The family sat quietly and enjoyed their meal . Kyera felt oddly at ease now, the Emperor seemed to understand her warning and wasn't challenging it as of yet . The Empress Eve and Empress Dowager seemed to be calm and collected themselves . Kyera couldn't help but bask in the warmth of being nested between Clovis and Raina' spirits . It felt like home .
Once the meal was complete, Raina went off to play with a servant girl in the garden nearby . Not sensing danger, Kyera waited patiently . She knew this had gone too well . When were these ladies going to remove the fur gloves?
Advertisement"Kyera, you seem to be more mannered and cultured than we expected . I must be honest, the forest royals have always been so secretive . Tell us a bit about your position?" The Empress dowager asked curiously . Kyera smiled taking the question as much more than face value . It would be a tricky one to answer .
"We, as a people we are quiet . It isn't that we are secretive, we just don't have time to be otherwise . So few knights carry our mantel that we have to maintain schedule to take care of things . My second in command . . my brother in life maintains things while I am here . " Kyera explained without giving up too much . Eve was suddenly curious .
"So few of you? The knights were always such a strong force . I didn't know your numbers had decreased . " she added and Kyera looked away . She was right, they had always been a strong force . That was up until over half their kind was slaughtered .
"The forest Knights suffered heavy casualties during the war . The Extermination of the shifters took many good men and women from us . " Kyera replied keeping her tone as even as she could . The image of the Ash Garden still burned into her mind . These women had no idea the suffering of the forest folk nor how deep the layer of ash was in the garden after those murders . So many shifters filled the pyers and their ash added to the garden .
"I see . I take it you disapproved of the war?" The Empress asked carefully and Kyera nodded .
"It wasn't a war . It was a extermination, my lady . A war requires two sides to attack each other . The shifters never attacked the humans, it was the humans who insisted to fight . " Kyera replied firmly, she refused to mince words . No matter who she pretended to be, or who spoke of that monstrosity, she wouldn't back down .
"I see . I have never thought of it this way . " Empress Evelyn admitted, honestly surprised she would be so blunt . No one dared criticize the war before, not so openingly in court or just in the palace .
"History is written by the victors . Ashes are known for their silence . " Kyera replied taking a sip of her wine . She didn't want to continue this conversation . It was already hard to keep her tone even .
"Kyera, it seems you have agreed to become Clovis' wife? Does the question of Raina's mother bother you?" The Empress Dowager asked, honestly being rather blunt . Kyera smiled .
"Raina is a blessing, her birth mother gave Clovis a beautiful gift and it is a pity she didn't get to enjoy her . That being said, no it does not bother me . Having lost her mother so young, I understand Raina . I lost both my parents at a early age . Just because she isn't from my womb, doesn't mean she isn't mind . " Kyera replied, her tone loving and motherly . Both older women shared a look but seemed to approve .
"I see . Are you aware you may not be Empress?" The Empress Dowager continued . Kyera smiles brightly .
Chapter end
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