C238: Childhood (Part 2)

Chapter 238: Childhood (Part 2)

Shera's perspective

"Yawn...". - Even the sleeping feeling in this dream is also real to me

For some reason, this childhood dream keeps lasting till this time. After getting caught by my late mom, I thought I would stop dreaming... but no, I did not.

Instead... my "dear" mom hugged me tightly and dragged me back to my private room. Needless to say, I have to stay here to study. Reimi's now guarding outside of my room. Meanwhile, my mom had gone away from the room silently when I was studying the alphabet.

My mama could've gone to make a mini dinner for dad by now, otherwise... she might be "battling in bed" with him.

Sitting in my private room to study alone, I see everything is so huge. When I was young, everything before me was very huge, and I was so small. But when I had grown up, everything, stayed the same in the size. But... my body was bigger and taller, so I saw everything was so narrow.

"I'm wondering what John was doing right now".

My husband's older than me by 9 years old. That means John was 15 or 16 at this time, then his childhood time was away for so long, I think so. Hmmm... but John was in the age of an adult at that time, he must be on his way to a career.

Wait, no. From what I remember, at that time my husband was in a country of his world named Afghanistan. Since he was dragged to the sand warzone by his ruthlessness mother, he was surviving there. His deployment to that land, was about 3 months

"I hope he's now safe". - I dropped my pen and started chanting my hands, praying for my husband's safe life

After praying for my husband, I look behind my room, checking something. Maybe I should leave the study process right now, this is just my childhood dream after all.

"Reimi... open the door...". - I made my voice cute, luring Reimi to open the door

However, I received no reply from my servant. It shows that she's very serious about her guard duty... oh, I failed.

"Sigh...". - I sighed tiredly while returning to look at study empty papers on the study table

They're empty wide papers for the students to practice literature things. Nearby they are papers with missing words, they ask students to fill in the empty parts perfectly.

There are also some papers that have sample drafts for the student to "examine". Because Keris Imperial Academy is the only school in the country, and it's opened with high standards of enrollment. Nobles are only allowed to study, commoners aren't.

If a student wants to study at this school, that pupil must pass a test. From the elementary term, the 1st-grade student will have to pass an entrance examination about writing. The topic will always be "The reason I want to enroll in this Academy".

That's what I know about the way of selecting students in the school I used to study. Because of that reason, my little self, must be studying hard by now. Half of a year later, my little self would have to pass the entrance examination to enroll... sigh.

"Sigh...". - It's very boring to learn the alphabet

I'm in my dream, living in my little body while my brain is from my 18. Well... I guess I'll right away, start with the writing progress, I think. Later, I grab an empty paper sheet and dip my pen's head into the ink box to fill the black ink fully.

After doing that, I start writing on the paper sheet. Hmmm... it's a little bit annoying when I have to re-modify my writing style. Cannot let anyone suspect this is a submitted exam paper from an adult. Because my 18-year-old self is living in my little 5 years old body.

But wait... I should not be too much serious with myself. This is just a dream after all, I may wake up in no time. So I'll write on the paper freely.

"Ahh!". - All of sudden, I was startled when I heard a sitting sound beside me

I instinctively look in that direction, and turns out it's my dear mom. Somehow... she got in this room without sounding a footstep, Reimi did not even notify me either.

Especially, my room's door did not make a sound when it was opened. My mom... is so scary. Oh... now I notice that my mom doesn't wear any shoes, is but barefoot in my room.

She could've left the shoes outside while sneaking in here, I think. Being barefoot is very easy to reduce noise.

"I didn't hear you come in...". - Just knew to smile before her

Looking at my mom, I later see her show me the plate in her hands. She keeps pointing to a small bowl of soup on the plate as if to tell me to grab it.

"For me?".

"Nod! Nod!". - She smiled while nodding

"Thank mom". - I slowly received the bowl of soup

After taking the soup bowl, I realize how hot its wooden surface is in my hands. Because this is my child's body, my skin is very soft and weak, that's why I feel the bowl is quite hot. The soup looks so good... but I'll eat it later.

