Chapter 18: Are you really my mother?

Valen looked up at the roof of the cozy room he was in, blinking in a steady pace.

His fear had mostly dissipated after having a bath, but his mind would not stop revolving around his mother.

The Empress.

She had shielded him during the sick panther attack, completely leaving herself unguarded and open to being dragged away.

Why did she do that?

It was strange. The woman, who was his birth mother, but acted nothing like a mother in times past, was acting strange. She had even given him two massive sweets to lick during their trip.

Hmm.

Valen stretched out an arm to the roof, his eyes focusing on his stubby fingers.

It didn’t matter if she was acting strange. She would soon eventually go back to wailing and crying for his father’s attention, or worse, going back to neglecting him.

The six year old let out a deep and heavy sigh.

Hmm. She will forget all about me again. Very soon. Best to not get used to her current behaviour.

The panther prince decided firmly in his heart, retreating his hand and slipping under the duvet he had been laying on top of.

His eyes blinked several times as he tried to not cry. He liked the attention she was giving him, and he liked that she didn’t force him to speak properly with his father.

Too bad it’s only short termed.

He sniffled before closing his eyes and letting himself drift to sleep.

~

The next morning, Karina woke up with the dull sensation of a headache.

"Ah..."

She placed her palm on her forehead. Her skin was hot to the touch, feverish, probably from the stress and the cold night air. Her body ached like she had been thrown down a flight of stairs.

She groaned, pushing herself upright.

The memory of the attack from the day before flashed through her mind. The blood. The screaming. The rabid panther’s milky eyes.

Valen.

She threw off the blankets, her heart lurching. Is he okay? Did he sleep? Is he scared?

She scrambled out of bed, then stopped dead. Wait....

Her eyes landed on the pile of clothes she had laid out when she had briefly woken up in the middle of the night to pee. A high-necked, long-sleeved linen shift. A thick woolen bodice that buttoned all the way to her chin. A heavy cloak. And, just in case, a scarf.

She was NOT giving Leonidas another accidental peep show.

Karina dressed speedily, layering herself like a Victorian grandmother preparing for a blizzard. By the time she was done, not an inch of skin was visible from her neck to her wrists.

She marched out of the room.

The inn’s common area was already bustling with activity. People rushed about with trays of food, and the sweat scent and aromas of food filled her nostrils.

And there, standing near the fireplace, were Sophie and Aldric.

Sophie’s pink hair was not as smooth as usual, her cheeks flushed. She was rambling about something while Aldric stood stiffly beside her, his blue eyes fixed on a point somewhere above her head. He looked like he was in physical pain.

Karina suppressed a smile. Poor man.

"Your Imperial Majesty!" Sophie spotted her first, dropping into a curtsy. Aldric followed suit, bowing sharply.

"Good morning," Karina said, her voice still rough from sleep. "Did you both sleep well?"

Sophie bounced on her heels. "Yes! I did! The bed was so soft, and the blankets smelled like lavender, and—" She paused, her eyes darting to Aldric. "And I slept very well. Alone. In my own room. Very alone."

Aldric’s eye twitched.

Karina bit the inside of her cheek. Not now. Focus.

She turned. Standing slightly behind Sophie, his small hands clutching the edge of his tunic, was Valen.

He looked clean. His dark hair was brushed, his face washed, but his purple eyes were hollow. He was watching her like she was a wild animal that might bite.

Karina crouched down, bringing herself to his eye level. She immediately softened her voice.

"Hello, little one. Did you sleep well?"

Valen looked at her. Then, deliberately, he turned his face away and nodded. One short, stiff motion.

Ouch. But okay. Progress isn’t linear.

Karina smiled anyway. "Are you hungry?"

A pause. Then another nod.

She held out her hand. "Me too. Come on. Let’s eat."

Valen stared at her outstretched palm like it might poison him. For a long, agonizing moment, he didn’t move.

Then, hesitantly, he looked up at her face. His voice was small.

"Are you really my mother?"

Oh.

Karina’s smile faltered. She swallowed, her throat tightening.

"Yes," she said softly, suppressing tears. The poor boy had been so traumatized he couldn’t believe the care she was showing him was real. "I am. And I’m sorry—for not taking care of you in the past. For not being there. For all of it."

She held his gaze, not looking away.

"I’m trying to be better, Valen, for you and your brothers. Will you forgive me?"

Valen didn’t answer her question. His face remained blank, not betraying any emotion.

But then, slowly, his small hand slipped into hers. His fingers curled around her palm.

Awwww.

Karina’s heart swelled. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and smiled.

"Let’s go."

~

The innkeeper had prepared a feast for them.

The long wooden table was piled high with platters of eggs, roasted sausages, fresh bread, honeyed fruits, and steaming bowls of porridge. The delicious smell made Karina’s stomach growl loudly.

She sat down, placing Valen beside her. Aldric took the seat across from them, and Sophie settled beside him, looking like a pink-haired sunflower trying to bloom.

The innkeeper waddled over, wringing his hands. "I—I hope this is adequate, Your Imperial Majesty! We don’t usually have royalty, so we—"

"It’s perfect," Karina said warmly. "Thank you so much."

The innkeeper’s face lit up. "Oh! Oh, thank you, Your Majesty! If you need anything else, anything at all—"

"Where is the Panther king?"

As if summoned, the door swung open.