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However, with Seren blessing the land as he Deity of Earth, her divine powers negated the \'curse\' within the capital of Abetha, returning them to their original state. Flowers could naturally bloom once more depending on their rightful seasons.

The queens sat  around a beautiful tea table after greeting each other respectfully, civil like strangers, rather than as mother and child. After the servants served them tea and snacks, they stepped aside to let the two women have the privacy they wanted.

"I believe Queen Seren had a good time while spending time here in Abetha," Niobe said with grace.

"It was surely better than the time I had spent here before," Seren replied, her words cutting despite her voice being polite. She didn\'t intend to mock Niobe, but she was telling the truth.

"I am glad to hear that. I must say, going to another kingdom sure made you mature."

"I won\'t deny the claim, Queen Niobe. I am glad I could leave this kingdom and see a clear picture of the outside world. I can understand the people better and see things through more clearly."

"Experience is the best way to become a wise person," Niobe replied as she sipped on the honeyed tea.

Seren nodded and said after a short silence between the two, "Queen Niobe, would you like to hear a story?"

"What kind of story?"

"A story which I can clearly understand now, just to show you an example of how I can understand things now."

"Is that so? Then, it is only proper for me to listen."

Seren offered the woman a light smile. Unfortunately, it was hidden under her veil.

"It is a story of an extraordinary royal princess. Not only is she renowned for her beauty, but she is intelligent, excelling both in the arts and dealing with high society, capable and wise, the most desirable woman worthy of ruling a kingdom even on her own. Some say, it was a pity she was born a female, for with her qualities she would have made an excellent ruler on her own.

"Outstanding young noblemen and chivalrous princes from every kingdom sought to ask her hand for marriage, offering her promises of a life of luxury and power. Invitations and proposals had flooded her doors, but at her coming-of-age ceremony, she made an unexpected announcement. It was her choice of a husband.

"Of her many capable suitors, she rejected them all in favor of a scandalous marriage to a man who showed no interest in her, a young king who was grieving over the demise of his beloved queen after giving birth to their only child."

With the last statement,Niobe\'s hand which was holding the teacup flinched. But that was all. She was a woman who had trained to control her emotions all her life. She didn\'t show anything on her face.

Seren continued as if she did not notice this, "That princess decided to marry that particular king, surprising everyone, even her own family. No one knew the reason. That kingdom was neither the strongest nor the wealthiest, and its king was mediocre. She was not even forced to marry under pressure nor was there of any political significance.

"It was her own choice."

At that, Niobe merely sipped on her tea.

"Once married, she tried her best to be a good wife, a good queen and even a better mother.

"Even after having wedded a wife, this young king would not stop grieving for his deceased first wife. The princess, now the new queen of another kingdom,  understood her husband\'s sadness and respectfully gave him time to mourn. She loved her husband unconditionally and did her best to support him.

"She took care of his kingdom, showering even her newly gained stepson, never treating him as if he was not her own blood. She didn\'t have her own child till the prince was old enough and sacrificed her youth. A selfless wife, but was she really selfless?"

In response, Niobe simply stayed quiet.

Seren shook her head. "She might have been kind, but she too was human with a heart. She was not selfless. In return, she hoped to earn the affection of her husband, that the grieving king would look at her and love her sincerely. She waited and waited and waited for a long time.

"However, even after she had a child with him, she never gained his heart. She then accepted her fate and understood that her husband\'s heart would only belong to his deceased wife. A complete defeat. After all, how could one fight against the precious memory of the dead? In the king\'s heart, his first wife would forever remain pure and perfect.

"However, just as this queen was about to put down all her expectations, accepting her fate that her husband would never open his heart and love another… an ugly witch appeared and handed over a child to her husband. It was his ill begotten child with another woman."

The grip on Niobe\'s hand on the tea cup tightened, but aside from her lips growing pale, she did her best to keep her emotions in check.

"It was a blow to the Queen\'s pride—and at that moment, her heart broke all over again. So long she waited for the King to love her, but she failed to gain his affection. Yet now she learned that the King betrayed her trust and hurt her pride by having another woman, even having the audacity to conceive a child with her.

