Chapter 36: Playing with Lina

The whole night passed and Lireesa woke up very early at dawn when the whole sky still remained dark. On her bed, whenever she reminisced previous night, she complained her three eldest daughters fighting to sleep with her. As Lireesa was more familiar with them, there wasn't any excitement any longer. What more did she expect, they were already her daughters. There was no need to describe her daughters' appearance on the bed, it was unruly more than her previous life as a man. She wondered if women were just like that but her memories of previous Windrunner quickly refuted this logic, because the old Lireesa was seriously disciplined, and her routines were never interrupted.

Maybe it was because of the body's subconscious reaction, Lireesa got up from the bed very early. She always felt unfulfilled had she left her normal routines as if the whole person became uncomfortable. The current Lireesa really had high desire to swear at her predecessor, because she also wanted to stay comfy and rest. She wanted to sleep longer. She tried closing her eyes, but her mind wasn't satisfied. Helpless, she raised her whole body and her movement wasn't slight causing Lina who slept beside her to also wake up. At least, after hearing Lina's cute mumble, her depression was gone.

"Mommy, is it morning now?" She asked stretching every word of her. If one didn't pay attention, they would never understand Lina's way of talking.

"No sweetheart, go ahead and sleep. It's too early." Lireesa gently caressing Lina's hair and pulled her cheeks.

"So, you're not sleeping, Mommy." Lina after seeing her mother nodded, was immediately energetic. She jumped up from the bed and ran toward the door. Lireesa was stunned and amused wishing to know what her youngest wanted. Lina's movement caused everyone in the room to at least become conscious and her other daughters groaned in annoyance. Vereesa turned her body away from the sound and continued her dream, while Sylvanas merely put the pillow on her head and smothered the whole head, digging into the bed. Alleria was the calmest, raising her head at her mother and smiled. "Mother, are you awake?"

Lireesa replied, "Yes, I'm going to exercise. You girls keep on sleeping." Alleria nodded and dozed again. Lireesa was speechless and thought, what the heck? I ask you to sleep in politeness and you carry on your sleep.

She slapped her twitching forehead and shook her head. Lireesa also suppressed her steps and went outside. Maids were already preparing for the day and Lireesa had to admire them for their efforts. She asked one of them where Lina was and discovered she was washing herself. Lireesa was exhilarated to see her Lina, very well-behaved and clever enough to take care of herself. It appeared Lina was mature even if she was under 5 years old. Compared to her previous world, it was like heaven and earth. The difference could also relate to the way Lireesa upbrought her daughters, even if she doted on Lina the most.

Yesterday, after eating dinner, Lireesa spent the night discussing various topics with her two friends and Sena cheekily asked for a place to sleep here. Lireesa agreed after thinking for a while and also requested Ella to spend the night here. Her manor had numerous vacant rooms and should be utilized. The house being too big caused Lireesa to sometimes felt lonely. Luckily it wasn't for a long time. Lireesa also entered the bathroom and saw Lina doing her chores. Lina gazed at her and smiled across the mirror, receiving a rub on the head from Lireesa. She shook the hands off. Lireesa didn't mind and washed herself too. Afterward, Lina said, "Mommy, I want you to play with me this morning. You must play with me."

Lina grabbed her wrist and jiggled the whole Lireesa's arm by jumping up and down. She even jumped up and hanged on Lireesa's arm in the air, when she saw Lireesa wasn't responding to her. Lina didn't weight much, and it was okay for ranger-general to easily carried her, moving across the whole manor. Dangling on the arms and her strength not even dropping, Lireesa discovered her daughter had a strong physique, much stronger than the three elder sisters at the same age. Lireesa teased her daughter by not speaking and kept her chores. Seeing her mother negligence, Lina pouted her lips and shook her whole body in annoyance. Lina groaned, "Mommy Let's play. Play!"

Lireesa showed her stern eyes causing Lina to panic. Lina didn't even know where she did wrong, and her eyes had mist beginning to appear. Now Lireesa said pretending to not notice her daughter's tear, "Eat breakfast first, then play."

"No! I wanna play with Mommy." Lina cried out.

"Okay. Play. Mommy will play with you only after eating." Lireesa helplessly agreed. It wasn't easy to serve as a mother at the same time having a strict schedule the whole day. Lina face immediately turned red from excitement. Her tears and mists instantly evaporated. All that remained was her smiling face. Lireesa never expected to see an Oscar award winner beside her at the moment. Lina's face change was like turning the page of a book. It seemed this girl was lonely few days ago and desired Lireesa's accompany.

Unfortunately, the breakfast wasn't ready yet even if the maids were well-trained because they woke up too early. No one panicked especially seeing their lady smiling at her daughter's upset face. Lina couldn't eat if she wanted to now. Lireesa rubbed her head gently and brought her face close to Lina. She smelled her hair and saw her daughter showing disgust stretching out her hand to distance herself. Lireesa then suddenly made a move, kissing Lina's lips and stunning her daughter who wiped her mouth afterward with her arm, even to the point of spitting out.

