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“Please know that all I have done was to protect your mother. And thus, this kingdom… I will not claim to be agoodmale. I have committed sickening crimes, and I would do it all over again if it meant your mother was safe. I would ask that you do not assume I am not haunted by these things. You can rest assured that my day of reckoning will come, and I will welcome it because it means you, your mother, and Mareina will be safe…
“A me ka ‘olana kahai a lo… Ua 'ikei ‘ya a ua hikei mahka mea a lo e koa mo’ah puna 'ana a 'oei yaku.”
And all of your chosen family… All that you have dreamt, and more will come to pass.
Shellshocked, I could only stare as my Knowingness pressed upon me the truth of his words.
Gradually, I managed a distant nod, my own voice sounding foreign to my ears.
“Right…”
Several quiet moments passed before my mother spoke.
“I understand it will take some time to adjust to this news, but… Once you arrive at the palace, I'll be there to assist.”
It came as no surprise to me that he was already aware of our plan. Between his gifts and my mother’s, they were nigh omniscient. I was wary of even my own relief that he was supposedly onourside.
We studied each other briefly, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the tactics my mother had taught me to shield my mind had ultimately come from him.
“Miroslav and I will be waiting for you in the kitchen… If you’d join us as soon as you're ready, it would bring me immense joy to have us all in one room together for the first time in…”
My mother's words drifted off, catching herself, but I was reeling too wildly to pay it any mind. She cleared her throat before finishing her sentence.
“Take your time, maha loha.”
My love.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Mareina offer my mother an apologetic smile, and my mother reached out to squeeze her hand appreciatively.
What the fuck in Akash’s name am I missing?
The second Miroslav and my mother left, shutting the door behind her, I fixed my gaze on Mareina.
“What were you shown? And what doesMiroslavhave to do with it?”
Mareina drew a deep, steadying breath as the tear in her forest green eyes renewed.
“Nakoa… If I tell you, I fear it will alter the course of things. And it didn’t show me the future. It showed me…The past.”
My brows furrowed in confusion.My past?What did Miroslav have to do withmypast? I’d only ever encountered the male once…
Mareina shook her head in resignation.
“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I can’t imagine it would change anything other than perhaps that it might bring you a little more peace about Miroslav being your mother’s mate… But… It wasn’t just during the war that he spared you your life or because he gave me thegrá root.”
My brows leapt at the confirmation. Mareina raised her hand as she shook her head.
“I can’t say anything more… I’m sorry.”
Much to my surprise, dinner passed by jovially for the most part. There was unmistakable wariness and tension from myolana kah’hei,but after Miroslav illuminated us to the fact that he was fully supportive of any and all efforts made against Zurie, had spared my life on multiple occasions, and would actively be working behind the scenes to misdirect her so that our efforts would be successful eased their tension enough for us to have an enjoyable meal together.
To say the least, my mind was fuckingblown.
All eyes had been drawn to me when discussions of future Uprising efforts - like our trip to Vyssini - came up, which shortly shifted to the basics of our plan to overthrow Zurie. My mother and Miroslav had listened as though they had already heard me say it 1,000 times.
“You’ll need more than just The Uprising to swear their fealty to you once you’re King,” Miroslav added lightly.
My gut gave a foreboding churn.
