264 The Cursed Descendants 3 (1/2)
”My lady, aren't you going to scold me?” Jameson asked, his head hanged low. His voice wasn't as loud as before, too. Most of all, he completed a sentence without cursing. ”Lord Julian has the right to get mad because I really crossed the line this time.”
”It seems like my son's scolding worked because you're feeling sorry now,” she said, then she gently patted Jameson's head. ”I can see that you're already reflecting so I don't need to scold you.”
The foul-mouthed Keeper's face turned red, then he avoided her gaze out of embarrassment.
They are ancient beings, but since they lack proper life experience, I can't help but see them as children.
”Changing isn't a bad thing,” she said when she remembered the last part of the two Keepers' conversation. ”Jameson, you were born with a foul mouth because you represent the suppressed rebellious part of my brother. Before he was chosen to be a Beast God, he was the heir of House Rosenberg. He was brought up like a royalty. Naturally, he wasn't allowed to say vulgar words. For other nobles, it wasn't hard to speak eloquently. But my brother has a bad temper.” She gently pinched Jameson's cheek which obviously surprised him. Well, she had been neglecting them ever since she regained her memories. She wanted to pay attention to them this time so they wouldn't feel lost by the changes in the current world. ”Jameson, my brother isn't a rebellious youth anymore. Well, he still has a bad temper and his personality is as awful as before. But the point is, he no longer needs to suppress himself because he's free from the shackles of our family's strict tradition. That means you're allowed to change, too.”
It looked Jameson was about to cry now. ”But I really like to swear, Lady Nystrom.”
She laughed softly. ”You can, but you can do it in moderation,” she said gently. ”Especially in front of the kids. No matter how old my sons' souls are, they will always be my babies to me. So please be gentle around them.”
”I understand,” the Keeper said. ”I will be careful of my behavior around the young masters, Supreme.”
She just smiled and nodded at him, then she turned to Roarke. ”You will always be my nephew,” she said which made Roarke blush. ”Roarke, that fact won't change even if you try to build a life away from Brother Wixx and Luna. So if there's something else that you want to be aside from being their son and being my Keeper, you're free to do so. That also goes to the other Keepers. After all, I want you to experience living for yourselves.”
She felt sad when she heard that and was about to comfort her ”nephew” when all of a sudden, an idea struck her.
I know what punishment is appropriate for the North King and his ice puppets now.
Ah, she was so grateful that she had a chance to talk to her Keepers this way.
”Jameson, Roarke, thank you,” Tilly said, then she ruffled the two Keepers' hair again. ”Now, it's time for me to work.”
***
”ALRIGHT, we'll know the truth once we reach the Great Fire Tree anyway,” Wixx said lazily. ”You're still not allowed to move from your spot though.”
After saying that, he waved his hand and literally made a huge Ring of Fire big enough to entrap the North King and his ice puppets inside. Afraid of melting, the frozen corpses compressed together to get away from his fire.
Of course, his flame was hot enough to instantly melt the snow-covered land.
”Do you think you can stop us just because you entrapped us inside your Ring of Fire?” Garnet Nystrom snarled at him. ”Lord Winchell, don't forget that the Nystroms are the masters of ice and water.”
”Put out my fire if you can,” Wixx said, then he yawned before he continued. ”I'm still not going to let you pass until my little sister says so.”
***
”KIHO!” Tilly called her husband excitedly when she saw him returning to the house with their little cinnamon rolls. She was told by Jameson and Roarke that her family went to the Frozen Woods. But now that they had returned, she didn't have to go and find them. ”Did you have a secret training with our kids?”
Kiho didn't smile but his eyes sparkled, then he nodded. ”Our sons inherited your wit and intelligence, Tilly. I'm relieved.”
She just laughed it off. Then, she turned to Winter and Julian. ”Did you learn a lot from your father, my precious little cinnamon rolls?”
”Yes, Mother,” Julian said with a smile more confident than before. ”Father began teaching us his water techniques.”
That was a surprise.
Kiho hated using the water techniques that the Moon God himself created. But knowing her husband, he probably didn't want to hinder their children's growth.
”But our not-so-secret training was cut short because Dad was distracted,” Winter said casually. ”It seems like Dad has come up with an awesome plan to counter the enemies' attack.”
”Thank you for reporting to me, my precious boys,” she said, then she ruffled her sons' hair before she turned to her husband. ”Kiho, what a co-incidence. I also thought of an appropriate punishment for our cursed descendants.”
To be honest, she wasn't so sure about sharing that with Kiho when he also came up with a plan. She knew that getting over insecurity or inferiority complex wasn't an easy feat. But she also knew that holding back for her husband wouldn't do them any good.
”That's good. Two heads are better than one,” her husband said. There wasn't an ounce of insecurity in his voice this time. ”Should we bring along the kids?”
She turned to their children. Winter and Julian were both brilliant kids. Plus, Julian was the North King's grandfather in the past. Their oldest had all the right to be included in the plan. ”Winter, Julian, you're free to join us. We won't hold you back from getting involved because the enemies this time are from the Nystrom clan. But we won't force you either.”
”Your mother is right,” Kiho added. ”We know that both of you have old souls inside your young bodies. But for your mother and I, the two of you will always be our precious children. Having said, we still intend to raise you as the next leaders of our family, of course. But at the same time, we will protect your childhood as much as we can. That's why we will give you a choice whether you want to be involved or not in the upcoming battles that our family will face.”
She nodded in agreement with her husband.
Winter and Julian looked at each other.
”Brother, the North King is your grandson. I'll understand if you want to get involved in the plan,” Winter said to his older brother. ”I will follow your decision.”
”Thank you for letting me decide for us, Winter,” Julian said, then he ruffled his younger brother's hair before he turned to them. ”Mother, Father, Winter and I will entrust this battle to you.”
Okay, she was surprised by their oldest's choice.
To be honest, she thought that Julian would be interested to join their plan. But if it was their oldest, she could trust his decision 100%.
She turned to Kiho the same time he did. Then, they exchanged knowing nods before she turned to their children again. ”We respect your decision, children,” she said, then she gently patted each of her son's head. ”Thank you for being honest with us.”
”Father, Mother, may Winter and I talk to Lord Forrester while the two of you are planning for the next attack?” their oldest asked politely. ”We will report to you later.”
”I will take care of Brother,” Winter said, then he gave them a thumbs up. ”Mom, Dad, I'll make sure that my brother won't come up with a plan with the saint to sacrifice himself or something similar to that.”
”Hey, it's not like that,” Julian denied, his cheek red with embarrassment. ”I want to live my life to the fullest this time.”
She smiled, relieved that Julian thought that way now.
I'm worried because unlike the carefree Winter, our Julian could be pessimistic sometimes. He definitely got it from Kiho. I wouldn't have called Kalel Nystrom as my 'gray cloud' if he wasn't so gloomy back then.
”That's good to hear,” Kiho said to Julian softly. Then, he squatted down and held their oldest child's shoulders gently. ”Julian, I hope you don't become a gray cloud like I was in the past.”
Oh, that was surprising.
We're thinking of the same thing.
”It's okay to feel down from time to time because it's okay not to feel okay,” her husband continued. ”But please don't stay in the darkness for too long, son. If you need us, we're always here for you.”
”I know that now, Father,” Julian said. Then, much to their shock, he shyly wrapped around his arms around Kiho's neck. ”Thank you.”
Their oldest was very shy around them but it seemed like he was coming out of his shell now, huh? She felt so touched that she almost broke down in tears.
”I want a hug, too,” Tilly said, then she got down on her knees to hug Kiho and Julian who both turned red. Ah, how cute.