World 01 Arc 01 Ch. 02 – Nothing Greater than This

Celine couldn’t help but blush as she dressed herself, the image of her son’s gawking expression lingering in her mind. “That little…” she muttered through gritted teeth before her expression softened. “He’s finally back…” She gazed into nothingness for a moment, her determination growing. “I need to ensure that he experiences happy memories in this house and isn’t burdened while he stays here.”

With her hair now towel-dried and tied, Celine took a deep breath and made her way towards her room, her demeanor regaining its impressive composure.

…

I stood in my mother’s room, anxiously awaiting her arrival. My nerves weren’t due to the incident that had just transpired. I knew my mother well enough to understand that while she may appear angry, she would likely let me off with a scolding and a playful twist of my ears. She also knew that I couldn’t be entirely blamed since I had no knowledge of her changing her bathing location.

What saddened me was that I still couldn’t reveal the truth about my experiences in the capital over the past five years. How I had grown and what I had achieved… Mostly, I wanted to share my accomplishments with her. I wanted to make her proud and alleviate some of the burden she had shouldered since my father’s passing. I yearned to see the joy in her smile when I told her about becoming someone of importance–someone even the king of our kingdom had to treat with respect.

Unfortunately, being too outstanding can sometimes pose its own challenges.

Lost in my thoughts, I was brought back to reality by the sound of the garden-turned-bath door opening, signaling my mother’s arrival.

As she stepped into the room, her expression was calm, and she exuded her usual poise when dealing with serious matters. She wore a beige-colored short tunic and an olive green long skirt, creating a stark contrast to the earlier scene I had witnessed. It felt surreal, witnessing this transformation in her appearance amidst the contrasting circumstances.

Consciously or unconsciously, my gaze instinctively sought the scene I had witnessed just moments ago.

“You rascal!” my mother scolded in a firm tone. “Where do you think you’re looking?” Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, leaving me feeling acutely aware of the awkwardness of the situation.

Trying to maintain a calm demeanor, I swiftly attempted to change the subject. “How have you been, Mom?”

My mother’s face flushed with a tinge of red, her composure crumbling in the wake of recent events. She regarded me with a calm yet knowing gaze, fully aware of my attempt to shift the conversation. “Hmph,” she huffed, her tone a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “It seems you’ve grown audacious during your time away.”

As she closed the distance between us, I braced myself for the anticipated scolding, mentally preparing for the chastisement I expected. I could feel her warmth enveloping me as she stood before me, her countenance marked with a hint of anger.

Just as I steeled myself for the reprimand, a sudden collision against my body startled me. A soft impact, accompanied by the sensation of her arms encircling my back, spoke of a different intent. “You’re finally back,” my mother murmured softly, her voice tinged with relief. “It’s so good to have you home.”

A gentle fragrance, carrying hints of her natural bath products, drifted into my nostrils, soothing my restless mind. And in that tender embrace, I discerned the sound of muffled sobs, realizing that my mother had begun to cry while holding me close.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Panic surged through me, a sense of self-reproach taking hold. I felt responsible for her tears, and it pained me deeply.

Apologies spilled from my lips in a desperate rush, “I’m so sorry, Mom. Please don’t cry!” My embrace tightened around her, as if I could provide all the warmth and solace she deserved and more.

Gradually, my mother’s sobs subsided, and she pulled back slightly while remaining in my arms. Her voice, filled with affection, intermingled with a gentle scolding, “What on earth are you talking about, you silly boy? I was just overjoyed to see you after such a long time. What?! Don’t tell me you didn’t miss me.” Her expression shifted playfully, a mischievous glare accompanied by a soft giggle.

She looked radiant, her beauty and adorability melting my heart on the spot.

“I love you, Mom,” the words tumbled out before I had the chance to fully process them. And truthfully, I had no regrets.

For a brief moment, my mother froze, her reaction uncertain. Then, a sweet smile graced her lips.

“Yeah, Danny. I love you too.” Her embrace tightened around me, a reflection of her longing and affection.

However, after a few seconds, I had to interrupt our heartfelt connection.

