After a few days, in the dining room, Emma and Tia were having dinner. Alaric also joined them for some reason.
“Aunt Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Who are Malachi and Ethan?”
“Malachi?” Emma pondered for a moment.
“Why do you ask?” she asked, becoming cautious as she remembered who they were.
“I heard the maids gossiping. When I asked them, they wouldn't tell me. Mother also won’t tell me anything,” Tia said, offering a reasonable premade excuse.
Emma and Alaric looked at each other in silence before looking back at Tia.
Emma considered whether to avoid the question in consideration of Tia’s age. But after some thought she finally decided to give an explanation. Although she could sugar coat her words like everyone, she still felt that she should answer Tia’s questions honestly.
Emma sighed as she thought, 'It might be better to clear her doubts, as Sera kept her children in the dark. She pampers them too much.’
“Malachi and Ethan are the ones who kidnapped you and Vina. They belong to the marquess’s family.”
“Oh! Then who is Adrian?” Tia felt elated, seeing that Emma is willing to satiate his curiosity.
‘Tia must be very curious if she’s asking these questions. Let’s see what kind of questions she has prepared for me.' Emma chuckled inside.
“I don't know anyone with that name in our territory, but the most famous person with that name I can think of is Count Adrian.”
Tia tried to extract as much information as she could from Emma since Sera always seemed to dodge his questions. Although he could feel that Emma was musing inside, he still felt he should make the best of this chance. So Tia decided to ask Emma, who seemed to be aware of the situation to some extent.
Tia continued to ask many questions, to which Emma provided answers, all the while amazed at Tia’s intellect and maturity that didn’t match her age. Alaric felt uneasy discussing these topics with a child but remained silent, trusting that Emma knew what she was doing.
After dinner, Tia walked ahead, lost in thought as he tried to sort all the information he had received. Alaric and Emma followed at a distance, on their way to Sera’s bedroom for the night.
“Is it alright to discuss such things with a child? Even Sera avoided discussing such matters with her children,” Alaric asked.
“Hmm, well, why not? There’s no harm in it.”
“But…”
“More than that, don’t you find her strange?”
“How so?”
“From her questions, she seems, how should I say, more intelligent than her age?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, children her age don’t usually have such a deep understanding of various aspects.”
“Now that you mention it, it does indeed seem so.”
“Vina has been quite active since childhood but Tia is always shy and introverted. She also doesn’t seem to have many friends. I thought she was just shy at first, but it seems she has a high intelligence for her age.”
“Is that so? Is it not good to be intelligent?” Alaric rubbed his neck.
“Children should be lively. They should play and have fun with their friends. But Tia’s maturity makes it hard for her to blend in with children of her age.”
“But I don’t see how that is a problem.”
“Hmm”, Emma pondered, “when I see her, she always seems detached from everyone. Even though she is in the village, she doesn’t seem to belong here. Well, Sera is also the same, but her circumstances are different.
“It’s hard to explain but I think it is not good for a child. I’ve never seen a child who is so friendless and alone like her. I just feel like it’s bad for her. It feels like she doesn’t have anyone else in her world other than Sera and Vina.
“And lately, Vina has been growing up and started to distance herself. This is making Tia gloomy.”
“How do you know that?” Alaric asked.
“Duh, it’s written all over her face.” Emma rolled her eyes. “I think Sera is also worried about Vina, although she doesn’t show it.”
“I think I understand what you’re getting at. But what can we do about it? Moreover, Sera is more intelligent than both of us. Do you think she doesn’t know their condition?”
“I know that. I’ve asked her a few times, but Sera says that Tia is still young and will need a bit more time to open up. The same goes for Vina. I know it is unrelated to me but I can’t help it. I think of them as my own nieces.” Emma bit her lips, slightly frustrated eliciting a smile from Alaric.
As they were discussing, they reached Sera’s bedroom. Tia entered the room automatically.
“Oh, by the way, mister guard captain,” Emma squinted her eyes.
“Yes?” Alaric was taken aback by Emma’s sudden change of tone.
“How far are you going to walk with us? Don’t tell me you’re going inside the bedroom too.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“It’s a knight’s duty to protect the ladies. Who knows what ghost or nightmare might attack you in this huge and empty castle during the night.” Alaric took a knightly pose as if he was ready to perform his duties.
“Wow, what a wonderful knight you are. But I’m afraid this lady would be attacked by a lecherous knight rather than an innocent ghost.”
“Then I, the most harmless human in this world, should stay with my lady during her sleep to protect her from this so-called lecherous knight.” Alaric showed innocent eyes expressing his harmlessness.
Emma stepped inside Sera’s room and turned 180 degrees, her gown swirling and her rack bouncing a bit, as she slowly brought her face close to Alaric’s, almost feeling each other’s breath. She grinned, “Nice try, but beyond this point is not for men. Better luck next time.”
Emma ruthlessly shut the door in Alaric's face.
Alaric was slightly startled, but he couldn’t stop a grin from forming ear to ear. “So there is a next time,” he muttered, clenching his fist in victory.
Behind the door, Emma tried to calm her racing heart as a slight blush formed on her cheeks.
