TFLCM - Chapter 122

"...!" 

The children's small mouths slowly opened.

“Why are you crying?”

“Eh, sister…”

"Why are you crying here? Huh?"

My sister was there.

It was not an angry face, but the same gentle face.

"Uh. How..."

Rachel, who had been mouthing words as if she couldn't believe it, rubbed her eyes vigorously with the back of her hand.

However, having cried for days, her swollen eyes could not capture Eve well.

It felt just like a dream.

"Why are you crying? You're upsetting me." 

However, the soft voice and affectionate touch belonged to her older sister.

"Hmph..." 

The crying, which had stopped for a moment in surprise, burst out again. Zion was sobbing uncontrollably.

"You've become total crybabies. Look, let me see your faces. My God, look at those swollen eyes."

When Eve spoke deliberately and playfully, the children buried their faces in her arms and shook their heads vigorously.

It meant that I was already overwhelmed with sadness, so don't tease me.

Feeling a slight hint of annoyance, Eve let out a soft laugh.

'It seems like I'm surrounded only by crybabies.'

As Eve was patting the children, Lil, who had been sitting on her shoulder, flew up.

Then, he snatched the nape of Miya's neck, who was sitting quietly on her opposite shoulder.

Meow! Startled, Miya swung her paw and landed on Zion's shoulder.

As he sniffled, Zion finally lifted his head.

“Miya...?”

Zion blinked his tear-stained eyes.

Miya clicked her tongue and wiped away Zion's tears with her soft paw.

"What if we cry together?"

"But..."

"It is good to cry together, but you must be the one to wipe away the tears. That is how you become a strong person." 

At Miya's words, Zion rubbed the corners of his eyes vigorously with the back of his hand. Then he nodded vigorously.

Although the corners of his eyes were flushed red, Miya patted Zion's cheek as if she were proud of him for that alone.

Eve, who had been watching the scene with satisfaction, took the body down.

'Now all that remains is...'

It was Rachel, who was still clinging on like gum.

'How should I comfort her?'

Just as she was thinking hard, a good idea came to her.

Eve raised her head and gestured toward Noelier, who was standing behind her.

Noelier slowly approached them.

As she pulled his hand, Noelier obediently knelt down and sat following Eve.

"Look at this, Rachel."

Eve whispered soothingly. Rachel quietly raised her head.

Eve placed what she was holding in her hand on her head.

It was the wreath Rachel had made for her before she left the South.

She ended up taking it with her to the human world, but she didn't forget to keep it safe.

"I want to use this at my sister's wedding." 

The child's red eyes flickered briefly.

"Will Rachel put it on you herself?"

Rachel's tear-filled eyes looked back and forth between Eve and Noelier.

She told her to stop, but she started crying again.

Our little mouse, Eve, hugged Rachel tightly.

At the sound of crying mixed with relief and sorrow, Zion also sniffled again. Miya shook her head as if to say she had done all she could.

Eve, who had been chuckling, turned her head at the sudden sensation of heat.

"Noel must not cry." 

"..." 

Then Noelier slowly nodded.

However, the corners of his eyes were red like a child's. It was clear that he was holding back his tears.

'I can't survive!'

Eve eventually burst into laughter.

***

The tearful reunion has ended.

The children, gradually regaining their composure in Eve's arms, slowly blinked their eyes.

After crying their heart out, drowsiness washed over them.

Eve patted Rachel and Zion's backs.

"Do you want to go inside and sleep? Shall I read you a storybook?" 

The children slowly nodded their heads and stretched out their arms.

Eve carried Rachel and Noelier carried Zion as they headed to the room.

After laying the children down on the bed, shr patted them to help them fall asleep, but Rachel shook her head as if she didn't want to be let go.

"I want to sleep with my older sister." 

Rachel held tightly to the hem of Eve's dress.

"I feel like it will be a dream when I wake up..."

Even after confirming it like this, it seemed they couldn't believe it.

"Okay, okay. I won't go anywhere. I'll stick right by your side."

Eve turned her head and gestured toward Noelier.

He nodded as if he understood and walked out of the room.

"Here. I'm not going anywhere." 

As Eve settled into the bed, Zion and Rachel clung to her sides.

"Please pat my head." 

"Hug me, sister."

Eve chuckled softly at the mice's request and nodded.

They must have been really exhausted, as the children soon fell fast asleep.

She was planning to get up when the children woke up.

Perhaps because the tension finally released at the thought that she was truly back home, drowsiness began to creep in.

'Strangely, when I'm next to Rachel or Noelier...'

I'm getting really sleepy.

Eve fell asleep without finishing her thoughts.

