Chapter 242: Renzai’s Brothers
Astri is standing on the white jade balcony that overlooks the sacred river, which crosses through the Mizuryuu Castle’s lands, while the sun is going down on the horizon. Astri’s family was spending their time together after one more day of training.
Claud sits next to Yuki, who is knitting a poncho like Astri taught her to do. He hugs her shoulders and kisses her head.
"Is everything all right?" She asks him in confusion.
"Everything is great. I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done all these years." He says, smiling at her.
"For what?"
"All these years, I never shared how much I was suffering alone. But you could feel it. Even if you didn’t hear my thoughts or say anything to me, you would always come and help me with a comforting hug. Raising me from the ground when I was at my lowest moments. I am sure that if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have handled all the pressure and suffering I was going through." He says.
"Father.." She says, impressed to hear that, but she also smiles thrilled. "We are family. And you had too much on your back. I was sure that mother would be sad to see you suffering like that."
"She got sad, indeed. That’s why she was a bit mad yesterday. But we all talked last night and we know what to do now forward. I felt I had to come thank you for everything. And also apologize. Once I’ve promised your mother that I would do everything to protect you and your brothers if something happened, and it wasn’t only about protecting physically. I have failed in keeping your hearts safe." Claud says, rubbing his hand on her shoulder slowly, in a show of loving father’s affection.
"Don’t say that, father. You did the best you could. I don’t have grudges against anyone. It was hard times, but we helped each other. I am happy now of what I have become. It was hard, sometimes very hard and unbearable, but mother always said that everything happens for a reason. It made us stronger. And now, we love our family even more than before."
"You always had the gift of seeing the best in others and soothing energies. Since you were a tiny baby. One day you will be Queen."
She giggles in response.