"Leave?" repeated Duchess Elara, her brows furrowed in confusion. She looked at her son with disbelief. "You want to leave the West Pavilion?"
"No, Mother! I don't just want to leave this pavilion." Calian cut in quickly. His eyes sparkled, radiating a determination that had been buried behind the walls of exile for so long. "I want to leave the Yornvast Empire. I want to see the beauty of the outside world. I've been trapped here for years, seeing the same scenery every day, and honestly... I'm already very bored."
Duchess Elara fell silent. She stared intently into her youngest son's eyes. There, she no longer saw the gaze of a lonely young man, but the gaze of a young man yearning for freedom.
Elara's heart trembled. She deeply understood her son's suffering. Years of living in isolation, labeled as trash, and ignored by his own father had certainly tortured Calian mentally.
I am so grateful Wolvin is here to accompany him. Elara thought as she glanced at Wolvin standing faithfully beside Calian. At least, my youngest son doesn't feel lonely in this place of exile. If Wolvin weren't here, who knows what would have happened to Calian. Perhaps he would have been broken long ago.
Duchess Elara sighed deeply, then smiled gently. She realized she had no right to keep her son in this fragile golden cage.
"Alright, if that is indeed your wish, I will not forbid it!" answered Duchess Elara gently. "But, there is one thing you must do before you leave. You must come with me to the main mansion."
"Main mansion?" Calian frowned. "To meet Father?"
"Correct. We must meet him so he won't chase after you later." explained Elara.
Hearing the plan, Calian's feelings were mixed. There was relief because his mother supported him, but a great worry also surged.
"Then, what about you, Mother?" asked Calian anxiously.
Duchess Elara laughed a little, a laugh that sounded bitter yet soothing. "Don't worry, I will be fine, my son."
Elara leaned forward slightly. "Listen, Calian. If you stand before him and say you want to leave this empire forever, your father will surely be happy to let you go without hesitation. Why? Because in his eyes, you are just a useless person wasting the family's resources. Your departure is a gain for him."
Those words sounded cruel, but Calian knew it was the absolute truth. Duke Maxwell Larvin was a man who valued power above all else.
Calian nodded in understanding. "I understand, and it makes sense." Then he turned to the side. "Then, what about Wolvin?"
"Just bring him with you before your father!" answered Duchess Elara firmly. "Introduce him as your partner. If you say you married a beastfolk, especially a male one, your father will surely be furious. He will feel disgusted, and that is actually good. He will be even less willing to consider you his son. You will be considered a disgrace and no longer part of the Larvin family. That way, you are truly free."
Calian was stunned by his mother's strategy. It was a painful yet brilliant plan. He looked at Wolvin's cute face, which stared back at him with full trust. Wolvin's golden eyes radiated unwavering loyalty.
"Darling..." whispered Wolvin softly, holding Calian's hand. "Wherever you go, I will always follow you. Even to the ends of the world."
Hearing that sincere answer, the doubt in Calian's heart vanished instantly.
"I will go, Mother!" exclaimed Calian firmly. "Let's do it."
"Good!" Duchess Elara patted her knee, preparing to stand up. "Now, go upstairs. Take all your important belongings and store them in the inventory necklace around Wolvin's neck."
"Yes, Mother!"
Without wasting any more time, Calian pulled Wolvin's hand and rushed to the second floor to pack their meager belongings.
After her children left for the second floor, the living room fell silent again.
Duchess Elara leaned back on the worn-out sofa. She stared at the ceiling of the West Pavilion and let her mask of toughness crumble slowly.
I will be separated from my youngest son. she thought sorrowfully.
Her mind drifted to her husband, Maxwell Larvin, and her other children. I don't know why my family has become like this... Maxwell, you are so obsessed with power that you voluntarily turned your children into weapons without empathy. My two sons and also my only daughter... they grew up to be cold monsters just to get your recognition.
Duchess Elara closed her eyes, holding back the tightness in her chest. At least... at least I can save my youngest son. Let Calian go far away. I don't want him to become a weapon like his three siblings.
Duchess Elara struggled with her own thoughts, lamenting the fate of her broken family behind the luxury of the Duke title. The pain she had suppressed all this time exploded in the silence. Unconsciously, her defense broke, and she began to shed tears of sadness that warmly wet her cheeks.