Tia on the other hand is completely oblivious to this as is still lost in his thoughts, he automatically climbed the bed and closed his eyes.
Emma, after calming herself, found that Tia already closed her eyes on the bed. She felt startled as she forgot Tia’s existence. Noticing that Tia did not comment anything, she felt that she should be more careful around the child as she laid on the bed beside Tia to sleep.
Emma soon started to snooze. But Tia who has been trying to piece together the information he got is unable to sleep.
He walked towards the window through which the half moon is visible, As his thoughts drifted,
‘Mother seems to have made a deal with count Adrian and it is most likely that we are also descendants of demons just like Malachi and Ethan.
‘It is likely that mother might have killed or done deeds which are not exactly legal. She might have her reasons to do what she had done and am I even qualified to judge her?
‘If someday she reveals everything to vina and me. What should I do? How should I respond?
‘To begin with, this world is different from my previous one. The morals and rules of this world are different. This world seems to be more dangerous. I can't come to judge others based on my thoughts and beliefs I am used to in my previous life…..’
Gazing at the moon, he sighed deeply. Soon, his thoughts drifted towards Sera and Vina.
‘It’s been years since I came to this world. Ever since then, I am always in their company. Their presence seems to be the most natural thing to me.
‘My previous life feels more like a dream, as if this is supposed to be where I belong.
‘I can’t think of a day I was away from the two of them. How long has it been since I felt this lonely?
‘Mother, Vina, I don't want to be alone again. It is..it is very frightening.’ Unknowingly, tears rolled out on his cheeks.
Copyright © [July] [2024] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
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In the middle of a forest, the convoy had camped out for the night. All the children, along with Kevin and others, gathered around the fire. The mood was lively, filled with the children’s excitement over their first trip outside the village. Jokes, stories, and teasing filled the air with laughter and fun.
Kevin, who was also smiling, caught sight of Vina quietly gazing at the moon in the sky. Despite all the laughter around her, she was not smiling.
Kevin thought, sighing, 'Although most of the children felt homesick, they got used to it soon. But Vina is not coping well. She is only a step away from crying. Although she is not causing any trouble, it is hard to watch a child like that. I don’t know how long she can keep up.'
Kevin slowly approached Vina, “Vina, what’s wrong?”
“Teacher?” Vina looks at Kevin who sat beside her.
“Why are you so down?” Kevin asked with a smile.
“It’s nothing, I am just thinking about what Tia and Mother are doing right now.”
“Is this your first time being away from them?”
“Yes.”
“Isn't it boring to always be in the castle, with just the three of you? Don’t you want to come out like this?”
Vina thought for some time and shook her head. “I don't know. I just want to be with them whether it’s in the castle or outside. It feels bad.”
Kevin was slightly stunned, as he had never felt this kind of attachment to someone. “You must miss them very much. But don't worry, you will soon get used to it. You are just feeling homesick.”
“Homesick?” Vina asked, puzzled.
“It means you are feeling lonely because it’s your first time being away from your family.”
“Lonely?” Vina tried to understand the feeling she was having.
“Don't worry, just bear with it. Once your awakening ceremony is complete, we will return.” Kevin ruffled Vina’s hair trying to comfort her.
“Hmm,” Vina nodded and returned to her moon gazing.
‘Yes, I feel sick. I don’t like it. I want to go home soon. Tia, Mother...’ Vina thought as she held herself from crying.
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Beside the mud road, the entourage sent by Ravenna was camping for the night. The group consisted of knights and many female maids. The knights were baffled as to why there were so many maids, but none questioned the countess's orders. Some knights were having their dinner, while others stood guard.
In front of the campfire, Sera, who had finished her meal, was sitting alone a bit away from the others.
“Princess, we will reach the next point tomorrow. We will separate from the knights' entourage and move into the forest depths with only the members of our clan. All of them are skilled mages and strong fighters, so your safety is assured,” a maid informed her.
“Alright, thank you for informing me,” Sera smiled. “But, could you stop calling me princess?”
“No can do, princess. You are Countess Ravenna’s daughter and one of the princesses of the clan Obscuritas. We owe you the due respect. Please deal with it,” the maid chuckled.
Sera shook her head, feeling helpless.
“Princess, your bed has been prepared. Would you like to go to sleep?”
“Thank you, but I would like to stay here for some time. You may leave,” Sera smiled.
“Okay, please don’t stay out for too long.”
Sera nodded as the maid left her alone.
‘Ever since Vina was born, I have never slept alone. After Tia’s birth, I finally felt that I was complete. Tia, Vina, I never thought I would miss someone in my life so much. Are you both the same? Are you missing me? This is painful, but at the same time sweet,’ Sera smiled, clutching her chest with a complex expression of bliss and pain.
Sera slowly gazed at the moon hanging in the sky as she started to reminisce about her past.
‘After Vina and Tia were born, they became my entire world. If possible, I wish I would never again return to the hive.’
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Previous Poll Answers:
Q. Where is Sera heading to?
A. to meet the old hags aka current matriarchs of Sera’s race.
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Copyright © [July] [2024] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
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