CHAPTER 75: Forcing Herself To FEEL Fine

Hunter looked at him in shock.

"I have heard you are the last person she had talked to," Reginald added.

But seeing the look in Hunter's face, he can tell that he was unaware of the reason why Saphira chose to leave.

"What did you two talked about? Tell me honestly because it seems that the current her is in a very unstable condition."

Hunter gritted his teeth before he knelt and told Reginald everything.

Reginald sighed heavily, "You told her that it is best for you to call off the engagement?"

Hunter didn't rebuke.

"Hunter follow me," he stood up and lead Hunter to the underground room where the teleportation circle was in.

"At 8 you all experienced so many things. Painful and traumatizing but hers was greater, were you aware?"

"Is it because she had to kill her sister?" Hunter asked.

"So she had told you," he faced him and answered.

Hunter was no longer shock when he heard that his father were aware of this fact.

"She had but she didn't want others to know."

Reginald took a deep breath, "This is the place where she told me about it. Right before I sent her away."

He looked back at Hunter, "She had endured everything, from the words of the people, the insults the hatred, from the hatred of her own friends. To the emotional scars of what had happened. She had endured it after coming out from her coma, endured for two months without going insane."

Hunter looked back at his father.

"Do you know why?" Reginald asked him.

Hunter shook his head.

"Because amidst all those things, you were there. Without questioning anything, you were there. You were pained watching her but you remained silently beside her."

Hunter pursed his lips.

"I understand, son. I understand the pain of seeing your loved one crumbling on their own without telling you anything. And that is painful. But sometimes what they needed is not our support of words. Or support of strength. But our silence that accompanies our presence."

Reginald placed a hand on his shoulder, "You think that you are not supporting her but the truth was, your presence was her greatest support. That you not asking anything helped her in a way that those who kept telling everything's alright, couldn't do at all."

"But she is forcing herself to look fine," Hunter finally spoke.

Reginald shook his head, "She is forcing herself to FEEL fine. She is doing it for herself and not for the people around her. You have seen how she lost herself when she get mad a while ago."

He meekly nodded his head.

"After telling me that information back then, she also told me that she was hanging by a thread when she woke up. Her sanity was almost shattered if not for the silent presence beside her every single time."

Hunter remembered that he had indeed stayed on her bedside without speaking a word back then.

"That there is someone who stayed beside her without asking her to tell everything. Without asking her what had happened. Or without telling her how much they hated her. Instead they made her feel that she has still people with her who will stay no matter how much she tightly closes her lips. Because if she were to open it, to tell them things she didn't want. She knew her sanity would shatter."

And Hunter just did the opposite today.

"And I asked her to go insane today, even after what I have seen," he then said.

Reginald smiled, "You are still young, you can make mistakes and think you are doing it for the person you love. But each and every time you make this mistakes you also learn. You also grow."

This time Reginald placed his hand on top of his head, "I have heard you have asked your mother about her other half keeping secrets. And do you remember her answer?"

"That Saphira may be keeping secrets to protect us and most of all, to protect herself."

Reginald nodded his head, "Right now, Saphira isn't emotionally strong enough to simply open everything and reveal all those secrets. So just stay beside her until that day. Because you are her strongest pillar of support in the battles you will be facing."

Hunter took a deep breath, "I understand my mistake father. I shall go and look for her."

Reginald smiled in agreement, "She must be on the northern mountains. That is the most secluded part of the Empire that the room she was in was facing."

Hunter bowed before leaving.

"I never thought you have such profound words in you."

Reginald laughed before looking on the side.

This place had some hidden doors leading to it from outside the castle.

But only the heads and their direct descendants were aware of it.

Being the general of another squad, Archie obviously knew about it.

It may not seem like it outside but these two were actually best friends.

Before becoming the Emperor, Reginald had fought in the battlefield together with Archie.

"But..."

Reginald looked at him, Archie was raising his fist.

"Can I punch you once?"

Reginald raised both his hands, he knew the reason behind this.

"Come on, it was her wish for me to keep quiet about it."

"But you could have secretly told me, you are more father like to her because of that."

"Do you really wish to know of it then?" Reginald asked seriously.

Archie was silent for a moment before shaking his head, "I don't think I would be able to handle it."

Knowing that your precious daughter killed her squad and was consumed with darkness was already too much for him and his wife.

Finding out that your other daughter had no choice but to kill her beloved sister might push them to the edge instead.

"Even as a general I know I would break apart. I really can't compare to my daughter."

"No one will, the heads said so as well."

"I can only thank your son for that," Archie smiled and said.