Mother and Son

"Eni, go find your mother," Aina said coldly, like ice devoid of any warmth. "It's inconvenient for her to work, so you should help her more often."

"Yes, Lady Aina." Eni didn't dare hesitate and immediately trotted away.

Aina's gaze returned to Aise, her eyes betraying no emotion. "What are you doing?"

Aise's facial expressions seemed to lose control, the corners of his mouth rising continuously into an increasingly exaggerated curve.

"Ha... it's nothing, Mother, I'm just playing... hahaha!" Aise suddenly bent over, clutching his stomach as he burst into loud laughter, a scarlet light flickering in his eyes.

"Playing what?" Faced with her son's loss of composure, Aina remained quite calm.

"Crushing... crushing ants..." Aise laughed so hard he could barely catch his breath, his voice intermittent.

"Is it fun?" Aina looked at her son. Even though Aise's face was somewhat twisted with laughter, her expression seemed completely unbothered, her gaze as steady as ever.

"It feels... pretty great."

"Mhm." Aina nodded.

Aise's laughter gradually subsided, and the expression on his face slowly calmed.

"Thank you, Mother." Aise let out a long breath. "I feel much better... It's a good thing it was you who came. If it had been Father, I definitely would have felt miserable for a long time again."

Aise knew that his mother understood him best.

Any goodwill, to him in this moment, was like a potent poison.

And Aina... was currently not very good at showing goodwill to others, especially to anyone other than Xia Lun.

"What a freak," Aina said bluntly. "How have you been lately? If you can't control it, I'll step in and seal you."

"There's no need. I'll try my best not to have an episode in front of Father," Aise shook his head.

His mother's straightforward way of speaking actually made him feel comfortable.

"Is that so?"

Aina furrowed her brows slightly, as if thinking of something. "Is there anything you want? A toy or something? I'll buy it for you."

Although Aise seemed to like her, or rather, respect her, Aina knew she was not a qualified mother.

These words of care coming from her mouth sounded as stiff as a transaction.

"I don't need anything, Mother. Why would you ask such a thing?" A hint of bewilderment appeared in Aise's eyes.

In his memory, his mother had never cared about such things regarding him.

Aina did not answer his question.

She just suddenly felt that Xia Lun might want to see a more harmonious relationship between mother and son, which was why she wanted to try experiencing the warmth of an ordinary mother.

But for her and Aise... it seemed rather out of place.

"It's nothing, don't mind it." Aina turned around, preparing to leave.

"Is it because of Father?"

Aise's words made Aina stop in her tracks.

"Did you become like this out of consideration for Father? Mother?" Aise's voice was crisp and childish, yet carried a calmness far beyond his years.

"You are very smart."

"I really don't understand, Mother. Why would a powerful and beautiful existence like you willingly change yourself for Father?" Aise stared at his mother's pristine white back. "What exactly did Father do to tame you into an ordinary woman?"

"You've crossed the line."

Aina raised her hand, and an arcane missile flew from her fingertip, accurately striking Aise in the abdomen. Aise's body flew backward, crashing into the neatly trimmed bushes.

"That is not the tone or attitude you use when speaking to your mother." Aina slowly stepped forward and pulled Aise out of the bushes.

Naturally, Aina had held back; she wouldn't truly hurt Aise.

"I apologize, Mother," Aise apologized quite sincerely. "It was my fault... But I really want to hear your explanation. Why are you with Father?"

Aina fell silent for a moment.

Why did she like Xia Lun?

Being asked such a question by her son... perhaps this was also a scene Xia Lun would be happy to see.

"You're still young, so you wouldn't understand."

"I'm very smart. I think I can understand," Aise said somewhat stubbornly.

"If I had to say, your father is very handsome," Aina replied after a moment of thought.

"Is that so?" This answer did not seem to satisfy Aise.

"Furthermore, his ability in that regard is very strong. He can satisfy me, and I am very pleased with him." Explaining Xia Lun's merits to Aise seemed to require Aina to rack her brains.

"In that regard?" Aise's gaze revealed his confusion.

"It's about marital matters. You're too young and haven't matured yet. You'll understand when you grow up." Aina reached out and patted Aise's head, though there wasn't much tenderness, and the scene didn't look particularly harmonious.

"Alright." Since it involved a realm he didn't understand, Aise tentatively accepted this reason.

"Also, Xia Lun is very obedient. He agrees to whatever I ask him to do, making him quite convenient to order around," Aina added.

"Then what if it were someone else? Does that mean, if there was another man who was more handsome than Father, stronger in that certain regard, and more obedient, would you..."

Aise's words came to an abrupt halt halfway through.

He felt the killing intent emanating from his own mother.

It was like an ice pick pressed firmly against his throat, as if saying just one more word would result in him being pierced straight through.

"S-sorry," Aise said, trembling slightly.

The killing intent, which had felt almost tangible, slowly dissipated.

"It can only be Xia Lun. Other than him, no one else will do." Aina's hand slowly reached over. Aise instinctively closed his eyes; for the first time, he felt the shadow of death.

Aina placed her hand on Aise's head and rubbed his soft hair.

"There you are."

Xia Lun's voice rang out from behind Aina.

Seeing Aina stroking Aise's head, Xia Lun couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Is something the matter, Xia Lun?" Aina asked softly.

"Ah, nothing really, just wanted to ask what you guys want to eat tonight? So I can have the maids prepare... Hmm? What happened to the bushes over there?" Xia Lun noticed a conspicuous human-shaped dent crushed into the shrubs.

"Aise accidentally fell into them," Aina said.

"Are you hurt, Aise?" Xia Lun asked with concern.

"I'm fine, Father." Xia Lun's concern made Aise put on a rather pale smile.

"It's alright, kids are always like this. A little fall won't break him." Aina gently linked her arm through Xia Lun's, as if actively trying to cover something up.

Xia Lun was a bit surprised; normally, Aina wouldn't be this proactive in getting close to him.

"I won't be having dinner tonight, Xia Lun." Aina walked toward the house arm-in-arm with Xia Lun, while Aise slowly followed behind.

"Oh?"

"Did you forget?" Aina licked the corner of her lips, already anticipating tonight's delicacy. "It's been seven days."