Own Time

Chapter 11

Aidan's POV

After finishing my lunch, I find myself playing in the garden. Griza has left me for a while, attending to some important matters. In her absence, I am under the watchful eyes of the male attendants, who ensure my safety with utmost diligence.

As I wander around, followed closely by the attendants, I notice a stick on the ground. Picking it up, I squat down, reminiscent of my past life when, after completing my chores, I would scribble down all the things I wished to do and create. With an adventurous spirit, I draw a figure wielding a unique blade, surrounded by powerful mahika. In my imagination, that figure is me—I aspire to become someone capable of defending themselves.

"Is that what you aspire to become?" a sudden familiar voice inquired. I looked up to see the lady—my mother—walking towards me. Quickly, I stood up, brushed the dust from my clothes, and bowed to greet her.

"How did you know it was me?" I asked, slowly looking up at her. I was surprised she could tell from that distance. She stopped in front of me and looked down.

"It looks like you," she said, and my eyes sparkled as I smiled.

"Really? Does it really look like me?"

"Both look like a twig," she replied without breaking character. I felt a crack inside as my smile faded, replaced with a pissed expression and a twitching eye.

"I beg your pardon? Do I look like a twig to you?" I snapped, breaking the stick I was holding in my left hand. She had insulted both my drawing and my figure with that straight face of hers.

"Pretty much. You look like you'd break if someone touched you wrong and maybe fly away with a slight breeze," she replied, still with a poker face. I could see Vel beside her, face-palming himself.

"You're one to talk! When you're the one who carries me around like I'm a basket!" I shouted, looking directly into her eyes even though I felt like my neck might break. I stood straight, my expression confident and annoyed, with my hands clenched into fists.

"Do I do that?" she asked, tilting her head with a slight grin on her face. 'Is she serious right now?' I thought, beginning to doubt what Griza had told me about her. How am I supposed to get along with this person?

"Yes, I feel like... Ahk!" I couldn't finish my sentence because she lifted me. To my surprise, she was now carrying me properly, with me sitting on her right arm and her left arm supporting my back. I was now at eye level with her, and though her expression remained straight, her eyes held a gentle gaze.

"Better?" she asked. I blinked multiple times before nodding.

"Weren't you supposed to say something to me? It must be something that would insult me," she said, that annoying grin returning. I nudged her face away from me.

"Is it hard for you to not ruin a moment?" I asked, and she pulled her face away from my hand.

"Not really. As I said, I enjoy it when you're annoyed. You look like an old man stuck in a child's body," she mocked. I fake smiled and hit her shoulder multiple times.

"Is this how you treat your son!?"

"Yes, because it means we're getting closer with no worries," she said in a sudden gentle voice, catching me off guard and stopping my hits. I heard the attendants gasp and saw Vel's jaw drop, his eyes widen.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Now, let's go," she said, turning around and starting to walk, leaving my attendants behind.

"Where are we going?" I asked.   

"Lunch," she said, not looking at me.

"I already ate," I replied, but she continued walking.

"I haven't. You're going to join your mother so she has some company," she stated, still walking with a straight face. I looked at her in disbelief. She really gets what she wants, and no one dares to complain.

"You need to gain some weight if you don't want to be compared to a twig," she added, unable to finish without insulting me. I took a deep breath and grabbed her shoulder tightly to let her know I was annoyed.

Despite her insults, I didn't feel weighed down. Her actions spoke differently, and now I understood what Griza meant. We just needed more time together.