Shin’s lips opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. The female waited patiently for Shin to progress what’s happening.

“Wasn’t I an unwanted child?”

Shin carefully asked, afraid to know, but also wanted to understand.

This time, it was the female’s turn to be shocked. She couldn’t even think of something like that!

Those bastards! I will rip every single one of them to pieces!

Contrary to what she was thinking, ripping apart every limb of those who harmed Shin. She looked at Shin with warm eyes which didn’t show any discomfort, caressing his face as tenderly she could.

“Shin, those are all lies. I have been looking for you since the day I lost you. You are worth more than anything in this world in my eyes. Do you understand, son?”

The female tried to cautiously talk with Shin, she knew he must be wary. How couldn’t he with what happened to him? He must have lived a horrifying life without anyone to depend upon. The female knew she had to approach him slowly and only with her warmest feelings.

Shin himself was having a hard time realizing anything. This woman in front of him was his mother? The one he wanted to see all these years. He wanted to feel a warm feeling of a real family, he truly wished for it.

More tears ran down Shin’s cheeks as he looked at the woman.

Mother, mother, mother!

He wanted to hug her forever and enjoy the feeling he’s currently having. But, all those people who said those awful things, they appeared in his head one after another.

“A-Am I really wanted? Are you really my mother?”

He wished to hear those words the most in his life. He looked at the woman with eyes full of worry, anticipation and hope. If, if that woman didn’t mean it, his heart and mind would finally break. He placed all his hope on the next words which would come out of the woman’s mouth.

The female looked at Shin’s dark eyes, filled with eagerness, worry and hope. She knew that this is his last line of defence, he would either open his heart open, or it would shatter! Her heart started to beat faster and harder, she didn’t want to do any mistakes! Her son’s life would be decided with her next couple of words.

The female looked at Shin’s eyes before speaking.

“Shin, in my whole life, you are my only treasure.”

The female paused for a second before speaking again.

“I live for your sake, if you die, I don’t think I can take it. You are my son, my only son. Please let me be your mother, I know that I haven’t been there for you, but please, I beg of you to accept me.”

When Shin listened to the woman speaking, a wall in his heart shattered. He wailed out loudly while hugging his mother. He didn’t want to let go anymore, he finally had a warmth in his life.

“Mother! Mother! Wahhh”

The woman held Shin in her embrace softly while caressing his face and back. Tears came out of her eyes as she finally could be with her son once more. This is what she wished and prayed to the gods for. Everything she has been doing for the last decade, was for this moment.

All those places she robbed, all those people she had to kill to get what she needed, all the information and ancient writings she had to learn. All this effort to make herself the strongest, all the skeletons under her feet, was to finally hug her son again! She finally could rest and stay with her son.

After ten minutes, Shin’s body collapsed in his mother’s embrace. He didn’t have strength to wail anymore, the only sound which came out from his mouth was small chokes of wanting to cry. He felt the warm feeling on his face and back, he enjoyed this feeling a lot.

“Son, are you hungry?”

The female asked with a soft and gentle tone, she had guessed that he would be hungry, that’s why she ordered Laura to prepare the food.

Shin weakly nodded while looking at his mother, his eyes were filled with trust.

With a touch of her finger, all the blood on her clothes and in the room vanished.

The female walked outside the room while holding Shin, they slowly walked, as time didn’t matter to them.

“Son, my name is Aria von Meria. Son, I don’t know what family name you used before. But, will you accept von Meria from now on?”

Aria asked Shin while looking at him with a warm gaze.

My name, my name is Shin von Meria. Mother’s name is Aria, what a beautiful name.

Shin nodded and said warmly.

“Please let me have the name Shin von Meria, mother.”

A smile appeared on Aria’s face, Shin accepted their family name! Her son would stay with her from now on. She was overjoyed.

The maids opened the doors while Aria and Shin walked slowly by. All the maids and guards in the castle were young females, this was decided by Aria a long time ago. They looked at their Empress and their returned young master, they all knew their Empress has been looking for her son all this time. They were also happy that he could return, most of the maids and guards looked at Shin to discover how gorgeous he looked, he looked more like an angel than a human.

His showy silver hair which reached down to his neck, white skin, face structure and those dark gems like eyes. Most people would have thought that the gods themselves created his face with all their concentration.

If the Empress was a fairy on earth, the young master was like a celestial-being descended on earth.

All the guards and maids also looked at their young master with worry, they could clearly see his body was weak to the point collapsing at any given moment. They didn’t know what happened to their young master, but it was told rumours that he had suffered greatly before managing to return to this castle.

Most of the girls which saw their young master vowed in their hearts that they wouldn’t let anyone harm him. The young girls riled themselves up to the point of wanting to shout in the middle of the streets, to show everyone they meant their vows.

