Chapter 74 - A Lovely Mother

In a large field that was filled with several sizes of training dummies and countless racks of different weapons, blended with the bulky soldiers patrolling the field.

Under the bright moon and lights that were installed around the field, a tall elven boy could be seen swinging his sword vigorously while his shirt was drenched with his sweats.

"Niel, I think you have to take it easy,  you have been training non-stop for the past few days without eating all the food the maids brought to your room. I'm afraid that if this continues, I will be forced to get you grounded for a month" A woman's voice sounded afar.

"Come on mom, I know that you wouldn't get me grounded. Besides, I'm eating those foods, albeit in small portions. I can't get myself together after I've been defeated by a human who was the same rank as me, It hurts my pride mom!" Niel shouted and gritted his teeth, stopping his swinging for a minute to catch his breath.

"Sigh... Niel, you have to accept defeat, you can't always be the hero, there are days you have to retreat. Even your father had to retreat when he faced a stronger opponent when he was still a prince just like you" The woman replied as she was already near Neil.

"Mom, I've never been defeated, I feel so helpless against that boy. A human at that, at first the boy seemed weak when we traded a few blows, our strength was equal but he had no combat experience.

However, I decided to use one of the active skills of my sword but I mistakenly used the third one which was the most powerful, and it almost killed the boy. Before I could apologize and explain to him, I saw him right in front of me with glowing red eyes and he gripped my neck. It felt like his power suddenly increased and I was rendered helpless. What confused me was that he was saying something like; 'why did you try to kill my other half. I wanted to apologize but it seems like he was persistent in killing me and he kept asking that strange question. Luckily, I had a teleportation crystal with me..." Niel replied with a long sigh as his mother caressed his face.

"Do not think about it, Niel, I'm glad that you are safe, I don't know how I would have felt if anything bad had happened to you. Now, you have to put away this sword and eat. I will go and bring your food and feed you myself...

Ouch, this sword is too heavy, Niel, look for a lightweight one, I don't know why all your things are done like a muscle brain" The woman grunted as she collected the large sword from her son's hands.

Anyone who saw her doing like a lovely and caring mom would curse under their breath because the elven empress was a cold woman that would slay anyone just for the slightest mistake. She had even beheaded a butler who stared at her twice when serving her tea and poked out an older female marquis' eyes that tried to trick her son when he was a kid.

When the Empress stored her son's weapon inside her space ring to stop him from using it, she left the training field to fetch his food by herself. The guards and butlers swallowed hard and ducked their heads as she passed by, they didn't dare to stare at her as they feared that they wouldn't realize it before their heads were cleaved off from their bodies. The only person that was usually spared by the empress for staring at her was the Prime Minister of warfare, who would often visit the Emperor's chamber to give him updates and carry out orders.

Natthyl, the elven Empress walked into the royal kitchen, surprising all the maids and chefs.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here," an elven woman wearing a white gown and cap said and bowed her head, she was Mira, the head chef of the royal family.

"Hehe, Raise your head, Mira, I can decide to cook for my family, you know? After all, this is my Kitchen" Natthyl replied with a mischievous grin while she checked out all the foods that were being cooked in the large kitchen.

"Your M-majesty, don't be offended, I meant that you should have just called for us, and not bother yourself to come here" Mira answered back with sweat dripping from her forehead and nostrils while the other chefs gulped and swallowed hard.

Natthyl chuckled at the gulping sounds that ensued inside the kitchen and patted Mira's shoulders.

"I didn't mean to scare you, Mira, I came to take some food for my son. And no one should try to collect it from me, I want to carry it myself" Natthyl replied and took one of the elf's dishes that mainly consisted of a particular vegetable mixed with Raggo meat inside a small plate as she knew that Niel would only eat a small portion.

When she left the kitchen, the chefs and maids sighed with relief while the Butlers ran for the sake of their heads.

Heading back towards the training field with the food in her hands, she was surprised to see her daughter sitting on a rocking chair in the vicinity of the palace while staring at the sky like she seemed to be in a daze.

"Alea, what is wrong? You've also been staring at the sky every night. What's going on with you and Niel" Natthyl said while she walked towards Alea.

"Mom, it's nothing, I just want to gaze at the sky" Alea replied without withdrawing her gaze from the sky which made Natthyl worried that her fears as a mother were coming true.

"Alea, tell me are you in love? Who is it? Where does he live? Is he a Nobel?" Natthyl bombarded her daughter with questions as she placed the food in her hands on the pavement.

"Mom, to be sincere, I'm deeply in love with someone. I feel like I could go crazy if I don't see him, It has never happened to me, mom. And I don't know if he will love me back, besides, Dad won't agree to our relationship because it will be a slap on the elves if their princess marries a stranger," Alea replied while butterflies rose in her stomach as she remembered her and Kelan's short interaction.

"D-don't tell me that you fell in love with a demon, Alea," Natthyl muttered and she thought of all the possibilities to get rid of her daughter's crush if he was a demon.

"No mom, he's a human, don't even think of hurting him, or else I won't forgive you for the rest of my life. I'm madly in love with him and I'm going to find him no matter what, even if it costs me to travel to the human realm" Alea replied and rode the rocking chair with a depressed expression.

"Sigh..... I'm not against you falling in love with a human as long as he's not a demon. However, the human lifespan is short, do you want to become a widow before you even reach 200 years?" Natthyl retorted.

"There's nothing that you can say to change my mind, I've made up my mind. Oh, you can also cancel the banquet to find a suitable partner for me" Alea replied.

"I will have to talk to your father about this, I doubt that he would agree"

"If he doesn't agree, I will run away. After all, he's not my biological father"

"Alea! Don't say such a thing! Where did you hear this from?" Natthyl trembled.

"No need to deny it, mum, I already knew, you can't keep a secret for a long time, I wonder what father would do if he learns that I'm not his biological daughter but the child of his loyal prime minister" Alea uttered with an expressionless face.

"Cough! Cough! Alea, w-where did you learn about this!" Natthyl mumbled and she began to cough blood, then she collapsed to the floor.

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Wake up, I won't tell anyone about it.

Somebody help!" Alea screamed as her mother vomited blood before collapsing and passing out.

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@Grangel, thanks for the gift.