Clang.


    “…”


    Ett silently picked up her fork. Currently, she is facing her ''son'', and she''s dining with him.


    What did she say again?


    Not to meet this villain, right? How ironic. She wants to go back; why was she even invited to dine? Is this a regular meeting? Really, novels omit what authors thought were mundane things.


    "How are you, Empress Dowager?"


    See, how shameful? The kid asks first about her mother''s well-being rather than the mother herself.


    Ett gently dabbed the tablecloth on her lips, imitating something she had watched in a medieval movie. "Well met, and how do you fare?" Thee?


    Oops, should she first say thank you for asking before saying you?


    Guren''s spoon paused halfway before eating again, and Ett was too preoccupied with what to say next, not noticing the slight change in his son''s movement. Even the servants and the Butler Xiwen, who was attending both of them, hitch a breath.


    "I''m faring well."


    And there goes another awkwardness. Applause. Applause.


    "I see."


    Ett wants to be out as soon as possible.


    Graceful as she could be in gobbling her food and sipping her wine, no, ahem, it changed due to her little body. Crystal-clear water passed by her lips and entered her mouth. It was fantastic, relieving her of her turbulent thoughts.


    What should I say? I would gracefully declare that I have concluded my meal? I have concluded my repast? I have finished dining?


    Ett slowly stood up. "Finished."


    Yeah, whatever, let''s just speak less.


    "Let me escort you, Your Grace."


    Butler Xiwen offered with his hand for Ett to take.


    Ett shook her head. "I''m tired and do not need your assistance anymore."


    Yes, serve him faithfully now and not me. You get what I''m saying right?


    As Ett slid down her chair, she muttered mentally that her request, more like a demand, wouldn''t be questioned by Guren. Ugh, the chair is too tall. Somebody needs to remember to give her a footstool to step on.


    "Then I will retire first."


    "This…understood, Your Grace."


    Butler Xiwen finally conceded, seeing the indifferent side stare of Ett, who exited the door. When she was far away, Ett lightly exhaled a sigh of relief.


    To think Butler Xiwen didn''t pursue it when he was stubborn is truly a success. If anything changes again, it is now declared that Xiwen is her son''s Butler.


    Come to think of it, was it normal for Guren to stay silent? Even so, it''s a good thing for now.


    Although it may sound suspicious when Guren hears her as if she is monitoring him, it doesn''t matter to her. Besides, Butler Xiwen will be more capable of helping Guren, especially in the future. The best thing is to lessen the number of people who want to mend the relationship between the two. Care? Hehe.


    "Right, there''s one more thing."


    Ett clasped the small flute in her pocket.


    The well-known Akorita flute can summon the bird, which was loved by the readers. An animal that''s been with her, helping Ett through the shadows. The lyrebird was the only supporter with her until she died. Somehow, her pace became faster, as if she was excited about something going in her chamber''s direction.


    ***


    As soon as she left the dining room triumphant, Ett didn''t know her son still hadn''t eaten after her response. The cold temperature in the dining area has become stale; Guren slowly puts down his spoon. His plate was half empty compared to his mother, who cleaned her plate, ready to run as if a deer was prepared to be caught by prey and needed to escape hastily.


    "It seems the Dowager has forsaken you."


    Guren uttered, a cold and mature tone unbefitting an eleven-year-old child.


    "In serving Your Majesty, I find immeasurable privilege and duty."


    Xiwen responded, his composure unwavering despite the sharpness of Guren''s words.


    "Something changed."


    Guren could sense it.


    As a perceptive child who could sense someone''s thoughts and feelings beyond the norm, he figured something happened before she returned home after failing to escape this lair. "Look for any anomaly that may have stemmed in her absence."


    Xiwen bowed, "Understood, Your Majesty."


    "She even replied to me. Odd."


    The Dowager would never reply to or ask him back again, even if it might be pleasantry and formality… or out of whim. Unless this is part of her scheme? But what of it? Although the Dowager is now a child younger than him, her mind is still the same.


    "Keep watching."


    Guren muttered.


    This time, Xiwen didn''t reply; he knew he was talking to his guards lurking near him.


    Meanwhile, Ett blows the flute. A slightly pitchy tone scratches people''s throats, unnerving anyone who hears it.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Ugh, I''m sorry. I don''t know how to use this."


    A second sooner, a lyrebird showed itself landing on the window. Compared to the lyrebird on earth, this one can fly with wider wings; it tilted its head, looking at her from left to right as if inquiring about something.


    "Eru."


    Ett genuinely smiled, patting its back.


    Eru, this was the bird that was with her until the end. An intelligent cute little thing that could mimic whoever it listens to.


    "Ett."


    It spoke. "Small Ett."


    Ett chuckled, taking Eru in as she closed the window. "Yes, cough, ugh, yes, I''m small Ett."


    Eru seemed happy hearing this as it snuggled closer to her.


    "Have you been well?"


