Ed stood there straight, his eyes down, staring at the huge pomegranate flower two steps away on the carpet without squinting, mixed feelings.

He was sure that Moira had not done it on purpose, and that with what he knew about the queen, she probably didn't even know that this sunny flower hall was where Antre Boford had met him the last time he had been in Lockburg.

He had never been a fan of Lockburg, but it seemed to be colder than ever, and even the summer sun couldn't brighten and warm it. Even though Ante is dead, the rumors of his death have faded from the gossip of the people, and the shadow of unease still remains in every corner of the castle...... And people twinkle in their eyes.

The door was abruptly pushed open, and Ed spun around, but before he could salute, Moira had already hurried over and grabbed his hand.

"Oh, Ed......" she whispered, then she bit her lower lip and couldn't say anything more, just looked at him with sad eyes, her eyes quickly reddening.

Before Ed could react, she had reached out and taken Ed into her arms, and she didn't let go for a long time.

I didn't know where to put my hands, but my tense shoulders slowly relaxed. Ed cleared his throat a little embarrassed, finally having a chance to respectfully call out "Your Majesty...... Although in this posture, his completely ceremonial tone seemed rather strange.

But he couldn't push Moira away - it was obviously more rude, so he let her hug and listen to her repeat in his ear, "I'm sorry...... I'm sorry......"

Her voice was full of guilt, and her "sorry" wasn't just because he had lost his mother...... But other than that. Ed didn't feel like she had anything to be sorry about at all.

In fact, he felt it was him who owed an apology - he almost killed Ante, regardless of what the man had done. Both were always the kings of Rutteger, her husband...... and the father of her three children.

When the flames of vengeance burned sanity to ashes, he didn't think of any of this at all.

That's why he came to Lockburg. The assassination of the king was an irrefutable capital crime, although when the plague struck, Ante went mad, and Scott saved Ston Buch, rebellion. Coronation of a new king...... After all this chaos, almost no one remembered that he had ever tried to kill Ante - and even if they did, no one could cure him. After all, Scott is probably considered an accomplice in the eyes of people...... But who can do anything with him?

The best way to do this is to forget...... It can only be forgotten.

Although Scott was unimpressed, Ed insisted that Moira be ...... Even the forgiveness of King Frederick. But when it makes him feel guilty, his purpose is not so pure.

Before leaving Kriessburg. Alan reminded him specifically. All the things that have been "forgotten", one day, someone will remember...... He needed a more radical solution, and he needed to try to dispel the shadow cast by his past mistakes on the path he was going to walk in the future—especially when the road was already foggy and thorny.

But Moira's apology was so sincere...... It was so sincere that he couldn't open his mouth at all.

"I've always wanted to go north to see you, to see ...... Walla. Moira let go of him, reached out to wipe the tears from her face, and smiled at him reluctantly. "But there's never time...... I know I owe you much, Ed. I owe you an explanation—" she shook her head, "no, I owe you a lot of explanations, although there are many things I haven't figured out until now, and probably never will......"

She stopped suddenly, as if realizing that she was starting to speak incoherently.

“...... Anyway, I'm glad you're still willing to come and see me. She whispered.

Ed was speechless.

"I was supposed to kneel in front of you and ask for your forgiveness. It took a while for him to smile wryly and say, "You have done nothing wrong, Your Majesty. ”

"Sometimes I comfort myself like that. Moira sighed and took him by the hand and sat down in the chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, "If I could have noticed something wrong sooner, if I could have helped Ante, or if I could have stopped him...... Maybe it didn't end so badly - I couldn't help but think so. ”

She sat very upright—much more upright than Ed remembered, as if it had become customary. The shadow of a bush of flowers outside the window fell on her face, and Ed realized that she was much thinner and more emaciated than he remembered. Exhaustion and annoyance piled up blue shadows and fine wrinkles under her eyes, and her cheeks, which had been slightly plump, had lost their former luster...... Only a pair of blue eyes are still as clear as a wash.

"I'm not trying to shirk any responsibility for Ante......" After a moment of silence, Moira hesitated to speak, "Ed, I sent someone to check on Rem Flender, the paladin who killed your mother, and Scott and Lord Xiuan...... No one can prove that he was ordered by Ante, which is ...... Maybe there's some misunderstanding......"

Ante had committed many more serious crimes, but this was perhaps the one Moira cared about most - her friend had been killed by someone at the behest of her husband, and her son was standing in front of her...... Even if it was actually manslaughter, it was more haunting than the fog of Collins that she couldn't face.

“...... Of course, I will continue to look into it, and I will tell you whatever the truth is...... I owe you at least that. ”

In Ed's long silence, she hurriedly added.

"You don't owe me anything, Your Majesty. Ed replied in a low voice, "I can only thank you for ...... for me and what my mother has done, and ask for your forgiveness. Whatever the reason, the sin I have committed is ......"

"In the name of the king, I forgive you for your innocence—and I will let everyone know early tomorrow morning. Moira interrupted him and stopped him from trying to get down on one knee again, "Never talk about it again...... As long as I'm alive, I'll never allow anyone to talk about it again. ”

Ed blinked. It's too simple...... It was so simple that it made him feel even more guilty.

"You're still young, Ed......" Moira shook his hand hard before letting go, sighing softly, "Let this all pass." ”

――If only it were that easy.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Moira looked up at him earnestly, as if hoping to fulfill all his wishes.

Ed hesitated for a moment before replying, "I shouldn't have asked for more than your forgiveness...... However, if you have any news about Bloomer Chrysers, or the Staff of Eternity, I would appreciate it. (To be continued.) )