Erika ignored her bleeding arms and the shocked look on the servants’ and imperial guards’ as she walked by means of the halls of Maximinus palace.

So what if her arms had been bleeding?

So what if she was injured?

Such issues had been trivial to the ‘ache’ that Erika was feeling.

That indescribable feeling in her coronary heart.

It hurts.

It hurts a lot.

And he or she hates how she might actually nothing about it.

Nothing however lament her previous errors.

She did not know when it occurred however Erika discovered herself within the terrace of Maximinus palace after she left Maxwell alone with Michelle within the parlour.

Maybe it was as a result of, three years in the past, this place was the positioning of Erika’s one likelihood to admit to Maxwell.

Her just one likelihood, that she squandered horribly.

Within the three years since then, by no means once more has a chance arose that gave Erika even a remotely related situation with the perfects circumstances like that one then.

Coordinating and micromanaging the whole thing of the Imperial Drussian Armed Forces has been taxing on Erika’s time.

Though Maxwell revolutionised the administration and report system within the institution of the unique Violet Military, by means of obligatory standardised studies and navy articles written by each stage of navy authority which allowed for simpler administration of the military, that also did little to minimise the quantity of Erika’s time that was required.

This was very true after the Violet Military was reformed into the Imperial Military that it’s at present.

The problems and issues brought on by the present state of expertise had been nonetheless prevalent.

On the very least, the reforms solely barely compensated for the technological deficiencies.

The truth that even with the usage of service pigeons or devoted horse using messenger groups, co-ordinating and supervising all the Imperial Military in all of its features has constantly given Erika a headache.

In spite of everything, she needed to account for therefore many issues like time variations and future predictions and potential interruptions of messages.

In brief, it was simply so tedious and boring.

In reality, Erika had just one want.

And that was to be again on the front-lines of a battle, commanding her 999th Omega Corps in opposition to the enemies of the Imperium of Drussia.

To command the Imperial military by Maxwell’s aspect.

These days, it was uncommon for Erika to even be by Maxwell’s aspect.

On the very least to remain by his aspect for an prolonged period of time.

Except it was to learn out his weekly report or as a result of she was required to accompany Maxwell for a gathering or formal occasion like earlier than within the parlour, Erika was not often in a position to spend time with Maxwell.

And it was primarily as a result of he spent the vast majority of his time locked inside the confines of his bed room.

It was at instances like these that made Erika marvel how issues would have been completely different if she made that selection all these years in the past.

Maybe this was her punishment for her lack of resolve.

Both approach, there was nothing that Erika might do that might change the previous.

And all Erika might do was settle for that truth.

Whereas leaning on the railing of the terrace in an analogous method to how Maxwell did all these years in the past, Erika allowed herself to loosen up as she sung to herself.

“???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ????????ü???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????ü????????????????????????

???????????? ???????????? ????????????ß????: ????????????????????.”

Quickly, with out even realizing it, small tears started to type in Erika’s eyes.

“????????????ß ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????

???????????????? ????????????????????????ä???????????? ????????????????????”

As she sang these small droplets of tears slowly trickled down Erika’s cheeks from her eyes.

“D???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ????üß????????????????????????,”

Not even Erika knew why she was singing to herself, and even how the concept of doing such a factor got here into her thoughts. Maybe it was for her to reassure herself, as pathetic as which will sound. However Erika continued singing because the tears fell from her eyes.

“Z???????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????ö???????? ???????????? ????????ü????????????????????????????????.”

Whereas she sang, small snippets of Erika’s fondest recollections mingled inside her thoughts.

The reminiscence when she completely annihilated the crusader forces regardless of the percentages being closely stacked in opposition to her.

The reminiscence of her very first battle expertise the place she first witnessed the wonder created from the artwork of struggle.

The reminiscence of when she first met Maxwell…

“???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ????????ü???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????ü????????????????????????

???????????? ???????????? ????????????ß????: ????????????????????.”

As Erika quickly concluded her music, she realised the explanation why she sung to herself and why she sung that music specifically.

It was as a result of it was a music taught to her by Maxwell.

A music that was about her.

A music that had Erika herself, as its essential topic.

Erika could not assist chuckling to herself in what she might solely describe as self-deprecation as even when she was merely attempting to reassure herself, in reality she was truly reminiscing about Maxwell.

She did not even know why that music meant a lot to her within the first place.

If she remembered accurately, it was merely a music Maxwell made up on the spot as a result of he was bored.

Or on the very least, that was what he mentioned.

“Girl Pollorov?!”

Quickly after Erika completed singing and misplaced herself into her personal ideas, she was as an alternative interrupted by a servant who known as out to her from the gap as he walked in direction of her.

“Maxwell has summoned your presence on the palace’s parlour and…”

The servant paused for a second as if to suppose the way to correctly say what he wanted to do subsequent earlier than he lastly spoke up.

“And he asks in case you are okay.”

Erika eyes widened barely in shock when she heard what the servant needed to say. Simply earlier than she might reply nonetheless, the servant spoke up first.

“He additionally informed me to tell you that he desires you to reply that query personally your self, to his face.”

A brief second of silence handed earlier than Erika nodded quietly on the servant earlier than she replied to him.

