Chapter 155 Side Story 1/2 - Love You Most
A year was long. Half a decade was even longer. When one watches the time, time will wait and never pass. Yet, months and five years passed by in the blink of an eye for the couple who sparked a war.
"Mommy, hurry, hurry!" Ophelia let out breathless laughter as she tried to catch up to her eager daughter. She reached out to catch the child's hands, but was no match for a werewolf. "Heliana, honey, you must slow down, or else you'll fall—"
"Ack!"
Heliana tripped and fell flat on her stomach. Silence filled the air for a split second. Before anyone could react, Heliana burst into tears, her mouth wide open as she wailed.
Ophelia quickly stopped before her daughter, frightened as she knelt before. "Mommy, help me up!" Heliana demanded, her lips twisted into a pout, her large amethyst eyes teary and shimmering under the sunlight. She raised her arms for a hug and a kiss, but her mother faltered.
"Heliana, you must help yourself up," Ophelia softly said, rising to her full height and reaching her palms out for her daughter to take. "O-one day, I may not be able to help you—"
"Why not?!" Heliana shouted, planting herself firmly on the garden floors and refusing to not be spoiled rotten by her parents. She scowled when her mother tried to smile.
"Well, I am only human," Ophelia squeezed out. "My bones will not last as long and my health will deteriorate faster. I do not live as long as you, Daddy, and—"
"Lornel!" a voice demanded in the distance.
Ophelia's head snapped up to see her eldest son running in her direction. Worried that the heir would make the same mistake, she frowned. "Lornel, please don't run as well!"
Lornel stopped directly beside Heliana and scowled down at his little sister as if she were embarrassing him. He planted his hands on his hips and chided her. "Get up, Lia, you're already three years old!"
Heliana puffed out her cheeks furiously, her face growing red as she held her breath in rebellion. She crossed her arms, and sniffed for a few more seconds, before bursting out into tears again. She was inconsolable and crying her lungs out. Eventually, a large shadow loomed over her figure and she paused her tantrum.
"D-Daddy…" Heliana whimpered, stretching her hands up at him who spoiled her the most. "Hug…"
"What did your Mommy say?" Killorn said, taking his wife's side above all. His attention shifted to a troubled Ophelia who pressed her lips together. Lornel hugged her hips, burying his face into her dress to hide his smile, as if the entire situation was funny to him.
"Lia," Ophelia gently called for her daughter, bending and wiping the tears staining Heliana's face with her handkerchief. Heliana hiccuped and coughed, her lips trembling as she sniffled.
"Why won't anyone help me?" Heliana whimpered.
"Because you need to stop being a crybaby!" Lornel demanded, despite his pained expression when Heliana's watery eyes met his. Instantly, his rough demeanor softened and he corrected his tone. "You have to be a big girl and stand on your own two feet! One day, there will be no one in life to help you up when you're at your lowest!"
"Well, well, someone didn't fall asleep during their tutoring," Killorn snorted, though he swore he saw his son snoring away at Reagan's lesson yesterday. The impatient old man had hit Lornel on the head, which only made Heliana laugh. Now, the tables have turned.
Ophelia shot her husband a glower and he wiped the smile off his face immediately. He sobered up and squatted to Heliana's height.
"Let's finish our walk, my sweet girl," Killorn stated, ruffling her hand and rising to give his hand to her. Heliana hesitated, glancing at his large palm filled with cuts and old scars. She squinted up at her daddy, tall and strong. Then, she peered at her mommy, who also reached out for her to take. Heliana shakingly took both of their hands and rose to her feet as her tears melted into small hiccups.
"That's my girl," Ophelia smiled brightly, bending and kissing her daughter on the cheek. She brushed the dark blond hair sticking to Heliana's head and instantly, her daughter latched onto her.
"I want a hug now, mommy," Heliana continued, just as Ophelia laughed. She swooped and took Heliana into her arms and struggled to do so.
"Let me, instead," Killorn stated, leaving no room for an argument, but she nudged her hip to butt him away from her. "Up you go!" Ophelia gasped, lifting Heliana into the air. She could feel Killorn scowling from a mile away. Her walk towards the garden was shaky with Heliana, but she forced herself to continue. If it meant making her daughter happy, there was nothing Ophelia wouldn't do.
"Lia is a big girl now, so she should be able to walk on her own," Lornel grumbled under his breath, sulking as he walked with his father. Within seconds, he found his legs dangling in the air and the sun shining closer onto his head.
Killorn had lifted his son, settling him on his lap with a chuckle. Lornel didn't even protest. He broke out into a gigantic grin as he happily kicked his feet in the air. "I can see so much more from this height!" Lornel shouted in excitement, pointing towards the small bougainvillea tree that had bloomed once more. He once thought they planted it for his birth, but came to find out much later that it was laid before it.
"If you stop being a picky eater, maybe you'll grow to this height too," Killorn scoffed at his son, earning a quiet laugh from Ophelia and a snicker from Heliana. The mother and daughter shared a glance of amusement. "Thank you for the hug, Mommy, I want to walk from here!" Heliana said, hopping down after she could feel the strain of her weight. "She's a prodigy," Layla commented, turning at the sound of the loud Mavez heirs. She lowered her watering can, her smile fading when she saw Ophelia's pale face. When her attention landed on Killorn's displeased frown, she knew he was upset. "Her pronunciation is fantastic at her age."
"A-all thanks to your teaching," Ophelia encouraged. "Aunt Layla, I want to water the tree now, please," Heliana exasperated, stretching her palm out for the equipment.
"Me next!" Lornel demanded, hurriedly running to take the water can.
