Own Time

Chapter 21

"Whoa, wouldn't you prefer to let it marinate first? Did you seriously ask that question just now?" She inquired, taken aback by my query. I empathize with my mother's current feelings, but suddenly I'm curious about this.

"Yes, I mean, it's hard to believe I'm really your daughter—did I actually come from you?" I questioned.

"No, you didn't come from me. I don't know why I felt offended by that," she replied, frowning at me.

"I'm just making a point. So, am I your niece or some close relative?" I pressed further.

"Your first question, yes, I know your parents. Next, no, you're not my niece but a close relative," she replied, tilting her head briefly as if debating whether to continue.

"Then don't hesitate, mother, I can handle it," I reassured her, holding her hand to comfort her.

"I'm certain you are my uncle's daughter," she stated firmly, looking straight ahead without meeting my eyes.

"Wait, if that's true, then I'm actually your..."

"Cousin. You're my cousin," she interrupted with a heavy sigh, causing my jaw to drop and my mind to race with questions.

"Why? How? What happened? Don't tell me..." I started, only to be cut off again.

"I understand what you're thinking, and it's not that. Our family tree isn't complicated like some, especially the supreme family. We uphold a bloodline where there are no affairs, no sides—just lifelong fidelity to one partner. So, there's no cheating involved," she clarified, meeting my gaze.

"Then how? If your uncle is my father, shouldn't I at least be the same age as you or close?" I asked, feeling my head spin with confusion.

"Well, usually when a woman reaches about half her lifespan, the possibility of bearing children decreases. For men, if they're healthy, they can typically father children for most of their lives. But in our family, whether a man or woman is healthy or not, as long as they carry the bloodline of a Krieger, there's a high likelihood of having children. However, in your situation, your father carries our bloodline, and your mother is... um... ahhh..." She broke eye contact again, and I gently held her other hand. She looked at me, and I nodded encouragingly for her to continue.

"Your mother is part of the Handimi..." My biological mother is actually at the bottom rank, so how did my biological father meet her if she's that low? "Which might sound complicated because she doesn't even have an animal symbol, but in reality, it's not. I don't know their entire love story, but I do know your mother worked as one of the Black Knights in the past, and your father always visited the mansion because he was my father's right-hand man. I think you can imagine they might have started there..."

Chills ran through my whole body. My biological mother is one of the legendary Black Knights, and my biological father is not just the brother of her father, but the right hand of the past Estevel. 'Can this information get any crazier?' I thought to myself.

"Back to the main topic, since your father carries the blood of a Krieger, there's no problem with them creating you and..."

"I would still be your age then, if they created me when they were young," I cut her off, frowning. She flicked my forehead. "Ouch!" I glared at her.

"You brat, I'm not even done yet. I didn't say they met when they were young, and obviously didn't create you during their youth years..." She paused, seeing my confusion grow. "They met when they were already in their sixties..."

"What?!" I didn't mean to raise my voice and quickly covered my mouth. How could that even happen?

"Back again, yes, it's impossible for your mother but not for the Kriegers, and this is where our multiple abilities come in. Our whole bloodline believes in a saying, 'When it comes to bringing life, The Phoenix has the Supreme Power.' So, as long as your purpose is pure and to create life without malice, it will be possible. That explains your unusual birth," Mother finally finished, and I could finally breathe properly.

"Why does it have to be so complicated?" I asked, releasing her arms and leaning back, feeling exhausted.

"The most valuable things often come through complicated means," Mother quoted. I leaned forward again.

"So, were you born before me?" I asked.

"Yes, my parents met before yours," she replied, leaning back herself.

"I'm sorry, I know you're tired of explaining, but can I ask one last thing?" I said, and she leaned forward to face me.

"It's about their deaths, isn't it?" She asked, and I nodded, lowering my head in preparation to hear the truth.

"I'm also sorry about this, but I don't have full information about it..." I looked up, feeling disheartened. "All I do know is they didn't die because of sickness or old age. If they had, they would have entrusted you to the people here in the mansion where you would be safest. But, according to my investigation, they both died after they left you in the forest." My eyes widened. 'Is it because of me?' I lowered my head again, but Mother held my shoulder and shook me gently.

"Hey, Aidan," she called again, and I looked up to see her gentle expression. "I'm positive it's not your fault. It's not the first time it's happened."

"It happened again?" I asked, feeling a chill run through my body.

"Two years after your parents' death, and not knowing if you were still alive, my parents died the same way as yours. After some investigation, it was clear that it was the same person who did it, but they couldn't find out who," she said, still holding my shoulder. Looking at her, she remained calm while talking about it, and I wondered what was going on inside her.

"I'm sure that person will be caught soon. Evil people don't win," I said, trying to cheer myself and Mother up. She suddenly smirked, sending shivers down my spine and making me gulp.

"Yes, that day will come soon, and that person better be ready. Once I catch him, I will make sure he has no choice but to beg me to end everything," she declared.