He had barely passed through the doors when a voice stopped him.
— Lord Astarion.
He turned around.
A young woman was standing there.
Brown hair, violet eyes, a look that is both sweet and piercing.
She bowed.
— Allow me to introduce myself.
— I am Miria.
"Oh… the holder of the grimoire," he murmured.
She sighed.
—Why does everyone only see that in me?
- Never mind.
—I'm here to talk to you... about your sons.
"Don't worry," he replied coldly.
—Alastor will be deposed.
— To Bryan's greatest happiness.
Miria's eyes darkened.
— Don't say that.
—If you had given Bryan even half the attention given to Alastor...
—None of this would have happened.
Astarion stiffened.
—Who allows you to speak to me like this?
— You know nothing about my sons!
"It's true," she said calmly.
— I know little about Alastor.
— Except he's obsessed with Morena.
—But Bryan…
—I know more than you.
He stared at her, defiant.
— You don't believe me?
— I know his partner.
— His daughter.
— I coach with his daughter.
—And Asher is training him too.
The king's eyes widened.
—You knew he had a hidden daughter, didn't you?
- How…?
—I read it in your thoughts.
Astarion remained frozen.
Miria smiled weakly.
— Even me, this is beyond me.
— Telepathy, telekinesis… and much more.
—But what worries me the most is not my powers.
—It's Bryan.
— He was always afraid of losing his family.
— Because his father only ever really looked at his eldest.
The king lowered his head.
— Bryan worked tirelessly for the kingdom.
— Alliances exist thanks to him.
— Other peoples respect him.
— Alastor… we tolerate him.
— Axel and his father want him dead.
— Eiden wants his head.
— Asher is barely holding back.
She took a deep breath.
— You have two sons.
— Treat them with the same justice.
Miria turned and walked away.
Astarion remained alone for a long time...
Then, with a sigh heavy with regret, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.