5 months ago, In the countryside of Avandor, Calztera. After the three years Lucian spent on the battlefield, the war finally ended and brought victory to the pedalion empire. On the other hand, The Avandor's reinforcement had a huge loss on the battlefield and will soon deal with the economic crisis.
The Pedalion's triumph also won for becoming the latest news article in the whole continent as it spread like wildfire, the news soon reach Celine's hometown, Calztera.
"Sweetie, Celine, ••••!"
" Celine wake up, I have some good news for you."A thoughtful mother who's waking up her precious daughter with a piece of surprising news for her beloved daughter Celine. As she gently tap her hand and nose to wake her up, Celine felt her mother's hand and rose from her bed.
" Good morning mom." She greeted her while snuggling her warmly.
" Ohh! You got some morning dust in your eyes." Gazing at how messy her daughter's hair is she still looks so cute and beautiful.
"Look how cute my little girl is, hmmm." Snuggling her daughter tightly as she thought how fortunate she is to have such a sweet and cute daughter.
" Mommmm! I'm now thirteen years old! I'm a teen now." Clarifying her mother's teasing, Celine was fortunate to have such a supportive and caring family even though she didn't know who her father is.
" Well, your still my sweet baby..."
" Mom, Now that I'm old enough. Can you just tell me who my father is? I swear I'll still stay with you till the end! Please!....." Hearing how she pleads for her mother to tell her the truth about her father's existence, her mother's expression showed how uneasy and hesitant she was, to tell the truth, till she hugged her tightly and spoke.
" Tonight, I will tell you everything you want to know about your father, but on one condition."
" What condition?"
" You must never tell this to Papi ( or Granddad in France )".
" but why?"
" It's part of the agreement between your grandfather and I made, So if you eagerly want to know promise me you won't tell your Papi anything about it, got it?"
" Yes.!" She nodded as she noticed the newspaper holding mother's right hand.
" What's with that newspaper?"
" Ohh by the way I forgot to give you this." As her mother handed down the newspaper she was holding, Celine looked at her suspiciously and confused.
" Read this.."
As soon as she noticed Lucian's name written on the article, her eyes widened with astonishment.
" He won? H—he won, oh my god Mom!!!" Looking at how happy she was, tears dripped onto her face as she couldn't believe that the war had finally ended.
" Mom, How is he? Is he alright? He didn't get any serious wounds right? Will he come to visit us? I want to see him right now..I—" Celine had mixed emotions in her heart. She was so happy and also worried about him at the same time.
" Calm down, sweetie... I'm sure he's alright so don't worry too much about it... And I'm sure he will come to visit us, so stop crying and think positive." She cheered while comforting Celine in her arms that were carefully hugging her.
" Now, how about you tidy up your bed first and take a bath while I prepare breakfast." Being thoughtful, her mother stood up and head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
" Well, okay..."
After tidying up her bed, Celine sat in a tub of warm water, while filling up the battered mug with water and gently pouring it over to her head, Celine's angelic beauty had bloomed so lovelily suited to her age.
As she wash her body gently with the soap, her pale skin was so smooth and soft, her long silky silvered hair was so glamorous to see.
Rinsing her head and body before being brought out of the tub with a towel wrapped around her. After taking a bath and wore a fluffy coat to warm herself up.
" Mom, Do we have enough supplies throughout the winter season?"
" Yes, but those vegetables will only last for a month, and the firewood is enough for two months I guess. But don't worry, your grandfather and I save enough money for this season... So rest assured." The worried look on Celine's face slowly formed a smile to quickly change the topic.
"Mother, will it be hard for the Courier to deliver a message this winter season?" She asked while setting up the table.
" Well, I guess it may take a long time before your letter will be delivered to him... It may take at least five weeks below..." She replied as she noticed Celine's face saddened.
" Sweetie, what's wrong?"
" Nothing! I was just wondering if my letter card for Lucian would send on time..."
" Well, I'm sure he'll understand."
"Besides that young man can wait for you for a whole eternity." She mumbled as she head to the kitchen.
" Wait what? He can—" *blushing* realizing what her mother just said, her pale face blushed like pink roses. As those years of uncertain feelings, she felt for him, is now slowly became clear to her.
