Chapter 590: If you can’t beat someone with strength, beat them with numbers
To show that nothing wrong was happening, we walked together to the greenhouse after I was done changing my robe. Aunt Nezja, Amarein, and D’Ara were walking together with us, while Zia and Izzi went ahead to help Mara and Panne prepare the place.
Walking leisurely, we made sure to converse in a slightly louder voice than usual so the Castle staff and the guests who might still be around could hear us. It wasn’t difficult to appear cheery with Jade jumping around excitedly, feeling happy because I was no longer sad and because he could see Shwa again. Natha even had to catch him and ended up carrying him because Jade almost fell, and--
Hmm...it wasn’t a bad picture. We looked like a family with two kids like that, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
Also, for some reason, Jade became slightly clingy to Natha. Perhaps he finally realized that Natha was a part of his precious treasure.
Anyway, it helped me get out of my somber mood a lot. When we reached the greenhouse, I already felt like my usual self, despite the heavy topic waiting for us.
But first, I needed some food. The last time I ate anything was the light snack I had before the naming ceremony, so my stomach had been screaming. Thankfully, I had a troop of aunties with a high interest in playing with my son, so I had them babysit Shwa while I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Natha and Jade--who scarved down three plates of jellies after being deprived of them for more than twenty-four hours.
After stuffing himself with jellies, the little boy--boys--finally fell asleep. Jade hadn’t been sleeping the whole journey, and they told me Shwa was restless the whole night, which made my heart clench in regret. But as they curled on the sofa bed in the corner of the greenhouse, they looked like two little angels, looking blissful.
That was it for the good part, however. Once I gave both of them pats and kisses, it was time to face the others and talk about the imminent problem.
"I asked Natha to tell me what happened yesterday so I can get a clear sense of it," D’Ara started when I took a seat around the tea table again. "I hope you don’t mind."
"No, he told me on the way," I shook my head. "I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you myself yesterday. I didn’t think...I could do that."
"Yes, I can see that..."