Inside the cell, Cocolia saw Bronya walk in and rose to her feet, unable to contain her joy.
"My daughter, thank goodness you're safe. I almost thought I'd lost you."
"Mother." Bronya's eyes were dull, her voice hushed. "Why did you erase those memories of mine?"
A flicker of shock crossed Cocolia's face.
Bronya continued:
"Why did you seal off the Underworld?
"Why did you send the Silvermane Guards to their deaths?
"Why did you try to kill the outsiders who were willing to help us?
"Mother, have you been corrupted by the Stellaron?"
As the questions came one after another, Cocolia's expression gradually turned cold.
"Enough!" Cocolia screamed hysterically.
She sat down, lifted her chin, and said haughtily:
"Have you come to interrogate me, Commander Bronya?"
"Mother, please don't be like this." Bronya looked anguished. "My head is a mess. Please tell me what the truth really is."
"Ha, the truth. I don't know what you've been through or what you've heard. But in less than a day, you've come to treat me like this." Cocolia looked at Bronya, her face full of grief. "I raised you for thirteen years. Doesn't that earn me your trust?"
"I do trust you, Mother. But have you trusted me? Why did you weave lies for me from the very beginning? Why do you still refuse to tell me the truth?" Bronya choked out. "Right now, you really feel like a stranger, nothing like the person I remember."
"Bronya, my love for you has never changed." Cocolia gave a self-mocking laugh. "Yet you're so prejudiced against me. I never imagined a few words from outsiders would be enough to shake your convictions."
After a pause, Cocolia fixed Bronya with a burning gaze.
"You think you've heard the truth from the outsiders. But do