"Rage. Betrayal. Grief. Humiliation. One could only guess what the Queen felt at that moment, but she loved the King so much that she quietly wept and wallowed in pain. She had her own dignity and pride, and she would never let anyone see her weak side— after all, she had always been a strong, proud woman.

How could she let a third woman create a rift between her and her husband?

"However, things had changed. She was no longer the same warm and loving wife she once was. She had to protect herself as well her own family and reputation, but the naive hope she once had that she would be loved back had disappeared.

"Her husband\'s betrayal, she needed to take that anger out on someone, and who else should receive her wrath and hatred if not the reminder of his infidelity, the illegitimate princess brought to the royal palace?

"Her existence was a painful reminder of what she did not gain, her unclear background a symbol of humiliation for the royal family. She hated the child. She wanted that child gone. She could not tolerate the sight of that child, and many times, she attempted to send that child away.

"That child was a subject of hate all her life. Her life might not be targeted, but she was almost driven to insanity by her stepmother. That princess grew up never understanding what she did wrong to others, why she never received love from her family nor why her life was so miserable, she was basically living as a prisoner in her own homeland.

"The Queen finally succeeded to send her away through marriage, cutting off ties with her because she never considered that child a part of her family. That princess left the kingdom, not expecting to live a good life, better than she could ever dream about. She was blessed with happiness, surrounded by people who saw her as she is and did not judge her baselessly.

"That child… I guess, sometimes, she wondered if the Queen was truly happy after sending her away…"

Seren stopped as she poured tea in her cup and offered, "Would you like more tea, Queen Niobe?"

The shaken queen could only quietly put her cup down and Seren filled it with another round of tea.

"Queen Niobe, I have one question."

Without hesitating, Niobe straightaway looked into Seren\'s eyes. "Feel free to ask, Queen Seren."

"Who do you think is the most pitiful person in this entire story?" Seren asked.

Niobe had a sip of tea and answered calmly, "That child, of course, who was hurt in the matters between adults."

Seren observed the older woman for a while. She could not help but think highly of  Niobe\'s elegant composure. She was truly a strong woman, worthy of admiration.

"I think you are wrong, Queen Niobe," Seren spoke.

Niobe offered a puzzled look and Seren answered her unspoken question.

"The most pitiful person in this story was the Queen who could never get her husband\'s heart despite her sincerity. All her sacrifices and efforts were for naught, and maybe she will always remain devoid of his love. What can be more painful, more pitiful than not being able to gain what she wanted the most—the King\'s heart?"

Niobe\'s blue eyes did not stray away from Seren\'s purple ones. Even though they were clearly shaken, Niobe held still. Her pain, she would never say it out loud, and it would never be shown.  Her pride would never allow her to.

"What more," Seren continued, "the illegitimate princess married off to another kingdom discovered her worth, and she has nothing but gratitude for the Queen for sending her away."

"Glad to know that child found her happiness," Niobe commented, a faint albeit sad smile gracing her beautiful face.

"Now that child has become a wife herself, she can understand the complicated emotions of the Queen. She doesn\'t detest the Queen for making her a target of her anger but instead feels sad for the Queen that her presence caused pain to her.

"That child is fortunate, as her husband dearly values her and vice-versa. She cannot even imagine the pain she would feel if her husband was to accept another woman in his life. Maybe, she too would turn as cruel as the Queen."

At that, Seren put down her teacup.

"The child won\'t forgive the Queen as that child had suffered her entire life and neither did the Queen have the intention of apologizing, but she doesn\'t hate the Queen either, for the Queen\'s pain was not of her own making. Instead, the child wishes to apologize to the Queen on her mother\'s behalf."

Seren\'s purple eyes held a sheen of tears.

"Queen Niobe, these words will never bring back time, and it might never heal the broken pieces of your heart, but for causing you pain, as the daughter of those who trampled on your pride as a wife, a mother and a queen, please accept this child\'s sincere apology."

Niobe froze in place.