A radiant, heartfelt smile spread across her entire face as she pulled Elara even closer in a gentle hug.

"Thank you, Elara! I love, love, love you so much! Mwah, mwah, mwah!" She leaned in enthusiastically, planting several loud, affectionate kisses across Elara’s cheek in quick succession.

"Wai-- Stop, no kissing!" Elara thrashed lightly in protest, squirming on Violette’s lap as the barrage of kisses continued without pause. "The attendants are watching, for goodness sake!"

Her elbows pushed half-heartedly against the bigger woman’s shoulders while embarrassed laughter bubbled up from her despite her complaints.

"Hehehe... And you called Benjamin naïve..." Sakura tried to sip her tea, but found the cup already empty.

She lowered it slowly with a small, amused sigh, her sharp eyes sparkling with amusement as she glanced toward Elara.

"You’re so cute, Elara-chan... Please, attendants, I need a refill for this wonderful tea. What leaves did you use?"

***

Sara’s POV

Wow....

I still couldn’t fully wrap my head around it.

One moment everything was normal, and the next, Benjamin had suddenly decided to take me out on a date.

Alright, not exactly a date per se, but it truly felt like one—the kind of spontaneous adventure that made my pulse quicken and my thoughts scatter in a dozen different directions despite how hard I tried to stay composed.

According to the most handsome man in all of Elyndor, Benjamin Mark, there existed something he called "space."

It was apparently different from any power system I recognized, something vast and ever-present everywhere outside his original home planet.

He had reckoned that it might feel a tad different here in Elyndor, or perhaps completely unrecognizable, and for that reason he desired to seek out this "space" within our world.

He had invited me to go along with him, and after a hypocritical moment of hesitation I had agreed.

But first, he insisted on properly greeting my mother and the beast queen before we departed.

We had also planned to greet the Fairy Queen Titania, but...

"Ahaha! Ahahaha! You can’t catch me! I’m the fastest and strongest!!"

"No fair, Tania! You’re using your wings too much!!"

The bright, energetic voices of children filled the air outside the palace, echoing through the training grounds.

Queen Titania and some other young ones were completely absorbed in their lively game, running and leaping with unrestrained joy.

They were so caught up in their fun that they didn’t even notice us waving at them from a distance.

Their laughter rang out clear and carefree, blending with the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds in the surrounding forest canopy.

We entered the royal palace and made our way through the familiar, sunlit corridors toward the grand hall.

The polished wooden floors were cool and smooth, and the scent of fresh herbs, blooming flowers, and aged timber lingered pleasantly in the air, as always.

We could clearly sense the presence of Mother and the beast queen in the hall.

But as we stepped into the grand hall...

"Good morning, mother. Benjamin came... to... greet..."

My words trailed off into stunned silence. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted us.

"Here comes the train!! Chuuuuuuu!" Lady Violette was carrying... my mother... on her lap like it was the most common-sense thing in the world.

Violette, dressed in a loose green top stretched tight across her chest and wearing almost nothing below, looked utterly at ease. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She held a spoon filled with thick, creamy fruit milk and gently brought it toward Mother’s mouth with exaggerated care, making soft train noises the entire time.

Her arms supported Mother securely, rocking her with gentle affection.

Mother calmly opened her lips and accepted the spoonful without resistance.

Her cheeks moved subtly as she savored the meal, a soft, content expression settling over her usually regal features.

There was a quiet, almost childlike enjoyment in the way her silver eyes half-closed and her posture remained relaxed and trusting against Violette’s larger frame.

I didn’t know what to make of the scene, truly.

My mind struggled, froze, and then spun in useless circles trying to process what I was seeing.

Violette fed her another spoonful, and then another. Mother didn’t protest at all.

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her body stayed nestled comfortably in Violette’s lap as if this were a perfectly normal morning ritual.

"Should I burp you?" Violette asked eagerly, her dark eyes beaming with open hope as she threatened to pat Mother’s back gently with her large hand.

"I think that will be utterly unnecessary," Mother answered calmly, though her voice carried an indulgent softness I rarely heard from her.

Thank the goddess, Artemis.

For one terrifying moment I feared she would actually allow herse—

"It will be unnecessary, but do as you please," Mother reiterated softly, almost resigned.

Violette’s face lit up with pure delight, and she began to calmly and rhythmically pat Mother’s back, her movements full of tender care.

BURP!

Oh god...

A small, surprisingly adorable sound escaped Mother’s mouth.

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink instantly as she tried and failed to maintain her usual dignified composure.

The faint sound hung in the air for a second, making the moment feel even more surreal.

Queen Sakura watched the entire thing like it was a fascinating theatrical performance, a soft, entertained smile playing on her lips as she sipped her tea.

She looked thoroughly amused, as if this was the most interesting play she had seen in years.

"That’s my girl," Violette cooed with immense satisfaction, her voice warm and full of pride. She reached for a clean piece of soft rag. "Now, let us wipe some of that milk from around your mouth, hmm?"

Queen Sakura suddenly spotted us standing there at the entrance.

She flinched hard, her eyes widening in visible shock as realization hit her.

I wondered why none of them had noticed our arrival earlier.

Had Benjamin done something subtle to keep our presence hidden until this exact moment?

"Who’s a good girl?!" Violette cuddled my mother even closer, rocking her gently on her lap with unrestrained affection, her arms wrapping around her securely.

"Me!" Mother answered without the slightest hesitation, snuggling deeper into the warm embrace like it was the most comforting place she had ever been in.

Her voice was quiet but clear, carrying a note of genuine contentment that left me speechless.

Wait... does she even realize that the attendants here are watching this entire display?

Now Queen Sakura was starting to really panic:

She waved her hands subtly at first, then more urgently, trying desperately to alert my mother that Benjamin and I were standing right there, pitifully witnessing everything from the side of the grand hall.

Her usual composure had cracked, replaced by wide-eyed alarm as she glanced back and forth between us and the cuddling pair.