A broken soul (3)

This strong deep feeling in the center of my heart, like there is a gaping hole there, I will never forget this day as long as I live, and the pitying look that Naofuda's glances suggested to me. It came out of the exact conversation I used to have with my wife. Margaret? That's out of the question.

By force, but somehow I managed to drive away the doubtful thoughts about my wife, but not completely.

It's morning greetings the next morning, as I look out the window, we're looking forward to a completely normal sunny day, but as I enter the restaurant, I see that burnt-out face again.

No matter how I look at them from a distance, it's almost as if I don't exist in their lives, I've ceased to exist, is that the case? Or it's just a figment of my imagination?

I watched them for a while as they chatted happily, but after a while, I was satisfied with just staring.

Ameron: - We are having a nice day, aren't we?

Naofuda's blood also froze when Ameron appeared out of nowhere behind him.

Naofuda: - Ameron? Y...yes, we have a nice day.

Margaret: - Good morning, honey.

It was so painful to hear this from my wife's mouth as if she didn't mean these words to me, was I really happy, or was this the truth? A pretty weak explanation, but I can't shake the grin he gave last night.

Is it better not to think about it, just pretend I didn't see anything? I'm just doing good for the kingdom, right?

It hasn't even been a day, but I feel like I've been thinking about this for at least a month, it's exhausting, it's completely exhausting as if all my strength is slowly leaving me...

Time passed and only passed, and then the time came for the king of Tirinia and his 2 sons to leave, I should just thank him, but I just stand for a while in silence, but I took strength and left it all to my imagination, completely cold I saw.

Naofuda: - Well, it's time to say goodbye, thank you for watching us, we had a good time. Thank you too.

He addressed his two sons, and then they also thanked him for the warm welcome they received.

Ameron: - Goodbye then, I hope to see you again.

Naofuda: - You can be sure of that, my friend...

1 or 2 weeks have passed since then, but it was as if Ameron had been replaced, he became indifferent to his wife, then he began to treat his child more and more strangely, and he became much stricter, but one fine day Margaret spotted this.

Margaret: - Am I bothering you?

She opens the door to where her husband is working, then gets right to the point, without bragging or at least groping so as not to be so obviously a jerk.

Margaret: - I would like to ask you something.

Ameron was only willing to give a few-word answer.

Ameron: - Say.

Margaret: - Why are you so indifferent to me lately? But even with your child.

Responding to his wife with a rather sharp and bone-marrow look, she almost felt the end too.

Ameron: - Did you cheat on me?

The queen's reaction was unexpected, her face turned white as if she wanted to faint, maybe she feels guilty or something else entirely.

Margaret: - What are you talking about dear?

Look at Ameron now with a forced smile, she doesn't understand why he's bringing this up right now.

Ameron: - Don't play dumb, you cheated on me with Naofuda, I know.

Margaret: - Where do you get this?

Desperation and complacency can be seen on the woman's face, even if she found herself in this situation.

Ameron: - You don't feel pain? Why am I the only one who feels it? Why?

Margaret: - What pain? What are you talking about anyway? I would never cheat on you.

As I look at my wife, I can see the lie on her face, you can almost feel it, you can touch her cheap pathetic disguised smile, that was enough.

Ameron: - You will leave this kingdom tonight and never come back, can you forget your daughter or is she not even my daughter? ANSWER!

The queen saw the indomitable seriousness and pain on her husband's face, his bloodshot eyes were a sign of insomnia, and the premature graying was caused by constant stress and thinking, too bad for you.

Margaret: - You can throw me out, but not our daughter, please.

Ameron: - So that would be it.

The king immediately knew that even his daughter was not his, the unbearable pain that he felt in advance happened and he could not avoid it, he only left it to his imagination. He was able to divert it all to a completely different feeling of protecting the kingdom and himself, but even that was not enough, small signs of pain sharpened, more gradually, more sharply, and then one day only his everyday thoughts occupied him.

The queen was sent that very day, beyond the border of Perenis, where she will live where she pleases.

The staff of the kingdom were shocked at the queen's departure, but the majority of the nobles were not at all, rather they sympathized with the king with their sarcastic expressions, suppressing their laughter, completely unnecessarily.

Maid: - I brought you tea, my king.

Ameron: - Thank you, but I'd rather go to bed.

The days passed, but the king preferred to stay in the castle more and more, if he was invited somewhere, he would say that he could not go because he was spending his time expanding his army. He doesn't want to show the kingdom of Perenis as weak and vulnerable, because then it wouldn't have been standing on the surface of the earth for long if that incident hadn't happened, yes, that incident makes me think about it almost every single day to infinity, I'm going to go crazy.

Day by day I start to feel more and more the distance from my whole being, as if there is no one and nothing that matters to me, Aika...

Is someone knocking on my door?

Ameron: - Who is it?

A girl with long waist-length hair opens the door, who is it?

Aika: - It's me, father.

Has the time passed so quickly? Not so long ago you were just a little kid, I get it, so it consumed me, even though I should have gotten over it a long time ago.

Ameron: - I see, you can go out.

Everyone became indifferent to me, maybe I didn't feel the passage of time, but if I'm guessing right, about 10 years may have passed, in this loneliness and paradox of thought, did a simple fraud turn into this? Pathetic.

I don't even know the last time I answered my father's door, I hope he's in a better mood since then.

I walked up to the door, then I entered with a soft but noticeably firm knock and a strong opening of the door.

Aika: - My father!?

I just stood there silently and looked at the head of the worker lying on his desk, so beautiful, quietly closing his eyes, as if he was just sleeping. It's not like I couldn't count the gray hairs from the hairs on his head, now I just see him, I walk up to him with a crying face, and then I put my head on his shoulder.

I knew my mom cheated on him, so you couldn't get over it. Even a cheeky girl like me thought that you would die in battle, but you didn't, rest now, father...

Aika: - Sweet dreams.