But, of course they couldn’t, they supressed themselves and managed only with a silent vow in their own hearts. But, hehe they would talk all about this with the other maids and guards in their spare time, hehe.

Aria and Shin walked while the maids opening the doors, they finally entered the eating hall. The hall was large with one large table, which could most likely fit over 50 people. The maids were at standby nearby while bowing their heads without uttering a single noise.

Most of them was a little shocked indeed, for them, it was the first time seeing their Empress showing a smile and acting that warmly. It had to be known that their Empress was known as the Freezing Highness by most people in their kingdom and in other kingdoms.

The table was made by white wood, it even had architect design covering the whole table. Easily showing that this table was worth a lot of money, Shin was even staring at it for a rather long time.

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“Sit here, son.”

Aria pushed back a black chair back to let Shin sit on it easier.

Shin nodded gently while looking at Aria, he sat down on the chair and Aria took the chair beside it and sat near him.

The moment they sat down, the door opened again. Laura and another maid, the same age as Laura, held a tray in each hand.

Aria took a quick glance at them before returning her gaze to Shin.

When Laura and the other maid came nearby and placed the trays in front of Aria and Shin, Shin trembled lightly while putting a little more strength in the hand which was holding Aria while looking at the maids fearfully.

Aria who felt Shin’s grip getting harder, seeing him trembling, stared at the maids with eyes which could penetrate them. Her eyes were clearly telling them to step back and not take any other actions.

Laura and the other maid saw the frightened Shin and the cold eyes of their Empress. After the trays were placed, they stepped a few steps back and bowed their heads before returning to the edge of the room.

“Shin, don’t worry. Let’s eat together, alright?”

Shin felt a hand stroking him which put his mind at ease. His trembling stopped and he looked at the trays and gulped.

There were salad, roasted steak and a clear soup which emitted a marvellous fragrance. Shin didn’t grab the food at once, he peeked at Aria to see if she would do anything. But, all he could see was Aria’s warm eyes telling him to eat.

Both Aria and Shin grabbed the plates in front of them and started eating. Aria was eating slowly while Shin wolfed down with his fastest speed.

To Aria, this was an alright dinner. It tasted alright, but nothing special.

On the other hand, this was the first time Shin had eaten something delicious as this! He started eating faster, tears ran down his cheeks as he ate and tasted the food.

Shin didn’t know why he was crying, he felt like everything was a dream and not reality.

Aria ate slowly while looking dearly at Shin eating his meal. She didn’t stop him eating quickly, nor his tears. She knew she had to let him understand that everything was real. Her heart pained whenever she saw his tears.

Son, I hope one day you will tell me everything about what happened. I will patiently wait till you’re ready.

The plates filled with food were shortly emptied, the maids didn’t dear to pick the plates without their Empress ordering them.

When Aria was about to speak with Shin, the door opened hastily while making a large sound.

Shin shuddered and Aria coldly glared at the one who entered, if it wasn’t important, that person would die!

A maid with golden hair rushed in while feeling the coldest gaze she has felt ever since she was born. She lost all the strength in her body while looking at their Empress.

“E-E-Empress, Lady Susan has arrived”

The maid stuttered while trying to inform their Empress.

Aria nodded and said emotionlessly.

“Let her enter”

Aria has already guessed why she would visit.

“Mother, who’s Susan?”

Shin asked curiously while looking at Aria warily.

“Susan is one of mother’s subordinate. Will you be alright meeting with her, if not, I can talk with her somewhere else.”

Shin shook his head.

“If it’s mother’s friend, I’ll try my best.”

Aria understood Shin’s thoughts and nodded twice while a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Tap tap tap”

There were sounds of footsteps coming closer to the dinner hall, the two maids opened the door while looking at the female in her mid-20s with green hair and brown eyes.

“hehe, did you miss me?”

Susan entered the hall while elegantly walking in. She was wearing a green dress, she was using a little makeup on her cheeks, making it look pink. She waved her hand towards Aria while laughing.

Aria nodded before looking at her, as her eyes clearly spoke: now, tell me why you came.

Susan didn’t mind Aria’s gaze and looked towards Shin, she stared at him.

Shin felt her stare, he felt uncomfortable by it. He tried looking away but didn’t know where to look, his body leaned towards Aria and held her hand.

The temperature in the hall suddenly dropped and everyone beside Shin felt an oppressive aura pushing them down. The maids’ breath grew rougher and bowed their heads down. Meanwhile Susan, who was the one Aria locked her aura on, felt like her bones cracking if she didn’t protect her body with her own aura.

A cold voice sounded out, everyone which heard it would think that they would die at any given moment.

“DO NOT THINK HIGHLY OF YOURSELF!”