I put the soup bowl on the far side of the desk. Later I turn back, and see my mom gazing at the paper I was writing earlier... she looks curious.

"Mom?". - All of sudden, she hugged me after putting back the paper sheet on the desk

Despite not knowing much about the meaning my mute mom is trying to explain to me, I feel that she's happy. Maybe... she's proud of me when her daughter can learn this fast. I also hug my mom tight, feeling her warmth.

When I wake up, I won't see my mom anymore. I'll miss her, she, my father and my uncle should've been alive and witnessed their grandchild be born.

After hugging me, my mom shows me her index finger, she... draws. Hmm... I mean she's rubbing her index finger on the desk's surface, as if trying to explain to me...

"Hmmm...". - I tried to understand.  "You want to learn how to write, mom?".

"Nod! Nod!". - She nodded in happiness.  "Clap! Clap!". - My mom later clapped before me, as if to praise me

"But uhh... what for?".

"Ehhh...". - I was a bit scared, my mother pulled out a small wooden knife... hidden in her blue skirt

I stay away for a bit far while looking at my mom's strange behavior. She holds the blade, using its pointy tip to rip on the desk's surface, as if she's trying to draw something. However... my mom later stops doing that. Instead, she grabs my pen and draws something... on the paper sheet I used to write.

Okay. I see she finishes drawing 2 stickman figures. One is standing beside another one. My mom draws a thing that looks like a Crown on the first one's head. The other one... is just a smile on his face, with his upper face drawn quite dark.

"Ehhh!". - All of sudden, my mom raised her knife toward the smiling stickman

"Smash! Smash! Smash!". - The knife stabbed the paper sheet, right into the smiling stickman.  "Smash! Smash!". - Stabbings kept going, my mom's eyes looked so mad.  "Tears! Tears! Tears! Tears!". - She tore up the part which had the smiling stickman, only kept the Crown stickman

"Ahhhhhhh...". - She moaned in happiness, while holding the shredded paper sheet which remained the Crown stickman on her chest

"Ummm... you're scaring me, mom". - I stayed away from her for a little far

Alright, maybe I understand what she meant. That smiling stickman must be Prime Minister Alt Toten. My mom wants to kill that man, desiring it to the bones. Hmmmm... maybe she thinks about asking for her husband's help by writing to him.

Well... I'll be able to write out a help letter and send it to my dear father. But... what should I write now? Because... he will surely misunderstand my mom and leads to tragedy.

My husband is an example. When he gets jealous, I know his temper can lead him to murder someone. His childhood affects his current life, and... maybe that's the way men always do, I think.

At this time, the Prime Minister was still very big in power. My father needed more than 10 years to be a ruling King, he needed that much time to be a bright ruler who could resist things.

Currently, my father was still being manipulated quite much by that cunning ruthless outsider. Since he was newly become the King, he lacked experience and thoughts, so my father would hear that old man's "advisement" very much.

I think... I should fool myself this time, I think. Because my mom will surely be blamed if I send my father this help letter, but... should I risk it?

"Mom?". - My mother hugged me tightly while putting me back on the study chair

Her face seems to be sad when her daughter doesn't understand her meaning. Slowly later, my room looks so silent. The silence goes on, but my mom shortly looks up to see me, trying to smile.

"Tap! Tap!". - She tapped me while showing me the soup bowl I left on the desk earlier.  "Ahh... ahh... ahh...". - Later she made sounds, as if to ask me to eat the soup before it goes cold

Poor mom... she cannot have a voice to protect the homeland and my father. Hmmm... this is just a dream. Yeah, I want to help my mom. Yeah... I must write for my father a help letter, asking him to arrest Alt Toten.

I'll risk it this time. Because this is just a dream, and I want to do my best to save all of my beloved relatives. Maybe, it would be nice if they were still alive to this day, I think. They would have the chance to see their grandchild... and see my husband and be proud of him.

"I will show my dad a draft of my writing". - I talked to my mom while holding the soup bowl.  "Stay with me and study with me too, mom...".

