The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 115
## Chapter 115
Suddenly, a strong wind blew through the scattered clouds, violently shaking the strands of Guinevere’s hair, making her figure look blurred.
Talia froze in her place like a statue, and then lowered her gaze toward the rippling pond.
It was not the news Guinevere had delivered that hurt her the most, but rather her attitude of enjoyment at her pain that shattered her heart.
Talia held back her internal turmoil and managed to articulate a barely calm voice:
—Have you come all this way just to tell me such rumors? It seems Your Majesty has more free time than I thought.
—How could that be?
Guinevere seemed to lose her enthusiasm at Talia’s cold reaction, and the corner of her mouth drooped.
—I told you, I wanted to see with my own eyes how you and your husband lived. And, if possible, I intended to draw the Duke of Shierkan to our side.
A sigh heavy with disappointment escaped from between her lips.
—But it seems he is unmovable. Your husband is determined to make Garis emperor.
—And what did you expect then?
Talia let out a nervous laugh.
—Did you think he would change his stance immediately just because I married him?
—I cannot say I did not expect it at all.
Guinevere looked toward the castle walls covered by the evening light and replied calmly.
A leaf swept by the wind brushed her cheek. She caught it quickly, spun it between her fingers, and then crushed it as she continued:
—Varkas always showed emotional reactions toward you. I noticed a long time ago that something in you moved him. Therefore, I hoped you would shake him more strongly.
Guinevere threw the remains of the leaf to the wind and then turned toward Talia.
Talia read the reproach in her eyes, and her face tensed.
The Empress looked at her daughter, who had disappointed her, with a reprimanding gaze for a moment, and then shifted her view toward the knights waiting in the distance.
—In reality, it seems your husband cares a lot about you. His caution regarding the possibility of me harming you was quite interesting.
—…
—But unfortunately, he does not seem to consider you important enough to break his old promise.
Talia looked at her with a pale face, trying to restrain herself to prevent her expression from collapsing.
She already knew this. There was no reason to feel hurt now.
She raised her head firmly.
—I… do not care whom Varkas supports. Whether Garis becomes emperor or Asros, that is none of my business. So do not try to drag me into your battle!
—You are already part of this battle.
Those eyes, deep as an abyss, suddenly drew near. Guinevere leaned toward her and spoke to her as if engraving the words in her mind:
—This is something that was decided the day you were born. Do you think Garis, if he becomes emperor, will tolerate your existence?
Talia stammered, unable to find an answer.
Guinevere insisted with a cruel tone:
—Garis will not care that you are the Duchess of the East. Even if it means earning the enmity of the Shierkan family, he will try to destroy you. It seems Varkas Laidgo Shierkan believes he can stop Garis, but he does not realize that to do so, he would have to kill him with his own hands.
Her words, almost prophetic, pierced to the bones of her spine.
Without giving her a chance to respond, Guinevere continued the attack:
—Your husband is blind when it comes to emotions. Trapped in the castle of reason, he does not see the madness of human beings. He does not see Garis’s hatred, nor Ayla’s love. He does not understand how destructive hatred is, nor to what extent love can make a person miserable. Your husband will ultimately contribute to your destruction, to mine, and to that of Asros.
Talia stepped back like someone denying that reality. But strong fingers dug into her skin.
Guinevere gripped her daughter’s shoulders tightly and finally revealed the essence of their conversation:
—Therefore, Talia, you must help me.
—What… what can I do? I have no power…!
—Give an heir to the Duke’s family.
Talia’s eyes froze. For a moment, it seemed as if all her thoughts had evaporated.
Even over the sound of the strong wind, Guinevere’s request continued:
—And make that child friends with Asros. Just as your husband is loyal to Garis, your son must be a faithful servant to my son.
—Stop talking nonsense!
Talia shouted as she tried to break free from her, struggling to push her away.
—Was it not enough to use me, and now you want to use a child who hasn’t even been born for your ambitions? Why should I do that? Why…?!
—Because that is the path for your survival.
Guinevere’s tone became even more severe.
—Why do you not understand that if Asros does not become emperor, you will also be finished? Garis is also your enemy. For ten years, you stubbornly kept hurting them both. Did you think leaving the palace would free you from all that karma? Even after having snatched Ayla’s fiancé away from her?
—It was you who pushed me to…
—All of those were your decisions.
Her fierce voice silenced Talia’s protest.
—Even if it were not my request, you will have to give birth to a child eventually. If you fail to engender an heir, it will not be just Garis who will demand a divorce, but also the nobles of the East. At that moment, how will your husband react?
A sharp mockery appeared on Guinevere’s lips.
—Answer, Talia. Will Varkas Laidgo Shierkan protect you even if it means betraying the Crown Prince, Ayla, his relatives, and his vassals?
Talia froze for a moment at the cruel question and then screamed like someone resisting:
—If Varkas wants a divorce, so be it! If Garis wants to kill me… let him do it! I didn’t even choose to be born…!
As Talia screamed like a cornered animal, she suddenly caught her breath. The look of contempt in Guinevere’s eyes extinguished her will to resist in an instant.
The woman who was once her entire world looked at her with a face full of disgust and said:
—Do you know something? Many animals abandon their weak offspring. That increases the chances of survival for the mother and the rest of the offspring.
Talia stared at her eyes, deep as mud, with a stupefied face. She had finally brought to light the threat that her eyes had been whispering for years.
—But humans, unlike animals, cannot abandon their children so easily. That is the reason why I have not abandoned you until now.
Fingers as soft as rose petals rested on her pale cheeks. Only then did Talia realize she was crying.
Imitating the touch of a mother comforting her daughter, Guinevere whispered sweetly into her ear:
—You are not going to believe this, Talia, but I have feelings too. The day you were born, I felt it. You were beautiful, identical to me, and it was a pleasure to watch you grow. Those feelings prevented me from abandoning you after you became useless.
The image of her mother became distorted through the tears that welled up. However, her voice echoing in her ears became clearer and clearer.
—So do not disappoint me anymore.
Talia bit her lips.
The bitter taste of tears and the faint taste of blood mixed on the tip of her tongue. Sobs clogged her throat, preventing her from breathing properly.
—Have you understood the meaning of my words?
Talia barely nodded her head, and lips as cold as ice brushed her eyes.
“Is this what it feels like to kiss a corpse?”
Talia gazed at Guinevere’s face, which showed a smile of satisfaction, and then lowered her eyes toward the garden covered by the nightfall. In the twilight, their two intertwined shadows stretched out like a deformed monster.
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