    Eru nodded.


    "I. Tell you."


    "Oh?"


    Now that''s fast. Where did the previous Ett order Eru to go again? Ah yes, the Ostenian Duchy.


    "Go on."


    "Move. Kill Guren. Tomorrow. Midnight. Fire. Assassins. Gateway."


    Ett hummed and continued to pet Eru as she put her down on her massive bed, taking the green grapes Eru liked to eat.


    "Okay, then you should eat and sleep first."


    Somehow, Ett wants to tell this bird the truth, maybe because it was on an impulse or because of its loyalty to the actual owner in the novel.


    It''s also good to know if she can be loyal to her, too. If not, then there''s nothing she can do about it. Trust and loyalty are weapons in this novel that hold little to no sentimentality.


    "Do you know me?"


    Yeah, now she''s talking like crazy.


    Eru cocked her little head.


    "Not. Ett. You."


    Yes?


    "You. Not. Her."


    "You mean the Ett you know before is not me? "


    Ett''s lips twitched as Eru nodded.


    "Are you sure?"


    An article on Google said that animals are more sensitive than humans. Then there''s no point lying with an intelligent bird like her.


    "Yes."


    "Then would you still stay with me?"


    Eru pecked on the green grapes on her palm.


    "Ett."


    She was silent. As an overthinker, the ''Ett'' made her think of many possible meanings, but she shook her head.


    "You''re master, Ett," she paused. "She loves and dotes on you until the end more than her son. You were the most precious one to her. Even the day she died, she mourned for your death more than anybody."


    Even when the original Ett was near the last of her breath, seeing Eru''s death, she showed a sad expression, and a tear slid down her cheeks. It was a scene that made Guren, who only knows how indifferent her mother was, hollowly laugh. Guren thought he was less than a bird, no, a much lower being than a maggot.


    When the author shared Guren''s feelings, even if it was just a glimpse of his emotions, she felt sympathy for him. Who knows, the villain had hoped even the tiniest bit, even if he denied it in all his life, but right at the critical moment, there''s a sliver of hope, of something called expectation, even just a tinnie little bit in his heart to see what expression his mother would look at him other than her coldness and indifference.


    Burdensome.


    Thinking about it, she asked Eru, "What do you think about Guren?"


    "Your son."


    That''s a reflexive response; you''re correct.


    "What else?"


    "You. Near. Don''t like. Unhappy."


    "Why?"


    Eru was silent momentarily, pecking the green grapes before glancing at her and biting again, enjoying her food.


    "Did she say that?"


    "Yes."


    Ett frowned, "What else?"


    Was Ett jealous of his son? But for what? Is it his freedom to roam around?


    To be known as the youngest emperor ruling the Adiand Empire, no, the entire empire known in all the lands? That shouldn''t be the case, right? Truthfully, they are different, but as a reader, they both suffered, and Guren was never truly free.


    "Did she tell you why she felt that way?"


    "No. Just. Looks. Moon."


    Looking at the moon? If she does that, would she find the answers, too?


    "It doesn''t seem feasible for me to do that."


    Ha, what a pain in the stem cells.


    This mother-and-son relationship is too complex. Now that she''s here, she desires to maintain this life of living ignominiously while seeming to be the cunning Dowager in the shadows to avoid detection, a downgraded and slightly revised version but still on the line of the novel.


    If she delves deeper, she might discover the solution. But wouldn''t that have a butterfly effect? Ett isn''t sure if she can handle the severity of the result. Let''s be subjected to fate while changing the manner of death.


    But maybe an alternative plan can be made.


    "Wait a minute."


    If she left early and given that the Butler has more knowledge of caring for Guren, won''t that suffice? Besides, she won''t go to that starting point where she would be disgraced. Maybe roam in a minor kingdom for more chances of opportunity.


    There are funds to stack, identity…well, as long as we have the money, she''ll figure out the next step!


    Yes, that''s it. The escape route is mentioned in different novels, with 99 per cent of going back. The one per cent without a guarantee that it will work. Let''s… Let''s see if it works. If not, then at least we tried!


    Ett made up her mind to look around her room. She walked to her drawer. There was a small secret compartment just below where she hid her emergency money. Ah, no, the real Ett.


    "Eru, let''s escape together. You know where the secret passage that even the emperor doesn''t know, right?"


    She must have looked dumb saying this.


    "Yes."


    Good.


    "But first, let''s help my son."


    "Why. Order."


    Ett shook her head.


    "I''ll do it myself."


    "Why."


    Eru repeated her words, the bird''s coal eyes twinkling brightly.


    "I…I don''t know."


    Maybe the real Ett in the novel wants to do it—who knows? Being different doesn''t mean she honestly doesn''t care about Ett''s son. The real Ett grew up locked in her tower like Rapunzel; she didn''t have anyone around her to show her much affection.


    "Eru, always stay with me, alright?"


    Eru pecked and nodded. "Right."