" But how could I like him? He's a prince! Even if he and I felt the same way about each other, our worlds are completely the opposite..." She mumbled eternally, as she took a seat and longingly stare at the ring Lucian gave her.
" I miss him..... I want to see him right now, in this winter season I want to skate with him." As she started at the ring so blankly, Her desire of wanting to stay with him grew stronger.
As the sun goes down, the winter nights were colder than the day. Lighting up the fireplace with wood, Celine sat up in a divan while her mother was brushing her silky silver hair gently.
" Tomorrow, would you like to skate with me in the nearby lake? I'm sure it's been frozen by now so do you—" Offering her daughter to skate with her in a nearby lake. Emilia wanted to see her child live a life that she never had and also wanted her to feel that she is enough for her.
" Skating? Sure I want to!!! It's been a while since we've done it." She agreed excitedly as she couldn't wait to spend time bonding with her mother.
" wait! Can we also go fishing?" She asked while snuggling the pillow in excitement.
" fishing? Hmmmn... Well, I guess we could also get some fish..."
" Then it's settled! " hearing her daughter's cheerful response, She smiled and placed a warm kiss on her daughter's forehead.
Staring at the fireplace blankly, her thought wondered many things, till she remembered what her mother said to her this morning.
" But, mom... Can you tell me now?... You promised me that you'll—" The reasons that she'd been dying to know when she was little, will finally be answered.
" Of course, I will never break a promise, especially when it's you..." The nervousness she was feeling right now made her hesitant to speak up, as she sat down beside her and hugged her tightly, she whispered.
" Promise me, that no matter what happens please choose me and stay..." The moment Celine leaned onto her shoulder, she spoke.
" Long ago when the Imperial was very young, In the beautiful land of the north. Two people met and fell in love... One of them was a young lady, whose life has been searching for her true family, and the other was a son of a duke, whose life was controlled by the family he had... As those people met by fate, the two were enchanted with each other like love at first sight... The moment when they fell in love was the moment they realize that they were not alone and every weekend they meet at the place they found each other... Where every time they had share their worlds was the best moment of their lives... But as their love goes stronger, They wished to be together!! And share each other's worlds. So they disregarded the danger across, One of them was threatened and broke a heart...for which she could only wish that she was the woman who was standing on the aisle and besides that woman was the man she met and fell in love with... And on that day forward she decided to let go, even if she knew that our love was genuine... The moment that she left was the moment he gave me his last kiss, where she saw him crying and apologizing for his cowardice, but still, in the end, we agreed that our two worlds shall forever remain upon."
" And? The two of you what happened?"
" They had to say goodbye....." The melancholic look on her face, remembering how she fell in love but was not meant to be each other. Emilia looked at Celine with a Bright smile on her face, trying to comfort her daughter after hearing such reasons. On the other hand, Celine felt sad about it as her feelings for Lucian made her hesitant and doubtful. Afraid to be like her mother Celine looked at her mother with a smile of acceptance and contentment.
" But, Did father know that you had me?"
" Two months after I knew who my real parents are, your father visited me often but I choose to avoid him because I don't want to be a target of his wife's assassination."
" She tried to kill you?!!" She asked worriedly, as her mother looked at her and sighed.
" Yes, I was threatened by her, She told me that if I didn't leave this empire she won't hesitantly send people to kill me... So I had no other choice but to leave... And also I was afraid that she will find out that I have you... So I hope you understand me, dear." She stated, as placed her hand on Celine's cheek with a warm smile yet felt uneasy about how would her daughter react.
" So that's why, No matter what happens you must not tell anyone about your power, nor show it!! Promise me!! If they found out about it they will give nothing but a hellish life to you, Celine." Seeing how worried her mother is Celine nodded and comforted her as she reassured her that keep it hidden forever.
" But, mom why do I have this power in the first place?"
" Well, Your father is one of the descendants of the winter elf, and only those who were chosen will be able to have this power of healing, where every part of you can heal any illnesses, so that's why it's also very dangerous for you...."
After hearing her mother's reasons she understood why she had to do it, as she snuggled her mother up... The bond between them had grown stronger as this night will be the last time she will see her mother's caring and loving smile.