Chapter 312 ·Mother!?

Mother!?

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍dozen minutes later...

The Gargoyle and Bone Yan landed within the camp of the Darkmoon clan. By this time, it was already close to midnight, but there was still light burning in Serea's treehouse, as tonight a particularly "special guest" had paid a sudden visit.

"So this is the tribe of the Darkmoon clan? Truly magnificent!"

Standing atop the elf king tree and gazing down at the whole Darkmoon clan camp, catherine expressed her heartfelt admiration. She then walked into the wooden house, commenting as she entered.

"Such dense magical power; it truly is the elf king tree. But I have a question for you, my precious daughter."

"W-what is it?"

Serea looked at her with some guilt.

"The strength within you seems to be that of the royal elf line. Why have you become of the royal elf blood?"

Just as expected, she asked this question. Serea was pondering how to reply, but Lola stepped forward.

"Queen Serea received the approval of our clan, so she inherited the mark of the royal elves."

"Is it possible for someone who isn't an elf to inherit the mark of the royal elf line?"

"Perhaps Queen Serea is a very special exception."

As Lola spoke, she did not mention anything about vampires. Hearing this, catherine looked over Serea several more times, and then smiled...

"Well~ Gaining such great strength seems pretty nice, after all."

Catherine didn't pursue the "strength" issue further.

With her arrival, Serea's identity as the "Princess of Otto Kingdom" was now officially announced to the world. Just then, ina was pushed out from the inner room by Dorulu, who was wheeling her in a wheelchair.

"Mother!"

When she saw Catherine, ina was clearly excited, stretching out her arms from afar. Catherine was also overjoyed, rushing forward and embracing her daughter tightly.

"Mother, I missed you so much."

"I missed you all too. Are you happy living here?"

"I am. My sister and so many friends are here."

"That's good to hear."

As they spoke, a trace of loneliness swept across Catherine's eyes—a mother unable to always remain by her children's side.

But seeing Ina and the others living happily here eased her heart just a little.

Seeing their family's joyful reunion, Lola and the rest tactfully withdrew, leaving only the four of them in the wooden house. They then began to talk about their adventures in the jungle and happy memories from the past.

In this process, the warmth of family touched Serea deeply. Their long-awaited reunion lasted until midnight. When Ina, overcome by sleepiness, leaned on Catherine and fell asleep, catherine stroked her daughter's face, smiling happily—then suddenly recalled the purpose of her visit.

Whether intentionally or not, catherine spoke up,

"I really never imagined that my daughter would become a queen at such a young age."

"It's just a title, that's all."

"No, it's not. Your people love you, support you, and that's why they give you this title. As long as you have this title, it means you have their recognition."

Catherine spoke earnestly, and her words weighed somewhat on Serea's mind.

Yes, unconsciously, the title "Queen" grew heavier and heavier. She felt it acutely.

Seeing Serea lose herself in thought, catherine asked another practical question.

"So, Serea, do you still plan to return to the royal palace?"

Hearing this question, the answer that should have been certain now caught in Serea's throat.

"I..."

"Don't feel pressured. No matter what you decide, as your mother, I will always support you. I just want to know what Serea truly thinks."

As she said this, even Lilith looked over. If Serea were to leave...

"Mother already said it—I'm a 'queen' now. I may not be a very qualified one, but I must think of all those who believe in me."

As she spoke those words, Serea felt a faint reluctance in her heart. She believed it was the memories of this body affecting her.

Hearing Serea's decision, catherine's eyes grew faintly sad, but there was also comfort in her gaze.

"As expected of my daughter. Since you've made your choice, then I'll leave this in your care."

Catherine took out a black gemstone; seeing the stone in her hands, Serea looked at it in puzzlement.

"What's this?"

"Something your parents left you."

Catherine's expression was calm as she spoke, and Serea only showed mild surprise.

"My clever girl, I'm sure you must have already guessed some things."

Serea nodded slightly, but then asked,

"My parents..."

"Claude and Elena."

"Elena..."

For the first time, Serea learned her own mother's name—a name not even Lilith or the others knew. Seeing Serea's confusion, catherine pulled her gently into an embrace.

"If you're ever confused, don't overthink things. As your mother, I'll always protect you."

Hearing this, Serea involuntarily responded,

"Mhm..."

That one sound brought a smile of pure happiness to Catherine's face.

After that, they chatted for a long while. When the night grew late, catherine suggested she ought to rest. Serea immediately arranged a residence for her, and the group parted for now.

But as she was leaving, catherine called Celia aside. Serea could guess what it was about.

...

Inside the wooden house, Celia was preparing to turn on the magic lamp, when Catherine spoke up.

"Celia, Serea hasn't encountered anything strange recently, has she?"

Celia's body tensed momentarily at those words. She realized at once that Catherine must have noticed something, but she answered,

"No, her Highness is well. She's simply grown more mature after some sudden challenges."

"I see. That's good. Then I'll have to trouble you to take even better care of Serea in the future."

"Yes, I will."

Reassured by Celia's promise, catherine at last felt at ease. She then used her spatial ring to take out an item.

"Oh, and Celia, you'll be coming of age soon, right? Then it's time your father's things were entrusted to you."

With that, catherine handed over two items: a badge, and a black token.

"Your father and your clansmen were heroes who defended the royal family. What happened all those years ago pains me, but this is all I could do."

"I understand..."

Taking the two items, Celia's heart was filled with complex emotions.

"Alright, Celia, you should rest too. It's not good to stay up too late."

"Yes, good night, aunt Catherine."

"Good night."

After Celia left, catherine looked at the door as it opened and closed again. Gazing at the splendid camp through the window, she smiled with satisfaction, then pulled up her hood, put on her mask, left a letter on the table, and melted into the darkness.

(To be continued...)

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