You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 704

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"Empress! Information arrived from the south of the city!"

"What is it?"

"A giant wolf was seen attacking the enemy! Alongside it is your son Crown Prince Zeleskiaz!"

"What?! What is he doing here?! He’s supposed to be back at the Palace!"

"It was said they are moving fast while cleaning the battlefield with ease, your Majesty!"

"Tsk! I understand, keep defending the front! I am going to meet that rebellious child!" — The Empress, turning her mane instructed.

After her child had gone to the Emperor’s chambers she arrived with her youngest, who was sought immediately after the first great tremor. The situation had been learnt by her husband and yet...

"I am not going to hide. We feared Sverre would be part of this and his absence here as a tactician proves it. If you lead the troops it might end with more deaths of our men while he tries to reach your head, Francois."

"Then what are you saying we must do, Ingrid? Zeleskiaz is to go with Marianne, that is indisputable for she’s the Ninth, nothing can happen to her and we must protect Dioclecià while we also fight back the treason from Sverre! Why can’t you nod at my instructions for once, woman! Take Dioclecià and hide!!"

"Watch your tone you’re using with me! Don’t you know I’m better with the blade than you!?"

"This is not a matter of skill Ingrid!"

"Exactly! So we must be strategic! Haven’t you been keeping distance from our children all so you could be strategic without involving feelings!? And yet YOU are the one making this kind of decision!?"

"..."

"M-mother... what is happen-n-ning??"

"Shush... It is nothing... Go with your older brother, my love... Zeleskiaz you go ahead and do what you have to do, if your father and I lose it is you who must take the crown." — Making the boy walk to his brother’s side too sleepy to even open his eyes, Ingrid continued to say to her husband.

"Ingrid what are you saying in front of Dioclecià! Don’t move an inch Zeleskiaz!"

"Go, dear, don’t listen to him... control that beast inside you however, it is oozing its wish to kill through you." — Ignoring her husband, the Empress caressed the cheek of her firstborn, whose eyes of exception glanced at the enraged father gulping down wine to counter the frustration at his wife’s actions.

"I will... both of you stay safe." — He said, aloof as if not meaning any of his words. — "I don’t want my crown stained with his blood. My love will want both of you at our wedding also."

"Tsk! F*cking brat!! This child of yours can’t even say he wants us there! Look at what you raised, Ingrid!"

"Shut up, Francois! You know nothing!! Don’t you see it is his way to say he cares!!" — While the parents fought, the corner of Zeleskiaz’s mouth lifted, glad by the scene and truly pleased with his mother’s character when handling his annoying father. Taking his little brother’s hand with gentle care as he turned to leave.

"B-brother... I don’t under-s-stand..."

"It’s fine. Just come with me."

"Zeleskiaz!" — The empress said before he left. — "Your father is still right, that is no manner to say you love us. When I see you again I will teach you good ways again! Reflect on yourself!"

"Tsk..."

"HA! Serves you right brat! You’d better call me daddy after that!"

"Stop saying nonsense!! He’s twice as big as you are! I’m not done talking to you, Francois!" — The sons left after that, and after some squabbling between the couple... the current situation was planned.

— I am to lead the troops so that at least they can fight without the danger that protecting you implies. You go after Sverre. Your head comes first, after comes mine and then Zeleskiaz’s. He’s smart so he must know already what steps we might take but if we prefer your plan we might both die by our son’s hands at the same time. —

— ... your father will kill me again once he finds out I let you do this. —

— And yet he will still understand it is the best for our Empire and our children. —

— ... I distanced myself from the children and yet I still care about them more than necessary. —

— That’s because you got attached with just taking a glance at them, love... do you believe I don’t know you ordered a portrait to be made of each of them every month after they were born? —

— ... they were cute. Zeleskiaz was the cutest yet he has that annoying personality... it wasn’t supposed to be like this. —

— You didn’t want the crown and yet ended up with it avenging your other siblings... it is only natural that it didn’t turn out how you hoped. Nothing in life does... but that doesn’t mean we hate how it turned out. —

— ... Lead the troops and don’t die, Ingrid. —

— I won’t... you stop Sverre and who is backing him... if you die... I won’t forgive you.—

A promise was made with sad chuckles and soon, as she avoided and struck enemies to open her path, the silhouette of a deity was recognised alongside its heavy presence and her son’s enraged aura. Finally seeing him flung his weapon to cut in half those going after him mindlessly. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Zeleskiaz!!"

"?! Mother!? What are you doing here?!" — He asked bending down at the glare of his mother who jumped to slash the man trying to sneak an attack from behind her son’s back.

"I would like to ask that of you. Weren’t you supposed to be protecting Marianne? How did you end up here!?"

"That Fenrir dog brought me here. Anne is currently alone with that nauseating witch and I’m stuck here!"

"... that’s Fenrir?"

"Yes."

"Hm... oh my, look at you, your clothes are torn and bloody, Marianne will not like this appearance."

"... does that matter right now? She already saw me like this."

"Goodness. It will have to do, I guess. When you get back to her do not talk how you do with your father and I. He was sad about how you expressed yourself." — Turning around as she warned this last matter, Ingrid looked up at the great deity that growled entertained at the destruction he was provoking. — "Hey! My son is leaving! I will join your disaster, good Fenrir!"

— Grm?... Ingrid... healthy you seem as one born in Oregor’s far lands. Your roots served well their purpose, hence, I want your son to walk beside me... not you. —

"I am not asking you. My son is leaving, his hands are full of blood already."

— ... you want to take his place? —