Chapter 396: For Mama
Seeing Mama look so miserable had nearly made her cry.
"Don’t cry. This is your new little brother or sister, Lian. I’m sure they’ll be very cute."
"I don’t want them. I don’t want them if they make Mama hurt."
She shook her head firmly, saying she did not want a little brother or sister if it meant Mama had to suffer so much.
Qiong Xing apologized softly and stroked her head.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Lian. But could you wait just a little longer? Mama wants this baby very much, even if it means going through something painful. Just like you are a precious treasure Mama shares with Elias, this baby is a precious treasure Mama shares with Leander."
He gently rested a hand on his stomach.
"Mama’s precious, precious treasure. So... could you listen to Mama’s selfish request just a little longer?"
"...Okay."
Lian had promised because Mama told her how precious the baby was.
Even so, she wanted to do something to help Mama, so she had asked Brother Cari what she could do.
"I can’t heal Mama either. So let’s help Mama rest as much as possible, okay? But if Lian wants to do something for Mama..."
Cari smiled softly.
"What about a picture book? Mama always reads to you before bed, right? This time, Lian can read to Mama."
When Cari told her that reading a picture book would help Mama rest peacefully, Lian immediately nodded and thought, That’s it!
From that day on, she began practicing so she could read to Mama.
She wanted to surprise Mama, so she kept it a secret from Papa and the others.
With help from Brother Cari and Brother Albe, she practiced again and again.
Eventually, she learned how to read several books.
She had been wondering when she should finally read one to Mama, but after seeing how pale and exhausted Mama looked that morning, she decided that today was the day.
"That makes me very happy. Thank you, Lian."
"Seriously? That’s amazing, Lian."
They praised her one after another, and even though she had not started reading yet, she already felt happy.
"I definitely want your Papa to hear this too. Albe, could you bring Elias here?"
"Roger!"
Albe who had been quietly watching from behind immediately went to call Elias.
"Cryo Princess, huh? That’s your favorite picture book, Lian."
"Yeah! The prince is cool!"
"...If your Papa heard that, he might cry. Girls really do grow up fast."
"?"
Lian did not understand what Papa Leander meant, but since Mama was laughing, it was probably fine.
After Albe returned, Lian sat on his lap.
Cari sat beside her so he could help with any parts Lian was still unsure about.
"Umm... Once upon a time, in a certain place..."
A little nervous, she began reading.
She had worked hard for this.
Every so often, she glanced at Mama and saw him smiling warmly at her.
Encouraged by that smile, she continued.
"...And then they lived happily ever after. The end!"
Cari had helped her a little in a few places, but she had managed to finish the entire story.
"That’s amazing, Lian. You worked really hard."
"Seriously. To read it that well is incredible."
Papa and the others praised her over and over, and Lian felt glad that all her practice had paid off.
But then she realized she had not heard the praise he wanted most.
When she looked toward Mama, she saw her Mama have fast asleep, his head resting on Papa Leander’s lap as he slept peacefully.
"Looks like Mama slept really well thanks to you. You did it!"
She did not get the praise she had hoped for, but seeing her Mama sleeping peacefully instead of wearing the pained expression he had been showing lately made Lian quietly happy.
Her original goal had been accomplished.
"Will you read picture book for your Mama again sometime?"
"Okay!"
Papa told her that Mama would surely be happy, and Lian nodded enthusiastically.
...
"Mama..."
"Mama..."
"Sorry. Could you wait a little longer?"
Recently, they had been hearing that more and more often.
At first, they had complained and demanded, "Why? Hurry up!" while clinging to him, but that changed after seeing Mama’s pale face and how often he had to lie down in bed.
They became afraid that they might be separated from Mama again.
They still remembered when Mama had caught a cold.
They had been kept away from him for several days so they would not get sick, and they had cried the whole time.
"It’s okay. I told you before, right? Your little brother or sister is inside Mama’s tummy now. They’re a big eater, so Mama gets tired."
Seeing them standing there anxiously, Papa gently patted their heads.
"Is Mama hungry?"
"Will Mama get better if he eats?"
If that was the case, they immediately tried to run off to bring food to Mama, but Papa caught them from behind.
They struggled and demanded to be let go.
They wanted to make Mama better!
"Wait, wait, wait. I appreciate how much you care, but I just told you he’s tired. He throws up meat and fish right away, and he can’t eat very much."
Then what could Mama eat?
What would make him feel better?
Just as they were about to ask, they heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind.
Fenrisúlfr appeared while carrying a wooden basket in his mouth.
The basket was filled with all kinds of colorful fruit.
"Oh, you brought more today too? Thanks."
Papa took the basket and tried to pet Fenrisúlfr, but Fenrisúlfr dodged his hand.
Papa did not seem bothered at all and simply thanked him again.
Fenrisúlfr always let Mama and the children touch him, but whenever Papa or the others tried, he would immediately move away.
Mama could even hug Fenrisúlfr and sleep beside him.
Yet for some reason, Papa could not touch him.
"Here. You can take these to your Mama."
Papa held out the fruit-filled basket to them.
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