Sahara saw him look straight back at her, then blink. It may have been too much information and probably not enough to make him say goodbye to the person he probably doesn’t even like, but Sahara wanted him to know the cycle. Because…You just never know! In his future he may hate some family yet fall for a girl from that very family that he hates!

He may want to find justice and kill criminals but sees evidence that one of them was no criminal at all! It was like saying hatred could be easily found, but with that of hatred, love can also be found, just like that of a new, different outcome to that of an outcome that one originally thought.

This woman may have been bad, but to a decree she may have also done some good…Who knows! The Empress may have killed a few people and had somewhat of a black heart…But she was also brought up to think that acting this way was acceptable. So then, does that also mean that her parents are at fault as well? The list could be endless, on how people act and how they were brought up. Some might have really high ego’s or a low amount of faith in themselves…Born a commoner, born a noble. Born without love, born with too much love…We could eventually hate everybody, if we think of the actions of people too much! As for me, I didn’t hate too much, but it had given me another reason not to get close to anyone. Prevention was the best medicine right, well, I was trying to prevent silly events occurring in my life…Not that it worked…Nonetheless, I had seen a worse villainess in a drama…

On the rare times, Sahara had watched the news on TV and saw someone murder someone else or whatnot, and she would never state anything about it, when many others would. They would say that the murderer deserves lifetime in jail or needs to be shot…But Sahara was also curious on why the murderer would act in such a way. Why did they do it? What were they feeling? Were they really just crazy or crazed into thinking that was their only option? Were they threatened?

You never know…What if the murderer had the most saddest story anyone had ever heard? What if…You were that person, and suddenly understood why?

Yeah…Anyway…Focus!

This was not a time to loathe, it was a time to say goodbye to the mother of the country, to see that, even through dirty crimes, she had done her job of keeping the peace in the harem and helped her Emperor with the people. To a strange, sick type of decree, she did what she thought she had too, she did her ‘job’ and probably wouldn’t die with many regrets…To her, she probably lived her life the best she could…

Was that something to be sad about? Was it something to kill her family for?

Nonetheless, it really wasn’t time for a little fella to ask these questions, it was time for him to see what was in front of him at this precise moment.

Right now, he may not understand…But life comes to an end…And sometimes, out of an end, can perhaps make new beginnings…

“The Empress may not be a favorite person for you, but it is now time to say goodbye to her and you may be able to use this experience in the future. You may remember her as you like after she is gone but be a filial son and show her that in the last hours that she has left, that you respect her this much. Mmm?”

Prince Felix stood very still, then slowly looked at the lifeless form of the Empress.

He was wondering if the Princess was right, that right now, this Empress was practically nothing, and as his position he should be respectful…And that later, when she is gone, he will remember and use this experience in the future.

This was the first time that he felt like he was pushed into his position for this type of situation. Other times he had just done as he was told, not feeling very much at all. This time, he hadn’t wanted to see her, he doesn’t want to say goodbye, as he just didn’t care!

But…He was the Crowned Prince, he had to be filial and do as what must be done.

Some things made sense now, as they hadn’t before. As previously he had thought, why would he do what he didn’t want to do?

The Princess had simply stated that even if he didn’t want to do it, he should do it anyway and then later think of how it could help him live his life and keep what was in his heart locked up. He wondered if this was what he had read about once, about having respect for an enemy…And perhaps how he had even heard his own Emperor father talk about using certain circumstances as ‘stepping stones’…Was this…Another ‘stepping stone’?

Is that what they all meant? That because he was the Crowned Prince, and that he could only hold things in his heart and never play them out? That he had to grow and mature, even by this time using a person to do that?

As he stepped closer to the bed, both the Emperor and Matthew stepped back and watched the little Prince expectantly and intriguingly, as he slowly made his way there.

After a short while, Prince Felix picked up the cold, limp hand of the Empress and gave it a short kiss and then gently put it back down.

Even though this was just a few minutes and a small kiss, Prince Felix felt like he had accomplished something difficult.

Walking away slowly, back to where his sister-in-law was, Prince Felix slightly nodded at her. “I understand.”

Sahara was unsure if what she had said was something that he could understand, not only is it usual that she does not make much sense, but he was young. Yet, it really was good to see him do what she had wanted him to do!

