3 – Mother is warm (2)
“It’s delicious…!”
From Noble mtl dot com
The place I am currently in is a sparkling mansion.
Watching the plates of food flying around –
“Well then, aah – “
“Match.”
I was receiving rice from my mother.
“You eat really well. You’ve already finished three plates, but is there still room for more?”
Instead of answering, I nodded my head, patiently waiting for the hand holding the fork to move.
She pushed the glass with the drink and smiled,
And slowly divided the meat into small pieces and gave them to me, watching my mother.
“Let’s clean the food off your mouth a little. It’s so delicious, isn’t it?”
“Did you cook all this, Mom?”
“Yes, I did. Since I’m the only one living in this mansion, after all.”
“Are you alone?”
At some point, I naturally came to think of the red-haired woman before my eyes as my mother,
But it didn’t really matter.
Because now, I was more curious about who my mother was.
Why she was lying in front of the house with an arrow in her,
And why she decided to become my mother.
And she’s such a good one at that.
“It’s normal for a dragon.
Everything is in their own hands.
Whether parents pamper and raise their child, or just teach them the essentials and let them be independent.
They get to decide freely.
I… was a bit special though.”
Did she think of something bad?
To her, who momentarily stopped sharpening her knife with seemingly sad eyes, I offered my own comfort.
“You are special, Mom.”
“Hm?”
“You’re beautiful, warm, and kind.”
Upon hearing this, her face momentarily went blank, and then lit up instantly.
She covered her mouth and laughed. How beautiful she looked when she did.
The sound of her tail gently tapping the floor was a bit loud, so my eyes momentarily shifted downwards –
“Me? Really? Beautiful and kind?”
To her question, I nodded and poured out everything I felt and thought.
“Of all the people I’ve seen, you’re the most beautiful.
Even more so than the city girls or other mothers.”
Stretching out my hands and arms wide, drawing a big circle, my mother laughed even more.
“Really? Do you really think I’m that beautiful?
There were many who said they were scared when they looked at me, you know?”
Does she wag her tail, swish, swish, when she’s happy?
Sometimes brushing the floor, sometimes flapping it to the sky.
The tip of her tail, which sometimes curled and then straightened, was fun to watch.
Upon hearing her mother’s question, her yellow eyes seemed somewhat piercing.
Although she seemed cheerful with her eyes, her mouth, and her laughter.
“Yeah… it’s kind of scary.”
“Huh?!”
Was she hurt by those words?
In an instant, her mother shrunk her body and opened her eyes wide, full of fear.
Even her tail stiffened.
“But you’re also pretty and kind.”
“Huh, huh… Do you think I’m just flattering…?
I can’t let my guard down just because I’m young.”
She shook her head slightly and drank a drink as red as her hair.
Her black horns shone along with her trembling eyes.
Strangely, that thing as dark as charcoal seemed to shine like the color of the fire she lit.
As she stared at it blankly, she reached out her hand.
“Oh, wait– you can’t go there.”
Her hand was gently pulled back in an instant.
“Even though you say that, it’s something that can’t be done.
It has a special meaning.”
Her mother, who seemed willing to grant any request, firmly stopped me this time.
“What does it mean?”
She hesitated for a moment at my question, then gently stroked my head and smiled.
For some reason, that smile seemed a little sad.
“I’ll tell you when you’re a little older and understand what I am.”
Cutting another piece of meat and sliding it into her mouth.
Even though some time had passed, it was still warm.
“It tastes good.”
“hehehe.”
And yet, my mother smiled at me and looked happy.
Just as much as I am now.
***
“This will be the room you will be staying in.”
After passing through a corridor much larger than the house,
my mother opened one of the many doors lined up.
To young me, who knew nothing, it seemed like an incredibly fancy room.
The desk and books, being cleaned by the dusting automatically moving around.
Even the bedding and pillows were neatly arranged on their own.
Even the pens seemed to rise from their places and greet me excitedly.
“Now, everyone, be quiet.”
There were two light claps, and my mother gently took hold of me and led me into the room.
“My son, who will be living with me from now on—”
Before the sentence was even finished, the furniture froze, as if surprised.
The books that were flicking into the bookshelf fell to the floor,
and the pens that were running around the room slipped and fell.
Even the pillow stood up on its…feet? and stared at me intently.
As if turning its head like a human, alternating between looking at me and my mother.
