Chapter 167: Aurelia Midas

"Martha! I’m right here with you, okay?"

A man who looked to be in his late twenties held the hand of his wife, who was currently about to give birth to their third child.

The woman, who was currently breathing heavily, couldn’t help but giggle as she saw her husband’s face.

Martha smiled, "Jeez, Aurum. If no one knew any better, they’d think you’re the one giving birth."

Currently, the man named Aurum had tears streaming down his face and snot could even be seen from time to time.

He squeezed his wife’s hand, "Martha, I’m just worried..."

"Worried? This is my third time giving birth. Just leave it to the midwives and the priestesses while you go out and compose yourself."

Martha’s eyes shone with gentleness and love as she continued, "After all, I don’t want our third child to see their father’s ugly crying face when they first look at you.

Hearing his wife’s teasing remarks, Aurum stood up with determination.

"You’re right! I can’t just let my child see their father in this state."

He then kissed his wife’s forehead and whispered, "Don’t worry, okay? I’ll just be right outside with Auryn and Patti. If you ever need me, just call my name, okay? Promise me."

"Hehe, yes~ yes~" Martha nodded obediently.

At this moment, she was preparing to give birth and so, she was not exactly at her best in terms of looks.

She was sweaty, her stomach was round, and her blonde hair was messy.

Nevertheless, the only person Aurum could see right now in this moment was the most beautiful person in the whole world— his wife.

He then took slow steps away from the bed, his face full of hesitation as he unwillingly let go of her hands.

Martha giggled again at her husband’s antics, "Stop being so silly, just wait outside, okay?"

"Okay, if you say so..."

Aurum inched slowly towards the door, his face full of unwillingness.

"You’re really sure, huh?"

"Yes, Hon."

"You’re really, really, like really sure?"

"Get out."

"Alright." Aurum sighed in defeat and went out the door.

Knowing her husband, Marthe continued staring at the door.

Creak~

And surely enough, the door opened slightly as a head peeked inside, "I love you."

"I love you too." Martha smiled lovingly.

Aurum reluctantly closed the door, brushing his black hair back with his hands.

This revealed the worry he had been covering back in the room.

Outside, two children were currently waiting alongside four midwives and two women wearing white robes with the insignia of the Temple of Light.

He first approached the midwives and the two priestesses.

"I’ll leave my wife to you, please don’t let anything bad happen to her." Aurum pleaded.

The midwives smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Mr. Midas. We’ll do our best to make sure that she will be comfortable during her delivery."

"Mr. Midas, you’ve been the most supportive patron of our church since your merchant organization has been established here in Montrelle City. Rest assured that we will do our very best in ensuring her safety."

One of the priestesses of light spoke with a smile.

"Thank you..." Aurum smiled, feeling a little less worried at their words.

The reason why he was so worried was due to the fact that Martha inherently had a weak body.

This was also the reason why he needed to hire priestesses instead of just midwives, in addition to the potions, medicines, herbs, and other apparatuses that would ensure both safety and comfort for his wife.

"Papa, is Mommy okay?"

One of their children, a little boy with black hair and golden eyes, asked with an innocent face.

"Patti, don’t you see that Papa is worrying about something? Let’s give him some time to think first."

A girl who seemed to be about three years older than the boy replied.

Seeing his two children worry about him and his wife, Aurum felt joyful. He crouched and patted both of their heads.

"Mommy is fine. We just need to wait here for a while and get ready to meet your new sibling. So let’s be patient, okay, Auryn and Patti?"

The two children nodded obediently.

***

Seven years later...

A little girl with black hair and black eyes was holding a daisy, "This one’s the queen of the garden!"

"No way! My twig tower is way cooler. It’s the royal castle." A boy who was a little older than her disagreed.

The girl with a head full of blonde hair who seemed to be the oldest among the three chuckled as she said,

"Then what does that make me? The castle decorator?"

"Nope! You’re the queen! I’m the princess, and Brother Patti’s the... royal jester!" The little girl with black hair giggled.

The boy named Patti felt offended, "What?! I built the castle! I should be the brave knight, Aurelia."

"Brave knight who once cried over a ladybug?" Said the girl with blonde hair with a teasing smile.

"That was last year, Sister Auryn! It flew into my eye!" Patti had a wronged expression on his face as he tried to defend himself.

As they were playing, Aurum and Martha were having tea together, watching their children with a smile.

"They’re growing up so quickly. Next year will be the year Aurelia will be given a primer..."

Aurum’s was filled with mixed emotions.

Seeing her husband’s worried face, Martha pecked him on the cheek with a smile.

"Wha– Why?" Aurum felt speechless.

Martha feigned ignorance, "Don’t worry about it. The children and I will be there for her."

"Still, what if I just postpone the deal with the Floralith Family?"

"No. I know how important that deal is to you. It will also be the first time a human merchant organization will be able to strike a deal with the elf royals."

Martha held Aurum’s hand with a reassuring face, "Besides, I know how much you wanted to do this."

She knew that he was in a dilemma because he would not be able to attend Aurelia— their youngest child’s, eighth birthday in nine months due to an important business trip.

More so, due to the fact that she was about to choose whether to pursue the path of mana or aura.

"If only those elves weren’t so picky about the meeting location. Then this business trip wouldn’t need to be several months long, tch." Aurum said in annoyance.

Martha giggled, "Hey, don’t say that!"

She then gave her another peck, this time on his lips.

This was enough of a reason to disrupt Aurum’s thoughts, "Hey!"

Seeing his giggling wife running away from him, he hurriedly gave chase with a smile, "You’re not escaping me!"

They played for a while before both of them fell on the soft grass.

"Hey." Aurum called out to his wife, who looked at him with a satisfied expression.

He then reached his hand past her head and picked a flower from the bush behind her.

The flower turned to gold, which he then presented to his wife, "I love you."

"Pfft! You and your little tricks again. Is that what you’re going to do to the beautiful elven women on your business trip?" Martha teased.

Aurum was flustered, "N-No way–"

Smooch~

"I know." Martha said smilingly with a blush, "I love you too."

***

Sniffle— Sniffle—

A girl with black hair and black eyes who seemed to be eight years old was crying in the middle of a hall.

The hall was made of gold, and there were also countless statues made of gold surrounding her.

Life-like expressions could be seen in the faces of the golden statues. Some were still smiling like they were conversing with someone.

Meanwhile, some had panic-stricken expressions and looked like they were trying to flee.

The little girl cried and cried, tears pouring down her face as she sat down in the middle of the hall of gold.

***

Present...

SHIIIIIING—--!!!!

"Not again..." Aurelia cried until her tears became tainted with blood.

Her anger towards the lich who was about to take everything from her, and more so her anger towards herself.

"I can control it this time!"

The water, the undead, and the bones that were converging towards her— all became gold.

She then did her best to control the golden brilliance of light and successfully prevented Pandora from turning to gold too.

"Just a little more..."

Only a few seconds had passed, and almost all her mental strength had been depleted.

The golden brilliance instantly reached the lich’s area.

As her gift extended its range, it became increasingly difficult for her to control it.

Killian’s eyes widened as he saw everything turning into gold, ’What’s happening!? Even the bone spike turned to gold..."

Thankfully, the golden brilliance stopped just as it was about to reach him.

However, the same couldn’t be said about Regis.

"No!!"

Aurelia shouted, her voice filled with despair as she saw Regis’s figure turning into a golden statue.

"W-WHAT!?"

The lich’s grating voice resounded as he didn’t have enough time to react, and the golden light soon enveloped him.