Layla laughed, handing it to Heliana who eagerly ran towards the bougainvillea tree in full bloom. Fallen petals laid at the tree's roots and a strong breeze carried more into faraway lands.
"You shouldn't strain yourself," Layla said to Ophelia.
"I said I'd carry Heliana, but she refused," Killorn muttered with a strong cross of his arm. "You had a complicated birth with Lornel and barely survived Heliana," Layla continued. "If it wasn't for the last droplets of your blood in that bottle… Lord knows what would happen. You must take care of your body, Ophelia."
Ophelia sheepishly nodded, just as Killorn wrapped his arm around her waist. She leaned against his powerful body, feeling a bit of weight taken off of her feet. He rubbed his thumb upon her hip, glancing down at her in worry.
"S-since when did you learn to nag, Layla?" Ophelia teased. Layla rolled her eyes in irritation. "No thanks to that damn husband of mine and his meddling! I keep on telling him to stop spoiling our daughter, but that darn—"
"It is no wonder my ears are burning," Beetle responded from behind the three of them. He pressed his lips together, still sweaty. "W-where did you come from?" Ophelia asked, glancing around. "A-and where is the little one?"
"Luna," Beetle acknowledged. "I've just returned from practicing with the new squadron of boys sent to us by Queen Elena. They're in rough shape and barely know how to fight. The lack of monsters and battle have softened the hearts of little boys."
"All thanks to Ophelia," Layla teased, nudging Ophelia who flushed. "You know how one of the new scholars described you in their book? She, Who—"
"E-enough," Ophelia said, growing embarrassed that people were actually viewing her like she was someone to be worshiped. Killorn chuckled from beside her, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
"Relish in your glory and accomplishment, Ophelia," Killorn murmured. "It is thanks to you that so many little boys and girls can sleep so well at night, without having to worry about the monsters that threaten to leave their mother widowed."
"You're giving me too much praise," Ophelia nervously said.
"Not enough praise," Killorn corrected.
Ophelia shook her head in amusement, peering up at her handsome husband. The five years that passed between them only made him appear even more suave than words could describe. She reached up and touched his chiseled jaw, and he turned, kissing her fingers.
"T-that tickles," Ophelia tried to pull back, but his grip was tight. His devious eyes clashed with hers, darkening by the second as he leaned closer, pressing his mouth to her palms now. She could see all the wicked thoughts that crossed his mind as memories of this morning flooded her.
"I am at fault," Killorn coaxed, almost as if reading her mind.
"Damn right, you are," Layla interrupted their intimate moment. "You should let Ophelia rest—"
"And you should mind your business," Killorn deadpanned, shooting her a glower. He was just one more kiss away from sneaking his wife away from here!
"Mommy! Daddy! Look!" Heliana jumped up to them with a fallen bougainvillea flower. "The petals are as pretty as your eyes," Ophelia stated, prying her arm away from Killorn before he could convince her of anything. From beside him, she could feel him shake with controlled laughter. She couldn't imagine how red her cheek and ears were burning.
"And as pretty as yours!" Heliana agreed, grinning up at her mother. "I want to look just like you when I grow up, Mommy!"
Ophelia's vision grew blurry. Her eyes grew watery as she knelt and hugged Heliana tightly. "Oh, baby…" The bliss of motherhood continued to remind Ophelia of the mother she had wanted all along. Now, she was being that figure for her daughter, who'd never grown up hearing harsh words or criticism.
"You've spoiled her rotten," Lornel whispered to his father. "She only talks about herself, you know."
"As if you didn't grow up with everything you've wanted in life," Killorn mused, ruffling his son's hair. He let the two have their moment, for he knew nothing was more healing for Ophelia than the sight of their children. Ever since Ophelia gave birth, there had never been a day where she wasn't smiling or grinning. Even now, Killorn could hear her excited voice as Lornel walked for the first time, or when Heliana's first words were "Mama!"
"Wow, and here I was, gathering all the children for the tea party, and you guys were all having fun without me!" Maribelle cried out, confused and huffing at the scene in front of her.
Ophelia sniffed and wiped away a tear before anyone could see, but Killorn always saw her. His keen eyes never missed a thing. He was by her side instantly, rubbing her shoulders even when Ophelia released Heliana.
"Aunty Maribelle, took you long enough!" Heliana gasped, her excitement growing at the enormous picnic basket. Quickly, she ran back to her mother and took her by the hand, dragging her towards the blanket laid out in the garden.
"I finally got this one to sleep," Maribelle sighed, shaking her head,
Ophelia turned and saw the third couple. Gerald carried a woven basket in one arm and the other resting on Maribelle's shoulders. Nestled peacefully within Maribelle's arms was a baby girl deep in slumber.
"Mommy, hurry, hurry!" Heliana eagerly said, barely able to contain herself. "Don't rush," Ophelia stated once more, and finally, Heliana listened. They walked hand in hand towards the blanket, where everyone gathered around under a sunny afternoon.
Surrounded by friends and family, Ophelia couldn't have felt more at peace with her life than at this moment.
"What's on your mind?" Killorn asked as his wife blissfully leaned her head on his shoulders. She smiled up at him, the picture of perfection. She was his heart that graced this earth. She was the other half of his soul. Ophelia was the embodiment of Killorn's affection and adoration. And he wondered if she even knew.
"Words can't describe how happy I am," Ophelia confessed to him quietly. "I love you."
Killorn kissed her and pulled back in seconds before she could complain. She flushed as red as the first day she saw him, her gaze traveling and wondering if someone saw them. Then, his words took her by storm once more.
"I love you most, Ophelia."
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