Chapter 83 The Godmother, Duke Of Drea
The Godmother sighed as the butler’s gaze never left her.
She didn’t say it out loud, but she knew the butler was worried. After a moment’s silence, she broke the stare and opened her mouth as if she couldn’t.
“Yes. Tell him to do so.”
“Yes, I will, Madam.”
Relief finally flashed across the butler’s face. As the butler left the bedroom, the godmother collapsed onto the bed.
“Ouch…”
She groaned in pain.
A few moments later, a knock at the door stirred her nerves, and she dared not turn to face the woman and her child. All she wanted to do was evaporate.
But she couldn’t go on like this forever without seeing Killion. He was the only family she had. The godmother gritted her molars and opened her mouth.
“Come in.”
Kilion, Veronia, and Jediel entered, one after the other, but the Godmother did not look at them, her gaze averted.
“Mother, I heard you were unwell, how are you feeling now?”
“Resting quietly, I seem to be getting better.”
Finally, the godmother’s gaze fell on Veronia and Jediel. Veronia immediately bowed politely.
“Good evening, I’m Nia Lampert.”
“Welcome, Lady Nia. I’m sorry I’m not feeling well, I’m afraid.”
“No, it’s okay.”
It was an awkward introduction. Jediel glanced in Veronia’s direction, and when she signaled with a slight nod of her head, he bowed at right angles.
“Hello. My name is Jediel, mummy Nia son.”
Her godmother’s shoulders twitched as she was startled by her booming voice. The next moment, her eyes widened to the point of bulging. Her pupils were dilating like strabismus.
“My God…!”
The godmother was speechless at the sight of a child who looked so much like her long-dead eldest son. Her heart was pounding wildly, and soon tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.
He looked so much like Aaron, from his dazzling blonde hair to his large, clear eyes and the blue sparkling within them.
So did his strong nose, pronounced features, and full lips. The Godmother remembered Aaron as she examined Jediel’s features.
‘Aaron…!’
She called out the name of her first child, buried long ago in her heart.
She could see him as vividly as if it were yesterday, small as the child before her, but with clear eyes. The image of Aaron as a young man who, despite his large frame, always smiled like a child.
‘Aaron… my son…!’
The godmother said to Jediel, trying to calm the rising tide of longing.
“Sweetie…, will you come closer?”
Veronia nodded again, and Jediel stepped up to her side. The Godmother still couldn’t take her eyes off the child’s face.
“Did you say your name is Jediel?”
“Yes.”
“Jediel, may I touch your hand?”
“…Yes, here.”
Jediel graciously offered her godmother his hand. It was a small, fluffy, cute hand. The godmother stroked it gently, as if it were precious.
“Ahhh. What a tiny hand. Ahhh…”
Tears filled the corners of the godmother’s eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
She stared at Jediel, unable to wipe them away, until the child silently wiped the tears from her cheeks. The godmother’s eyes widened for a moment at the sudden touch.
“What a sweet child you are!”
The godmother smiled as she placed her own hand over the one that had touched her cheek. Jediel giggled in response.
***
Feeling much better, the godmother sat down at her desk and looked over the next month’s budget.
The door opened with a knock and a young maid entered, carrying a silver tray, on which a letter was neatly placed.
“Madam godmother, this is from the Empress Dowager’s court.”
“From the Empress’s court?”
“Yes.”
She was puzzled. She wasn’t close enough to the Empress to exchange letters, and yet here it was.
‘What’s going on?’
As she tore open the envelope, she felt a sense of foreboding. The godmother’s face fell as she adjusted her reading glasses and read the contents. The Empress wanted to come to the Duke’s residence for a drink after a long time.
‘Drink? What’s this… Why at this time of year?’
The Empress’s intentions were plain to see. Sighing heavily, the godmother recalled the conversation he’d had with Killion in private earlier.
‘Jediel… isn’t your child, is he?’
‘Of course not, he looks a lot like my brother, doesn’t he? That’s why I took an instant liking to him the first time I saw him. And that’s how I met Nia, too.’
‘I see. Your brother and you look so much alike, either, that it might raise suspicions.’
‘Suspicion? What kind of suspicion do you mean, Mother?’
‘That it is your child. It’s a world that likes to pry into other people’s private lives.’