“Of course, you’re not a blood-related son.
But I’ve had to gamble my life to grant your wish.”
Did they somewhat understand and accept those words?
The pillow then let out a sigh, as if saying “well, I guess so.”
But then.
“Oh my, why is the reaction like that?”
The head of the pillow, trapped in an awkward position.
Its struggling in the air was somewhat funny,
“eeek! eeek! eeek!”
It even made a sound while squeaking, which made it a bit pitiful.
“Did you mock me because I don’t have a partner right now? Huh?”
All the way in the distance, the pens were startled and hastily jumped back into their respective places.
The books hurriedly flew back into the air and settled back into their places.
The blanket was all bunched up and trembling.
“Eeng, eeng…!!”
The part that covered my head was stretched out and the pillow seemed almost like it was about to cry.
In the end, I reached out my hand and lightly grabbed the end of my mother’s clothes.
From my shoulders to my body, the wrapping cloth was incredibly soft and shining.
But what was even more impressive were those eyes that resembled a sparkling jewel that a woman once wore.
“A person as beautiful as my mom, no, a dragon will surely find a mate soon.”
And as soon as she heard those words, my mother’s face turned bright red.
The room was suddenly filled with silence.
Even the pillow, which had been thrashing around, looked at me and firmly held onto my head.
“…What age did you say you were?”
“I’m ten years old.”
My mother asked me and I gave her the answer. She hesitated for a moment,
And then, she put the pillow down and stared at me intently.
“Eeng!”
The pillow on the bed momentarily stroked the cloth that had stretched out from the top of its head,
And then hurriedly returned to its place…
No, it trembled and moved to the corner.
So pitiful.
“Surely just an ordinary human child.”
My mother approached me, moving away from the bed.
She bent her knees and sat down in front of me, looking into my eyes,
And reached out her warm hand to caress my face.
Without any resistance, I leaned in,
My cheek stretched out.
With a small sound, it slightly crumpled, and…
“Eue, eue, eue, eeuueee…”
“Hoohoo, what is it?”
My face, completely entrusted to my mother’s hand, spun around in circles and my mother smiled brightly.
Yes.”
I was still a little scared of the snow, but that smiling face was so, so beautiful.
One of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen. Of course…
Mom said she was a dragon.
“Anyway, you’re my son, Aini, so please be good to him.”
Gone was the slightly angry tone of her voice,
Her voice was softer now, and she gave a slight bow to the others in the room.
She grabs the sides of her dress and lifts it up slightly, her feet crossed and her head bowed, and for some reason, it looks very… Well…
“Ge … obviously? Mom!”
“Yeah? Obviously? Ah, it must be ‘noble’, s… Oops, I forgot the name again.”
“Russell.”
“Right, Russell. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay! Mom is Drace, k… ugh…”
“Dracea Rosaria. You don’t know how to write, do you, Russell?”
Suddenly, sitting on the bed and stroking her hair.
Mom, holding a piece of flying paper and a pen, quickly scribbled words in the air.
“This is my name.
And… this must be your name.”
Something long seemed to be mom’s name,
And the writing that mom gently wiped away now clearly looked like mine.
“It seems like you know which one is yours,
But you don’t really know how to read each word, do you?”
“…Yes.”
A little embarrassed,
I wanted to look better to my mom who was really good to me,
But the fact that I couldn’t read the beautifully written words.
“Don’t be too discouraged.
From now on, I will teach you how to read.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Isn’t a mother usually that kind of existence?
Teaching something to her child, nurturing them so they can grow up safely.
“Also, watch over me so that I can grow up splendidly.”
Handing me a piece of paper with writing on it, my mom gently kissed my forehead.
My slightly burning forehead felt itchy.
“Since it came from far away and needs time to get used to the room, I plan to take a rest for a while. Is there anything you want to ask me, your mother?”
As I tried to grab my mom who was getting up and leaving, I saw her slightly covering a yawn with her hand and took the paper with my hand.
“No, I also want to get acquainted with the room and the pillow a little.”
“Really? Then let’s do it that way. And if you encounter any problems, just call my name.”
“Dracea Rosaria, right?”
Seeing my surprised eyes because I didn’t forget her name this time, my mom’s bright smile made me feel good.
“Well then, Russell.”
And even calling my name with a smile also warmed my heart.