After some time had passed, Noelier came into the room to look for Eve, who had not come out.

The room, now shrouded in darkness, was filled only with the sound of breathing.

'Is she asleep?'

Noelier cautiously approached them.

The peace he had dreamed of lay asleep on the bed.

Noelier reached out and lightly tapped Rachel's chubby finger. Rachel instinctively squeezed his index finger tightly.

Rachel's heat surged through his body, but he did not develop a fever.

All of this was thanks to Eve. The more he touched Eve, the more the heat inside his body subsided.

It was all thanks to Eve that he was able to hold Rachel.

He would not have felt this sense of relief if she had not appeared in his life.

Noelier reached out with his other hand, which Rachel was not holding, and stroked Rachel's soft cheek.

Rachel tossed and turned, whining "Mmng" at the tickling sensation.

Just then, Eve slowly opened her eyes. It seemed she had heard Rachel's tantrum.

"Eve."

Noelier called out to her in a low voice, as if apologetic.

"Noelm.."

Eve rubbed her sleepy eyes and mumbled.

"I dozed off... How long did I sleep?"

"It hasn't been long. Please get some more sleep. Sorry to disturb you." 

Then Eve shook her head.

"I want to sleep with Noel." 

"... Yes?"

When Noelier asked back, Eve yawned heavily and sat up again. 

"But if I sleep with the children, Noel will have to sleep alone." 

"It's alright. You don't have to worry about it..."

"They say married couples sleep together."

"..."

Noelier fell silent at Eve's subsequent words.

Noelier, who had been tilting his head, quickly realized what was happening and stood up.

She stretched out her arms after yawning repeatedly, as if still drowsy. 

To avoid waking the children, he slipped his hands under her armpits and lifted her up. 

Eve, having slipped out from between Rachel and Zion, clung tightly to Noelier as if she had been waiting for this moment. 

After adjusting her arms around her neck a few times, she let out a pleasant sigh, seemingly having found a comfortable position. 

A faint breath brushed past Noelier's ears.

"..." 

Noelier forced himself to hold back the tension in his body.

The dragon's power is strong. If we let our guard down even slightly, Eve could have been hurt.

Noelier left the children's room, suppressing the sigh that lingered in his mouth.

Noelier returned to the room and carefully laid Eve down in her arms.

Eve slowly blinked her eyes at the escaping heat.

Beyond the blurry vision, she could see the restraints Noelier was wearing.

"Uh uh..." 

Eve reached out her hand toward him as if to say no. Noelier bent his upper body in response to Eve pulling him.

“Why are you doing that?”

"We have to... undo this. I got it from Grandpa. Let's imprint it quickly, us."

Eve shook her head to chase away sleep.

Noelier let out a chuckle and shook her head as if to say he was fine.

"Please get some sleep for today. You can do it later. It’s not urgent." 

"But... I'm in a hurry..." 

Eve pouted as if she were being unfairly accused.

Then Noelier chuckled and gently stroked the corner of her eye.

"That is what I want to say."

He didn't want to hold onto his wife, who had just woken up and was half-asleep.

Noelier kissed her forehead soothingly.

"Sleep well, madam." 

Eve slowly nodded at the sweet whisper.

He picked Eve up again and laid her down so she could sleep comfortably.

Eve, who had been pestering him to get imprinted just moments ago, burrowed into the bed as if she had been waiting for this moment.

She seemed quite tired from what had happened in the human world.

The sound of wheezing breaths echoed through the room.

"..." 

Noelier, who was watching the scene, reached out his hand.

Silver hair wrapped around the white fingers.

Noelier pulled it closer and kissed the ends of her hair, then slowly closed his eyes.

It felt like her coldness was flowing into his lips.

'...It's not enough.'

He comforted her by saying there was no rush, but deep down, he was hoping for something bigger.

It felt like everything would be resolved if he just kissed her, held her in his arms, and smelled her sweet scent.

But there is no need to rush.

Because Eve and I will be imprinting soon.

'Yes. Engraving.'

You can be with Eve for the rest of your life.

A gentle smile formed on Noelier's lips.

***

At the intense heat and pungent smell, Noelier slowly lifted his eyelids.

Thick fog filled the surroundings. On top of that, something hot was flowing down from his head. 

He felt pain after blinking a few times. It felt like his eye had been injured.

Ah, it was a familiar scene.

'Is this a dream again?'

After meeting Eve, he was having dreams again that he hadn't had for a while.

Noelia vaguely knew that this dream was his past life.

In the past, he would have waited to wake up in a state of resignation, but not now.

Because she will come soon.

Then, amidst the hot flames, the sound of someone slowly approaching was heard.

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