"Nod! Nod!". - My mom nodded in happiness, she sat beside me and hugged me

Later I use the wooden spoon to grab some soup, shortly put it in my mouth. The soup's taste is in my mouth... this is surely my mom's make... many memories come back to me, when she was still alive.

"Swallows...". - I swallowed the soup, later attempted to eat more till the bowl emptied

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My mom and I are currently approaching His Majesty's private room. My hands are holding a paper sheet, which is a secret help letter to be sent to my dear father. Because of illiterated, my mom thinks it's just my writing draft. She thinks.... I'll happily show off to my father that I'm very clever to pass the future Academy's entrance examination.

The details of the help letter are short but detailed: It says I'm from the future. And I manage to return here to warn my father about the future's tragedies. And I "advise" my father the way to avoid those tragedies.

I hope it works well.

I'm a bit tense to think what would happen. But now I don't have time to be tense, everything will be alright. Approaching my dad's room, we stop there for a while before going. It will work!

I secretly glance at my mom and see she's holding a plate that contains my father's mini-dinner. After "loving" my father, my mom went to the Palace's kitchen to prepare him a small meal.

Needless to say, my dad is a King so he'll be busy. That's why he needs to have that kind of meal, especially when he needs to work on the paper overnight... and he just had "love" my dear mother.

"How's our daughter?". - Mr. Frieden who was guarding the room's door, asked his wife when she approached him after following us

"She's been ordered to stay there". - Mrs. Frieden came to Mr. Frieden.  "Open the door, honey... the Empress and Her Highness want to meet His Majesty".

"Oh". - He looked at us.  "His Majesty's quite busy by now". - He opened the door slowly.  "This time is late, Your Highness, my Queen... remember to rest after this".

Reimi's Knight family history has a long period of time to be the rulers' bodyguards. That's why Mrs. Frieden and Mr. Frieden kept following my mom and my dad that long.

In the past-time, Mrs. Frieden was the Empress's bodyguard. Meanwhile, Mr. Frieden worked for His Majesty, and little Reimi worked for me. About my uncle, Gen. Dunkel was doing the job. Except for my brother - Hoster Sonne.

For some reason... my brother didn't have a proper bodyguard at all. Maybe it came from my mom's treating way between me and him. Since he's a child who was born due to her tragedy, my mom doesn't love him. Poor my brother... I think I should do something to help him too.

"Hope you two have a good night, Mr and Mrs. Frieden".

"Thanks, Your Highness". - Both of them bowed to me.  "We hope you have a good night too".

Later my mom taps me, as if to ask me to step inside the room with her. I nod and walk with my mom to get into His Majesty's private room. Heading in there, I can see the room's bright. More candles and lanterns have been put in here to light up the room, helping the King to have more lights to work his paperwork.

"It's late right now but you still come, my daughter?". - My father asked me, his hands and his eyes still on the task papers.  "Remember to study hard... now go to sleep, it's too late to stay up".

"I came here to submit you something, dad".

My father doesn't reply to my words at all. Instead, my mom put the meal plate on the left side of his worktable. Inside the plate is a bowl of soup, which is made very tasty.

"Thanks, Serena". - My dad stopped his work, later cuddled my mom's face.  "This time is quite late, go to bed... I'll join you later". - Then he looked at the candles and lanterns in the room.  "I'll turn off some lights to give you a better sleep...". - However, later my dad gazed at me, then he returned to look at my mom.  "What do you think about... sleeping with our daughter?".

"Tap! Tap!". - Replying to my dad, my mom tapped both his and my shoulders as if to tell us to sleep together

"That's impossible". - He got his hands away from my mom.  "You don't understand? I don't have time to relax". - Then he showed my mom his piles of task papers

My mom only knows to show her sad face. My father pats her head for a bit more while gazing at me gently, asking me to go to bed. Then he returns to solve piles of task papers.

"Dad... may you take a look at this?". - I raised toward him the paper sheet - the help letter

"What is this?".

"Ummm... a draft I just had written earlier".  "Giggles". - I giggled, trying to show my father my young pureness.  "This is my prepared draft for the examination, dad".