“Mom, you’re too strong. I can’t breathe,” I teased, even altering my voice to sound strained, hoping to divert attention away from the tumultuous emotions within me.

Of course, it was a fabrication–a shield against the vulnerability that threatened to consume me. The proximity of her soft form, juxtaposed with the recent scene I had witnessed, sent my senses awry. If I allowed those sensations to take hold, I would undoubtedly find myself fleeing back to the capital to save myself from the embarrassment.

A necessary sacrifice had to be made.

As I gently pushed her back, my mother blushed, playfully retorting, “Strong? Are you implying that your delicate-looking mother is a brute?”

Her cute antics elicited a chuckle from me, and I decided to play along. “No, no. Who said that? My mother is kind, gentle, beautiful, uh, etc.” I wanted to continue praising her, but the strict education she had instilled in me during my school years had left me grasping for words.

“Huh?” My mother’s enjoyment of my flowery words quickly turned to a frown. “Boy, did you just use ‘etcetera’? Seriously? Is that how you praise a woman?” Disbelief marked her face as she muttered, “And here I thought you would become a gentleman after going to the capital.” Shaking her head, she added, “Now I’m genuinely worried about how you’ll be able to woo a respectable girl from a good family.”

A twitch formed at the corner of my lips as I restrained myself from revealing that the matter was already settled. Unfortunately, it fell within the list of things I had to keep from her–for now, at least.

My mother and I continued to banter, her stern expression melting away as she reverted to her usual teenage-like self in my presence. We poked fun at each other for a while when…

Growl…

“Uh…” I sheepishly rubbed my stomach. “I was so excited to see you that I decided to skip lunch,” I explained. “That’s why I was able to arrive before sunset.”

A maternal smile graced my mother’s face as she took hold of my hand and led me towards…

“The garden?” I couldn’t help but express my disbelief. “Don’t tell me you moved our kitchen there too.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” My mother mockingly scolded, playfully hitting my shoulder. “You should take a bath while I go and prepare something delicious and warm for you. Tell me honestly, did you skip bathing during your journey as well?”

I smiled awkwardly before replying, “You know how I prefer a relaxing bath. Halfheartedly cleaning myself along the way seemed like too much of a hassle, so I only took baths occasionally.”

“And how often is ‘occasionally’?” My mother inquired with a penetrating gaze.

“Twice,” I blurted out the truth before realizing my mistake.

“Goodness!” My mother gasped in amazement. “Two times during a month-long journey? How unhygienic can you be, little Dan?”

My lips twitched as I realized I couldn’t possibly reveal the existence of my swift mount, gifted personally by my master, which brought me here in less than a week. It appeared no different from the mounts found in this region, which is why none of the maids suspected anything special about it. Deciding to endure the consequences of my mistake, I allowed myself to be pushed into the garden.

“Take your time, dear. I’ll be right back with a delicious meal!” My mother’s fading voice echoed in my ears. Satisfied, I finally felt the warmth of home that I had been longing for. Nothing could compare to the comfort of my mother’s embrace.

Shaking off my thoughts, I walked towards the bath, removing my clothes along the way. Suddenly, I remembered that my bag was left behind, and I hadn’t had a chance to take out a change of clothes. It was likely that my mother had brought it to my room.

I guess I’ll ask her about it later. For now, I need to take a bath.

I washed myself with soap and hot water before submerging myself in the sunken tub. Splashing water filled the air as I let out a contented sigh. The warm water enveloped my slightly tired body, melting away all the accumulated fatigue from my journey.

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the edge of the tub, humming a tune unconsciously. Minutes passed as my body reached a state of complete relaxation, thoroughly warmed by the hot water.

As I prepared to leave the bath, my gaze fell upon something at the opposite end of the tub–a napkin my mother had used to wipe her face. My mind drifted back to the scene earlier, when my mother had hastily covered her bountiful bosom with that tiny napkin upon noticing my presence before retreating into the water.

“Uh… Dammit!” I cursed, feeling my thoughts triggering an intense reaction in my lower body. I had managed to control it earlier, but the combination of my heated thoughts and the hot water had my blood flowing with increased intensity.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to restrain myself.