future.

Yet, within the triumph lay a dichotomy of emotions. The son I never truly loved stood before me, proving his mettle against adversity. A conflicted pride stirred within, a silent acknowledgment of his capabilities. In that poignant moment, I chose distance.

I remembered something I told him before leaving in his opulent chambers. He felt guilty that he could be the reason I was leaving. I could see the tears in his eyes.

"In this world, my son, you are destined for greatness," I spoke, trying to explain him in a tone that carried the weight of a prophecy. "You are meant to rule an empire, to command with authority and strength."

He looked up at me, sensing the gravity in her words but unable to comprehend the magnitude of his predetermined fate.

"You are my legacy, the heir to a destiny beyond your understanding," I continued, my voice cold and authoritative. "But understand this, Salien: I may care for you, but love is a luxury I cannot afford. The empire demands more than familial bonds."

With those words, I turned away, leaving Salien standing alone in his extravagant room. The breeze carried the weight of unspoken expectations as I disappeared into the shadows once again.

Remembering this, I withdrew from the port, becoming a silent observer of his triumph, allowing him to confront the challenges alone. It was a deliberate step, a test of his mettle, and perhaps, a testament to the uncharted territories of my maternal sentiments. The veneer of imperial expectations concealed the nuances of a mother's conflicted heart.

For some reason, he still didn't change much. He still tears up, like a child when I slap his hand. He still looked like the child I left but he grew up, taking care of such a complicated mission. I felt glad that the emperor had raised him into a compassionate prince. It assured me that soon in the future, maybe he will be able to be the ruler I had envisioned.

In the subsequent nights, sleep became a reluctant visitor, and dreams transformed into vivid recollections of my own past. I was no longer the empress but a woman ensnared in the complexities of love and betrayal. Armenia, that was my name. An ancient power had cursed me to a premature death.

In an ill-fated affair with the Prince of another realm, the fragile walls of my heart shattered upon discovering his infidelity. Betrayal became the catalyst for my revenge. I married the Emperor, not for love, but as a strategic move to secure a position that would empower me to shape the destiny of an empire.

I bore him a son, Salien, an unwitting pawn in my grand design. The revelation of the empire's precarious situation spurred me into action. I was driven not by maternal love but by a desire to escape the shackles of an unwanted child and an unwanted contract.

Over the years, I endeavored to stabilize the empire, using it as a means to free myself from the entanglements of the past. As the new Emperor ascended back then when I married him, I took it upon myself to navigate the intricacies of governance and ensure stability. My role was defined by duty, not affection, and my son became a symbol of imperial continuity.

The war-torn years saw me crafting my own army, a force that would play a pivotal role in the impending conflict. When the time came to return to the palace, I felt a sense of readiness. I had specified my intentions to the Emperor on the night of our marriage, rejecting his offer of support to build my army from scratch. It was a journey I had undertaken alone, away from the palace's confines.

The army was made. The years of my absence were marked by the relentless pursuit of power and influence. The army I sought to create became a testament to my determination, a force that would aid in settling old scores. And then, the day arrived when I deemed myself ready to return to the palace.

The decision wasn't hasty; it ripened through years of strategic maneuvering and calculated alliances. The empire, now under the reign of a new Emperor, faced challenges that demanded a firm and experienced hand. The time had come for me to reclaim my place at the heart of the empire, not just as an empress seeking revenge but as a leader poised to steer the destiny of a realm in flux.

The return was a blend of trepidation and resolve. The moonlit sky, witness to my past endeavors, cast its glow upon the imperial palace. The throne awaited, its significance altered by the transformative journey I had undertaken. It was not just a seat of power but a symbol of redemption, a chance to rewrite the narrative of an empress who had once sought vengeance.

"We return now." I remembered the pride I saw in my brother's eyes when I said those words.

"Yes, Empress." He replied, being ever so loyal.

The time had finally come to avenge the pain inflicted upon me by my ex-lover. It felt unreal, as I thought about facing the ex-lover with a regal composure that concealed the tempest within, the shadows of the past and the promises of the future converged. The moon, the silent spectator to my odyssey of betrayal and vengeance, bore witness to the empress who had emerged from the crucible of pain, ready to reshape the destiny that had once seemed immutable.