Ah, he can just figure it out later!

Smiling down on him, the silence was then interrupted by the Empress Dowager.

“Ah, what a blessing, my grandson is here! This old woman is glad that you have come to see your mother!”

Turning towards the people who had just arrived, most of the people were silent…Except the two others who had accompanied the Empress Dowager into the Empress’s bed chamber.

“Husband!”

“Husband!”

Two females went straight towards Matthew in haste and the Empress Dowager gave out a small laugh, “Ah, these two have missed you so!”

Then, when she put her eyes on Sahara, her eyes narrowed in disapproval. The Empress Dowager then looked back at the females, now each holding an arm of Matthew, and walked closer to them, “They are such filial things, always coming to see me!”

“Imperial Grandmother, my prayers really were answered just as you had said!” One of the females said.

Sahara and Felix where closer to the foot of the bed, whereas Matthew and the Emperor had been to the side of the bed…But…Sahara had no wish to close the distance at this time. Not that she didn’t trust Matthew, but those two females…She was trying to remember who they were! They really did look familiar…

“Sister-in-law! We have not seen you in many days! Oh…Is…Is the child doing well?”

…No idea on her name…So what do I call her?

Sahara just nodded her head, putting a hand over her swollen tummy, not sure how to respond.

The cousin that had spoken, walked up to Sahara with grace and even went as far as touching Sahara’s swollen body herself.

Feeling strange, Sahara wanted to step back…She felt like this girl in front of her was not how she should be acting.

Looking at Matthew, Sahara wondered if he felt it too…

Matthew had tried to look at Sahara, but the Empress Dowager was talking to him, and he spoke back to her, before looking back at Sahara again.

With most of the people’s attention on the Empress Dowager now, as she was telling Matthew about the two cousin’s achievements, Sahara’s attention was on a particular woman who was right in front of her.

“I can’t wait!” She whispered, as though to herself, “You will give me what I want, little one.”

…Stepping back away from this cousin, Sahara looked at her in astonishment.

Whether it was using cultivation to hear better, or because her whole body was cleansed, she heard every single one of those words and felt a protective feeling wash over her…

What did that mean!?

This cousin, that said those words, was named Maisley. She wasn’t black hearted like the Empress, she had just come to know recently that she wanted more…Not only was she liking how she was being treated now, as a consort of a Prince, but she was also taking up responsibility and earning respect for those within the populace and the workers in the estate, she was being bowed to and was able to enter into the palace!

Three times, she had been gifted a present from the Empress Dowager and those gifts were very exquisite!

From all her years back at the Rolland Estate, she had never received something so beautiful before! It wasn’t like the Rolland Estate was poor, but there were quite a number in the family and quite a number of workers needed, so the Sum that someone like her could spend on herself, was quite a small amount…Especially since she was from a side branch of the Rolland family.

Before having gotten married, she already had felt jealously to the main branch, but now, she felt like she was able to make them jealous instead! And receiving such an exquisite present from the Empress Dowager herself, had made her willing to obtain…More…

Having been told that she may receive items when she was to lay with the Second Prince, Maisley had been upset and hadn’t been able to help but show how much she wanted these ‘gifts’ to the Empress Dowager, and in turn, made the Empress Dowager upset with both her grandson Matthew and his Princess, Sahara.

Maisley grew to see that the Empress Dowager was like this and happily saw her frequently, showing her what she had painted or sewed for the Second Prince, to continue to anger the Empress Dowager.

You can’t particularly state that she was a genius, but she did seem to have a one-track mind…She wanted to be beautiful and have beautiful things and through being with the Second Prince seemed the only way to obtain what she wanted…That was why she acted the way she did…

As time had gone by, she saw that the Empress Dowager was getting angrier and even stated that things must be changed!

And in that change, a certain plan included this unborn child of the Second Prince. It has been told that if she were to bring up the child instead, not only will Matthew come to her bed in the future, but she will be looked at with more respect than that of the real Princess!

It could be thought that Maisley changed because of greed…Yet, not changed enough to take a life. And having the Empress Dowager behind her, she felt like her dream was already coming true!

Seeing Sahara step away from her, she let out a soft laugh and happily walked back to Matthew, taking his other arm in her hands once again…