“Guns?”

“Yes . ”

Mommy Elizabeth placed her cup of tea on the table and looked at me with a serious look . She replied, “To tell the truth, Son, I admittedly am very interested in your repeated-firing rifles . I never thought Lorana would be able to create that sort of rifle . Mommy understands that this sort of rifle will change warfare henceforward . ”

“I can sell them to you… You are my mom, but I need money more, right now…”

“Hahaha . ” Mom laughed, and then scrubbed my head: “Mommy understands . Family wise, you are my son and I am your mother, so we don’t need to worry about who profits and who loses . However, nation wise, you are the leader of the North, while I am the Empress of the empire . We need to discuss the welfare of our two nations . As such, don’t bring emotions into this discussion . ”

Mom leaned backward into her chair . She folded her arms and spoke in a serious tone: “So, as I’m the Empress of the South, I should buy these firearms then imitate them, and then have my generals come up with new battle tactics, factoring in the weapons and train new soldiers . As your mother, nevertheless, I can’t buy your weapons . ”

I picked up my cup of tea . I asked, “Why, Mom? I really need money right now . I wouldn’t sell them, otherwise . ”

I actually had a rough guess as to why .

Tone still serious, Mom answered, “Because Mommy can’t be certain they won’t be used against you . We should’ve learnt a lesson from Luna’s misfortune . Son, Mommy loves you . You know that . Mommy would never do anything that would harm you, but Mommy can no longer say with absolute certainty that Mommy can keep you safe . Mommy wants to protect you, but Mommy can’t guarantee those around Mommy won’t harm you . Mommy has come to understand that your biggest threat isn’t a foreign enemy – and even less so the elves –but the people around Mommy . They are your biggest threat . Nonetheless, Mommy can’t kill them all . Consequently, Mommy can only prevent giving them an excuse to leverage against you . ”

“Mom, I’m just selling a small portion, so there shouldn’t be a problem . Additionally, I should be respected by those around you now, right? I led an army and conquered the North . Isn’t everybody saying that I’m, without question, your son?”

Mom explained, “No, Son . You have to understand that what they want most right now is your North . Son, you used my army to capture the North . They consider you my son – the Prince of humanity . That’s why the land you captured already belongs to the Rosvenor Empire . Mommy doesn’t care . You’re Mommy’s son . That’s why Mommy absolutely trusts that you wouldn’t threaten us despite now occupying land and declaring yourself King . Plus, Mommy doesn’t care about expanding Mommy’s land anymore . Mommy thinks that the empire is perfect as it is with regards to its size . The more land you own, the harder it is to manage . Mommy knows how big Mommy’s appet.i.te is . ”

Mom then licked her lips before carrying on: “However, Mommy’s people may not yet be satisfied . From their standpoint, their authority and climb to power has just begun . To them, taking back the North for me is a political achievement that would grant them the stepping stone to ultimate power . For that reason, they all want to take the North from you . I told them that I want to let you establish a nation in the North, but alas, I’m afraid that they won’t listen to me . As such, Mommy doesn’t want for you to hand over your weapons for protecting yourself with . In Mommy’s opinion, being able to protect yourself is the best scenario . ”

I picked up the tea kettle and poured Mom another cup . She watched me whilst wearing smile, and then looked to the west, where the sun was setting: “If you need money, just let Mommy know . The things in the Inner Court are Mommy’s personal belongings, so n.o.body will care if Mommy gives them to you . Son, you need money for your coronation ceremony, right? Consider it Mommy providing you with funds . ”

“Wouldn’t I be too pitiful if my coronation ceremony was funded by somebody else?”

Mom stood up and stretched her back out . While gazing at the sun outside, she replied, “It’s no big deal . It’s a mom’s present for her son’s coronation . Will that do? It’s getting dark . Let’s head in . The breeze from the valley is still cold at night . Catching a cold isn’t fun and games . ”

I nodded then gently took hold of Mom’s hand . In a soft tone, I said, “It’s all right, Mom . If you’re worried that somebody will try to bring harm to the North using the firearms, don’t worry . Mommy Elizabeth, I trust you, so if you want, I’ll sell them to you . ”

I stunned mom . She took in a deep breath and, in a serious tone, said, “You’re still considering that even after what happened to Luna? Son, you’re always careful, unwilling to mention Luna’s misfortune, because it’s not a nice memory . ”

I argued, “Yes, but I still trust you in spite of that . I was a little impulsive at the time . Luna’s misfortune had nothing to do with you . It was Alice’s fault . You’re my mother . I obviously trust you . If you were to hold a sword up to my neck now, I’d still firmly believe you wouldn’t stab me . ”

A smile gradually crept up onto Mom’s face . She pulled me into her embrace, and I hugged her back . She gently stroked my back then giggled: “Mommy’s nightmare has finally ended . Mommy has always avoided recalling Luna’s incident, but Mommy has finally been relieved of it . ”

“Mom…” I hugged Mom: “Mom, I won’t blame you, because you weren’t at fault . Alice was at fault . I still hate her . I’ll never forget it . That being said, I’ve always trusted you, for you are my mom . My mom . ”

“Mm, mm… Son… Son…” Elizabeth tightly hugged me, and I reciprocated the gesture .

Mom was right . Once the sun went down, the chilly breeze from the snowy mountains was still cold despite it being summer . A slightly cold breeze blew Mom’s black hair similarly to a flag . I could feel the cold breeze graze my arms, back, neck and body… However, my chest against Mom’s chest was warm… Our hands holding each other had each other’s warmth…

I pondered, “Why do I feel an odd sense of nostalgia? Why do I oddly feel touched? Why do I feel as though I forgot something…? It had been a few months since I last felt this feeling…? Why am I… feeling this sensation again…? What exactly did I forget?”

“Guns?”.

