Reunion

Towards my brief explanation on who Luca really is, the pair of mother and son in front of me...


"Ah, I see, I understand now and that expla—WHAT?!"


Niina's face paled upon realizing what I just told her.


"E... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?!" Clavis' face was quite funny. His tail and ears are all standing up—wow, Niina's ears and tail were standing up, too.


This pair of mother and son is really alike!


Well, they are mother and son, so it's not something weird.


Their resemblances are uncanny.



"...S, s, so... Luca is the crown prince all along?!" Clavis was really surprised.


"W-w-w-whaaaat?!" Niina couldn't get over her initial shock.


Well, I really understand how well they are ignorant of the world's news. I'm still glad they know who the two figures are—who the current king and queen are, and what the royal family emblem looks like.


Nah really, if you don't even know those three, then you're doomed. Are you even the citizen of Riviera if you don't even know who your king and queen are?!


It's understandable that they haven't memorized who the crown prince is... but hopefully this shock... made them realize that they should at least keep up with the news, especially the one regarding the royalty...



"S, s, should I apologize to Luca-sama and confess my sin?!" Niina asked in fear.


"S...should I also prostrate myself and apologize for being so rude, and correct my way?" Clavis' reaction is similar.


"...I think you should just confess your ignorance, apologize, and then return to how you used to address and treat him. The way he is, Luca would prefer it like that," I replied.


"A-alright...," the two obediently answered.


The royal family quickly went to my side and congratulated me.


I just noticed, but they also brought along Kiri, given that his stepfather was one of the guards involved.


Using this occasion, Niina and Clavis talked to Luca, and as expected... Luca laughed it off. I bet if we are not in public, he would laugh really hard.


After talking with us for a while, we parted ways as they realized there were nobles who were eager to greet me, as many as there were nobles who would love to chatter with the royal family.


When I glanced at the upcoming nobles who came to greet me personally, I couldn't help but skip a heartbeat.



I mean, the ones standing very close to me, the ones who are walking right towards me—they are not unfamiliar figures.


If facing Clyde and Nicole was quite hard already, this one group here... is even harder, I think. The horde over there—they are none other than... my former self's family...


In a full set.


My father, my mother... Clyde's mother, Kania... Their appearances were more or less the same, albeit older.


And that young man over there—with his sturdy body that developed a bit of muscle—that confident man... is he really the little brother who was timidly hiding behind mother's back in the past?


Walking right behind my (former) parents is my (former) little brother who has turned... seventeen this year, I guess?


He has changed a lot...



As I faced the group of Grabberton in front of me—I sweated profusely. I hope they didn't notice how my smile turned stiff.


I was fretting over how I should react especially in front of my mother—but thankfully, Kania-san was the one to initiate the talk, so I think I have more time to prepare my heart.


Kania-san didn't stay so long to talk with me, as she excused herself to go to her son's side after a few greetings. It's as if she didn't want to get in the way of my mother's greetings. I guess... they still have bad blood even until now.


Unexpectedly, Kania-san's lax expression didn't change—as if she never really minded this whole feud and family drama. Well, for one, I think she was really focused on her son rather than thinking about the Grabberton family.


Her grey eyes didn't share a glimpse of remorse, regret, bitterness—nothing negative. Even after her son has left home, she seemed content with her life.


I wonder if she frequently visited Clyde?


...I hope so.



The second one is... father.


With his amber-colored eyes that seemed to view the world indifferently, he looked at me. His almond-colored hair and beard seemed different than when we last met—but... the slightly apparent scar mark visible on his skin is still the same.


"The Hartmann family's daughter, huh? Congratulations on your sixth birthday. I'm the current head of Grabberton clan, my name is Herbert Secht Grabberton. I have heard of rumors about your achievements. I wish you luck so that you can continue to make your family proud," he said.


How typical of Father.


He has always been achievement-oriented, honor-oriented.


"Thank you... Herbert-sama..."


It was quite hard trying to address him as a stranger right now. But since we were never close to begin with, it wasn't really impossible. I also did a mental practice in addressing all of them.


Father was never a talkative person. He was a person with few words, so obviously he didn't prolong our conversation with small talks.



Which means, here comes...


My mother.



"Oh? So you're the rumored... next queen candidate?"



Her prideful demeanor didn't change—no, perhaps it was enhanced due to her being proud of her son who should be the heir to Grabberton family?


Her voice was stern, exactly as I remembered it.


Her eyes are looking at me—it feels like she's examining me from head to toes.


I felt like my breath got caught on my throat.


This is the only person whom I was so fixated on. The one person that I yearned for her love.


And right now, she's standing in front of me. And we are supposed to be fellow nobles, yet strangers.



"Greetings, it's a pleasure to meat you. My name is Dahlia van Petersburg—now it would be Dahlia van Grabberton, though, as I become Herbert's wife."


She proudly announced herself.


Her curly brown-hair is tied sideways as it's also braided at the same time. Her pine-colored orbs are staring at me sternly—analyzing me.


This person is none other than...



Mother, I yearned for your love, for your praise, for your smile for all my life.


This person, a stranger.


Mother, I always chased after your back.


She is someone you have met for the first time.



Following right behind her was none other than... my past self's little brother.


I still managed to recognize him as there are unchanging traits from his childhood—though I admit I almost didn't recognize him before I saw his outfit and traits.


If anything, this meeting was totally expected—I have always expected this. That I would meet them again. Everyone. My past acquaintances. Since I was born a noble as well, this time.


But when the moment finally came, I felt like I was so unprepared for it.



As Domi stepped back a bit, it indicated how my past mother wanted to talk first, instead of us three talking together.


I'm quite unsure if this helps or destructive instead.



My eyes reflexively observed her again, once more. I'm unable to shift my gaze away from her.



She is familiar, yet unfamiliar.


She was my mother, but she is now a stranger.



I want to hug her, yet at the same time... I also want to run away from her.


Conflicting thoughts began to flood my mind.



Comment