Book 14: Chapter 19
“Okay, Daisy, let’s bath together,” said Lucia.
Lucia gently picked up Daisy. Daisy shyly looked at Lucia’s face and was a bit scared, so she didn’t dare to boldly move around. Lucia softly giggled and hugged Daisy. Daisy rested her upper body next to Lucia’s neck and curiously touched Lucia’s ear. Lucia lingered for a moment while Daisy cheerfully laughed. She didn’t want to let go of Lucia’s ear after grabbing it.
“Ah, you’ve never seen an elf’s ears before, Daisy?”
Lucia bent over at the waist and placed Daisy into the hot water. Daisy didn’t want to let go. Lucia looked at her and gently twitched her ears, leading to Daisy laughing joyously. Lucia giggled in a gentle tone as she gently stroked Daisy’s head. She tenderly said, “Although I don’t like your Mom, I do quite like you, Daisy. You’re very cute, as well. Plus, your hair is very similar to His Highness’.”
Lucia stroked Daisy’s head. However, a displeased Nona, who was behind them, called out. Children experienced jealousy between each other, too, apparently. Lucia chuckled, and then turned around to give Nona, who had just finished having a bath and exuded a warm scent, a kiss on her belly. She grabbed Nona’s hand: “It’s all right. Mommy will be done soon. We’ll sleep afterwards. You must be a good girl tonight and not cry, Nona.”
“Uhm!” Nona nodded.
Vera, who was next to Nona, had started to doze off. Lucia turned back around to give Daisy her bath. She gently ran her fingers over Daisy’s ears, but then she suddenly paused. She clasped Daisy’s face and spaced out. Daisy was puzzled; she didn’t understand why Lucia suddenly froze. Lucia lamented, “His Highness doesn’t have long ears. This is how it feels when I clasp His Highness’s face. This was how I relished his face… I feel a little lonely now…”
Clear teardrops landed on the water surface. Lucia suddenly realised she was crying. She swiftly wiped her tears, and then took in a deep breath to stop herself from crying. She no longer seemed to be able to control her tears after her husband’s departure. Her tears were essentially always on standby. She’d shed tears when she saw the flower garden, when she saw the streets, when she saw the girls and then that night.
“I’m not grieving, so why am I still shedding tears? I’m not that sad. Maybe I’m already in so much pain that I no longer know what pain is. I miss His Highness more than words could describe. I miss him every waking moment. After all, all of this reminds me of him. His spirit lingers next to me, yet he’s no longer here. This is the same as when I was in the Shadow Squad. At the time, I didn’t have His Highness with me, but I was certain he’d appear. Now, however, he’s gone and will never return,” thought Lucia.