Book 4: Chapter 21
“Son, I heard about what happened to you yesterday.”
I sat at the table and had my head down as I looked at the bread and honey in front of me. I quietly replied: “Sorry, mom.”
Nier was standing behind the empress opposite me. She had her hand on her sword handle as she trained her eyes ahead of her. She didn’t look at me.
“Ah…… No! That’s not it! Mommy isn’t criticising you! That’s not what mommy meant!!”
Mom waved her hands in a flustered fashion and loudly said, “Mommy wasn’t faulting you! Don’t be upset, son! Mommy really wasn’t blaming you! Really! Mommy is just worried about you. Mommy is very happy to see you happy. Mommy won’t criticise you because of what happened. Honest.”
I raised my head with a bitter smile on my face. I looked at mom who was desperately trying to explain herself, afraid that I would be upset, and replied: “It’s fine, mom. It was my mistake. I didn’t listen to your advice. I was overconfident and acted on my own, causing you trouble. I’m very sorry, mom. I’m very sorry. So please don’t worry mom. Critique me as you see fit.”
Half of my apology was to the empress, and the other half was to Nier. Mom stayed mull for a moment and scanned me as if it were the first time she’d seen me like this. Nier on the other hand didn’t budge. And no, she didn’t shift her line of sight. A moment later, mom smiled and in a relieved tone said: “Son, criticising someone is meant to serve to inform them of their mistake. Since you’re aware of your mistake now, what reason is there for mom to criticise you? What’s happened has happened. What we need to think about isn’t why it happened, but how to resolve it. I understand your method now. I don’t think your thinking was wrong. It’s just that you acted too hastily. This is good. Learn to keep your calm in the future, son.”
“Yes. Thank you, mom.”
I lowered my head and finished the food in front of me. I then stood up, looked at mom and said, “Mom, I’m leaving now.”