It seemed like Lacias was holding her hair in one hand. Something soft and weightless was placed on top of her head, and Hir told her she can now open her eyes.
Lila's eyes flew open, and her hand patted whatever it was on her head. It was soft and thin, her fingers brushing against the petals and she asked Hir if it was a flower crown.
"It is!" Hir nodded.
"I'm sure it's beautiful. Can I see it?"
"Sure!" Hir took the flower crown gingerly and showed it to her with a proud smile on his face. Lila's breath hitched, amazed at the arrangement of flowers Hir carefully made for her.
Hir was good at making crafts, and he also cut the thorns before piecing it all together.
"It's so beautiful, Hir. Thank you."
"No it's not." Hir said, toying with his fingers. "I wanted to make it more beautiful so it'll suit you, but I failed."
"It's already so pretty, Hir." Lila assured him.
"But you're way prettier!" Hir squeezed his eyes shut, fisting his hands and his ears reddened at his own words.
"I agree. Your beauty puts the flowers to shame." Lacias added softly as he embraced her from behind. A small smile crept to her face, feeling her back flushed against Lacias' warmth, and an unexplainable emotion stirring in her chest.
"I'll make you another one, mother. One that is more beautiful than this one." Hir mumbled.
"Thank you. I'll be waiting for it."
Lila felt warm and tingly inside, like a cup of warm cocoa on a cold, winter night. It was an emotion completely foreign to her, but she basked comfortably in the unfamiliar feeling all the same.
* * *
"Are you not scared?"
"Not at all! Wow..." Hir's eyes brightened upon seeing the bloat floating on the transparent waters. Lila guided Hir on the boat first before going in herself. The waters sparkled under the bright sunlight, the ripples swaying the boat slightly and Lila, too, was enchanted by its' beauty.
It really was an eye-catching sight, so much so that Lila almost stumbled on the dock. If it weren't for Lacias behind her steadying her, there's a high chance she would lose her balance. "Lila, be careful okay?" Lacias said.
"It's so lovely! Are you also having fun, mother?" Hir asked expectantly, looking up at Lila with eyes full of wonder.
Lila smiled and nodded in response. She took Hir to this place so he could have fun, but she was just as fascinated as she set her eyes on the lake before them. She could not take her eyes off the water even if she tried. The admiration on her eyes was so vivid that Lacias smiled and leaned closer to her, whispering directly to her ear. "You seem to enjoy it more."
His lips brushed the shell of her ear, making her shudder at the near proximity. "Well, yes." She admitted, eyes still trained on the lake.
"Let's go back next time. Just the two of us. I'll make sure you enjoy yourself."
"How?" Lila asked curiously.
"I have my ways. Come with me next time, okay? I'll show you then."
"Alright." Lila responded easily, not needing much persuasion.
Lacias chuckled at Lila's answer. Being in the boat floating on the blue lake was an experience like no other; the sunrays streamed down on them, warm on their skins and the sound of waves splashing against the boat was soothing to the ears. It felt like she was in paradise. Lila closed her eyes and leaned her back against Lacias, listening to the steady hum of the waters.
She opened her eyes at the sound of a particularly loud splash, and Lacias, feeling her stiffen on his hold, told her that it was only Hir playing with the waters. Her heart beat faster than normal and an overwhelming sense of worry surged inside her. "Hir, what are you doing?"
"I-I was.. trying to catch something here.." Hir's upper body was bent outside of the boat, his hand touching the surface of the lake.
"Be careful, okay?" Lila warned, afraid that Hir would fall into the lake.
"Yes..." Hir responded silently.
Lila didn't fail to notice the slight edge to his voice. She sat up straight, calling Hir repeatedly. "Hir?"
"Yes..." Hir stopped talking, still crouched down facing the waters. Lila looked at Lacias with concern in her eyes, and Lacias shifted in his seat and leaned closer to Hir.
The light was gone from Hir's eyes, and he was about to stumble face first to the waters when Lila immediately reached out for him. "Hir!" She bellowed.
"It's all right, it's all right." Lacias produced a ring and directed it towards Hir's waist, pulling him back to the boat safely.
"Hir! Wake up!" Lila screamed as Hir fell into her arms with face pale and breaths shallow.
"Mother..." Hir responded before completely losing consciousness.
YOU ARE READING
Living as the Villain's Stepmother
FantasiI became the villainess stepmother who is doomed to suffer greatly in the hands of the male lead, who will return as a tyrant due to his years of child abuse. I can't die like this. No, I was determined to survive. However... Why does avoiding a gru...
