187 Julians Reward (1/2)
But of course, she followed her son secretly.
Even though she knew that Solarium was a safe place for them, she still wouldn't risk her son's safety.
And I'm glad that I followed my son.
She didn't know that Wong was already back. And even though it pained her to say this, she had to admit that he was the only Keeper that she couldn't trust fully.
”Mommy, are you mad at me?”
Her thoughts were cut-off because of Winter's question. She looked down to see her baby snuggled up beside her. She didn't want to take her eyes off of him so she decided to sleep in his room for tonight.
”I'm not mad at you, my little cinnamon roll,” Tilly assured him with a smile. ”I'm just glad that nothing bad happened to you.”
”I'm sorry, Mommy,” Winter said with tears forming at the corner of his eyes. ”I'm sorry for making you worry.”
”Thank you for apologizing, baby,” she said softly. ”Please apologize to Luna and Isabelle, too. They were also very worried about you.”
He nodded. ”I will apologize to them tomorrow, Mommy.”
”You mean later,” she said with a soft laugh. ”It's already past midnight, baby.”
He laughed with her but she could see in his eyes that he was still sad.
”Winter, may I know why you're upset to find out that Julian is your brother?” she asked carefully. ”Are you jealous of him because he's with your father now?”
”I don't understand how he became my brother, Mommy,” Winter said in a frustrated voice. ”You didn't give birth to him in this lifetime, so he can't be your son. He can't be my brother.” His gaze lowered. ”I don't want a brother, Mommy.”
It pained her to see and hear Winter say cruel things about his brother.
But it wasn't like she didn't know where he was coming from. So of course, just like what most parents would do in that situation, she tried to be more patient and more understanding.
”When I found out that Julian was my son in my previous life, I asked Solaris and Luna if I should consider him as my son too in this lifetime,” she said carefully. ”Luna told me that Julian still has the memories of his previous life. But that's not the only strange thing about him. Apparently, no one can't read Julian's Mana even though he's a Fire Mage.”
Her son looked confused. ”What does it mean, Mommy?”
”According to Solaris, it means Julian wasn't born the natural way in this lifetime,” she said seriously. ”Solaris said that when Julian died in his previous life, he was directly reincarnated in this lifetime.”
”How did that happen, Mommy?” he asked in disbelief. ”Can a baby be born without a mommy and daddy?”
”Apparently, it was Julian's reward.”
”Reward?”
Winter looked shocked when he heard that. ”Julian's heart was crushed…?”
She nodded sadly. ”A baby's body couldn't handle two hearts. Especially if one the hearts was as powerful as mine.”
”Oh.”
”Solaris said that my brother felt bad for Julian,” she continued. ”So Wixx cast a spell on him. After Julian dies, he'll be reincarnated straight away to the lifetime where Kalel and I were reincarnated as well.” She gently caressed her son's face. ”And that's why I consider Julian as our son, Winter. I hope you find it in your heart to accept him as your brother. He went through a lot without us, baby. That's why this time, I want him to be a part of our family.”
”Please give me more time to think, Mommy,” Winter said, then he hugged her tight and buried his face against her neck. ”This is too much to absorb.”
”I understand, baby,” Tilly said, then she hugged her son and kissed the top of his head. ”I'm always here to support you.”
***
”WAS IT you, Your Majesty?”
Aku raised a brow at Lucina's question. ”What do you mean by that, Lady Huxley?”
Right now, the two of them were having tea in his office.
Lucina, after Nia was exiled, returned to the Royal Capital. She was officially adopted by Eugene Huxley after the count was released from prison.
Well, Captain Denver disappeared so the case against Lord Huxley was dismissed.
Anyway…
After Lucina became ”Lady Huxley,” he hired her as Julian Nystrom's etiquette teacher. The woman learned etiquette ”with” Nia, so he believed that she was capable of teaching the child the appropriate manner that a royal heir should learn.
I've seen Julian a few times. He's a quiet child. But there's an air of dignity around him.
And he liked Julian because he never looked at him like he was an enemy.
He could tell that the ”second child” had the memories of his previous life. But he didn't erase it because the memories that Julian had were something that he could take advantage of.
The poor child doesn't know that the Supreme is his real mother.
Instead of making another enemy in Julian, he decided to just coax him. If he was able to control Kalel in different lifetimes, he could do that to a child. Especially now that the biggest thorn in his throat was already gone.
Wherever you are, just stay there forever, Lady Nystrom.
”There's a rumor spreading in the Royal Capital for the past few days,” Lucina said with a smile. ”A rumor that says Duke Nystrom and I will get engaged soon.”
”Ah, that must have been my ”fault,”” Aku said with a smirk. ”When I was at a banquet a few nights ago, some ladies asked if Kiho is thinking of getting married again. I may have said that the duke already has his eyes on the lady closest to him. When they saw you arrive with Kiho, they immediately thought that I was talking about you.”
The woman smiled, obviously pleased by his explanation.
Well, he knew that Kiho and Lucina didn't go to that banquet together. The woman probably waited for Kiho and just entered the ballroom with him for other people to misunderstand.
Lucina is a Huxley now and that makes her eligible to be the next Duchess Nystrom.
”But Lady Huxley, don't you find anything strange with Kiho?” he asked, then he put the teacup down on the coaster. ”Sometimes, I feel like he's looking at me with calculating eyes.”