Chapter 365.2
“I’ll go, Mother.”
“Be careful, Your Majesty.”
Nicholas gazed at his mother, her color fading, and offered a reassuring smile.
“You need not worry about me. I’ve been discreet, ensuring that news of my absence from the kingdom doesn’t leak.”
Nicholas marveled at the miracle of being able to venture far from his mother without concern. Grateful for this newfound freedom, he vowed to repay those who made it possible.
In my youth, I failed to grasp my mother’s constant admonitions. She doubted my ability to care for myself when I was already grown.
Liza reflected wistfully on the past. Raised by a single, uneducated, and impoverished mother, she once felt ashamed of her origins, believing they were not fitting for Anika. She admitted to her own immaturity and selfishness.
However, in her middle age, as she revisited memories, Liza recognized the wisdom and strength of her mother despite lacking formal education.
“I’ve never shared this before,” she confessed. “The reason I journeyed to the Holy City and returned was because of my mother. It was her desire, believing that it was a parent’s responsibility to nurture their children properly. She told me, ‘You were the joy of my life, and you should do the same for your son.’ I made mistakes with my mother, but I couldn’t go against her wishes.”