Quickly, Erika retraced her steps again to parlour the place she initially left Maxwell with Michelle.

Alongside the best way she noticed faces, a few of which had been the identical ones from earlier than when she was leaving the parlour whereas the remaining had been new faces. Both approach, these particulars did not matter all that a lot to Erika.

Inside moments, Erika discovered her approach again to the doorways of the parlour earlier than she gripped the doorknobs, her bleeding arms already dried up way back.

And but, she simply could not deliver herself to open the doorways.

There was a small inkling of doubt that lay deep inside her that stopped her from turning the doorknob and assembly Maxwell inside.

In spite of everything, how might she not be feeling this fashion?

After the best way she carried out herself in entrance of each Maxwell and Michelle, it could be a miracle if Maxwell did not instantly scold her.

Nevertheless, she knew that it doesn’t matter what, ultimately, she might by no means deny Maxwell’s request.

After taking a deep breath and bracing herself for the worst, Erika opened the doorways earlier than she went inside.

“I am sorry.”

Nevertheless, to Erika’s shock. The reply that Erika acquired the second she opened the doorways was one thing that she by no means anticipated. Fully ignoring the truth that Michelle was nowhere to be seen, Erika was not even in a position to recuperate from the shock as she misplaced the power to lift her voice, leaving Maxwell free reign to proceed talking.

“I am sorry… I have been… I have been actually thoughtless of you…”

Erika was not even in a position to describe or decipher what sort of look Maxwell had in his eyes as he spoke. It was a kind of uncommon moments that Maxwell’s voice sounded as if it was real and honest.

“I’ve ought to have identified that issues would have turned out that approach with Michelle… I do know you do not hear me say this usually however for as soon as, it is… it is my fault.”

“What are you saying your majesty?”

Quickly, Erika was as soon as once more capable of finding her voice the extra she listened to Maxwell’s phrases. Most likely as a result of, what he mentioned was one thing that she basically couldn’t agree with.

“It was I who made a idiot of myself in entrance of Michelle. It was I who dirty each my picture and yours. If there’s anybody responsible it is me.”

“Whereas that could be true, as your superior it was my accountability to have the foresight to cease such occasions from taking place…”

A brief second of silence occurred as the 2 of them stared silently at one another earlier than Maxwell as soon as once more spoke up, breaking the silence within the course of.

“It is simply that I do not know what I would like anymore…”

Like earlier than, Erika couldn’t describe what sort of look Maxwell had in his eyes whereas he was talking. All she knew was that his voice sounded real and even had some slight hints of insecurity inside it.

“I have been feeling quite… empty these days… I do not know why however I am starting to really feel that the whole lot is pointless once more… That was why I have been spending most of my time alone. I am simply missing the motivation these days. Even because the emperor.”

Though Erika wished to retort what he mentioned, she was not given the prospect to as Maxwell continued talking.

“So I believed that possibly I have to strive one thing new… So I have been considering…”

Maxwell paused for a second as if to reassure himself earlier than he continued talking.

“I do not forget that Keizwell has used his non-public funds to open up his ‘Pleasure Palace,’ merely simply to show his wealth and energy because the treasurer… and partly to slight Cromwell. Anyhow that is not necessary.”

Maxwell paused for a brief second earlier than he continued.

“What’s necessary is that whereas it might have some quite… ‘wicked’ features, I additionally hear that its delicacies additionally serves a really unique, distinctive and top quality set of meals.”

Erika did not know what sort of expression she held on her face as she realised the place Maxwell’s phrases had been main in direction of.

“Maybe you want to ‘accompany’ me there someday quickly?”

Quickly, Erika froze fully on the spot when that particular sentence left Maxwell’s mouth.

It occurred.

It truly occurred.

With an off-the-cuff shrug, Maxwell made one other offhand comment as if what he mentioned was no large deal. He lastly returned to his informal, nonchalant method that Erika was used to.

“That is if you’ll be able to make the time after all. I do know you’ve gotten a busy schedule.”

There was just one reply that Erika might presumably give.

“However after all your majesty, there’s nothing in my schedule that takes priority over you. You may relaxation assured that I can find time for everytime you ask of me.”

When Maxwell heard Erika’s response, he chuckled earlier than he continued talking.

“Satirically sufficient, it was truly Michelle that gave me this concept.”

When Erika heard Maxwell, she instantly remembered the unique reason for this sequence of occasions within the first place.

That detestable Michelle.

And but, Erika now needed to thank Michelle for one in all her deepest goals coming true.

How ironic certainly.

However, Maxwell shrugged off his personal comment earlier than he went to ask one thing of Erika.

“Talking of Michelle. She informed me that to make up for what you probably did, that try to be the one to pack away the chess board as soon as we completed the sport.”

As Maxwell mentioned this, he pointed to the chess set that was proper in entrance of him that Erika by some means didn’t discover. Though that didn’t imply that she wouldn’t adjust to Maxwell’s orders. After she made a slight bow, Erika moved to finish the duty set earlier than her.

Simply earlier than she might accomplish that nonetheless, a sure sight caught Erika’s consideration.

It was the board state of Michelle’s and Maxwell’s completed chess recreation.

The present board state of their chess recreation was left in an ideal draw.