It wasn't all a bad dream

In Balthasar, when the bell on the tower of the Palace environment is rung four times, it means that the king or queen has died. As soon as the bell was rung, the people in the ministry in charge would immediately send letters to the nobles outside of Mesina to inform the king or queen of the death. Catalina learned that from Helena decades ago.

Now, the bell rings four times. And as if waking from a long dream, Catalina realized many things.

Where is she now, who is she, who is her son, and…

Who recently died.

"Mother…"

Her little angel face looked different than Catalina remembered. Aeneas looks more mature. Catalina also doesn't remember having eye bags and aging lines on her sweet son's face. Even though she remembered, Aeneas was a precious child who always smiled.

"No… Aeneas… My dear child, what happened to you?" Catalina asked in a trembling voice. "Why… Why is the sound of the bell so close? Are we really in the Palace?"

"Mother…" Aeneas seemed to be trying to smile gently at her. "Please listen to me slowly…"

"Helena… Helena! Where is she? She has wanted to come here for a long time to accompany me!"

It was then that a woman behind Aeneas caught his eye. Her hair was as black as night, and her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, the same features as Helena's. Let alone that, her overall appearance was almost the same as Helena's. But Catalina knew that the woman with the big belly wasn't Helena.

"Your majesty?" The woman looks at her doubtfully, then gives Aeneas a quick glance. "Helena… is my mother."

"Y-your mother?" Catalina tried to reach the woman. She examined her face, feeling her face with trembling hands. She never remembered Helena having a daughter this old. When did Helena get married? Who did Helena marry? "With whom–no, no. If you, her daughter, are here, then Helena is also here, right? I-I'm here must be because of Helena. She must be the one who married a palace person, right, right?"

However, the woman shook her head. "My mother married into the Dulcia family… I am Selah, Your Majesty. This afternoon, we had tea together. You remember?"

"Then why am I here? Helena… so you are Helena's daughter? Where's Helena?" Catalina turns her gaze to Aeneas. "Honey, why are you so quiet?"

Aeneas took a deep breath. "Mother, listen to me quietly. Lady Helena was long dead. We are in the Palace because… Mother is King Tristan's concubine."

King Tristan's concubine.

Tristan Seneca?

So it wasn't all a bad dream? The torment she endured, the wounds on her little angel's body, the sad news of Helena's death… "It wasn't all a dream…"

"It's all true, Mother," Aeneas whispered softly as he hugged Catalina's trembling body. "But now everything is fine–"

"Just fine?!" screamed Catalina hysterically. "Aeneas! How can everything be fine?! I saw firsthand the wounds you got! I saw you crying and in pain! I… I couldn't manage to do anything despite Helena's help! I suck! I am stupid!"

"No, Mother. That is not true." Aeneas tightened his embrace on Catalina, who started to struggle. "This time, I promise everything will be fine. I won't get hurt–"

"How can I believe that? Last you said you came back covered in bruises and couldn't even get out of bed!"

"Because he's dead! Tristan Seneca, that demon is dead!"

The echo of the scream woke Catalina up. It was the first time he heard Aeneas scream in frustration at him.

Aeneas froze for a moment, looking startled by his scream just now. "Mother, that man is now dead. There's nothing you need to fear anymore now. I promise this time, I can live happily. There is a mother, there is my wife, there is also my child who will be born…" he said in a trembling voice. He seemed to be holding back his tears.

"Wife?" Catalina tries to look at Aeneas. "Child?"

It was at that moment that Catalina realized something else.

No wonder the woman who looked like Helena had been standing there, looking doubtful and confused. Selah, who kept watching Aeneas and Catalina alternately with that big belly, couldn't be idly standing there.

"My apologies for not introducing myself properly, Your Majesty," said Selah. She lowered her head slightly and said, "I was Selah Dulcia back then. Son of Archibald Dulcia and Helena Tullia, now wife of Aeneas Seneca." She lifted her head and smiled gently, the kind of smile she probably wasn't used to showing. "Thank you for always having me here, Your Majesty."

The pieces that had been scattered all this time were now one; everything was complete and clear. Even though everything is still difficult to understand, Catalina can see the big picture of her life so far. Anything that was odd now makes sense.

Catalina is married to King Tristan and has Aeneas. Helena followed her to Mesina and married without Catalina ever seeing how the reception was. Then Helena heard how Catalina was doing while at the Palace and tried to help her. If she's not mistaken, at that time there was a knight sent by Helena whose name she forgot, and there was also Azel, who later finished everything when the knight Helena had to leave.

Then, Helena dies. Again, without Catalina seeing how the funeral went.

"Helena… How is she?" whispered Catalina to Selah.

"Mother died peacefully," Selah told him. "And Mother will be happier to see you happy here, Your Majesty."

Tears were unstoppable from Catalina's beautiful eyes. Helena has always cared about Catalina's happiness and safety, but even until her death, Catalina couldn't do anything for Helena.

"I… I owe so much… to Helena," Catalina sobbed. "I'm sorry, Selah. I'm sorry, Helena…"

"Your majesty!" Selah hastily lifted Catalina, who was about to kneel. "Don't be like this, Your Majesty. It's okay, really. Mother… Mother always wishes for your happiness, so please stop crying. Now you can… be happy. This is all Mother's hope."

Catalina nodded but still couldn't stop her tears. Helena is dead, but even King Tristan is now dead. Now, there was nothing that could frighten her anymore.

Because Aeneas, her little angel, is now free from his nightmares.

"Mother," called Aeneas softly. "Later, when the snow melts, we can visit Lady Helena. Now, Mother, go into your room and rest, okay?"

Catalina nodded again. "Yes... Yes... I... want to visit Helena when I can later."