"What...?". - He stopped writing.  "You were learning the alphabet today... but had finished a draft?". - Ehhh... what should I do now?

"Yes, dad".

"What a clever child of mine... your brother took months to finish a draft". - Although my father wasn't looking at me, I sensed that he was smiling.  "Understood... put it there, my daughter". - He asked me to put the paper sheet on his bed.  "I'll see it when I finish".

"But it's important, dad... please... read it for me...".

"You don't see I'm busy?!". - Suddenly, my father said a bit loudly to me.  "Know the way you communicate, you're a Princess... don't say "dad", call me father or His Majesty".  "Don't be so free like that, you must say and walk in the formal way of a noble... of a Monarch's child". - Then my dad glanced at me fearfully.  "Serena, teach our daughter about this... she must be small, but that doesn't mean she can't learn". - He pointed at my mom.  "If you don't, people will laugh at me and you for not knowing to teach our daughter".

"Uhhh...". - He lowered his face, couldn't hold the pen well as earlier.  "I'm sorry... I lost my control". - My father whispered something, later returned to his worktable.  "I mean... I promise I'll read it, my daughter... put it there".

"Uhhh...". - I hesitated to put the help letter on the bed.  "Please... just a moment...". - What if a servant comes here to clean the room and dumps this paper when she thinks it's a trash paper?

Should I hand this help letter to someone else I know except for my father? Mr and Mrs. Frieden are trustable. My uncle too, also Reimi is trustable... should I do that?

Just someone reads the letter, the Prime Minister will surely be targeted. Should I... should I hand it to one of my parents' bodyguards to ask them to help us out of this?

"I came here to report to you about His Highness's studying progress". - All of sudden, Alt Toten's voice sounded

I return to reality and lose some of my balance. Luckily, my mom holds me back and pulls me away for a little bit. Before my eyes are the old man Alt Toten... somehow he came in here without my sensation.

"You've worked so hard today, Minister Alt". - My dad tapped on the old man's back, thanking him gloriously.  "Alright... I can solve these things myself". - He looked at his unfinished paperwork.  "Go to bed, I'll let you recheck these papers when you wake up, alright?".  "If you have some disagreement... we'll discuss how I would resolve these things".

"Understood".  "Good night, Your Majesty". - The Prime Minister walked away after saying goodbye to my dad

"Before you go". - All of sudden, my dad said to the old man at the last moment

"Yes...?".

"My daughter had just finished a draft in a day". - My dad glanced at me.  "Take it for me, and store it till I need you to take it out, Alt".

"Your Highness... we met again". - The Prime Minister crouched down, gazing at me.  "What a clever child... give me the letter". - He raised his open palm toward me, asking me to give him the help letter

"Uhhh...". - I stepped back a little bit, my mom was also pulling me away while glaring at me old man secretly

"What's wrong with you, Serena?". - My dad looked at my mom, talking in his disappointment.  "Because Alt is a running outsider from Attenta, so you hate him?".  "You think he will be a traitor or what?".  "Look, you're making our daughter confused". - He pointed at me, blaming my mom for making me become distant from the old man

"Give me". - All of sudden, the Prime Minister's slightly snatched away the help letter successfully when my mom and I were distracted by my dad's words

"Ahh!". - I became frustrated.  "Give it back to me! Give it back to me!". - I kept jumping up to reach the help letter, but couldn't do it.  "Mom, please don't! Give me back the draft, Minister Alt!". - My mom pulled me away farther to make sure that Alt Toten wouldn't harm me

It's pointless. I'm too little and this man is too huge for me to reach his hand to retrieve my letter, it's bad. After snatching my help letter, my mom keeps holding me while pulling me and herself to the wall.

From my sensation, I know that my mom's putting one of her hands in her skirt. Because she's reaching for the wooden knife, as if that's her survival instinct when she faces Alt Toten. Meanwhile, my dad feels so disappointed about my mom so he only cares to look at the paperwork on the worktable.