Lireesa was dumbfounded of her daughter's disgust and cleanliness. No, she must teach her severely what it meant to respect the older one. She raised her brows and frown. Lina showed a happy face seeing her mother's deflated. Lireesa turned her head and looked away from Lina pretending her daughter didn't exist. Listening beside her, Lireesa found out this girl was still laughing and mocking her behaviors. She didn't even bother to soothe her mother's emotion. So, Lireesa said, "Since Lina doesn't want Mummy, I'm not playing with you anymore."

"No, Mommy. I love you the most! Play with me. Please, please!" Lina exclaimed as if to emphasize how much her love for Lireesa was. No matter what she did, maybe it was because she was still young, Lina's performances were so cute in Lireesa's eyes. Lireesa smiled at her and Lina's clever mind knew she was deceived but quickly forgot when breakfast was served.

After eating snacks, Lina dragged her mother out of the manor and to the field. She was hopping along and Lireesa had to follow her steps, as if the two were in a ritual folklore dance. It could also be because children digested their food faster, she already played around Lireesa who the whole time was feeling awkward. She knew how the previous Lireesa reacted to her daughters. Everyone would definitely be bored, but none of her daughters cared and what they had always wanted was her attention. They received very few, but Lina noticed the difference now and felt her mother would participate with her as long as she promised.

The maids outside were watching the two and their heart lifted and amused, after seeing their lady having awkwardness with her child. Usually, maids of Windrunner's house took care of her lady's children, typically because Lireesa was occupied with her works. Only at night, would she spend time with them. Perhaps after losing Lord Verath, Lireesa's husband, she now changed for a better. Their amusement soon turned into astonishment as they observed how Lireesa played with Lina.

Lireesa, affected by previous life mentality, found herself stiff when she had to sweeten her character to present herself amiable to Lina. Although Lina wouldn't be concerned, Lireesa couldn't lunged over the haul. Instead, she picked Lina by her armpit and raised her high, bringing Lina down afterward. She raised her again and put her down again. Lina's smile brightened when she saw her mother played with her. Just as she was going to speak, she was thrown off in the air. Literally in the air. Lina was scared for a moment, swinging her feet and hands wildly. Soon, Lireesa caught her back and smirked at her daughter who was frightened.

She knew children were playful and would soon indulge in the game, ignoring the previous frightening event for them. Sure enough, Lina was puzzled at first but when Lireesa threw her again, she was relaxed. Later on, as it kept going on, Lina giggled every time she was in the air. Her laughter sounded across the whole manor, spreading happy energy all around. Lireesa was also interested and changed her technique. When she threw Lina, her daughter would roll in the air and landed back in her arms. Seeing the amazement and admiration in the eyes of Lina satisfied her vanity.

Soon, Lina was in the air, dancing like a bird, sometimes spreading her feet and arms wide horizontally as if to soar in the air. She created different postures in the air while presenting different ways of soaring as if Lireesa now was one of the participants supporting the performer underneath. Lireesa never got tired nor her arms were sore. Lina's bright warmth always swept away this negative energy.

The two previous maids who were observing them had their lips twitching non-stop. This was considered a child play? One of the maids watching them nudged her elbows at the maid beside her and said, "I felt this was supposed to be done by the father right. Mother never is adventurous with her children."

Another nodded her head, agreeing with her thoughts and expressed. "I think our Lady was playing the role of a father. Now that, young Lina lost her father, Lady Lireesa replaced the role. Poor our Lady, she must also be missing her husband."

"It's sad to see our Lady's husband gone. If he were still here, everything we see right now will be perfect. Maybe she can find another man too. After all, as long as our lady speaks out, the whole line of men will be from here to Silvermoon city." The other maid rolled her eyes at her friends' overexaggerated description but felt not much difference if it really occurred.

Lireesa, as someone who had already reached the rank of quasi-legend, possessed sensitive ears and she could hear what the maids said. There were already black lines over her forehead. Luckily, Lina controlled most of her attention at the moment; otherwise, she might want to rub these two on the ground and let them described the earth's taste. She only had one thought, you really were overthinking.

Who would want that man to be still alive? Imagining that particular romantic scene described by them nearly shut her brain down. And some even wished for her to remarry. Absolutely not. Although she became a woman, her orientation hadn't change. Maybe at first, she did care about her body, but now she liked only woman and that's enough. She wasn't worried she might like man in the future like other novels in the previous life had shown, because she knew herself more. As long as she thought about that, she had spicy hot eyes. That scene was too unbearable for her. She was very clean okay.

Complaint was complaint, Lireesa was aggrieved with their thoughts. It might be because her maids were too free to gossip even her romantic affair. It appeared she must also train the maids this week, her longswords technique. She thought her vision was viable for the maids without talents in archery and arcane magic, to train longsword combat. She was in an elated mood when she imagined her maids were all knightess men dreamt off. Tiredness would eliminate their boredom, she was sure.

The two maids sensed a cold breeze brushed through their bodies and shivered suddenly. They were confused why on a warm day, there was a chilly atmosphere. The two quickly forgot after hearing loud giggles from Lina and enjoyed their happiness together. It was good to have a day began with children innocent laughter.

[A/N: Nothing serious. Fun and cozy day for Lireesa.]