Book 14: Chapter 19


    Okay, Daisy, lets bath together, said Lucia.


    Lucia gently picked up Daisy. Daisy shyly looked at Lucias face and was a bit scared, so she didnt dare to boldly move around. Lucia softly giggled and hugged Daisy. Daisy rested her upper body next to Lucias neck and curiously touched Lucias ear. Lucia lingered for a moment while Daisy cheerfullyughed. She didnt want to let go of Lucias ear after grabbing it.


    Ah, youve never seen an elfs ears before, Daisy?


    Lucia bent over at the waist and ced Daisy into the hot water. Daisy didnt want to let go. Lucia looked at her and gently twitched her ears, leading to Daisyughing joyously. Lucia giggled in a gentle tone as she gently stroked Daisys head. She tenderly said, Although I dont like your Mom, I do quite like you, Daisy. Youre very cute, as well. Plus, your hair is very simr to His Highness.


    Lucia stroked Daisys head. However, a displeased Nona, who was behind them, called out. Children experienced jealousy between each other, too, apparently. Lucia chuckled, and then turned around to give Nona, who had just finished having a bath and exuded a warm scent, a kiss on her belly. She grabbed Nonas hand: Its all right. Mommy will be done soon. Well sleep afterwards. You must be a good girl tonight and not cry, Nona.


    Uhm! Nona nodded.


    Vera, who was next to Nona, had started to doze off. Lucia turned back around to give Daisy her bath. She gently ran her fingers over Daisys ears, but then she suddenly paused. She sped Daisys face and spaced out. Daisy was puzzled; she didnt understand why Lucia suddenly froze. Luciamented, His Highness doesnt have long ears. This is how it feels when I sp His Highnesss face. This was how I relished his face I feel a little lonely now


    Clear teardropsnded on the water surface. Lucia suddenly realised she was crying. She swiftly wiped her tears, and then took in a deep breath to stop herself from crying. She no longer seemed to be able to control her tears after her husbands departure. Her tears were essentially always on standby. Shed shed tears when she saw the flower garden, when she saw the streets, when she saw the girls and then that night.


    Im not grieving, so why am I still shedding tears? Im not that sad. Maybe Im already in so much pain that I no longer know what pain is. I miss His Highness more than words could describe. I miss him every waking moment. After all, all of this reminds me of him. His spirit lingers next to me, yet hes no longer here. This is the same as when I was in the Shadow Squad. At the time, I didnt have His Highness with me, but I was certain hed appear. Now, however, hes gone and will never return, thought Lucia.


    Lucia wiped her tears, and then finished Daisys bath. After wiping Daisy dry, she ced Daisy on the bed. Lucia revealed a hopeless, yet happy, smile when she saw the three girls on the bed. She said to herself, His Majesty sure makes girls like him. Even his kids are three girls. But youre all very cute. Mommy will probably be jealous of you when you grow up.


    Lucia touched the girls heads. Nevertheless, she stopped in her tracks when she went to climb onto her bed. She quickly spun around to cover them with the nket. She went to grab a dagger before sneaking over to the door. Her light physique as an elf and her training with the Shadow Squad allowed her to tread virtually silently.


    Lucia long ears twitched a little. She gently grabbed the door handle. She waited for a moment before yanking it, and then mming it shut, producing a loud bang sound as the product of a collision. Lucia swung the door open again to see an individual trip into the room. Lucia ruthlessly kicked the individual, dislocated his arms and legs and then stomped on his crotch so that he couldnt scream. She then picked him up by his neck and strangled him. She coldly looked at him and questioned, Nobody is permitted entry into the inner pce of the Imperial Pce. You arent a maid or a guard. What do you want?


    Lucia searched him. She tossed side a dagger then frigidly red at him: You want to assassinate His Majesty?!


    The assassin struggled with all his might. His mouth, where he was drooling from, trembled. He continued struggling while replying, No I am not assassinating His Majesty I I am not assassinating His Majesty I I am assassinatingFreya Freya


    <strong>*Snap!*</strong>


    Lucia didnt seem interested in waiting any longer; hence, she snapped his neck then hauled him outside and called for guards. She then turned around and went over to the bed. The girls had fallen asleep in the nket. Lucia didnt care whether they were assassinating Freya or not. The guards shouldve known what to do after seeing the corpse. All of the guards had to take responsibility, since they allowed somebody to infiltrate.


    If that violent woman was still here, shed probably have taken the lives of the guards, thought Lucia.


    Lucia couldnt care less for Freyas life. Whether the people were after Freya or not had nothing to do with her. However, there was no way shed allow the assassin to harm the children after he found his way to the wrong location.


    The footsteps of the guards running over approached the room. The guards initiated a search for other assassins. Freya was safe, since she wasnt in her room.


    Lucia sighed. She tightly hugged the girls next to her and shut her eyes. Lucia felt she might have to wake up at night to protect those around her henceforth after the assassination attempt.


    His Highness doesnt know swordy, but why was I so reassured when I was by his side? It felt as though there was nobody in this world that could hurt me as long as His Highness was in my arms. That was the only way I felt safe Lucia wondered to herself. Lucia lied on the sofa and tightly hugged the pillow below her. In a hoarse voice, she whispered, Your Majesty


    Lucia shut her eyes. She always saw the sunny and bright city of Duargana in her dreams. Next to her was always a warm embrace, with that familiar scent floating by her nose. The aforementioned scent came from the man she loved most. It was a blissful scent nothing couldpete with. It was impossible for her to see the man who grew up alongside her again She thought to herself, I cant see him, but his warm smile in my dreams fills my dreams


    <em>============</em>


    Ling Yue squinted. She licked her fire-red fur. Most of Ling Yues fur had regrown. Her smooth and radiant fur led to her investing into her appearance again. The truth was, her fur started to concern her after she and her husband jumped into the water. After all, she wanted to present a perfect version of herself to her husband. If he came back to see her all messy, he wouldnt be pleased.


    Ling Yues abdomen almost bulged downward enough to touch the ground. She sprawled out on the ground all day as if she couldnt stand up. Of course, she mightve just beenzy.


    After she was done licking her fur, Ling Yue raised her head to peer in Troys direction. Anxiety heightened, as she he didnt know when Troy would be back. He hadnt disappointed her, yet. Ling Yue firmly believed that, as long as he was still alive, then he wouldnt forget her. Ever.


    He made me a promise. He promised to be by my side when I gave birth, so hell definitelye. Hell definitely be back. Hell definitely be back for my childs birth, Ling Yue believed.