Book 4: Chapter 20
“So that’s what happened. I understand.” The empress looked at Nier who was kneeling down on one knee in front of her, switched which leg went over the other, smiled and said, “Rise, Nier. It’s not your fault. It’s my son’s fault. I knew that this would happen. I knew he would go there. He’s not the type of child who would sit still just because he heard it was dangerous. It’s just that he was too naive.”
The empress stood up and walked up to Nier who was still kneeling. She stroked her head and said: “It’s been tough on you during this time, Nier. I haven’t had to worry since you were by my son’s side. You won’t need to bodyguard him in the coming days. I think it’s best if you two separate for some time.”
“Understood.”
Nier raised her head and looked at the empress. As she raised her head, she met eyes with the empress who was lowering her head. Nier reacted surprised and quickly lowered her head.
“You don’t have to be afraid, Nier.”
The empress smiled and pulled Nier up. She then stroked her face. Nier was shocked to receive love from the empress. When she came to see the empress, she had prepared herself for death. She never expected the empress to not blame her. The empress looked at her face and complimented her: “Nier, I feel that you are very beautiful, even as a female.”
“Your majesty… I……”
“No, I should say that you too are a woman.”
The empress hushed Nier who wanted to explain by placing her finger on her lips. Her pretty flower-petal-like lips that were soft and exquisite gently receded. The empress wore an expression that resembled a smile, but at the same time not as she looked at Nier and then said, “I know that you hate the fact that you are a female because your mother abandoned you and eloped with another man. However……”