Aria paused for a slight moment before continuing.

“Susan, the only reason you’re not dead right now is because Shin is here with me. Don’t think there will another time!”

Susan trembled when she heard Aria speak.

She had talked with Aria a long time ago, knowing that Aria loved her son the most, but to what extent? She dropped all the plans to be rough on him, she didn’t want to die. Because she knew, she would die if she tried something like that again.

The oppressive aura vanished not long after and Aria’s cold gaze looked around the room.

Shin on the other hand was staring dumbly at Aria, his mouth was open widely.

Mother, mother is so strong!

Shin’s eyes were full of admiration!

Aria felt Shin’s stare and smiled gently at him while caressing his cheeks.

Aria’s voice sounded out in the silent room.

“Susan, tell me your reason why you’re here.”

The person in mind, Susan was slightly trembling. But, it didn’t last long. A smile showed on her face before walking towards Aria and Shin, her gaze didn’t leave Shin.

“I welcome your return, boy. My name is Susan La Ville.”

Susan spoke frankly without much respect, her lips curved upwards when looking at Aria.

“Aria, I’m glad that your boy returned. I just got the news not long ago, so I thought of visiting you. Let’s say that I came because of your protection.”

Susan stopped, she looked at Aria’s frown and Shin’s frightened face.

Susan gaze turned cold for a moment before returning to her normal indifferent ones.

Shin didn’t notice this, but Aria noticed it clearly.

“There’s no need for you to go that far. Shin is my son and besides… your warnings are not needed in here!”

Aria stopped talking and looked at Shin before talking in a daze.

“Even if he destroys the castle, country, continent, I will protect him from any harm. I won’t let anyone take him away from me anymore.”

Shin looked at Aria’s face, he didn’t know what to think.

“M-Mother”

Shin’s anxious voice came out from his lips, he didn’t what was going on, but he clearly understood that he could harm people. He could also possible harm his own mother!

Never, I don’t want that!

“I-I can leave if I’m dangerous”

A voice filled with sadness and despair came out from Shin, his skin became pale as the snow and his lips lost its warm red colour. Shin tried to pull his hand away from Aria’s, tears flowed down his face when he thought of leaving.

I, I don’t belong anywhere.

It’s better for mother if I left.

I’m glad that I could at least hug mother once.

I’m glad.

I’m happy.

Tears ran down Shin’s face and dripped on the floor one after another.

Shin stood up and tried walking backwards while his stare was locked on Aria.

The maids looked dumbly at the situation.

Susan was shocked because of Shin’s reaction.

Aria, she didn’t know what was going on. But, when Shin’s hand left hers, she felt a pain she hasn’t felt since that time when they had to separate. She looked at Shin’s eyes full of despair and deprived of hope, his pale skin, blue lips and shakenly wobbling backwards, away from her.

Aria’s heart bled from his expression, she hastily vanished from her chair and the next moment she held Shin in her embrace.

“S-Shin, stay with me. You’re my son, I will protect you from any danger.”

Aria’s trembling voice entered everyone’s ears.

Shin tried to push himself away from Aria, but the more he tried, the harder Aria hugged him.

Shin tried his best to resist, but didn’t manage in the end. He cried loudly on Aria’s chest, Shin lost his consciousness after couple of minutes.

Aria stroked Shin while looking at him warmly.

Until she remembered why all of this happened…

Aria was filled with anger, rage and she wished to rip apart Susan!

She coldly looked at Susan.

“This is your last chance, if you do one more thing, I will destroy not only you, but your whole family!”

Aria’s voice sounded calm, but emotionless.

“Tell all the family houses, that my son has returned. There will be a banquet tomorrow, those who doesn’t come, doesn’t need to stay in this kingdom anymore!”

Aria’s voice sounded out before she lifted Shin up in her arms as she walked out the hall and walked towards her bedroom.

All the maids were in a chaotic state, they started preparing for the banquet while sending high notice to all the family houses of the news. The maids scattered around within half a minute.

Susan on the other hand was thinking of why she had what she did… If only she didn’t push her luck to that extent.

Sigh.

Susan looked up to the ceiling before walking out of the hall and wanted to return to her family house. She had to arrange for the banquet tomorrow, or her family house would suffer greatly for angering Aria.

Her Highness Aria, who knew you were like that… and that boy...

Susan let a self-deprecating smile before vanishing from the spot and showed up a kilometre away from the castle.

Aria and Shin laid on the bed, Shin was already sleeping and his breath had a natural pace. Aria was thinking of a couple of things which needed to be done before the banquet.

Sigh

She got motivated every time she looked at Shin’s peaceful face. Aria would do anything to see him like that, she caressed his face with her fingers while slowly dozing off.