Episode 134. The Children's Mother
"Wahaha, I'm riding a horse!"
When Aaron started riding a horse by himself, his mouth widened as if he was amazed at himself. The child, who inherited the blood of the wolf clan, was surprisingly athletic.
"Awesome, Aaron! But it's still dangerous, so we have to move slowly."
Christine rode close to his side. Like all fathers, his eyes only showed that the child was in danger and anxious.
"Then when are you going to run?"
"Do you want to run already?"
"Yes! Then I can deliver snacks to Dad quickly. Aaron is in charge of Dad's snacks."
"Really...?"
"My dad loves Mom's apple pie the most. That's why Mom makes apple pie every day. But Jade got sick of it and secretly gave it to Eliza. Eliza is Pauline's friend. But when I told Dad, he pretended not to know. He said he didn't want to see Pauline and Jade duel."
And Aaron kept talking. Most of the child’s stories involved his father. Naturally, that father was Mark, not Christine.
“Does Aaron like your father?”
“Yes, but I like Your Majesty too.”
“How much?”
He asked, thinking it was a stupid question. And Aaron answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Five for my father, and two for Your Majesty... no, three or four.”
The child even held up his fingers to clearly convey his intention.
“Thank you. Four each. But why don’t you call me Your Majesty today?”
“Because everyone calls you Your Majesty. Should I call you Your Majesty again?”
Christine cautiously tried to bring up the subject.
“Instead... how about calling me your father?”
“No. There is only one father!”
Aaron was so firm that it was hard to believe he was a six-year-old.
His firmness grated on Christine’s nerves.
“I am the Emperor, and the Emperor is the father of all his subjects. So, Aaron, from now on, call me father.”
Was it because his voice was so oppressive? Aaron started to cry.
“No! Aaron’s father is home. I want to go home...”
“This is your home for now, Aaron.”
Aaron finally let tears fall from his large eyes. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and scolded him.
“Your Majesty, now I see that you are a bad person. You took my father away, and you didn’t let Aaron go home! Sob! Aaron was going to go fishing with my father! Mom... I miss you. Oh! Mom... Mom!”
The child held back tears, but when he finally said the word “Mom,” he started to cry, overcome with emotion.
It seemed that the pain Christine had been holding back from his cries was getting worse. He unconsciously grabbed his left chest and frowned, and Zimmer, who had been watching him anxiously, came running.
“Are you okay?”
He barely managed to say, his face distorted from holding back pain.
“Comfort Aaron a little.”
Then he quickly rode his horse away from the trail.
Jade, who had just finished his swordsmanship training, entered the mansion.
Jade, whose hair was soaking wet, smelled of sweat. Not only that, but the child had grown a lot in recent years. Although his chubby cheeks remained, his facial features were becoming more distinct, and he was turning into a boy in the midst of his growth spurt.
“Jade, do you have time today?”
Adele approached him and asked.
“Is there anything you want me to do?”
His voice was hoarse, typical of a boy going through a voice change.
“I’m going to make some snacks, and I want you to take them to the fishing spot your father often goes to.”
“If my mother comes with me, I’ll think about it.”
“Then I’ll drive the carriage!”
Pauline, who had just finished her classes at the academy, joined in.
“Pauline, you drive the carriage?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve driven it often without my father knowing.”
Looking at the two children who had now grown taller than her, Adele felt a strange emotion. She had always thought that they would need care for their entire lives...
“Yes, the weather is nice, so why don’t we all go on a picnic together?”
The two children cheered at Adele's words. At times like this, there was still a childlike side to them.
Christine, who was lying on the couch in the office, heard Zimmer's footsteps.
"What about Aaron?"
"He was looking for his mother so much that I put him to sleep in Adele's bed. He barely managed to fall asleep because it smelled like his mother."
"He's even obsessed with her smell."
"I guess it's because he takes after his father."
Was that what he wanted to hear? Christine smiled with his pale lips.
Even though it was nothing special, he felt strangely satisfied that he had something in common with the child.
“How are you feeling?”
“I took some painkillers and it’s bearable.”
Christine clutched his chest and sat up with difficulty. However, he still looked pale and sweaty, which didn’t look good.
“Should I tell Miss Leana to come back quickly?”
“No problem. There’s nothing she can do with her magic.”
“But he can still prevent you from turning into a wolf.”
“Why? Are you afraid I’ll suddenly change and eat you?”
