Chapter 186 Reunion: Guilty?
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The Emperor's joy knew no bounds as he rushed to the Empress's side.
His heart swelled with happiness as he embraced her gently, tears of relief welling in his eyes even though he tried to remain calm.
He almost couldn't believe that, after all these years, his beloved Alfina had returned to him.
"Thank you, Arthur, thank you," the Emperor whispered, his voice filled with gratitude as he held his wife close.
Arthur nodded, understanding the depth of their emotions.
He went on to explain the Empress's condition and the nature of the antidote, omitting the details about its origin.
The Emperor didn't press for further information, accepting Arthur's discretion.
With the Empress now awake and conscious, the Emperor was eager to share the news with Anastasia.
He brought out a communication orb, a magical device capable of transmitting one's voice across great distances. With a deep breath, he activated it and spoke into it.
In a location shrouded in eerie darkness and permeated with a heavy, deathly essence known as Dark Yin Valley, Princess Anastasia stood before the sinister abyss that was the valley.
In a location shrouded in eerie darkness and permeated with a heavy, deathly essence known as Dark Yin Valley, Princess Anastasia stood before the sinister abyss that was the valley.
Her expression was solemn and fatigued, a testament to the perils she faced in this foreboding place.
Just as she stood there, her thoughts clouded with worry for her mother and the Empire, her communication orb vibrated.
She retrieved it from her spatial ring, her heart racing as she heard the Emperor's voice.
"Anna, return home. Your mother..."
"What happened to mother?!"
"Calm down child. Nothing bad happened, but rather it is the opposite."
"What, don't tell me she..."
Anastasia's eyes widened as a thought came to her but she didn't dare entertain it or she might be disappointed if it wasn't as she hopes.
At this time she heard another voice which dispelled all her doubts.
"Anna... mother is awake now..." The Empress's voice, albeit weak, reached Anastasia's ears, confirming the truth of the message.
Anastasia's shock quickly gave way to tears of joy.
Her mother, who had been lost to a mysterious slumber for years, was finally awake. She felt a rush of emotions, relief, and happiness flooding her heart.
With determination, she responded to the communication orb, her voice quivering with emotion. "I'm coming back. I'll return home as quickly as I can."
"We need to leave immediately. Bring me to the Royal City."
In an instant, she issued commands to the powerful guardian who guarded her from the shadows instructing her to use his swiftest means to transport her back to the heart of the Hartfield Royal City.
The void trembled as a mask female appeared and wrapped the princess in essence energy and zoomed through the air with great speed.
*Swish!*
After a few hours of swift travel, Anastasia arrived at the palace, her heart pounding with both anticipation and trepidation.
"Greetings, Princess!"
The greetings of the palace servants fell on deaf ears as she hurriedly made her way to the chamber where her mother lay.
Upon entering, her eyes darted around the room, landing first on Arthur, whose smile reassured her.
Although at another time she would have rushed to hug him but her mind was fully occupied by her mother's state.
Then her eyes shifted to see her father, sitting beside the bed, his own smile radiating relief.
Finally, her gaze found her mother, whose eyes, though weary, sparkled with love as they locked onto her daughter.
Tears welled up in Anastasia's eyes as she rushed to the Empress's side.
Her mother reached out a feeble hand, and they embraced each other with a deep, heartfelt hug.
Words of love and reunion flowed between them, filling the room with warmth and emotion.
"I miss you mother...I miss you so much..."
"It's okay...mother is here now."
As the tender moments unfolded, Anastasia couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.
She asked about what had happened during her absence, and the Emperor attributed the miraculous recovery to Arthur.
Anastasia's gratitude flowed, but beneath the surface, her emotions were more complex.
Turning her gaze to Arthur, she noticed the change in him over the past year.
"Thanks a lot Arthur. I don't know how you did it but I will be forever grateful," Anastasia gave a bow.
Arthur hurriedly waved his hands, "What are you doing? She's my mother too."
Anastasia smiled, she knew there was no need to say anything amongst family but she felt she had to do it regardless.
Arthur recounted the events leading to the Empress's awakening, glossing over certain details that were best left unspoken.
He just told them that he had met an esteemed and very powerful figure whose strength he is unable to estimate, and that figure had taken a liking to him and they became close friends.
He told them that it was this figure that made the pill for the Empress.
The others in the room where shocked upon hearing Arthur's words. Especially the Emperor who knew what it meant.
A person who can come and leave the palace without him or the Empire's Artifact sensing anything then the strength of such a figure must be well above the Nascent Soul Realm.
This made him tremble in shock a bit. But what was even more surprising to them was that Arthur said such a person befriended him?
Befriended and not taking as a disciple?
Being taken in as a disciple of such a figure was the normal route but what is going on here?
Nevertheless, they all trusted Arthur and didn't ask him more than what he said.
"Wow! A lot must have happened all this time you were away. You must definitely tell me all about it," Anastasia chuckled.
But as they all conversed, Arthur detected a fleeting expression of guilt on Anastasia's face, a momentary slip of emotion that didn't go unnoticed.
He also sensed the intricate mix of emotions within her – gratitude, guilt, and something else he couldn't quite decipher.
The family reunited, sharing laughter and conversation, strengthening their bond as they treasured this long-awaited moment.
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