Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Homecoming
Her Majesty Queen, far away in the Imperial Palace, naturally saw the live broadcast of the Federation Starship landing on the Imperial Star.
When she saw Graces step off the Starship, all of her long-held confusion and bewilderment was finally answered.
In that moment, Her Majesty Queen felt like a complete joke.
"Good. Good. What a fine Duke Lu Xia. I really misjudged her!" ’Since Graces is a commander in the Alliance Army, could Duke Lu Xia, his Female Master, truly be unaware?’
Her Majesty Queen refused to believe it.
Without Lu Xia’s permission, how would Graces dare to do such a thing!
Seeing Her Majesty Queen so furious she could barely speak coherently, the attendant beside her instinctively offered a glass of warm water. "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."
Her Majesty Queen shoved the glass away. "Take care of myself? Do you think there’s any point in me taking care of myself now?"
The Alliance Army had already landed on the Imperial Star, and their high commander had arrived. The only thing left was her judgment.
Her good days were finally over.
But the ironic part was, she didn’t even dare to die.
Seeing Her Majesty Queen’s rage, the attendant sighed softly, bending down to pick up the shattered cup.
Noticing the action, Her Majesty Queen said, "You should go. There’s no need to stay here and suffer with me."
"Your Majesty, I have nowhere else to go if I leave now. I might as well stay and keep you company."
"What good would keeping me company do? Even I don’t know what will happen next. My fate is no longer in my own hands. Following me will not lead to a good end for you."
"It doesn’t matter. I will get used to it."
Hearing the attendant’s words, Her Majesty Queen shook her head. "Do as you wish."
「*」
As Graces stepped out of the hovercar, he looked at the brightly lit Duke Lu Xia’s Mansion before him. The unsettled feeling that had plagued him all this time finally seemed to find its anchor.
Closing the car door, Graces looked down and straightened his uniform.
He hadn’t been nervous when he walked off the Starship under the watchful eyes of the entire Imperial Star’s populace, but now, about to return home and see Lu Xia, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety.
After confirming that his appearance was immaculate, Graces finally pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside Duke Lu Xia’s Mansion, a sumptuous dinner was already prepared, awaiting Graces’s return.
Lu Xia, who had been sitting on the sofa, seemed to sense something and looked up toward the door. Just then, she saw Graces walk in.
Their eyes met, and Lu Xia involuntarily rose to her feet to greet him.
Everyone who noticed her movement looked up toward the door, instinctively dropping whatever they were busy with.
Graces walked in and stood before Lu Xia, his gaze soft as he looked down at her. "Xiaxia, I’m back."
Lu Xia smiled and nodded. "Welcome home."
As the words left her lips, Lu Xia stepped forward and hugged Graces.
Simon set down Little Pu Tao, who was in his arms, and patted him gently on the shoulder, gesturing for him to go over.
Little Pu Tao gave him a slightly apprehensive glance before walking over to Graces’s side. He looked up, and their eyes met.
The same black eyes, the similar facial features—every aspect confirmed the fact that they were father and son.
"Male Father, welcome home." After speaking, Little Pu Tao copied Lu Xia’s action and stepped forward to hug Graces’s leg.
Given his current height, his leg was all he could reach; hugging his waist would have been a stretch.
A smile touched Graces’s eyes. He then crouched down, took off the cap from his own head, placed it on Little Pu Tao’s, and lifted him into his arms.
Blood ties are a wondrous thing. Even though Little Pu Tao’s memory of Graces, his Male Father, was faint, the moment he was held, he felt a sense of peace and even joy.
’Looks like my Male Father doesn’t hate me.’
This realization made him exceptionally happy, and he couldn’t help but wrap his arms around Graces’s neck and snuggle against him.
Graces had actually been prepared for Little Pu Tao not to recognize him upon his return. After all, Little Pu Tao had been so small when he left.
But it seemed Lu Xia had taught him well.
"Go wash up and change. I had a special welcome-home banquet prepared for you." Although the two had much to say, now that Graces was back, they would have plenty of time together.
After she spoke, Lu Xia reached out to take Little Pu Tao so that Graces could go upstairs and change.
But Little Pu Tao clung to Graces, a little unwilling to let go.
Graces chuckled. "It’s fine, I’ll take him with me."
Lu Xia also smiled and nodded. "Alright then, Little Pu Tao, you can go up with your Male Father."
Little Pu Tao beamed upon getting permission, then reached for Lu Xia’s hand. "Mother, together."
Graces looked over at her as well.
Lu Xia hesitated for a moment, then nodded and accompanied Graces upstairs.
Since Cecil was still staying in the master bedroom, Graces tactfully didn’t go there, returning to his original room instead.
Inside the room, everything he might need upon his return had already been prepared.
After the door closed, Little Pu Tao patted Graces on the shoulder, signaling to be put down.
Once Graces set him down, he heard Little Pu Tao say in his sweet, childish voice, "Male Father, Mother, you can kiss now. I won’t look!"
He even tactfully covered his eyes after speaking. If the gaps between his fingers hadn’t been so wide, one might have actually believed him.
Hearing this, Lu Xia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, wondering where on earth Little Pu Tao had learned such a thing.
Graces, however, looked at Lu Xia, then leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips.
’His son had created this opportunity for him; he couldn’t let him down.’
Lu Xia kissed him back briefly and then said, "You should go take a shower. I’ll get some clothes for you."
Graces nodded and turned toward the bathroom.
Lu Xia reached out and stroked Little Pu Tao’s head. "Shall we go together?"
Little Pu Tao nodded and followed Lu Xia into the walk-in closet. "Do you like your Male Father a lot?"
Hearing Lu Xia’s question, Little Pu Tao reached up to touch the military cap on his head and nodded. "Male Father is very handsome. I like his clothes. Mother, will I grow as tall as Male Father one day? Can I wear a military uniform too?"
Lu Xia wasn’t surprised by Little Pu Tao’s words. It was probably natural for a young male like him to be drawn to a military uniform.
"You will. Little Pu Tao will also become a soldier just like your Male Father."
Getting the answer he wanted, Little Pu Tao happily hugged Lu Xia. "When that time comes, I’ll protect you with Male Father."
"Okay. But before you protect me, Little Pu Tao, you must first learn to protect yourself." Lu Xia smiled and gently tapped him on the nose.
She didn’t want to raise Little Pu Tao to have a personality that only knew sacrifice. He could have great love for others, but while doing so, she hoped even more that he would be able to keep himself safe.
