Chapter 93: 93 Preparation.

“Why?”.

Iris’s voice rang like an echo, wondering why Nina gave her permission with no remorse or hesitation at all.

The girl before her tilted her head, unsure as to what answer she should give to her mother. Nina crossed her arms together with knitted brows, stumbling upon words in her mouth.

“Um, I want Mom to enjoy her life more”.

“My life?”. Iris blinked, her glimmering eyes stared at the girl’s crumpling expression.

“I know, Mom had sacrificed many things for me in the past”. Nina paused before nodding. “That’s why I want you to live freely and do whatever you want. I have people here who care about me and treat me like family. I’m fine now”.

“Nina, but”.

Before Iris said a word, Nina stepped forward and wrapped her tiny hands around the Elven Girl’s neck tightly.

The warmth that enveloped Iris soothed the ragged waves that wreaked havoc in her mind, clearing her vision to see the world in light.

Nina noticed the changes in her mothers demeanor as she pressed her body more and let their beating heart resonated.

“I know you love me, Mom. Me too, but I’m alright.” The girl patted her mother’s trembling back and softly whispered. “I can take care of myself now, so please live however you want, and be free”.

Iris’s mouth was agape like a fish. She couldn’t describe the swelled emotion of happiness and grief mixed in her chest, tightening her throat to spill the words in her throat.

At one point, she was happy with how Nina had grown, but at the same time she felt grief that her daughter who was always followed behind her like a duckling, now finally started to detach from her care.

She raised both hands and wrapped them around Nina’s waist, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Uuu, thank you, Nina”.

“Yes, Mom, go have fun”.

Nina’s lovely sound resonated within the room, bringing a halo of joy for both families who watched the event with a smile on their faces.

Many servants, who accidentally appeared on the scene, hid behind the corner with their eyes closed, and wiped the tears that stained their cheeks.

The stilled atmosphere that flooded the entire hallway with bittersweet happiness. From behind, a pair of Jin and Silvia, who stepped back from the stage, exhaled in relief, watching the two finally at peace with each other.

Not only did they share the truth about their relationship, but the little girl’s growth and Iris’ shackled heart were now freed from any restraint. Jin even faintly saw wings growing on their backs.

“I hope things will not get harder from here on”.

Jin turned to his side, shaking his head in hope that Iris would have the necessary to enter the academy.

“Hard? What for?”. Silvia turned to her side and tilted her head adorably

The boy didn’t answer; he faced toward the mother and daughter, who separated with blooming smiles. They were bathed under the golden light that graced them with blessings.

He looked at the tears that dropped from Iris’ jaw and Nina, vowing to himself that whatever future that was presented before them, Jin would stand tall and block any harm from harming those he considered close.

’Don’t worry, Nina. Your mother will be safe, I promise’. Jin clenched his fist as he watched the scenes with a firm determination.

***

Several days had passed since Iris gained permission from her daughter. Now, the three were gathered inside Jin’s room, sitting on the chair with a round table in front, filled to the brim with notebooks and books.

As Jin feared, Iris, despite being born as a royalty in her homeland, must face a tremendous truth that puts her face in a blazing red.

“I think, I know what you mean at that time, Jin”.

Silvia glanced under her toward the paper sheet with several questions she and Jin had prepared beforehand for Iris.

There were many ’X’ marks, scribbled with red ink to show just how lacking in knowledge the princess before them was.

“I-I can’t help it, okay. In my homeland, I was never taught something like this”.

Iris averted her gaze outside, running away from the contempt glared from Silvia.

“Never been taught, or you didn’t want to be taught?”.

Jin’s calm voice formed an invisible blade that stabbed the Elven girl’s chest, making her body flinch, and tears accumulated in her eyes.

Iris puffed her flushed cheek out. She glared toward the boy with trembling shoulders.

“Spot on, huh?”.

“Silvia!?”.

Silvia’s cold tone brought the trembling Elven girl to her knees. She exhaled and pressed a palm to her forehead to massage her throbbing skull.

Jin swept his eyes toward the sheet in his hand, inspecting the matter that blocked their path to advance toward the goal.

He began to search for a detoured path and meticulously concocted a plan for the Elven girl to pass the written exam that would be held at Mid-Mart.

The two girls’ voices faded from his mind. He started to compare the exam contents from the previous years and so on.

’Hmm, so this question appears annually, but this one was a bit. ’ Jin squeezed his brain until finally he pictured a clear plan for Iris’ progress.

“Okay, you two, calm down for a second, and listen to me”.

Iris and Silvia exchanged silent glares for the bickering they had done. They even simultaneously threw away their gaze with bloated cheeks.

Jin pulled his head back with brows raised, noticing the two of them showed an angered expression toward each other.

He faked a cough to hide the smirk that crept on his lips and said, “Iris, for the next few months, you should follow the plan I made”.

The Elven girl shifted her attention toward him, her bloated cheeks were gone and replaced with a flickering flame that lit an ember in her eyes.

“Um, I will, so tell me the plan?”.

Beside her, the silver-haired girl looked at Iris with a smile plastered on her stiff face. She adored a person who was giving their best in any situation, especially someone she held dear as a friend.

Jin took a notebook with a pen in hand. He began to create a schedule for Iris’ study session.

He also included a target for the girl to finish, so that she could obtain the necessary knowledge for the exam later.

The room turned silent, where only the voice of scribbling on the paper filled the room. Two pairs of eyes widened as they witnessed the boy’s furrowed brow.

A smile formed from their loosened lips, and an overflowing emotion washed away the irritation and problems that had clouded their minds earlier.

Iris and Silvia’s hearts pounded so hard they were anxious it would distract the boy’s focus. But, as time flowed, it gently caressed their consciousness to stare at the window beyond the transparent glass.

In plain sight, there was no difference from usual. White clouds covered the entire sky, carrying within them a cold winter wind that chilled a body to the bones.

It was faint, but glittering snowflakes caught the two girls’ eyes. They gasped with their mouths dropped to the floor, seeing the fall of the first snow.

“It’s done. Iris, make sure you follow this plan?”.

Jin lifted his gaze, and his voice was getting lower at the end. His brows knitted together in wonder. He turned to the source and exclaimed. “A snow?”.

The snow that year became a companion of an Elven girl, who struggled to cram all the knowledge to face the entrance exam, so that she could stand beside the two.

Days passed by, turned into weeks, then months, as the season also neared its end. The world welcomed a new life that bloomed after the melted ice.

“Iris, are you ready?”.

Jin stared at the Elven girl before him with renewed resolve. She nodded with a confident smile.

“Um, I’m ready”.

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