Book 8: Chapter 47
I ignored Castell when I arrived at the inner court.
‘Castell is technically a victim in this incident, but at the same time, he didn’t report it despite being aware of it. Had he told us everything he knew from the start, all of that could’ve been avoided. Hence, I don’t have any positive feelings for him. If anything, I resent him. Furthermore, he’s loyal to the Empress, not me, so I don’t need to pretend for his sake.’
I entered Mommy Elizabeth’s room and spotted her sitting on her bed, looking out the window with a slightly nervous look. She smiled then tapped her thighs, “Come here, Son. What should be done must be done. You did storm into the royal family’s cemetery for no good reason, damaged a grave and killed Valkyries. Like you, Mommy is very angry, too, so get over here and lie on Mommy’s thigh!”
‘You’re not angry, are you?! What part of you shows that you’re angry?!’
“I think I shouldn’t, Mom… I… I know I was wrong now… I shouldn’t have been so impulsive. But Mom, you were in the wrong first. Can’t I be a little wilful, too…?”
“They’re two different things. Just because others commit a mistake, that doesn’t make it a reason for you to commit a mistake, as well, Son.” Mom looked at me. She pat her thigh again while looking anxious. She continued, “Hurry up and come here, Son. Mommy could acknowledge Mommy was wrong in front of so many people, so can’t you acknowledge you were wrong in front of Mommy? And isn’t it very normal for a mother to spank her son?”
“Not when I’m at this age!”
“Who said that?! Come here, Son; otherwise, I’ll come over and forcefully pull you into my embrace!”
“Don’t, don’t, don’t. I’ll come over!”