Her question completely takes him by surprise. He spins around quickly and faces her with wide eyes, but he looks away almost instantly after meeting her eyes. "What makes you think that, your highness?"
"I mean, do you ever blame her for what happened?"
Lay purses his lips. He sighs and sets down the watering can. He seems to stare at the plants in front of him for a long time. "Truth is, I don't remember what happened. I don't think I know. But even if I do, can I really blame anyone for it? The war... it was meant to happen. Tao saw something like that long before our ascension."
"He did?" Atelier stares at him. "You knew all along a war was going to happen?"
He nods. "We just didn't know who we were up against, and we underestimated our enemies. I think that was the reason for our downfall."
"Not because Athena ran away?"