The Prime Minister accidentally glanced at the help letter. That's why that man is now gazing at the details in the letter, sometimes he glances at me. Hmmm... he's lowering the help letter. What should I do to help my mom in my 5 years old body right now?

"Your Majesty... Her Highness wrote the wrong topic". - Instead, the old man said to my father.  "It doesn't relate to the school's wish for enrolling at all... and she wrote it badly".

"Cannot blame her, she's still a young child". - My dad kept working on his paperwork, didn't care to look at me.  "However, she could write out a draft".  "It means she's natural genius... she can do that better".

"I also think that way, Your Majesty ".  "However...". - Suddenly he glared at me.  "Women should be women... no need to try hard to study, it's wasteful".

"You understand me the most, Minister Alt". - My dad stopped writing.  "Now I need the silence to focus on my work... leave me alone".

"Hear that, Your Highness?". - The Prime Minister later looked at me.  "You're troubling your father, you also sent this bad to him". - He raised my help letter

"Hmmmm...". - He made a smug face. However, I could see his tension every time he glanced at the help letter, as if this old man was cautious about me.  "I remember I forgot something, Your Majesty". - Later, he returned to speak to my father.  "I'll go out this late, I'll return here when I finish".

"Safe travel... going out at night is dangerous".

Hearing my dad's warning, Alt Toten bows before him before leaving the room with the help letter. The only evidence to arrest him had now disappeared with him. Now I only hope he won't take any action after suspecting me and my mom. Hmmm... should I write another one?

"You two should go to bed right now".

"Understood, father".  "Good night...". - I also bowed to my dad as my mom was doing

Later, both of us go outside of His Majesty's private room and the door is closed again by Mr. Frieden. Reimi's mother approaches us, intending to escort us back to my room. I think... I should better write another letter.

"Eh?". - Later I noticed that my mom was headpatting me, with her face showing to be comforting me.  "Ehhh... thank mom". - Maybe she was thinking that I was sad when I lost my "draft" to submit to my dear father

"I'll escort you back there, my Queen, Your Highness". - Mrs. Frieden informed us, she later turned around

The two of us follow Mrs. Frieden's instruction to return to my private room. We walk in the long hallway, my mom's holding my hand gently, trying to smile well. Hmmm... I should do something to make my mom happy, I think.

"Don't try to be happy, mom... I know you're sad". - I said to my mom straightly

"Ah...". - Turned out she was surprised when I knew it

"Dad isn't mad at us at all, hehehe". - I smiled a little bit.  "He must be tired, mom... why don't all of us sleep together when papa goes to sleep?".

"How clever you are, Your Highness". - Mrs. Frieden praised me while going

"Hugs... hugs...". - My mom hugged me tightly, later she put me to sit on her shoulders

"I wonder what should we eat tomorrow...". - Seems like this dream still lasts so long... that would be more interesting if my husband was in this dream with me

"Ah!". - All of sudden, my mom made a happy face.  "Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahh... ahhh ahhh". - And she pulled out her wooden knife, slashing it before me as if she was doing something creepy

"Ummm... you're scaring her, my Queen".  "Giggles...". - Done saying, Mrs. Frieden giggled while glancing at me.  "Maybe the Empress wants you to join her in the kitchen". - She looked at the road.  "Well... teaching a little daughter to cook, isn't that too soon?".

"Maybe you can't remember this, Your Highness". - She looked at us once again.  "You used to sew when you were 3, the Empress did this to you".  "I was very scared that you would be hurt".  "Your mom's such a... ummm... nevermind". - My mom glared at Mrs. Frieden, she was too afraid or something so she kept her eyes on the road

"Oh, stop mom". - I accidentally spotted something on the go

We were passing by my brother's private room so I asked my mom to stop by. Hmmm... I want to see my past-time brother too, to know how small (or big) he is before me. My mom hears my voice so she stops, Mrs. Frieden also stops walking.

