- Who knows? I think that by coming back to this atrocious story objectively, I was the real culprit, the one who led these people to sadness and desolation, and even orchestrated through them, this crime so heinous and so ugly. And although unconsciously.... He made a vague gesture with his arms, I was convinced that I could no longer rule with my fault. And in the end, I found enough strength to declare my sins and leave.
Ariadne listened to her lover and then approached him, and he let her do it. No hurtful acts or gestures were outlined. She approached as close as possible, and reached out her hand to caress his long, smooth hair, caressing his shoulders, and whose color ranged from ochre to white dust. He was sitting on the extraordinary creature with a rough, dark blue skin, with a nonchalance that bordered on coldness. His cyan shirt and dark flannel pants highlighted the beauty of his slim, majestic, cracked body. His eyes had never ceased to stare at the princess from his iris to the color of the storm reflecting mysteries and unspeakable powers. And there, Ariadne thought that she had to discover, even once, the greatness and immense pain of this wonderful and lonely being.
- What do you really want, Ariadne? He asked in a veiled voice.
- I think you already know that.
- And how am I supposed to know that?
- Because "majesty", what I want now is already so clear that you can touch it with your hands.
- How daring and wicked you are, princess. Mertillo was right. You have lived your whole life in ease and luxury that you couldn't understand people's diffulty, and do nothing but take pity on them or despise them. So what you thought was real life, and what you wanted to know so much, you could not learn or reach in your closed world, despite all the will you have been given and the strength of your desire.
- Are you kidding me then? She asked, upset and hurt.
- A little. Rich people are so bored. Most are forced to get along desperately with middle parties and even worse, with these unskilled people.
- If you are so confident in your skills that you feel free to insult people like that, then prove it to me.
- Why should I do it? Whether I insult people or not, it's my choice. I don't have to prove anything.
- Are you afraid?
She finally had the satisfaction of seeing a healthy anger appear and shine dangerously in her amber eyes.
- You! You! You're a cheeky and very ignorant woman. Mixed in large quantities into a single soul, they lead by force to tragedy. You're so blinded that you can't even realize that you're the scariest person of all. Go so far as to lie to your beloved family, hide behind a false innocence the truth about your bad feelings, tremble over everything insignificant and travel from all sides to seek sexual freedom. You're really hurt. And yet, you feel perfectly that you've never been able to taste the amazing freedom. I sympathize, princess.
- What did you do to that great wizard who gave up his life to give you Emyr.
Even with her great mastery, Ariadne saw with unhealthy pleasure that the proud prince was shaken by this question and for a moment he lost his voice as it had been ripped from him. Then he turned his face slightly away, looking not at the horizons of the lost empire, a distant memory that despite the decades must still have been painful to him.
The princess thought he would never answer her, but soon her incisive gaze turned back on her, filled with rage and challenge, and he spoke.
- I was his student and I took his wife away from him.
- What?
Ariadne was stunned by such a despicable and yet real confession.
- But...
- You insisted on knowing the truth, didn't you? As always. So don't be disappointed.
- It is an understatement to say so, she could not help but reply.
- So,....
- And after what you did to him, he even gave his whole life to save you? She cut him off.
- I was his student. He repeated. And he was too rigorous in his work and his life to blame me.
- I don't believe you.
- So let's just say I was special.
- For him or in general.
- Is there a difference?
- Yes.
Ariadne was torn apart as never before by contradictory feelings. Disappointment, resignation, awakening of a dream and yet the morbid certainty of not being able to stop loving him.
- If I were him, I would never have forgiven you.
- Probably, but he wasn't you.
- That's why he lost. Mertillo has always been right. When appearances fade and you face reality and all its horror, you no longer love as much.
A shadow of sadness passed over his face, as much as a fierce desire for destruction. For the first time, even in his life, Azhewo thought he could not stand contempt for others, and Ariadne understood this perfectly. That's why Ariadne was able to balance her heart on a side.
He liked to win. And for that reason, he probably never backed down from any obstacle to achieve his goals. He knew she was sensitive and vulnerable. And he didn't hesitate to take advantage of it. But somehow, having led this person so proud and impenetrable to this state, that he could not help but use these means to protect himself from her and his own weaknesses, was so satisfying that she quickly recovered from his attacks. It was a wonderful victory.
- Oh, prince," she smiled maliciously at him. You would so much like to hide all this from me?
- What? He retorted, satirical.
- How much you can be a coward.
So shocked, the sovereign foreigner could not say anything again. He shook his head vaguely and then Ariadne whispered.
- Why did he love you so much?
Azhewo stood up and walked up and down before confessing it.
- Maybe because I was a good student. I mean, skillfully.
- No, not that, not only.
Azhewo lowered his head.
- Tell me the truth, she asked.
Azhewo closed his eyes for a moment and then decided to entrust her.
- He loved his wife. But he loved me more, me the best student he had ever had, and who was for him a son. He would have done anything for me, and he did. His wife, I loved her, in my own way, I was so young and already so powerful, so arrogant. I wanted everything. She first tried to punish me for stealing her husband's affection. And then she finally loved me too. But the madness has gone too far. On our last night, she poisoned me, and then disappeared forever. And Noos, my master, did the same but in order to heal me.
He looked at her.
- What a waste.
Ariadne smiled at him.
- Yeah, you're right.
They remained silent.
- I think I'm bleeding.
- What? Where? Show me. He commanded, seemingly really worried. He got up and came floating to the princess. I'm going to heal you.
Ariadne showed him a deep enfilade on her stomach. The prince stroked her slightly, the princess felt like a vague and strangely embarrassing discomfort, then the wound disappeared as if it had never existed. Then the young woman persisted.
- The biggest wound is inside me. I wanted you to know the truth so badly. So please heal me with everything you are.
Ariadne stretched out her arms, bent her arches and surrounded her hips. She clung so tightly that she felt every part of his body against hers, strong, cold and beautiful.
- You're a naughty girl. Naughty and completely insane.
- I know. But why should you still be surprised. Didn't I go to the best school there is? So I beg you to stop pushing back the inevitable and fulfill my wish. Perhaps then my hateful ignorance will fade and I may finally understand.
- Princess, my inside is darker than your white world of light would ever tolerate. That is why I ask you wholeheartedly and desperately to stop right now, before I give in to my insatiable will.
But instead of being frightened, the young woman literally melted under his sincere words. Also, there was no turning back, as she heard his voice and realized that the depths of his coldness were equally shining with infinite goodness. The only way to go was to go to him.
- Although your warmth and fragrance had faded from my body long ago, they remain in me, touching something that no one had ever had the power to do. Ariadne looked softly into his eyes, deeper than any water in the universe, and revealed his truth to her. His soul.
He sighed, seeming to want so badly to stop something, something that they both knew was irreplaceable.
- Please don't use those words. Despite your experience and deep words, you are still as naive and ignorant as ever.