"Mama, Papa!" I shouted and gave them a tight hug.
"How are you these past few months?" I added
"Were... good?" They both said.
"My Dear Louisa, what happened to you? Are you hurt somewhere?" My mother asked.
Is Louisa more livelier before? I don't really know how she treated people around her so I'm doing what my behaviour is in my past life.
I can remember the names of the person I bumped to but I don't really remember how Louisa acts around them which is weird for me.
How could I be able to act like her if I don't remember ang single hints about her behaviour around people?
"I'm always fine Mama" I said and smiled widely.
"You got thinner my child. Did his majesty did something to you? Do you want father to talk to his majesty?" He asked.
"U-uhm. Being isolated in that mansion is depressing but I came to realizations that I won't think about the past anymore and live freely"
"My my. Look at your dress. Who's with you when you came here?" My mother asked
'Interrogation Time'
"I went here alone. I saw nanny enter the duchy gate so I went with her here" I answered.
"W-what?! His majesty didn't even send you off with the palace carriage?!" My mother said and she almost collapsed.
"Mama, it's been so long since I went outside the palace. I decided to take a stroll around the capital" I said.
"Let's go to the garden and have an afternoon tea. You must be hungry my daughter" Papa said.
"Oh, I forgot. I bought a cake a while ago. I hope Mama and Papa will like it" my father told me to give it to the maid so that they could prepare it.
I cling into their arms like a child. At first, they were shocked (again) but they let it slide and talked about things with me.
'A 23-year-old acting like a little child'
We were having a great conversation in the garden while eating.
I have told them what I did these past few months in the palace.
They also told me that it would be imposible for Louisa, which is me now, to poison someone.
They asked me why I didn't defend myself to his majesty. I was on hot seat but I managed to come up with a story.
I told them that I was sick with his majesty's appearance and I was also tired with my Empress work so I didn't defend myself.
They were glad that his majesty still let me live in the capital and not exiled me in the empire.
We talked about a lot of things.
How I wish I had such enjoying conversation with my real parents like this.
They were busy with their business and we couldn't even spend time with each other.
How are they feeling now? They must have already moved on from my death like what they did in the past.
"Mama! Papa! I heard my little sister is here? Where is she?!" someone shouted from afar.
"My My. You don't have to shout Louie" mother said while laughing in a modest way.
"Big brother! I missed you" I stood up and went to him to hug him.
"L-Louisa are sick? Are hurt somewhere?" He asked.
"Hmp! That's the same question mama told me when I arrived here. Is it wrong for me to act like this?" I asked and pouted.
"N-no! It's just that.. well nevermind that. I have collected a lot of books these past few months. I wasn't able to personally give it to you since his majesty told us thag no one can visit you. Do you want to go to the library like you usually do whenever you go here? Let's read the book that you really like to read again" he said that in one breath.
B-books? Is.. Louisa... a brainy?
But.. For real bro, I was f*cking dumb in my previous life!
I'm bad at academics! But being a varsity player, my grades weren't that bad.
I'm only good at sport and arts. I was a volleyball player and have participated in national competition.
I'm also the President of Art Club because I have passion in painting and drawing.
I can also dance which sometimes I participated in dance program in our campus. I can also sing and sometimes join in singing competition in our school.
Those are the things that I am only good at. It's very rare to see a goddess that is also talented.
But, I'm dumb when it comes to my academics. Yes, I don't like studying at all!
"B-big brother.. I think I don't want to read books for... now?" I said
He looks so shocked. His mouth is open while looking at me.
"Louisa, the book worm, the person who never refuses any request when it comes to books have refused to read books? This must be a miracle!" He said
"Louie, stop bothering your sister. This is the first time she went out to visit us for the past few months so don't stress her over" my father said while sipping tea.
"Father, mother. I would like to ask a favor" I said.
I'm so thicked face. If this was in my past life, I wouldn't even bother my parents since I have my atm card ToT
"Anything for you our only daughter" Mother said.
"Why didn't you ask big bro for a favor? C'mon let me do something too pls pls" he said with sparkling eyes.
"Umm. You have learned that I was isolated in the mansion at the back forest of the palace" I said. The nod their heads. It seems like they are really against it. It's uncomfortable to bring this matter up.
"That's the cold palace where the deposed late empress long time ago was confined too. It is said that she was the one who built that mansion" my brother said.
W-what? So there is another deposed empress in the past?
"Son! Why did you bring such story? Don't you have any consideration of your sister's feeling right now?" My father said angrily.
They must've think that I might get depressed again because the 'long time ago' late deposed empress is confined there too? -3-
"It's okay father. Big brother, do you know anything about the late deposed empress?" I asked.
"Louisa" my father uttered. He wanted me to refrain from asking about the deposed late empress but my mother stopped him.
"I-Is okay for me to tell her father?" He asked.
"You already opened that up to her. There's nothing I can do" father answered.
"Talking about the deposed late Empress is a taboo in the kingdom so not many people know about her. She supported the Emperor, the great grandfather of our current Emperor. Empress killed most of the Emperor's concubines without telling the reason. The harem have been put in chaos because of that" he said
"She did that?!" I said
"The family of the concubines have asked for justice. Thus, the Emperor have decided to stripped her from her position. She didn't resist and instead felt happy about it" he said
Is she out of her mind? Murdering people? That's the last thing I would do.
"She built that mansion and stayed there until her last breath. Even her only son, the grandfather of the current Emperor wasn't allowed to enter the forest. But I don't believe that Empress was a wicked person. See, there is always three sides of a story. Yours, theirs, and the truth. According to some aristocrats, the Empress was very approachable and friendly. She's a total genius but she never let anyone affects her decision"
"Why did the Emperor execute the Empress?" I asked.
"The Emperor loved the Empress more than anyone else. He recieves a lot of backlash about his decision but you know, the Empress family is powerful than those who keep complaining about it. In the end, they accepted it but they suggested to never show the Empress face in the public again. The Emperor that who would ever talk about the deposed Empress will be imprisoned. This rule have been going up until now. It's a taboo to talk about the Empress thur majority of the young people doesn't really know about her existence"
"I am delighted that you know very well about it, Louie. Did you perhaps went into my office and took the book I told you not to read about it?" my father said
"It cannot be help father. You know I'm a very curious child. It was your fault for telling me not to read about it" he shrugged his shoulder.
"W-what?! Why is it my fault, you ungrateful child. You're always making my headache" he said.
My big brother laughed while teasing my father. It seems like they are used to this kind of things.
I smiled while looking at them fighting. My mother was also laughing while teasing my father.
They looked at me shockingly which made me uncomfortable.
"W-what?" I asked.
"Little sister... You are smiling" he said
W-what's wrong with smiling? What's wrong with these family?
"We're glad to see you smiling my dear. We were very worried about you" my mother said.
"A-ah. I've always been doing good. B-by the way, why is it a taboo to speak about the Empress?" I asked.
"In order to protect the Empress from the hurtful gossips, the Emperor made it a taboo"
What a man. I hope the current Emperor is like that!
"She is a very kind and gentle person" my mother said out of nowhere
"Who?" I asked.
Maybe she's talking about someone else?
"Your great grandmother, Empress Ameryllis"