Book 12: Chapter 26


    Mom, youre out of dresses to wear, right?


    Mom smiled helplessly: I still have some, but I think that perhaps it would be better if I wore a military uniform. I dont want to have toe back to change again.


    The fact was I didnt prepare too many dresses for Mom, since I knew she wasnt ustomed to wearing them normally. She only had a total of five dresses. However, her remaining ones didnt suit the asion.


    Mommy Elizabeth took out her usual military uniform, and then giggled: It appears that dresses dont suit Mommy, after all. Mommy wanted to leave everybody with a good impression. At the very least, not a version of myself with such intense murderous intent, but it seems that I still messed up. Looks like Ill be sticking to the old me.


    Its fine, Mom. I shook my head, and then looked at her naked back. In a soft voice, I said, I like you no matter how you are, Mom. It doesnt matter how others see you. You dont need to change yourself. Just show off the most authentic version of you. I like you, Mom, not a particr type, but you, Elizabeth Rosvenor, my mom.


    Elizabeth paused for a moment before chuckling. She pulled over her undershirt and her military coat on the bed. She said, Son, who did you learn to sweet talk from? Did you pick it up from having so many wives? Mommy doesnt hate it, but Mommy thinks that its best not to be a phnderer. A womans wrath is sometimes intense enough to burn an entire continent.


    Like you in the past and Mommy Vyvyan?


    Thats right. Mommy Elizabeth honestly admitted it, and then smiled, Women are very terrifying when theyre angry, especially when its a woman that loves you and also wields power. Thats even more frightening. You know, Son, a woman at a nation on the other side of the ocean became a regent. It sounds as though they went and exterminated a royal family thats existed for almost a century. Therefore, a womans fury and jealousy are very frightening things. However, shes not entirely to me.


    The previous King of that nation had a mistress and didnt dare to admit to it, yet he had an illegitimate daughter and almost killed her. The throne now belongs to that illegitimate daughter of his, but thats quite good. If he didnt have her, somebody wouldve had to seed the throne. Fortunately, they have four kids, which is really nice.


    I nodded: Mom, I heard about it from Vyvyan About your n, that is.


    Elizabeth froze stiff in ce. She was dumfounded and didnt say anything for a long time. I didnt speak, either. It was too awkward to just look at each other. A pink tinge, highlighted by the moonlight, surfaced on Moms cheeks. I gently cleared my throat: Mom, the method isnt impossible, but what I mean is, if you can hide it, then Im fine with it. Having said that, the time needed is too long. You would need to wait another eighteen years before you can leave that ce.


    Elizabeth forced a smile and responded in a soft tone: As long as I have a child to take care of, forget eighteen years, Id be fine with twenty eight years. Dont think anything of it, Son. It was just a very stupid idea I had. Its not usible. Mommy didnt actually n to do it, either. It wont work. It works for Vyvyan, but not us.


    Elizabeth sat down on the bed. She looked at her military uniform and coat. Tone soft, she borated, You dont need to mind it too much, Son. Didnt I tell you? Dont worry about these things today. We went through a lot to be reunited, so why think about separation? Moreover, Im Inards wife. While he is no longer here, I was his wife, still am and will still be in the future.


    I threw Moms military uniform flew up into the air; itnded gently on the ground where the moonlight shone, stirring up a sensual wave. Moms eyes were centimetres away from mine. I could see her eyshes budge in the moonlight. Her eyshes were akin to the clock handle keeping time and tracking the moon. She was both surprised and bemused. Our lips were tightly locked together.


    I pushed Mommy Elizabeth firmly down onto the bed, and then gave her an earnest kiss. She looked at me sluggishly and responded clumsily. She looked at me quite surprised, and then broke free. She supported me with her hands on my chest. She looked at me with confusion and asked, Son, whats wrong with you?


    Why must you mention my dad?


    What?


    Why must you mention my dad in my presence?! I pressed my hands down on Moms arms, pinning her to the bed and loudly eximed, Consider it me being wilful! Mom, I dont want you to always be mentioning my dad in my presence. Hes dead. He left you when you needed him most! He was never by your side!


    You cant say that about your dad! Exasperated, Elizabeth aggressively broke free of my grasp, and then grabbed my cor with one hand. She reproached me in an angry and serious tone, Hes your dad! Do you think he didnt want to be by your side? Do you think he didnt want to be by my side? He couldnt help it!! The elves wouldnt ept me. I wouldve died if I went back. Vyvyan wouldnt help me, because shes a Gdriel, not your fathers ally!


    Isnt that the same position Im in right now?!


    I looked at Mommy Elizabeth and pressed my hands down on her shoulder. I raised my voice as I shouted, Im now in the exact same position as he was back then! I want to bring you out from Hilles City, but I dont have any way of doing so, either! Im as powerless as my father was. My father left you because of his own powerlessness, married Vyvyan  his own sister  then gave birth to me and lived a normal life. What about you?! You had to struggle with the pain of almost having your entire nation annihted! You fought on the frontlines! Why do you still love him?! He gave up on you after realising he was powerless, and instead, lived the life you wanted with his sister. I may not yet have a way, but Im still trying. Im thinking up all sorts of ways to allow you to leave that bird cage. Are you not willing to spare me a look?!


    Elizabeth was stunned. She looked at my expression of anger and hopelessness. She released my cor and cupped my face. She slid her fingers around on my cheeks: Son Could you me


    Ah Thats right. I dont know why nor do I know when, but its precisely because Im my fathers son that I want to tell you right now that I like you. I love you. Mom! I know that Vyvyan was right. I know how important my future and the evaluation others have of me is, butpared to you, none of that is even worth mentioning. I just want for you to be by my side, too. Nier, Lucia, Vyvyan, you, I want all of you to stay by my side!