“That’s scary enough... but wouldn’t it be bad if you turned into a wolf in front of Aaron?”
“It’s not that bad, so don’t worry.”
Christine got out of the couch and headed to Adele’s bedroom.
When he opened the door and went in, there was a child who looked like him sleeping on Adele’s bed instead of her.
There were tear stains on his face from crying himself to sleep. The sight was pitiful, but on the other hand, it was so lovely and pretty that he couldn’t take his eyes off it.
He carefully sat down on the bed so as not to wake the child.
Just looking at the child, whose long eyelashes cast neat shadows and whose cheeks were flushed, made him smile. He had to force himself to kiss his chubby cheeks.
What must Adele have thought as she watched the child growing so beautifully?
He felt ashamed of himself for coveting such a treasure when he had never even known of its existence.
“Uuuuung... Mom...”
As the child tossed and murmured, Christine quickly patted his shoulder. As he looked at the child who was sleeping soundly again, his heart became complicated.
How would Aaron accept the fact that he was a member of the wolf clan?
Christine was anxious and curious at the same time. In his case, it was so horrible and hard to accept that he even tried to kill himself. He wanted to bite and kill anyone with an inexplicable rage.
At that time, the wolf clan was a monster that had never been heard of or seen before.
Someday, Aaron would go through that process too. Even if the perception of the wolf clan has improved, it will be quite a shock to a child who has grown up thinking of himself as people. At that time, he will need someone to help him.
'So it would be right to take him with me, even if it means forcing him.'
When Aaron started riding a horse by himself, his mouth widened as if he was amazed at himself. The child, who inherited the blood of the wolf clan, was surprisingly athletic.
"Awesome, Aaron! But it's still dangerous, so we have to move slowly."
Christine rode close to his side. Like all fathers, his eyes only showed that the child was in danger and anxious.
"Then when are you going to run?"
"Do you want to run already?"
"Yes! Then I can deliver snacks to Dad quickly. Aaron is in charge of Dad's snacks."
"Really...?"
"My dad loves Mom's apple pie the most. That's why Mom makes apple pie every day. But Jade got sick of it and secretly gave it to Eliza. Eliza is Pauline's friend. But when I told Dad, he pretended not to know. He said he didn't want to see Pauline and Jade duel."
And Aaron kept talking. Most of the child’s stories involved his father. Naturally, that father was Mark, not Christine.
“Does Aaron like your father?”
“Yes, but I like Your Majesty too.”
“How much?”
He asked, thinking it was a stupid question. And Aaron answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Five for my father, and two for Your Majesty... no, three or four.”
The child even held up his fingers to clearly convey his intention.
“Thank you. Four each. But why don’t you call me Your Majesty today?”
“Because everyone calls you Your Majesty. Should I call you Your Majesty again?”
Christine cautiously tried to bring up the subject.
“Instead... how about calling me your father?”
“No. There is only one father!”
Aaron was so firm that it was hard to believe he was a six-year-old.
His firmness grated on Christine’s nerves.
“I am the Emperor, and the Emperor is the father of all his subjects. So, Aaron, from now on, call me father.”
Was it because his voice was so oppressive? Aaron started to cry.
“No! Aaron’s father is home. I want to go home...”
“This is your home for now, Aaron.”
Aaron finally let tears fall from his large eyes. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and scolded him.
“Your Majesty, now I see that you are a bad person. You took my father away, and you didn’t let Aaron go home! Sob! Aaron was going to go fishing with my father! Mom... I miss you. Oh! Mom... Mom!”
The child held back tears, but when he finally said the word “Mom,” he started to cry, overcome with emotion.
It seemed that the pain Christine had been holding back from his cries was getting worse. He unconsciously grabbed his left chest and frowned, and Zimmer, who had been watching him anxiously, came running.
“Are you okay?”
He barely managed to say, his face distorted from holding back pain.
“Comfort Aaron a little.”
Then he quickly rode his horse away from the trail.
***
Jade, who had just finished his swordsmanship training, entered the mansion.
Jade, whose hair was soaking wet, smelled of sweat. Not only that, but the child had grown a lot in recent years. Although his chubby cheeks remained, his facial features were becoming more distinct, and he was turning into a boy in the midst of his growth spurt.
“Jade, do you have time today?”
Adele approached him and asked.
“Is there anything you want me to do?”