‘Ah… I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘It will not be an easy marriage. Everyone will be watching closely, and there could be some unthinkable things said.’
‘…’
‘Ah, but the imperial family might be pleased, I suppose, since they’re worried that you’re marrying a high-ranking noble or foreign royalty to expand your power.’
Pausing to catch her breath, the godmother asked cautiously.
‘Lady Nia and Jediel… Are you sure it’s you? Are you sure it’s you?’
‘Yes, I am certain. I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life, mother.’
Killion answered without the slightest hesitation. The confidence radiating from his expression and voice, from his eyes and demeanor, was intense.
‘Then it is done. By the way.’
‘Yes. Mother.’
‘You’re not the only one who’s excited, are you?’
‘What?’
‘…’
Killion’s eyes widened in bewilderment at her question, frowning, and then he wiped a hand across his face in a flirtatious manner.
‘Of course, I do like it better, but… not to the extent that my mother would worry.’
The godmother smiled at Killion, who blushed with embarrassment. The sight of her son in love was very foreign to her.
“Madam, what shall we do?”
The young maid’s voice snapped the godmother out of her thoughts. She reread the letter in her hand and gathered her thoughts.
“Wait a moment.”
The godmother took out a blank piece of stationery and began to write her reply. Square after square, the pen moved silently across the paper.
When she was finished, she folded the letter neatly and placed it in an envelope. Handing the envelope, complete with a wax seal, to her young maid, the godmother said.
“Send this reply to the Empress Dowager’s palace.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The maid took the letter with both hands.
“And will you go and deliver it to the butler?”
“Deliver what?”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a party, and we’re going to have to throw a welcome party for our newest addition to the family. It’s going to be quite large if we’re going to invite all the high-ranking nobles living in the capital, so tell him to have the first draft of the budget ready in two days.”
“Yes, Madam.”
A smile tugged at the corners of the godmother’s mouth as she watched the maid’s back as she turned to walk away.
‘Has it been ten years since party…? No, twelve years?’
It had been so long since such a large party that she couldn’t even remember the last time.
‘No, it’s been 15 years.’
Come to think of it, we hadn’t thrown a single party since Aaron’s death.
Of course, she hadn’t lived in the shadow of depression all these years. She was living like a normal person, relaxing and having fun.
She attended parties and met many different people and had many laughs. Of course, there were days when she struggled with the sadness that sometimes overwhelmed her.
But hosting a party was a different matter. As a parent who has lost a child, the thought of organising a party to laugh and talk in the space where they are gone was not something she wanted to do.
‘But I guess it’s okay now.’
The godmother smiled as she remembered little Jediel. She could still remember the sense of wonder she felt when she first saw him.
As soon as she saw him, she felt her heart heal. It was strange. But the sensation was so clear that she couldn’t mistake it.
She thought, ‘Have I been suffering from… this whole time without realizing it?’
She thought she was healed because she hadn’t felt any pain for a long time. The sadness was dulled, so she thought she was over it, that she was okay.
But apparently not. She realized as soon as she saw Aaron’s face.
The pain was still there, and so was the sadness. It just seemed duller because she was trying so hard not to feel it.
But now it was okay. It was all thanks to Jediel.
‘Looks like we’ve got a belly in the house.’
The smile on the Godmother’s face grew wider and wider.
***
Late at night, Veronia and Killion strolled through the well-lit garden.
“My mother asked me if Jediel is my child.”
“You had to lie to your mother. I’m sorry I made you lie too.”
Veronia’s eyes trembled faintly as she looked up at Killion.
Eyes that were once red, but were now green, eyes that looked green to others, but red to Killion.
“I’m happy to be able to lie with you, because that’s what I wanted. I’m happy that there are no secrets between us.”
Happy to be able to lie with you. Veronia burst out laughing, and Killion, dazzled by her laughter, smirked.
“That’s what my mum said, too, that I’m the only one who seems to be excited.”
“Oh…”
By now, the smile had completely disappeared from Killion’s face, and he continued in a serious voice.
“I know you’re here because you were pushed into a situation you had no choice in, and I pushed you into it.”
“…”
“But I’m at least a little bit relieved, a little bit…”
“I like it.”
“What?”
Veronia’s words made Killion freeze.