"You want to visit your brother this late, Your Highness?". - Mrs. Frieden asked me

"Nod!". - I nodded while looking down.  "What's wrong, mama?". - My mom's face was a bit unpleasant

"Oh... met y'all again". - All of sudden, the room's door was opened and my uncle stepped outside and saw us

"Hi, uncle". - I greeted my uncle, while Mrs. Frieden bowed to him

"What are you doing this late? Especially you, my niece...". - He looked at each of us

"What were you doing in there, my Lord?".

"Ah...". - My uncle pointed his thumb behind.  "My nephew, he felt... lonely".  "Sigh...". - He sighed.  "I just went in there to do some trash talks with him... you should look after your child more, sis". - Then my uncle looked at my mom

"By the way...". - My uncle looked around, as if he was trying to find someone.  "Where's Minister Alt? I saw him passing here".

"He went out for a work, my Lord".

"Went out? This late...?". - Then he grazed his hair.  "What a man of work...".

"Uncle...".

"What?". - He looked at me

"Nothing...".

"Eh... how odd you are".

"By the way, I'm going to bed now". - Then my uncle walked away.  "Good night, all of you".

"I hope you have a good sleep, my Lord". - Mrs. Frieden wished for my uncle a good sleep while bowing to him

"Good night, uncle!".

"Mom...". - Later I looked at my mom

"Ah?".

"May I see my brother?".

"Hmmm...". - My mom gazed at the door, thinking carefully.  "Nod... nod...". - Despite having some hesitation, she nodded to approve

"I'll stay guard till you return". - Mrs. Frieden approached the door, opened it and later stood guard in front of it

My mom and I later walk inside my past-time brother's private room. In front of me, is a bright room with lanterns on the study table... the one who's sitting there must be my past-time brother, I think.

"Oh, mother".  "Little sister...". - My brother looked back, seeing us and reacted happily

"Hi, brother". - I waved at him... however, my mom didn't greet Hoster at all

"I was about to go to bed... but wanted to visit you first". - Then I approached my brother, trying to peek at what he was doing earlier on the study table

"Hey, come here...". - My brother grabbed my hand, leading me to the study table

The table shows me to have papers in there... seems like my brother was drawing previously. He takes one paper sheet and hands it to me, it's also one of his drawings... it looks so good.

The drawing is not too good drawn, but it shows me detailedly. It's about the family of the four of us: Father, mother, my brother and I in the pic. Although it's not a good drawing, it shows me a lot of how much effort my brother put into drawing it.

"Wow, our family is in here". - I intentionally asked for my mom's attention by showing the drawing to her.  "You see, mom? Isn't my brother very good at drawing?! Hehehe". - Hmmm... she doesn't react to my brother's efforts at all

"Eh...?". - Later I looked at both of them, feeling a little bit confused

My brother's face cowers slightly, his expression seems to be unhappy. Meanwhile, my mom doesn't grumble her face... but I sense that she doesn't happy to accept her "unwished son" either.

"Mom...". - I looked at both of them once again, thinking I should do something.  "Sobs... sobs... sobs... sobs... sobs...". - Because of that, I pretended to whimper before my mom

"Ahhh ahhh ahhh... ehhh...". - My mom was confused, she reached her hand to me, trying to comfort me

"Mom! I hate you...". - I pretended to wipe my tears.  "You don't care about my brother at all... sobs... sobs...".

Hearing my complaint, my mom looks at my brother in her confusion. When she's confused, I grab her hand and make it hold my brother's. Now, mom and my brother have finally held hands together. Now I should...

"Mom, look". - I grabbed more of my brother's drawings, showing them to my mom.  "Look, he drew them very well, hehe". - Later, I pushed the two of them closer

"I wonder if all of us could sleep together today, mom". - Later, I hugged my brother and my mom

So did my mother when she saw me do that. However, honestly I don't know if my mother does that because of me... or because of having love for her "unwished son". Hmmm... whatever her action was for whom, I hope my mom won't hate my brother. Because... he was born by a tragedy caused by Alt Toten, it wasn't my brother's fault.

"Hey...". - I pushed my mom closer to my brother

"Mother...". - My brother looked at my mom, as if he was thinking if he had done something that unhappy her

"I wish we could have a vacation together, all of us...". - I pretended to be pure like a 5-year-old child, by suggesting to my mom an idea

"I hope that day will be happy, do you think so, mom?".

