Chapter 105: An Untold Past
This was shocking news.
Flora and Leona were stunned. Princess Givia had always been a diligent and compassionate leader, her dedication to the Restoration Army evident to all. And based on their own judgment, they believed her sincerity. She genuinely cared about her people and wanted the best for her kingdom.
“You’re saying Princess Givia caused your mother’s accident?” Flora asked, her brow furrowed in disbelief. “Could you explain?”
“Givia doesn’t seem like a bad person…” Leona said, looking at Haina, puzzled.
Haina waved her hands frantically. “I’m not saying she’s a bad person! She just caused the accident that disfigured my mother. It wasn’t intentional, but she never apologized, and now she seems to have forgotten about it.”
Flora and Leona waited for her to elaborate.
Haina, clearly flustered by her own words, took a deep breath, the calming scent of Flora’s presence easing her anxiety. “It happened when the princess was very young. According to my mother, she was quite mischievous. My mother, a high-ranking maid trusted by the King, was assigned to be her personal attendant, responsible for her safety.”
“The princess was playful, but my mother was skilled at handling children. She always managed to fix the princess’s mistakes, ensuring her safety.”
“But one day, the princess, in her mischievous curiosity, somehow acquired a highly unstable potion from the palace alchemy laboratory and spilled it in her room. The potion ignited upon contact with the floor, the flames quickly spreading, trapping the princess and my mother. The magical flames were incredibly hot. If the princess had been burned, she might have died. My mother, thinking quickly, pushed her into a fire-resistant wardrobe. But it was too small for both of them. My mother chose to stay outside.”
“Although help arrived quickly, my mother was severely burned. People said her screams could be heard from hundreds of meters away.”
“The princess, protected by the wardrobe, only fainted from the heat. But my mother suffered terrible burns. The right side of her body was consumed by the flames, her right arm charred, her beautiful face disfigured forever.”
“The King ordered the best healers to save her life, even summoning a Divine Arts user from the Church to stabilize her condition,” Haina continued, her voice tinged with sadness. “Although her life was saved, her arm had to be amputated, and half of her body was covered in horrific burns. She was once renowned for her beauty, but after the accident, she couldn’t even leave the house without covering her face with a scarf, fearing she would frighten others…”
Haina’s expression was somber, her love and concern for her mother evident.
“I understand your pain,” Flora said, gently taking Haina’s hands in hers. “Your mother is the most important person in your life. It’s natural to feel heartbroken by her suffering.”
“Thank you, Sister Flora,” Haina said, a tear rolling down her cheek.
“After the accident, the King compensated my mother, who could no longer work. She returned home and dedicated her life to raising me. At her request, the King suppressed the news. No one knew the princess was responsible. They all thought it was an accident.”
“The princess never visited my mother, never apologized. My mother always taught me to love our country and be loyal to the princess, because she was our future. But then, I accidentally learned the truth about my mother’s burns, and my faith in the princess wavered… I’ve experienced many things since joining the Royal Guard, many small incidents that made me question my loyalty. Especially that time we raided Saint Flora’s tomb to retrieve your pendant. Everyone died protecting Alva and me. If not for Mr. Abyss, we would have died there too.”
“I’m wondering, is it all worth it? I don’t hate the princess. She was young, and it wasn’t intentional. But… I want her to apologize to my mother… But I’m afraid of angering her…”
“You don’t know why she hasn’t apologized, do you?” Leona asked, thinking. “Should I ask her for you?”
“No, no…” Haina said quickly, shaking her head and waving her hands.
“We’ll find out why she hasn’t apologized, without revealing your secret,” Flora said, smiling reassuringly. “But Haina, you should listen to your mother, trust her judgment.”
“I’ve always trusted her…”
“But you’re doubting the princess, the person your mother dedicated her life to, the person she risked everything for, even crossing the border alone,” Flora said, gently stroking Haina’s hair. “Your mother has no reason to remain loyal to the princess. She left the palace, and she chose to keep the truth hidden. But why did she still teach you to be loyal to the princess, to your kingdom? Because she believes in the princess, she believes the princess can lead Ossi to a brighter future. She didn’t succumb to bitterness and resentment. She made her own choices, guided by her wisdom and her unwavering faith.”
“Haina, you need to make your own choice. Don’t let doubt and resentment consume you, turning into your inner demons. There’s no room for ambiguity in this world. Every choice has consequences. Ask yourself, is Princess Givia worthy of your loyalty? Why do you follow her? Do you want to continue serving her?”
Haina fell silent, lost in thought. After a long pause, she looked up at Flora, her voice firm. “Princess Givia is worthy of my loyalty. I can see her genuine concern for her people and her kingdom. I follow her to honor my mother’s wishes, to help her lead our kingdom to a brighter future. I will continue serving her, because I want my mother to see the future she envisioned, and I want to witness it myself!”
“Good,” Flora said, nodding. “You should determine your own path. When in doubt, trust your judgment, trust those you love and those who love you.”
“I suspect there’s a deeper reason why Givia hasn’t apologized to your mother. Flora and I will investigate,” Leona said. “Leave it to us.”
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