“Yes . ”.

Mommy Elizabeth placed her cup of tea on the table and looked at me with a serious look . She replied, “To tell the truth, Son, I admittedly am very interested in your repeated-firing rifles . I never thought Lorana would be able to create that sort of rifle . Mommy understands that this sort of rifle will change warfare henceforward . ”.

“I can sell them to you… You are my mom, but I need money more, right now…”.

“Hahaha . ” Mom laughed, and then scrubbed my head: “Mommy understands . Family wise, you are my son and I am your mother, so we don’t need to worry about who profits and who loses . However, nation wise, you are the leader of the North, while I am the Empress of the empire . We need to discuss the welfare of our two nations . As such, don’t bring emotions into this discussion . ”.

Mom leaned backward into her chair . She folded her arms and spoke in a serious tone: “So, as I’m the Empress of the South, I should buy these firearms then imitate them, and then have my generals come up with new battle tactics, factoring in the weapons and train new soldiers . As your mother, nevertheless, I can’t buy your weapons . ”.

I picked up my cup of tea . I asked, “Why, Mom? I really need money right now . I wouldn’t sell them, otherwise . ”.

I actually had a rough guess as to why

Tone still serious, Mom answered, “Because Mommy can’t be certain they won’t be used against you . We should’ve learnt a lesson from Luna’s misfortune . Son, Mommy loves you . You know that . Mommy would never do anything that would harm you, but Mommy can no longer say with absolute certainty that Mommy can keep you safe . Mommy wants to protect you, but Mommy can’t guarantee those around Mommy won’t harm you . Mommy has come to understand that your biggest threat isn’t a foreign enemy – and even less so the elves –but the people around Mommy . They are your biggest threat . Nonetheless, Mommy can’t kill them all . Consequently, Mommy can only prevent giving them an excuse to leverage against you . ”.

“Mom, I’m just selling a small portion, so there shouldn’t be a problem . Additionally, I should be respected by those around you now, right? I led an army and conquered the North . Isn’t everybody saying that I’m, without question, your son?”.

Mom explained, “No, Son . You have to understand that what they want most right now is your North . Son, you used my army to capture the North . They consider you my son – the Prince of humanity . That’s why the land you captured already belongs to the Rosvenor Empire . Mommy doesn’t care . You’re Mommy’s son . That’s why Mommy absolutely trusts that you wouldn’t threaten us despite now occupying land and declaring yourself King . Plus, Mommy doesn’t care about expanding Mommy’s land anymore . Mommy thinks that the empire is perfect as it is with regards to its size . The more land you own, the harder it is to manage . Mommy knows how big Mommy’s appet.i.te is . ”.

Mom then licked her lips before carrying on: “However, Mommy’s people may not yet be satisfied . From their standpoint, their authority and climb to power has just begun . To them, taking back the North for me is a political achievement that would grant them the stepping stone to ultimate power . For that reason, they all want to take the North from you . I told them that I want to let you establish a nation in the North, but alas, I’m afraid that they won’t listen to me . As such, Mommy doesn’t want for you to hand over your weapons for protecting yourself with . In Mommy’s opinion, being able to protect yourself is the best scenario . ”.

I picked up the tea kettle and poured Mom another cup . She watched me whilst wearing smile, and then looked to the west, where the sun was setting: “If you need money, just let Mommy know . The things in the Inner Court are Mommy’s personal belongings, so n.o.body will care if Mommy gives them to you . Son, you need money for your coronation ceremony, right? Consider it Mommy providing you with funds . ”.

“Wouldn’t I be too pitiful if my coronation ceremony was funded by somebody else?”.

Mom stood up and stretched her back out . While gazing at the sun outside, she replied, “It’s no big deal . It’s a mom’s present for her son’s coronation . Will that do? It’s getting dark . Let’s head in . The breeze from the valley is still cold at night . Catching a cold isn’t fun and games . ”.

I nodded then gently took hold of Mom’s hand . In a soft tone, I said, “It’s all right, Mom . If you’re worried that somebody will try to bring harm to the North using the firearms, don’t worry . Mommy Elizabeth, I trust you, so if you want, I’ll sell them to you . ”.

I stunned mom . She took in a deep breath and, in a serious tone, said, “You’re still considering that even after what happened to Luna? Son, you’re always careful, unwilling to mention Luna’s misfortune, because it’s not a nice memory . ”.

I argued, “Yes, but I still trust you in spite of that . I was a little impulsive at the time . Luna’s misfortune had nothing to do with you . It was Alice’s fault . You’re my mother . I obviously trust you . If you were to hold a sword up to my neck now, I’d still firmly believe you wouldn’t stab me . ”.

A smile gradually crept up onto Mom’s face . She pulled me into her embrace, and I hugged her back . She gently stroked my back then giggled: “Mommy’s nightmare has finally ended . Mommy has always avoided recalling Luna’s incident, but Mommy has finally been relieved of it . ”.

“Mom…” I hugged Mom: “Mom, I won’t blame you, because you weren’t at fault . Alice was at fault . I still hate her . I’ll never forget it . That being said, I’ve always trusted you, for you are my mom . My mom . ”.

“Mm, mm… Son… Son…” Elizabeth tightly hugged me, and I reciprocated the gesture

Mom was right . Once the sun went down, the chilly breeze from the snowy mountains was still cold despite it being summer . A slightly cold breeze blew Mom’s black hair similarly to a flag . I could feel the cold breeze graze my arms, back, neck and body… However, my chest against Mom’s chest was warm… Our hands holding each other had each other’s warmth….

I pondered, “Why do I feel an odd sense of nostalgia? Why do I oddly feel touched? Why do I feel as though I forgot something…? It had been a few months since I last felt this feeling…? Why am I… feeling this sensation again…? What exactly did I forget?”.