His voice was hoarse, typical of a boy going through a voice change.
“I’m going to make some snacks, and I want you to take them to the fishing spot your father often goes to.”
“If my mother comes with me, I’ll think about it.”
“Then I’ll drive the carriage!”
Pauline, who had just finished her classes at the academy, joined in.
“Pauline, you drive the carriage?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve driven it often without my father knowing.”
Looking at the two children who had now grown taller than her, Adele felt a strange emotion. She had always thought that they would need care for their entire lives...
“Yes, the weather is nice, so why don’t we all go on a picnic together?”
The two children cheered at Adele's words. At times like this, there was still a childlike side to them.
***
Christine, who was lying on the couch in the office, heard Zimmer's footsteps.
"What about Aaron?"
"He was looking for his mother so much that I put him to sleep in Adele's bed. He barely managed to fall asleep because it smelled like his mother."
"He's even obsessed with her smell."
"I guess it's because he takes after his father."
Was that what he wanted to hear? Christine smiled with his pale lips.
Even though it was nothing special, he felt strangely satisfied that he had something in common with the child.
“How are you feeling?”
“I took some painkillers and it’s bearable.”
Christine clutched his chest and sat up with difficulty. However, he still looked pale and sweaty, which didn’t look good.
“Should I tell Miss Leana to come back quickly?”
“No problem. There’s nothing she can do with her magic.”
“But he can still prevent you from turning into a wolf.”
“Why? Are you afraid I’ll suddenly change and eat you?”
“That’s scary enough... but wouldn’t it be bad if you turned into a wolf in front of Aaron?”
“It’s not that bad, so don’t worry.”
Christine got out of the couch and headed to Adele’s bedroom.
When he opened the door and went in, there was a child who looked like him sleeping on Adele’s bed instead of her.
There were tear stains on his face from crying himself to sleep. The sight was pitiful, but on the other hand, it was so lovely and pretty that he couldn’t take his eyes off it.
He carefully sat down on the bed so as not to wake the child.
Just looking at the child, whose long eyelashes cast neat shadows and whose cheeks were flushed, made him smile. He had to force himself to kiss his chubby cheeks.
What must Adele have thought as she watched the child growing so beautifully?
He felt ashamed of himself for coveting such a treasure when he had never even known of its existence.
“Uuuuung... Mom...”
As the child tossed and murmured, Christine quickly patted his shoulder. As he looked at the child who was sleeping soundly again, his heart became complicated.
How would Aaron accept the fact that he was a member of the wolf clan?
Christine was anxious and curious at the same time. In his case, it was so horrible and hard to accept that he even tried to kill himself. He wanted to bite and kill anyone with an inexplicable rage.
At that time, the wolf clan was a monster that had never been heard of or seen before.
Someday, Aaron would go through that process too. Even if the perception of the wolf clan has improved, it will be quite a shock to a child who has grown up thinking of himself as people. At that time, he will need someone to help him.
'So it would be right to take him with me, even if it means forcing him.'
The post-war negotiations with the royal family of Kalime are almost over, so it would be best to leave as soon as possible. And Adele and Aaron will proceed with the process of becoming members of the royal family of Bahamart.
Christine, who had made all the decisions, got up from the bed.
"Father!"
Mark, who was packing up his fishing gear, turned his head at the sound of the children's voices.
He saw Pauline and Jade holding a large picnic basket. He was bewildered when he saw Adele behind them.
He thought he would never see her again.
"Adele!"
Adele approached Mark, saw his haggard face, and hugged him tightly, sobbing. He also hugged Adele tightly without saying a word.
The two quick-witted children laid out a mat on the ground where the green grass was growing and placed the picnic basket. Then, as they quietly tried to leave,
"Ouch!"
Jade, whose face was scratched by a tree branch, let out a sound without realizing it.
Adele, surprised, quickly turned around.
“What, are you hurt, Jade?”
“No, it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
Jade, feeling sorry for interrupting their time together, waved his hand, but Adele didn’t believe him.
“It’s okay. Your cheek is bleeding. What if you hurt your eye!”
“Mom, it’s hard to call this bleeding...”
Pauline, who was next to him, spoke objectively. Jade’s cheek, where he had been scratched by the tree branch, was only a small scratch the size of a finger joint.
“According to the doctor’s professional opinion, it’s a wound that can be easily treated with spit.”
When Mark also said it lightly, Adele got angry.
