Chapter 168: Letters Unanswered
Months had passed, and Ariana grew more and more worried. She understood that wars were supposed to take time, but this one... it had been almost a year. Just two more months, and it would mark a full year.
The sun had already set, and the sky was beautiful and calm—a complete contrast to Ariana’s heart right now.
She held her little one in her arms while Lady Leah prepared milk for her. Leah was at the table, pouring it into the feeding can, while Ariana stood by the window. Her baby, Anavren, stared up at her with silk-black hair and golden eyes that seemed to glow. Her hair had been growing faster than usual, and her eyes watched her mother intently, as if wondering where her mother’s gaze was drifting. Ariana realized her baby was becoming smarter by the day.
"Ma...ma."
The soft little voice broke through Ariana’s thoughts, and she snapped out of her daze. Her eyes widened as she realized her baby had been worried about her.
She let out a gentle laugh, still in disbelief.
"Oh, Princess Vreni was so worried she had to call my name," Ariana said softly. Both she and Leah chuckled.
Ariana knew her little baby was just as calculative as her father, and she was certain she would inherit his traits.
"What a smart girl you have, Luna Ariana. Are you aware she can now sit without support? This baby is growing into a very clever daughter," Leah said warmly.
Leah had been a great support throughout this month, helping with the baby, and she did everything with her heart. Some nights, Leah would insist on staying, saying she would sleep on the sofa when she noticed that Her Highness’s mood was a little down, even though her work time had ended. Ariana, always pleased with her, would tell her she should go, as Jacky would be expecting her. Leah would always respond, smiling, that Jack was a big boy.
Ariana had placed Lady Leah in a special place in her heart for her kindness.
Ariana smiled, though her heart immediately turned to Zavren. She wished he was here to see this. Last month, she had tried sending him a letter..not just a letter—she had sent a couple of letters, but they had told her it was impossible for him to reply. Still, she prayed he had read it.
That was the least she hoped for, because she missed him deeply. Each day without him left her body restless—how much longer was this war going to last? It was becoming more concerning than she dared admit.
Why did it feel never-ending? She knew she wasn’t supposed to complain, but she couldn’t help it. She had never wanted this war.
She wished it would just end, and everyone could go their separate ways and reconcile the fact that lives were being lost. People losing family members was very disheartening, and for it to take so long—did that mean it was a non-stop war? She was curious..deeply curious.
Sighing, she pulled herself back to reality. Her little one stared at her with curious eyes once more. Ariana smiled as she sat on the bed, pinching her baby’s cheeks lightly.
"Say mama," she whispered, helping Vreni sit up on her lap. The baby gazed at her, then turned her eyes elsewhere, distracted. Ariana didn’t mind—she had already said it earlier, and that alone meant the world.
"Ma...ma."
Her baby’s sweet voice rang again, and Ariana’s lips stretched into a wide smile. Her heart melted as she looked at the little girl, joy filling her face.
Those bright eyes studied Ariana, and she brushed her hair away from her daughter’s face. Soon, Vreni would be turning one. Ariana wished her husband would be here to celebrate, but... she didn’t know anymore.
"Say Dada," Ariana encouraged softly. It was the first time she had taught her little one this word. Vreni always said "Mama" and a few other babyish sounds, but never "Dada." Ariana didn’t know why, but she wanted her daughter to understand that she didn’t just have a mother—she had a father too.
"Ma...ma," Vreni said again, babbling other words after.
Ariana smiled gently. Step by step,
she thought."Lady Ariana, her food is ready," Leah spoke softly.
Ariana nodded with a smile. It was genuine, but Leah could still see through it. Behind those eyes, she noticed the queen’s sadness. This was the longest Ariana had ever gone without seeing her husband. Strong as she appeared in handling matters lately, Leah could tell—Ariana was truly missing him.
Ariana stood just as Lady Emberg rolled the little food cart to the side. Gently, she handed little Vreni to Leah.
"Ma...ma," the baby called softly, and Ariana laughed, pinching her cheeks lightly.
"Princess, I’ll be back. Aunt Leah will take care of you," she said with a smile before turning to Leah.
"I’ll be going to meet the Queen Mother," she added, and Leah gave her a respectful nod.
Ariana and Zavren’s mother had been getting along, though Ariana had noticed one thing—the lady spoke very little. And when she did, it was often in proverbs, rarely directly. Most of the time, she spent her hours outside, staring into the thin evening air.
Ariana stepped out of the room, certain she would meet Lady Stephanie later, who was probably busy with her music. Ariana never liked disturbing her when she was at it.
Descending the stairs, Ariana thought to herself that the Queen Mother would not be in her room by now. Stepping outside, she found her as expected—sitting on a bench, her expression neutral as always, eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
Ariana always wondered what thoughts occupied her mind, but she never asked. She could sense the woman carried many secrets, and the few already revealed had shocked not just her, but many.
At Ariana’s approach, the Queen Mother turned, her hair brushing back in the wind. A soft smile graced her face as she tapped the chair beside her, motioning for Ariana to sit. Ariana returned the smile and sat down.
"Queen Mother, I hope you are well. I came to disturb you a bit," Ariana teased lightly.
The lady’s smile widened, and a small laugh followed. "Then you would have to try harder, because you did not disturb me."
Ariana chuckled. "No, Queen Mother, I really could—but if I did, that would be harsh, and I would feel like a bad person."
The Queen Mother’s smile softened. "You know, every time I look at you, you remind me of a friend of mine. You look just like her. Back then, I thought you were her, and I was so surprised."
Ariana’s curiosity grew. She remembered the day when the Queen Mother had called another name by mistake. Now she understood.
"If I may ask... what was her name, Queen Mother?" Ariana asked softly.
The old woman’s gaze drifted to the birds in the sky, a faint smile on her lips. "Her name was Lady Persephone," she said, raising her hand gently before lowering it again.
"She was known for her otherworldly beauty. Many wanted her—many princes, too. But she was not of royal blood. The king grew annoyed, for each time a prince came, he would ignore the princesses and ask for that one maiden.
So, the king made a decree: any prince who came again asking for her hand would instead have to marry a princess of his choosing. After that, it stopped. No prince dared risk it, fearing the king might give them someone they did not desire.
"So, I took her in. She became my personal maid. And when something tragic happened... she was the one who saved me."
Her voice trailed off, leaving Ariana even more curious. A maid saving a royal was rare. What could have happened?
"Did something happen, Queen Mother?" Ariana asked softly.
The woman let out a light laugh and shook her head. "Oh, what a curious queen you are. That story will be for another day—not today."
Ariana wanted to press further but held her tongue. Another question stirred in her heart, one she had carried for months, though she had never dared ask. She hesitated, wondering if it would come out wrong.
The Queen Mother, ever observant, turned her calm gaze on her. "Speak," she said softly, her words measured and controlled.
Ariana took a deep breath. "King Zavren..." she paused, her voice trembling before she continued, "Your son... you’ve never asked of him. Never spoken of him..."
Her voice cracked, and she fell silent, wondering if there was some rift between them.
The old lady smiled faintly. "Because I don’t want to feel pain."
Ariana raised a brow, confusion clouding her eyes.
"This is the fourth war," the Queen Mother said quietly, "and the last seer foretold that the fourth war would be the worst war—the war that would kill the king."
The words struck Ariana like a blow and before she knew it her vision blurred.