After breakfast, he expected his father to pull him into work, instead, it was his mother who made the first move. She linked her arm with his before he could escape.
"We’re going out."
He blinked and looked down at the arm wrapped tightly around his.
"...We are?"
"Yes... I wish to bond with my child."
Helther looked suspiciously amused. His father quietly returned to his reports without attempting a rescue. Everyone in the family knew what going out together meant.
"What about everyone else’s work?"
His mother dismissed the concern with a wave.
"They’ll survive."
"What about yours? I remember you mentioning your swampt with reports from the academy."
"I delegated them to someone else."
"You?"
"I can skip work once in a while."
"..."
Neither son looked convinced. She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you questioning your mother?"
Both immediately shook their heads.
"Not at all."
"Never."
"Good."
She smiled brightly.
"Now come, son. Take a walk with mother."
Atheline could only be dragged away. Helther waved at him, a smile on his face. Atheline rolled his eyes before turning his attention to his mother.
.
.
.
The High Elven Capital looked almost magical beneath the winter sun. Every rooftop carried a blanket of white, elegant bridges crossed frozen canals and crystal lanterns reflected sunlight into countless colors.
Even in winter, the city remained lively. Children played in the snow, merchants called to passing customers, and musicians performed beside plazas decorated with evergreen trees.
Atheline hadn’t realized how much he missed walking through ordinary streets.
His mother seemed to know every shopkeeper in the city or perhaps every shopkeeper knew her. She stopped every few minutes; greeting old acquaintances, checking on businesses, and buying little things they absolutely did not need.
At one bakery she insisted he try a sweet pastry he hadn’t eaten since childhood.
"It tastes exactly the same."
The elderly baker laughed proudly.
"Of course."
Atheline smiled.
"It really does."
His mother looked victorious.
"I told you."
She bought an entire box. He suspected half of it would somehow end up in his luggage.
.
.
.
Word spread surprisingly quickly. People began recognizing him. At first only a few then more. The whispers weren’t difficult to hear.
"Isn’t that..."
"The King’s son?"
"No."
"The King. You know, the one who married the Dark Elf Queen."
"I heard he won the hunting competition."
"They say he fought a Beast Lord."
"They say he became stronger than most generals."
"They also say his wife conquered an entire kingdom."
His mother proudly listened to every rumor, even the exaggerated ones. Atheline wanted to disappear from the pure embarrassment of the situation. It would have been better if they feared him.
A little girl suddenly approached them holding a small wooden carving. She couldn’t have been older than eight.
"Your Majesty?"
"You don’t have to call me that young lady?"
She frowned.
"You saved people."
"...I suppose."
She smiled brightly.
"So you’re a hero."
He couldn’t argue with childhood logic. He accepted the carving carefully.
"Thank you."
The little girl beamed before running back toward her parents. His mother watched quietly then smiled.
"You’ve changed."
He looked at her.
"I have?"
She nodded.
"You used to glare at anyone who spoke to you in the streets without reason, or just smile at them until they got too uncomfortable."
"..."
"...I did."
"It seems marriage has done you good," she quietly said, but Atheline could see the struggle of her accepting it," look at that, now children approach you because they feel safe."
He looked down at the small carving. Somehow... that felt like a greater honor than any medal. And also his mother seemed to have cooled down since all the fiasco with Lilith.
The thought made him miss her.
Their walk continued through quieter parts of the forest. The capital hadn’t changed much; the old bookstore still stood near the academy, the fountain where children sailed tiny wooden boats remained frozen beneath winter ice and the training grounds echoed with the sounds of young knights practicing.
Everything felt familiar, yet different. It was clear he had changed even though he hadn’t noticed at first.
As they crossed one of the larger bridges, his mother suddenly spoke.
"Are you happy?"
The question surprised him. He looked ahead trying to process his mother’s soft voice. Snow drifted lazily through the air.
"...Yes."
She smiled.
"I thought so."
"I didn’t answer immediately."
"You didn’t need to."
He laughed softly. His mother always had a strange way of reading him. She continued walking.
"I worried after the marriage."
He looked toward her.
"I know."
"I thought you were sacrificing yourself."
"So did I."
She laughed.
"I’m glad we were both wrong."
He nodded then looked down at their matching steps. His were bigger than hers, he wondered how he had grown so fast.
"So am I."
They walked another few moments then she asked quietly,
"She treats you well?" She asked again despite Atheline having already reassured her.
He smiled before answering.
"Very."
His mother’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
"I can tell."
"How?"
"You smile differently."
He blinked.
"What does that even mean?"
She laughed.
"I raised you."
Atheline could only shake his head in amusement.
A little later they stopped beside a frozen lake within one of the city’s gardens.
Several families enjoyed the snow nearby, children laughed and couples walked together.
The fox had somehow convinced three children to pet it before promptly falling asleep in one of their scarves.
His mother watched the scene quietly, then, without warning she quietly spoke.
"So..."
He immediately recognized that tone, it represented danger. It was one that came with him leaving fully embarrassed and without any words.
"What?"
"When are you giving me grandchildren?"
He nearly inhaled his tea.
"Cough..."
His mother patiently waited until he finally recovered.
"...Mother."
"Yes?"
"I came home for three days."
"Yes."
"I would like to survive all three and enjoy them while I’m at it."
She laughed so hard that nearby birds flew from the trees.
"You should have seen your face!"
"It wasn’t that funny, mother!"
"It absolutely was."
He buried his face in his hands. Atheline felt like sinking into the ground. The fox opened one eye, looked at him then went back to sleep.
His mother eventually calmed herself and then gently squeezed his shoulder.
"I’m teasing."
"I know," he said in defeat, "...Mostly."
He sighed dramatically and leaned back slightly.
"I knew there was a catch."
She smiled warmly.
"I only want you to stay happy."
He looked toward the snowy city.
"I am happy."
"I know."
That answer somehow carried more comfort than he expected. Atheline smiled at her then his attention was stolen by the dangerously skating children.
One decided it was the perfect moment to fall. Atheline used all his might to hold down his laughter.