“That’s what a doctor would say!”
“Yes, I’ll go get the prescription!”
When Jade playfully tried to spit on his finger, Mark threw him a small bottle of ointment.
“Put this on. If it gets worse, Mom will hate me so much.”
Adele narrowed her eyes and glared at the three men.
“Is it just me that everyone is treating me like a nagging person right now?”
“Hey, your nagging is our daily bread.”
“That’s right. It’s like my mother’s bread that becomes our blood and flesh.”
Pauline and Jade hugged her playfully.
“Ha, now that you're all grown up, you’re teasing me?”
Adele laughed while getting angry. The children who needed Adele’s touch were now able to cleverly please her. They were not only growing up, but also growing from boys to men.
“But Aaron...?”
Mark, who had been asking absentmindedly, quickly changed the subject when he saw Adele looking embarrassed.
“What should I do? I just released all the fish a little while ago, so I have nothing to serve to the guests.”
“It’s not that, but it seems like you didn’t catch a single fish?”
Mark got angry when Pauline’s words hit him right in the face.
“This guy! What do you think of your father?”
This time, Jade joined in.
“You’re right, because you’re angry.”
Adele smiled and opened the picnic basket.
“Don’t worry. I knew you’d do this, so I packed a lunch.”
“I knew you’d do this... You say? Adele, you’re the worst!”
Soon, the four of them burst into laughter. It was a peaceful and ordinary day, as if nothing had happened. Except that everyone was trying hard not to notice that Aaron was gone.
After eating the snacks Adele had brought, the family spent their time apart.
Pauline read a book lying on the grass, and Jade fished.
And Adele and Mark walked along the riverside as the sun slowly set.
In the past few days, the trees had sprouted green leaves, and the cherry trees lining the waterway were in full bloom. The wind was cool, but it was a late afternoon when the sunlight was drowsy.
Adele managed to speak.
“Are you feeling okay? Mia said you were tortured badly...”
Fortunately, Mark didn’t seem to be seriously injured except for his chapped lips. But he can’t tell just by looking at him.
“The torture was exaggerated; nothing serious happened.”
“Really?”
Adele looked at him carefully as if she couldn’t believe it, and then looked at his wrists, which were still bruised.
“You can’t believe that?”
Mark covered his wrists with his sleeves as if it was nothing.
But Adele bowed her head like a sinner.
“I’m sorry. It seems like it’s all my fault that you’re going through all this trouble...”
“Don’t blame yourself, Adele. You should blame the one who framed us.”
“That’s right. I can never forgive them. But the Emperor didn’t frame you. The rebel priests must have approached you on purpose. To cause discord between you, me, and the Emperor. When Leana catches them, everything will be revealed.”
Mark’s once affectionate expression turned cold.
“Now that I think about it, you came to defend the Emperor.”
Adele quickly shook her head.
“No! That’s not it! I just wanted to tell the truth.”
“The truth doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that you’re going to the Emperor in the end.”
“Mark...”
Mark had a bitter expression.
“It was planned from the beginning. You foolishly...”
“I can’t say anything to you other than sorry and thank you. I always owe you something...”
When Adele stared at him with a sad face, Mark tried to smile. But his eyes were also wet.
“Do you know? You’ve been saying sorry to me all the time lately. I told you, right? It’s miserable to stay by my side because of regret. So just go to the Emperor. The time I spent with you... That happiness alone was enough compensation. I guess I’ll have to overcome the rest.”
And Mark turned around.
Yes, that was enough. The past six years had been the brightest and happiest times of his entire life. He didn’t feel it, but he convinced himself that it was enough.
That was when.
“Mom, Dad!”
A small child appeared from between the shade of the trees with a happy voice. The child who saw the two came running with a face as bright as sunshine.
Christine, who had made all the decisions, got up from the bed.
***
"Father!"
Mark, who was packing up his fishing gear, turned his head at the sound of the children's voices.
He saw Pauline and Jade holding a large picnic basket. He was bewildered when he saw Adele behind them.
He thought he would never see her again.
"Adele!"
Adele approached Mark, saw his haggard face, and hugged him tightly, sobbing. He also hugged Adele tightly without saying a word.
The two quick-witted children laid out a mat on the ground where the green grass was growing and placed the picnic basket. Then, as they quietly tried to leave,
"Ouch!"
Jade, whose face was scratched by a tree branch, let out a sound without realizing it.