My brother and my mom just stare at each other, they don't say a word. Slowly, my mom hugs my brother in her chest slowly, while she looks at a space, thinking about something I cannot know. Hmmm... I hope both of them will make up soon. Because hating my brother's existence when he's just a victim... she shouldn't do that.

I let both of them have privacy together. Later, I walk away from my brother's room, go out and see Mrs. Frieden guarding the door.

"Mrs. Frieden...". - I made my voice cute, calling her

"Oh...". - She was surprised.  "Your Highness, you came back?".  "Hmmm... what's about the Empress and His Highness?".

"My mom and my brother are making up".  "Giggles...". - Later I giggled, trying to be happy.

"It's good to hear that, Your Highness".  "You have a natural skill... to comfort her". - What did she mean exactly...? My mom?

"Oh, you come out". - Mrs. Frieden glanced at the door, noticing that my mom and my brother had come out.  "Your Highness, I hope you're having a good night".

"Thanks very much, Mrs. Frieden". - My brother greeted Mrs. Frieden.  "You too".

I peek at my mom's face, seeing she's not unhappy with my brother anymore. However, she still has distant from him... especially when my mom holds my hand as she comes out. I must do something... I know my mom's having progress with my brother, but not much.

She seems to have past her hatred toward him aside, but she's still... "indifferent" to my big brother. Seeing that problem, I sneakily grab my mom's hand.

"Eh?". - However, my mom squeezed my hand after that, she made me hurt

"Mom... please... don't hate my brother". - I made a crying face to show her.  "Please, mom... please... I beg you...".

Staring at me for a while, my mom tries to breathe steadily and normally. She shortly holds my brother's hand, making him surprised.

"Mother...?". - He looked at my mom, seeing her smile

However, I can sense that my mom's trying to be happy with my brother... purposing to please me. The way she's holding our hands, makes me feel like she's getting used to my brother. My mom keeps breathing secretly and slowly, trying to calm herself down.

"Thank mom". - My brother smiled at my mother

"Should we ask our papa to sleep together with us tonight, brother?".

"You're right, my little sister". - He smiled.  "Mrs. Frieden, is my father sleeping now?". - Then he glanced at Mrs. Frieden, asking her

"His Majesty's still solving the paper, Your Highness".

"Then we will surely stay up late to force our papa to sleep with us, brother!". - I smiled, raising my mom's hand slightly upward

By the way... this time the Prime Minister is away from the Imperial Palace. That means I can do something to help my relatives to avoid bad things in the future... yeah.

Although this is just a dream, I want to help my relatives to get rid of it. This dream is a chance for me to save all of them... so I must do that.

"Mom...". - I asked my mom.  "Now I want to go back to my room, to rewrite another draft for papa". - I must rewrite another help letter, this plan must work well!

"Draft?". - My brother asked me, figuring out what I was saying to my mom

"Her Highness's truly no doubt a gift from the Goddess, Your Highness". - Mrs. Frieden spoke to my brother.  "Just in her first day of studying words, she not had just finished the alphabet but also well written out a draft to submit to His Majesty".

"Wow...". - He smiled at me.  "You're so smart, my little sister".

"Hehehe...". - I put my hand on my head, pretending to act silly before him.  "But it's a wrong topic, brother...".

"But you're too clever to learn that fast". - But my brother later gazed at me, shortly gazed at others.  "Uhhh... where's that draft?".

"Minister Alt took it with him, Your Highness".  "He'll return it to Her Highness when he returns from his outside work".

"The three of you are still awake?". - All of sudden, the four of us were chatting with each other, and a voice came out

"Father!". - My brother called my dad

Seeing my dad, my mom approaches him while holding our hands gently. We reach His Majesty, and Mr. Frieden slightly bows to the three of us to greet us respectfully.

"I'm so happy to see this". - Then my father approached my mom, hugging her hand and both of us gently

Good... everyone is almost here, as I see. Now we just need to get back in my room 'cause Reimi's guarding there. What if... I say the predictions to my dad directly right now? Would he take the action after hearing my words?

