"You are so afraid of letting rotten things enter the mainland. But I wonder… if the thought that this bad apple was already on the mainland came across your mind, corrupting everything it had contact with?"
There was a moment of silence between Aries and Miguel, slowly stopping in their tracks. Aries snapped her eyes as she turned to face him squarely.
"Compared to the years I existed, you had lived ten — hundred times longer than that. However, I believe those numbers are worth nothing if we consider the years you were locked in this palace. My experience in this mere existence taught me enough lessons, Lord Miguel." She kept a subtle smile. "One of them was lessons from people — different types of people who stepped into my life to either lift it in the dark or trample it in broad daylight."
"Sometimes, we get fixated on a small detail, not knowing it was nothing but a small detail." She released his arm, resuming her careful steps. "That is why we stand at a distance to see the entire canvass."
Miguel clenched his teeth, making his jaw tighten. His eyes lingered on her back, breathing out deeply.
"Why did you come today, Your Majesty?" he blurted out, stopping her tracks. "Are you here to tell me to stop inspecting the fort and focus on something else?"
Aries turned around ever so slowly. "No. I told you the reason."
"About what you said…"
"It's the advice you might already know, but waiting to hear it from someone else." She shrugged and then tilted her head to the side. "Am I wrong?"
Miguel balled his hand to his side slightly, taking a step until lessened the distance between them. When he stood before her, he looked right into her eyes.
"I made a promise," he reminded her under his breath. "I will stop them from harming you, but at the same time, I cannot neglect the duties I have as a citizen of this land."
"Foolish," she whispered, making his pupils constrict. "You want to save everyone and wish that no one will shed blood. Truly amusing, but it was foolish."
Aries faced him squarely, raising her chin to not feel the difference in their stature. "You remind me of someone I know. He was the kindest person I had ever met in my life, but his idealistic perspective cost him his head."
"You cannot save everyone, Lord Miguel. There will be sacrifices you must do to attain your goal — nothing is free in this world," she continued, letting out a soundless chuckle. "The reason I am here, standing before you and in this very land, is because I wanted something for free."
"If not time, people will start coming at you, telling you to pay the debts you don't remember owing." Aries slowly raised her hand, fixing his brooch delicately. "Do you know why this happens?"
Keeping her hands on the brooch, she lifted her eye at him. "Because I was focused on a small detail, not knowing that the light color I had been staring at was just a small dot in a dark canvas."
"Take a step back." She retrieved her hands from him and then flashed him a short smile. "Shall we continue? Please refrain from talking to me so formally. I do not want to delay everyone if they knew the queen is here."
"Why are you saying all this to me?" before Aries could turn and continue their walk, these words already rolled out of Miguel's lips. "I wonder if you are trying to confuse me or help me, Your Majesty?"
"Think of it however you like. But if you truly want to know more, accompany me for the day." Aries smiled. "Using you as an excuse will be better even if I returned late."
Aries cocked her head to the side, smiling. "What do you say?"
Miguel clenched his teeth while holding her gaze. After a moment of nothing but silence, a deep exhale slipped past his nostrils.
"If you take another step, you might trip," he said, marching toward her until he was standing beside her. "There's a shallow hole in there. It'll be embarrassing if you fall and stain yourself with mud."
Miguel offered his arm, which made her smile.
"Oh, my. That would be embarrassing, indeed." She clasped his arm, allowing him to guide her as they continued their stroll.
"Earlier, you mentioned being caged…" Miguel trailed off, peeking at her to see her reaction. "That is meant as humor, isn't it?"
Aries chuckled, casting him a meaningful but brief look. "What do you think?"
"I heard you were a princess in a small kingdom before you became the empress of the empire Abel Grimsbanne was governing," he explained. "Did he hurt you?"
"Haha…" Aries rocked her head, shaking her head in amusement. "So you didn't hear the full story?"
"Pardon?"
"It seems Your Lordship doesn't like digging into things unless it was necessary. I'd take it as you are not as interested in me as I thought you were."
"Please do not misunderstand."
"I'm jesting." Another wave of brief chuckle slipped past her lips. "Of course, you don't know since you were on an expedition. You can only rely on the hearsay and little details your estate gives you."
Aries smiled, gazing ahead and stopping in a spot where everyone was crossing busily while she watched them from there.
"I heard the Rothschild Clan had many businesses and some of them were under your name," she said, keeping her attention on the people walking in every direction, carrying crates or packages. "One of them was the mines in the northern region. I heard you would visit the mining site several times a year. I assume you know a thing or two about mining."
"What does that have to do with this?"
Aries looked at him, keeping her smile. "Why don't you use that skill, Lord Miguel?" her eyes shone faintly but alluringly.
"Who knows?" she shrugged. "You might dig up golds. Tons and tons of them."
Miguel fixed his eyes on her beautiful face and understood what she meant. She wanted him to investigate her to know what had yet known to him.
"Fine." He nodded. "If you can't say it yourself, I'll figure it out myself."
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