Adele, surprised, quickly turned around.
“What, are you hurt, Jade?”
“No, it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
Jade, feeling sorry for interrupting their time together, waved his hand, but Adele didn’t believe him.
“It’s okay. Your cheek is bleeding. What if you hurt your eye!”
“Mom, it’s hard to call this bleeding...”
Pauline, who was next to him, spoke objectively. Jade’s cheek, where he had been scratched by the tree branch, was only a small scratch the size of a finger joint.
“According to the doctor’s professional opinion, it’s a wound that can be easily treated with spit.”
When Mark also said it lightly, Adele got angry.
“That’s what a doctor would say!”
“Yes, I’ll go get the prescription!”
When Jade playfully tried to spit on his finger, Mark threw him a small bottle of ointment.
“Put this on. If it gets worse, Mom will hate me so much.”
Adele narrowed her eyes and glared at the three men.
“Is it just me that everyone is treating me like a nagging person right now?”
“Hey, your nagging is our daily bread.”
“That’s right. It’s like my mother’s bread that becomes our blood and flesh.”
Pauline and Jade hugged her playfully.
“Ha, now that you're all grown up, you’re teasing me?”
Adele laughed while getting angry. The children who needed Adele’s touch were now able to cleverly please her. They were not only growing up, but also growing from boys to men.
“But Aaron...?”
Mark, who had been asking absentmindedly, quickly changed the subject when he saw Adele looking embarrassed.
“What should I do? I just released all the fish a little while ago, so I have nothing to serve to the guests.”
“It’s not that, but it seems like you didn’t catch a single fish?”
Mark got angry when Pauline’s words hit him right in the face.
“This guy! What do you think of your father?”
This time, Jade joined in.
“You’re right, because you’re angry.”
Adele smiled and opened the picnic basket.
“Don’t worry. I knew you’d do this, so I packed a lunch.”
“I knew you’d do this... You say? Adele, you’re the worst!”
Soon, the four of them burst into laughter. It was a peaceful and ordinary day, as if nothing had happened. Except that everyone was trying hard not to notice that Aaron was gone.
***
After eating the snacks Adele had brought, the family spent their time apart.
Pauline read a book lying on the grass, and Jade fished.
And Adele and Mark walked along the riverside as the sun slowly set.
In the past few days, the trees had sprouted green leaves, and the cherry trees lining the waterway were in full bloom. The wind was cool, but it was a late afternoon when the sunlight was drowsy.
Adele managed to speak.
“Are you feeling okay? Mia said you were tortured badly...”
Fortunately, Mark didn’t seem to be seriously injured except for his chapped lips. But he can’t tell just by looking at him.
“The torture was exaggerated; nothing serious happened.”
“Really?”
Adele looked at him carefully as if she couldn’t believe it, and then looked at his wrists, which were still bruised.
“You can’t believe that?”
Mark covered his wrists with his sleeves as if it was nothing.
But Adele bowed her head like a sinner.
“I’m sorry. It seems like it’s all my fault that you’re going through all this trouble...”
“Don’t blame yourself, Adele. You should blame the one who framed us.”
“That’s right. I can never forgive them. But the Emperor didn’t frame you. The rebel priests must have approached you on purpose. To cause discord between you, me, and the Emperor. When Leana catches them, everything will be revealed.”
Mark’s once affectionate expression turned cold.
“Now that I think about it, you came to defend the Emperor.”
Adele quickly shook her head.
“No! That’s not it! I just wanted to tell the truth.”
“The truth doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that you’re going to the Emperor in the end.”
“Mark...”
Mark had a bitter expression.
“It was planned from the beginning. You foolishly...”
“I can’t say anything to you other than sorry and thank you. I always owe you something...”
When Adele stared at him with a sad face, Mark tried to smile. But his eyes were also wet.
“Do you know? You’ve been saying sorry to me all the time lately. I told you, right? It’s miserable to stay by my side because of regret. So just go to the Emperor. The time I spent with you... That happiness alone was enough compensation. I guess I’ll have to overcome the rest.”
And Mark turned around.
Yes, that was enough. The past six years had been the brightest and happiest times of his entire life. He didn’t feel it, but he convinced himself that it was enough.
That was when.
“Mom, Dad!”
A small child appeared from between the shade of the trees with a happy voice. The child who saw the two came running with a face as bright as sunshine.
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