Should I say it straight to my father instead of lettering him secretly...? I must do something. This time is special, the Prime Minister is now away so I can say the predictions to my father.

"What are you doing here, Your Majesty?". - Mrs. Frieden asked His Majesty

"I found it boring to work without resting".  "Just that, I went for a walk just because of that". - However, my dad later looked around.  "Where's my brother?".

"Lord Lerer is now sleeping, Your Majesty".

"He's so lazy...". - Then my father patted our heads.  "Remember, my son... you'll be the good King in the future... don't be lazy like your uncle".  "Hear t-".

"Your Majesty!!!! Your Majesty!!!!".  "Where's Your Majesty?! It's dangerous!". - All of sudden a Warsaw guard who looked like a messenger, walked around and stopped

"Who are you?!". - My father asked the sweating messenger, the man panicked and approached my dad

"Hey hey hey hey!".  "Identify yourself first". - Mrs and Mr. Frieden immediately covered my dad, being cautious about the messenger

"I'm a messenger from Nalta, Your Majesty!". - The messenger said in a panic.  "Shock information was received! Lord Dugan of Veta and Lord Harassan from Stansa are against us!". - Then he put his hand on his handbag, as if to pull out something

"They're gathering troops, preparing to crush down the Capital!". - This man was still searching for the thing inside his handbag.  "They said they wanted to secess their regions, making 'em to be independent nations!". - Wait a minute! Did this dream bring the back to the first day of my homeland's 1st coup?!

"Inside here is their letter sent to us... its message is...". - Then the man pulled out... a long dagger from his handbag

"Die!!!!!!!". - He roared, crazily charging at my father with the dagger in his hand

"Mother!". - My brother yelled loudly when he saw my mom rush to the holding knifeman

Wait... her hand slipped mine!

"Yarrrrghhhhhhhhhh!!!!". - That man roared like a beast, he was struggling to get rid of my mother

"Stabs! Stabs! Stabs! Stabs!". - All of sudden, he stabbed my mom repeatedly in her stomach.  "Stabs! Stabs! Stabs!". - My mother although was being stabbed, she tried to hold the man as long as possible to not let him reach my father

"Urrrrrgggghh...". - My mom moaned painfully, she pulled out the knife from her skirt

"Stabs!!!!". - Despite being wounded, she managed to stab the man by stabbing a gap from his armor's nape side

"Stabs! Stabs! Stabs! Stabs!". - However, that man kept stabbing my mom's stomach despite his blood draining out on the floor all around

"What are you doing?!". - My brother, my father and I yelled at Mrs and Mr. Frieden

Somehow... this couple of guards froze when they saw the man charging at my father with a knife in his hand. Reimi's parents later wake up from their shock, they immediately rush to the man.

"Pull him out!!! One! Two! Three!!!!". - Mrs and Mr. Frieden later pulled the man away from my mom.  "Stay down! On the ground now! Surrender right now!!!". - They managed to crush the man on the floor, but he was bleeding to death

"Serena!". - My dad pulled my mom onto the floor

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - My brother ran away in his shock.  "Healers! Healers!". - He ran away, yelling for healers to show up to save my mom from being stabbed

"What happened?!". - Reimi accidentally showed up

"Reimi, call the healers!!!". - I yelled at her

"No no no...". - My dad kept holding my mom, feeling bad for her bad wound

As I can see, my mom's stomach is bleeding terribly. Not yet, the knife that stabbed her, is now still stuck in her stomach... very deep.

My mom looks at me with her dying eyes... her hand keeps trying to reach mine.

"Mom!". - I reached my hand to my mom

"Huh?!". - I was shocked after that... my hand never reached my mom's... because

The scenery before me... has gone away. Everything before me right now... is just a blank, a black scene spreading before my eyes, endlessly.

"Mom... I'm sorry...".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!". - That memory was so real and seemed to be a chance for me to solve it... but I let it slip away from my hands

That was my fault... I wish I could return! To save my relatives, my family!