Epilogue

Epilogue


I only agreed to keep Aya confined within the Esparago Clan for seven years because of her lack of identity. That was during the time when no one knew who her father was and she was still against the law.

The world has changed now.

I explained it to Brix, and he accepted it casually. He even said it was for the better. Aya is still learning to control her ability, and going out would be dangerous—not just for her, but for anyone she might encounter.

Lord Bermudo reduced the confinement from seven years to just three. During that time, we tried everything to help Aya control her power. Many healers tried, but all of them failed.

Aya’s ability is something to be feared. Her fog has a life of its own. It’s dark, vicious, and poisonous. Even she nearly fell victim to it.

It’s been what… almost three years?

In human terms, Aya would now be considered around seven years old. She can already do physically demanding things like climb trees and jump from one branch to another.

She’s learning so fast. I worry she might venture into something deeper.

I was currently walking through the forested part of the Esparago Clan, carrying a basket filled with bread and wine. I’d been walking for a few minutes now.

The farther I walked, the farther the two seemed to be from reach.

Finally, I saw them. Brix and Aya were both sitting on a branch of an oak tree, deep in conversation. They seemed to be discussing something serious.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“No, Aya,” I heard Brix say.

“Tomorrow?”

Brix laughed and pinched Aya’s nose. “We’ve already talked about this, kiddo. We’ll get there eventually.”

Aya pouted. “You told me you’re a king and I’m your princess. If that’s true, why can’t you take me out of here and show me your castle?”

I cleared my throat, and they both looked at me.

“I brought food,” I said, showing them the basket.

“Mama!”

My eyes widened as Aya suddenly jumped down and even flipped mid-air before landing upright. My heart nearly dropped from the shock while Brix laughed uncontrollably.

“W-what was that?” I asked.

“Yes! I’m hungry!” Aya snatched the basket from me and grabbed some bread. She sat on the tree’s root and leaned back while eating.

I approached Brix. “You taught her that, didn’t you?”

He just shrugged. He walked over to Aya, and the two even high-fived, clearly partners in crime who had planned to shock me. Our daughter was beaming with joy.

“Don’t do that again, Hyacinth,” I reminded her once I reached them. I set the basket down, and Brix took something from it. “Do you understand?”

“Come on, Astra. Just eat,” Brix said.

“Brixton.” I glared at him.

“Can I ride a horse alone now?” Aya asked.

“Sure. I’ll teach you when I get back,” Brix replied.

Aya squealed and hugged Brix. Brix grinned at me smugly, clearly showing off how much closer he was to Aya now than I was.

As usual, Brix had to leave again for the Severus Kingdom. He spent more time here than there, but he still kept things in order back home.

Aya and I walked him to the gates.

“You’ll teach me to ride a horse when you return, Papa?”

Brix knelt down and fixed a few strands of Aya’s hair. He stroked her cheek before kissing it. “Promise, Hyacinth…”

Aya hugged him tightly. “I love you, Papa.”

“I will always come back for you, my little girl.”

Then he turned to me. Brix kissed me on the lips. Aya giggled, so I quickly pushed Brix away.

He frowned. “I told you to close your eyes when I kiss your mom, Aya. See? Now it got cut short again.”

“Oh? Okay! Kiss again!” Aya covered her eyes.

Brix pulled me into a long, deep kiss. It always felt like the first time. After everything we’ve been through, nothing has changed between us—if anything, our love has only deepened.

“I’ll go now. Take care, My Gems.” Brix mounted Servena.

I held Aya’s hand, and together we watched him leave. It would be a few days again before he could return. Which meant I’d be the one to argue with Aya alone… again.

I looked at my daughter. She was still staring outside. The desire to go out was evident on her face. That was one of my fears—that she’d be tempted to break the strictest rule given to her.

“Baby Aya!”

We both turned toward the voice. It was Tegan, riding a horse. As usual, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Aya ran toward him and jumped onto the horse behind him, hugging him tight.

“I’m borrowing your daughter for now, Lady Astra!”

“Be careful.”

“Wait, Aya.” Tegan took something from his pocket. He handed her a strawberry. “I saw a ripe strawberry at the farm and picked it just for you. It’s the first fruit of the season.”

Aya’s face lit up. “Does that mean the strawberries will grow again?”

Tegan nodded with a smile.

“Let’s go look! Please?” she asked.

“Sure. Sure.” Tegan saluted me before riding off with her.

Before they disappeared, I looked at Aya’s hand where her bracelet rested. As she grows, it grows with her.

She knows well that taking it off would be dangerous. I made that clear to her from the beginning so she would understand even at a young age. The last thing she needs is ignorance about her own ability.

One day, while I was walking Aya to her teacher, we heard a high-pitched scream. Aya ran off in the direction of the sound, so I followed.

“What happened?” I asked a woman who came out of the restroom. She had a towel wrapped around her and wet hair. She was clearly startled.

“S-someone was peeking…” she said nervously.

“There!” Aya pointed at a boy running away.

“Wait, Aya!” I couldn’t stop her from chasing the boy.

The boy was fast, but Aya caught up to him. She tackled him to the ground and pinned him down. I was slightly stunned by what she did.

“Mama, I caught him!”

“Ow! Ow! I’m sorry!”

“No!”

“That hurts!”

“Nope. You need to be punished!”

“You’re so mean! O-ow…”

“It’s okay, Aya.” I pulled her off him.

The boy slowly stood up and brushed off his clothes. When his face became visible, I was surprised—he looked around Aya’s age. His hair was messy, and there was a playful look in his eyes.

“Why were you peeking?” Aya asked.

“Because I wanted to see something?”

“That’s not good,” I scolded.

He looked at me, then laughed. “Damn. I’m going to need English here,” I heard him mutter. He cleared his throat and spoke again. “I… I am sorry. Okay?”

“Who are you? I’ve never seen you here before,” Aya said.

The boy stared at Aya. “You’re beautiful…”

“Really—”

“Oops!” He stepped back when Aya looked like she was about to pounce again. “Wow. No one here gets jokes. Why am I even here?”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am Corbie. You can call me Koko.” His small lips smirked. “And I can see the future…”

Aya frowned. “Seriously?”

I was just as confused as she was.

Koko sighed. “No one really gets jokes around here, huh?”

“Oh, really?”

Aya pinned him to the ground again.

Corbie chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Aya…”

“How did you know my name?”

“I heard someone call you that.”

“You’re dead, Koko.”

“Damn.”