"Mother…" Charlotte turned, and the moment she did, Elena stepped forward and pulled her into a warm hug.
The embrace came suddenly, but it was gentle and full of affection.
Charlotte blinked in slight surprise at first, then slowly relaxed, her arms lifting just a little as she returned it.
Elena held her for a brief moment longer than usual, as if she simply felt like it, before finally pulling back.
"Did you sleep well?"
Elena asked with a bright smile.
Her face looked lively, and there was a clear glow in her expression, something soft and warm that had been there for quite some time now.
"Yeah…" Charlotte nodded lightly, her voice quiet as her eyes rested on her mother.
She noticed it again… that happiness. It was not just for today.
For the past month, Elena had been like this, brighter, lighter, almost glowing from the inside.
It made sense though.
The war was over, and the people she cared about the most, her father, her husband, and her son, were all returning safely.
There was hardly anyone who could be happier than her right now.
"Let's go have breakfast," Elena said, gently taking Charlotte's right hand and linking their arms together in a natural, familiar way.
Charlotte nodded softly and began walking beside her, matching her pace without thinking much.
Their steps were slow and calm as they moved through the corridor, the soft morning light falling across the floor through the tall windows.
"Mother… I was thinking," Charlotte spoke after a short pause, her voice slightly hesitant.
Elena turned her head a little, giving her a curious glance.
"…am I getting fat?"
Charlotte asked, raising her free hand and lightly pointing toward her body, where her usual curves were not as visible anymore.
Elena's right brow lifted slightly in surprise, her expression shifting into a mix of confusion and concern.
"Why would you ask that?" she replied, her tone gentle but clearly questioning.
"Well…" Charlotte hesitated, her gaze dropping for a moment as her fingers lightly brushed against her dress.
"Go on, dear," Elena encouraged her softly, her hand moving to pat Charlotte's back in a calm and reassuring way.
They had just passed through the main corridor of the house, stepping out toward the garden area connected to it.
The fresh air greeted them, carrying a soft scent of flowers, while the leaves nearby moved quietly with the breeze.
"You see…" Charlotte started again, her voice slower now as she tried to put her thoughts into words.
She looked a little unsure. "Do you remember the girl we met at that ball?"
Elena tilted her head slightly, her eyes moving upward as she tried to recall.
For a moment, nothing came to mind, and her expression stayed thoughtful.
"The white-haired, red-eyed girl… the one who was talking to you so politely,"
Charlotte added, giving a bit more detail as she glanced at her.
"Ahh…" Elena's face brightened a little as she finally remembered. "You mean Marinate?"
She nodded lightly to herself, a faint smile appearing.
"She was the princess of the Arya Empire… such a kind girl."
Elena seemed to recall her clearly now, her tone carrying a bit of admiration.
"Despite being the princess of such a big empire, she didn't have even a bit of pride in her behavior…"
She paused mid-sentence, her words slowing down as she turned her head to look at Charlotte more carefully.
"…wait," Elena said, her brows gently pulling together into a soft frown.
"Why are you mentioning her all of a sudden?"
Charlotte gave a short, slightly bitter smile, her eyes shifting away for a moment.
"Did you see how fit she was?" she asked quietly. "Her figure… her curves…"
Elena hesitated for a second before answering.
"Well… yeah…" she said slowly, though her tone carried a bit of uncertainty now.
"But what does she have to do with you?"
Charlotte let out a small, heavy sigh, her shoulders dropping just a little as if something had been weighing on her.
"Don't be shocked when I tell you this…" she said, her voice lowering as she looked ahead instead of at Elena.
"But you might have noticed that she hasn't gotten married yet… even though she's the same age as me."
Elena fell silent.
Her expression turned serious, and a faint uneasiness settled in her chest.
She did not interrupt.
She simply waited, her grip on Charlotte's hand tightening just slightly without her realizing it.
"…Do you know the reason?" Charlotte asked, finally turning her head to look at her.
Elena's brows furrowed a bit more, her lips parting as if to respond, but no words came out.
"What reason…?" she asked instead, her voice softer now, cautious.
Charlotte paused for a brief moment, holding her gaze.
Then she said it.
"The reason is…" she took a small breath, her expression tightening just a little as she spoke.
"…your son."
"What?" Elena's eyes widened instantly, her steps slowing down as she turned fully toward Charlotte.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice carrying clear shock.
Charlotte let out another long sigh, her shoulders dropping a little as if she had been holding this in for a while.
"Haa… it's a long story," she said, her gaze drifting ahead as her expression turned slightly distant, almost nostalgic.
"You know how he was at the beginning… shy, a bit of an idiot, and innocent to the core?"
Elena nodded slowly, the surprise on her face easing just a little.
"Yeah…" she replied, a faint smile forming for a brief moment. "He was like that from the start."
There was a hint of pride in her voice, but also a small trace of worry, the kind only a mother would carry.
Back then, she had often wondered if he would be too soft for the world.
But thankfully, Charlotte had come into his life.
Someone who would not let him get pushed around or taken advantage of.
"So it started when we attended the academy," Charlotte continued, her voice steady now as she spoke.
"Marinate was my rival back then."
She paused for a second, glancing at Elena before continuing.
"She had just lost the student council president election to me… so she was a bit desperate at that time."
They kept walking slowly along the garden path, the soft sound of their footsteps mixing with the quiet rustling of leaves around them.
The morning air felt calm, but the conversation was starting to grow heavier.
"Then one day, after Vivian joined the academy…"
Charlotte went on, her tone becoming a little more serious.
"She suddenly proposed to him."
Elena blinked, clearly caught off guard again, but she stayed silent and listened.
"Though… it wasn't really sincere at first," Charlotte added, her lips pressing together slightly.
"It was more like her way of getting back at me."
She let out a small breath before continuing.
"But in just a few months… she actually got attached to him."
Charlotte's expression softened just a little, but there was still a hint of discomfort in her eyes.
"And when he rejected her…" she said quietly, "she became like that."
Her gaze lowered slightly as she finished.
"She lost interest in almost everything… except him."
There was a brief pause as they walked.
"So now…" Charlotte added with a small sigh, "she hasn't gotten married… and I don't think she ever will."
Elena remained silent the entire time, her face still carrying traces of shock, but also understanding now.
The image of that polite, gentle girl from before slowly changed in her mind as she processed everything Charlotte had said.
But even after understanding the story, one thing still did not make sense to her.
She turned her head slightly, looking at Charlotte with a soft frown.
"But… why are you looking so worried?" Elena asked gently.
Charlotte let out yet another dramatic sigh, this one a bit heavier than the last.
"Well, as you can see…" she said, glancing down at her belly, her hand lightly resting over it.
"I'm getting fat…"
Her voice dropped slightly at the end, carrying a mix of frustration and unease.
"…while Marinate is in her prime," she added, her brows pulling together just a little.
Elena's expression shifted, now showing a hint of disbelief.
"So I was thinking…" Charlotte continued, her tone quieter now, almost like she was unsure of her own thoughts.
"What if he falls for her… now that I'm getting old?"
She looked ahead as she spoke, her grip on Elena's hand tightening just slightly.
"Knowing her…" Charlotte added after a short pause, "…she would definitely accept him, no matter what."
Her voice softened at the end, but the worry in it was clear.
