Chapter 388 - [Bonus chapter] (1/2)
Rosaline let out a long breath before knocking on the door. After a moment, the door opened and Sol poked his head out from the room. His eyes widened when he saw his mother standing there.
”Mama? Mother?” He mumbled.
”Do you have a minute, Sol? I wanted to talk to you,” Rosaline said calmly hiding her weariness.
”Yes. . .” Sol let his mother in and immediately regretted it.
His room was messier than the last time and he knew Rosaline won't be happy about this. .
”Sol, your maid didn't clean your room?” asked Rosaline looking around the room, surprised.
”No . . . I don't have a . . . maid anymore,” Sol murmured looking down. ”I don't . . . let anyone enter . . . my room.”
”Why?”
”I don't . . . like people.” Sol prepared himself for a long lecture about disciplined life and courtesy but Rosaline smiled.
”I also don't like people,” she said and moving a cluster of books from a chair, sat down. ”But if you don't want to let them clean, at least clean yourself.”
”I will,” Sol said quickly. He was surprised by his mother's sudden change of behavior, and he was cautious.
”Good, now sit down.”
”Yes, mother.” Sol sat down on the edge of his bed facing Rosaline. He nervously tugged his sleeves and Rosaline noticed how uncomfortable was her son with her.
With everything after Ethan leaving, Rosaline got so focused on keeping Sol safe that she forgot that a kid just didn't need to be saved but cared for and nurtured. Maybe it was her fault that Sol never developed any powers and he has the problem with speaking.
”Sol, I —” Rosaline's throat felt dry. ”You used to call me, Mama, no? Then why change?”
Sol hung his head down and bȧrėly moved his lips as he murmured, ”I didn't call you for more than a year.”
It was impossible to catch what he said but Rosaline's extraordinary hearing never missed a thing but she couldn't believe what she heard. Sol hadn't called her for more than a year and she didn't even know that.
”Sol, I am sorry.”
Sol didn't reply and Rosaline lingered in that discomfort. She was no better than her mother.
”Sol, I am sorry I couldn't be a good mother to you.”
”I know. . . you have . . . a lot of things to do,” Sol said hearing his mother's harsh declaration. Sol believed, she wasn't a bad mother.
Rosaline's eyes filled with tears and she turned away to hide them. She looked around to say something else and her eyes landed on a book about wizard's magic.
”I heard you are friends with Lady Christina and her friends?” Rosaline asked.
”No. . . I mean . . . I . . .” Sol started to stammer.
”It's fine, Sol. I like Lady Christina too and you can tell me anything,” Rosaline looked back at Sol. ”I promise I won't get mad at you.”
Sol thought over his mother's words before nodding.
”Lady Christina is . . . nice but her . . . friend Luna . . . she is . . . so nice and . . .”
Rosaline smiled as her son talked some more about the things that fascinated him about Lady Christina and her friends. Sol wasn't completely open but it was a start. A start she needed. They both needed.
Sol was in the middle of telling how Luna let him watch while she made some potions when Rosaline hugged him tightly. After a moment of hesitation, Sol hugged her back.
”I promise Sol, we will make everything right,” Rosaline whispered. She wasn't going to be like her mother, she promised herself.
”Is Oziyat . . . back?” Sol asked freeing himself from the hug.
”No,” Rosaline smiled. ”But as soon as he comes back you can join us. I won't stop you from going out or meeting new people. How about dinner? We can all have dinner together and —”
Rosaline stopped suddenly and looked at the bedroom door. Her hearing caught a guard running towards their room. Guards never ran in panic . . . unless something terrible had happened. Before the guard could reach the room, Rosaline stepped out. Sol behind her.