Karium Maselli stood still for a while before he gave in and walked towards his mother. Then he took a seat opposite her. At this, the Empress slightly smiled.
Empress Marozia thought of how to start and with the past resurfaced in her mind, her smile slipped a bit. "I never wanted to become the Empress of Aslirith," she said and shook her head. "No. It will be right to say that I never wanted to leave Welahan. Why would I wish to leave while you're here?"
For the next few seconds, silence fell upon the chamber and Karium observed his mother. When he saw the pain in her eyes, he had to harden his heart so that he won't lose his self-control.
