Chapter 213: Loyalty Vs. Filial Piety (4)
At this moment, when his mind was extremely shaken by such a horrendous sight, Levin suddenly recalled the days when he was still an innocent child and often cared for by his mother.
Princess Coreen was never a bad mother to Levin; she was even the best mother for him in the world. Since they were often the only ones in their home, they were usually together, and Levin was much more open to her when he was a child.
He remembered when he was five and his mother, who usually told him bedtime stories, asked him a question after the story ended.
"Levin, baby. Princess Coreen’s soothing voice instantly calmed him down, making him sleepy as she caressed his head fondly. "Which one do you want after you grow up? Is it the knight or the... king?"
The story was about the monarch and his loyal knight, who slew the dragon to keep his liege safe.
The young Levin blinked his eyes and looked at his mother before he fell silent, as though pondering the answer. Princess Coreen only smiled and kissed his forehead while waiting for his answer.
As he thought of the story and was reminded of his favorite cousin, Spade, whom he adored so much, he smiled widely and answered proudly.
"Mom! I want to be the loyal knight who will protect his king!" Young Levin exclaimed. His answer might have carried the innocence of a five-year-old child, but determination and adoration were already evident in it.
Princess Coreen was taken aback for a moment, but eventually, a genuine motherly smile appeared on his lips, and she kissed her son on the cheek as though proud of Levin’s answer.
"My child will be a loyal knight!" She laughed and tickled Levin, giving him kisses before she stared straight into his eyes. "Levin, sweetheart, I hope you’ll achieve whatever you want in this life. Mom will only support you."
As he recalled these memories with his mother, he knew she was still normal and didn’t have a tendency for violence. When did it start? Levin’s expression twisted as he tried to remember what he had missed through these years that might be a sign of the deteriorating condition of his mother.