Forgive me, my children... I have been a useless mother in your lives. I could not protect you from your father's ambition. I have failed to be a good mother to all of you.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, Calian and Wolvin moved quickly to put clothes and some books into Wolvin's magic storage. It didn't take long for them to finish.
"Wolvin, have you stored everything?" asked Calian.
"Done!" answered Wolvin briefly.
"Let's go down!"
The two of them descended the stairs quickly, wanting to start their journey immediately. However, their steps halted on the last step when they saw the scene in the living room.
Duchess Elara was still sitting on the sofa, but her shoulders were trembling slightly. Although she immediately opened her eyes and tried to smile when she realized their arrival, the traces of tears on her cheeks could not be hidden. Her eyes were swollen and red.
"Mother!" exclaimed Calian, his tone full of worry.
"Mother-in-law!" cried Wolvin, also panicking.
The two of them jogged towards their mother.
"What happened?" asked Calian while kneeling in front of his mother, looking at her sad face. "Why are you crying, Mother? Did something hurt you while we were upstairs?"
Duchess Elara hurriedly wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, shaking her head vigorously. "No! It's nothing, Son. Just some dust in my eye." she evaded with a cliché excuse that was unconvincing.
Calian knew his mother was lying. He could feel the thick sadness from his mother's face. Regret, guilt, and painful longing.
Without saying much, Calian made an impulsive decision. He wanted to comfort his mother in the purest way possible.
Calian activated his [Time Loop].
A faint light enveloped Calian's body. In the blink of an eye, the 17-year-old young man's body shrank. His clothes became oversized as his body transformed into the figure of a small 5-year-old boy, the time when Calian had not yet been exiled.
His action certainly made Wolvin and Duchess Elara gape in shock. Wolvin covered his mouth in disbelief seeing his husband become an adorable little boy.
Little Calian, with round eyes and chubby cheeks, climbed onto the sofa and sat on his mother's lap. He looked at her face with an innocent yet mature gaze.
"Mother..." said Calian with a distinct yet soft child's voice. "If you are crying because of regrets about the past... I don't mind always being a child in front of you. If it can erase your past regrets, I am willing to do it for your happiness."
Duchess Elara's defense collapsed completely. Her tears flowed heavily again, this time more intensely than before. Her son's words pierced right into her heart.
"Calian..."
Elara immediately hugged the tiny body tightly. She buried her face in her son's small shoulder, sobbing, pouring out all the guilt she had suppressed for over a decade.
"Forgive me, Calian! Forgive me!" she sobbed sorrowfully. "Forgive me for failing to be a good mother to you! Forgive me for letting you grow up alone in this place!"
Calian let his mother cry. His small hand moved awkwardly but sincerely, patting his mother's back.
After the crying subsided a little, Calian raised his head. He cupped his mother's face with both his tiny hands, forcing Elara to look at him.
"Mother, you are not at fault." said Calian firmly. "Please do not blame yourself. With your decision to agree to my exile here, you have actually saved my life."
Little Calian wiped the remaining tears on his mother's cheek with his soft thumb.
"Look at me, Mom. I am still alive. I still have a heart. Unlike my older siblings who became cold in the main mansion. Even though in this world only you are on my side, I am still happy. I am happy because I still have a biological family who cares about me when I am branded as trash by this entire empire."
Hearing that sincere confession, Elara's heart felt warm and painful at the same time. She looked at her son's face, the childhood face whose growth she had missed.
With full affection, Elara leaned down.
Mwah!
A long and warm kiss of affection landed on Calian's forehead. It was a mother's kiss full of prayers and blessings.
For Calian, time seemed to stop. It was the first time he felt a physical kiss from a mother in his life. The warmth spreading from his forehead seeped straight into his heart.
Calian's eyes grew hot. His tears could not be held back anymore. He cried silently, feeling the gaping void in his heart now filled with his mother's pure love.
Mother, you are the best mother. praised Calian in his heart, grateful to fate for giving him this chance. You are very strong and tough, fighting alone amidst the Larvin family crazy for honor, even though your soul is tortured.
Slowly, Calian wiped his tears and looked up, staring at his mother. His tiny lips curved into the most sincere smile he had ever given in his life.
"Mother, I am happy to be your son. I am very, very happy."