Evelisse let herself laugh too. Just this once, she’d forget the pain of Emily. Just this once, she’d believe this mont was hers.
Seraphina lowered her back to the rug-soft floor and cupped her cheeks. "I’ve missed your voice calling that. Would you... would you like to relearn the lullaby we used to sing together? I’ve been humming it to myself every night since you’ve returned."
Evelisse blinked. ’Relearn? Lady, that would an I knew it in the first place. In my past life, I sang in a cracked hospital bathroom and prayed no one was listening.’
She resisted the urge to quip out loud and instead gave her most innocent smile, tilting her head ever so sweetly. "I’d love to learn it again, Mommy!"
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 4]
[Total points accumulated so far: 815♡]
Seraphina practically glowed. "Then co here, sweetheart."
With practiced ease, the Queen scooped Evelisse into her arms and moved to the velvet chaise lounge near the sun-drenched windows. She sat gracefully and settled Evelisse on her lap, wrapping her arms protectively around her daughter’s waist.
Evelisse relaxed into the warmth, head against her mother’s chest, listening to the faint rhythmic thump of a heartbeat that was calm and constant—so unlike the hollow, echoing silence she rembered from the hospital monitors in her past life.
Seraphina began to hum, a gentle lody that carried like wind through willows, soft and lilting. Then she started to sing.
"Sleep, my rose, in starlight spun,
Cradled close till night is done.
Let the moon kiss your brow,
Safe in dreams, you rest now.
Wind may whisper, skies may sigh,
But love like mine will never die.
So hush now, child of heart so pure,
In Mama’s arms, you’ll feel secure."
Her voice was soft but rich, each note caressing the air. It wasn’t perfect in pitch, but it was perfect in emotion—achingly gentle, deeply rooted, the kind of song soone only sang when they ant every word.
Evelisse’s breath caught.
Tears welled again, not from pain or trauma this ti—but sothing else. A warmth so unfamiliar it curled into her bones like sunlight after a long, cold night.
She swallowed thickly. ’No one ever sang to . Not once. Not even when I was dying.’
Seraphina brushed a hand through her curls and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Can you hum it with , love?"
Evelisse nodded mutely, then began to hum—slightly off-key, trying to match the cadence. As she did, sothing strange flickered inside her. Not a mory exactly, but a sensation. Like a faraway echo reaching across ti, faint and ghostly.
A hospital window. A child’s voice. A wish made to a sky that never answered.
’Don’t go there,’ she told herself. ’Not now. Not when this mont is finally warm.’
She turned her face into Seraphina’s shoulder and made a quiet promise. ’I’ll treasure this. I’ll protect it. Even if it’s not really mine.’
Fluffy’s voice nudged gently at the corner of her thoughts. "You’re doing great, you know."
’I’ll make this family mine,’ Evelisse answered silently. ’I’ll love them better than she ever could. That’s my promise.’
Ti passed quietly, lulled by the lody and warmth.
After a while, Seraphina tilted her head down and smiled brightly. "You’re learning so fast. Just like when you were small. Oh, your father would be a puddle on the floor hearing you hum like that."
Evelisse giggled, rubbing her eyes. "Can we sing it again later?"
"Of course, my darling. A hundred tis, if that’s what you want."
Seraphina’s expression shifted—playful now, as she tapped Evelisse’s nose. "And speaking of what you want... I may have brought back a surprise from the Draylen District."
Evelisse perked up imdiately. "A surprise?!"
"Yes, but—" Seraphina lifted a royal finger, mock-stern. "You must close your eyes."
Evelisse slapped both palms over her eyes with a dramatic gasp. "Like this?!"
Seraphina laughed. "Yes! No peeking, or I’ll have to cast a royal mory wipe spell on you."
Evelisse giggled. "Mommy is so terrifying."
Fluffy hovered just above her head, invisible to Seraphina, tail flicking in amusent. "Ooh, I like this version of the Queen."
’You’d better help guess,’ Evelisse thought. ’I know you can peek under the cloth, since she can’t see you.’
"Where’s the fun in that?" Fluffy teased. "Consider this your first normal princess mystery challenge."
Evelisse suppressed a groan. ’Traitor.’
She heard footsteps shuffle, and then sothing being dragged softly—likely a box judging by the sound of fabric brushing wood. Then her mother whispered conspiratorially, "Okay, open your eyes!"
Evelisse peeked.
Before her sat a small ornate box with golden legs shaped like curled vines. A velvet cloth draped over it in deep violet, nearly glowing under the golden afternoon light.
"Ooooh," she said dramatically, pointing. "Is it... a talking frog prince?"
Seraphina choked on a laugh. "Try again."
"A baby unicorn in disguise?"
Fluffy howled with laughter. "You’re really going for it, huh?"
Seraphina was practically doubled over. "Eve!"
"Okay, okay," Evelisse snorted. "A miniature dragon who breathes glitter?"
"I can’t—stop—" Seraphina clutched her side.
Evelisse gave the box a serious look and placed a finger on her chin. "A very confused chicken?"
"Evelisse!"
Even Fluffy rolled mid-air, clearly enjoying the show. "Ten out of ten. No notes."
The Queen finally wiped away a tear from laughing too hard. "Alright, alright. Enough guesses. I surrender."
With a dramatic flourish, she pulled the velvet cloth away.
Inside the golden cage was a tiny, snow-white puppy curled into a perfect fluffy circle, breathing softly. It had soft, rounded ears, a button nose, and fur so pristine it looked freshly fallen from a cloud.
Evelisse gasped. "It’s... it’s so cute I might faint. Thank you, mommy!!"
The puppy stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
Seraphina reached out and clicked the latch open.
"It’s under a sleep charm," she explained. "Our Royal Mage enchanted it so it would only awaken in your presence. Just in case the journey tired it too much."
Evelisse blinked, unable to speak.
She watched in awe as the pup slowly lifted its tiny head. It blinked groggily, then looked straight at her with wide, sleepy silver-blue eyes.
Ti slowed.
The pup let out a tiny yawn, then stretched one paw through the bars—pawing at the air toward her.
"Oh my stars," Evelisse whispered. "I think I just saw my heart leave my body, mommy."
The puppy stepped out, sleepy but determined, and nuzzled against her waist, pressing its tiny head against her side.
It snuggled in without hesitation.
Fluffy floated beside her and whispered, "I’ve been replaced as the fluffiest being in the palace."
Evelisse scooped the pup gently into her arms, cradling it like a precious jewel. It wagged its tiny tail once, let out the smallest sneeze in existence, and promptly fell asleep in her lap again.
Seraphina placed a hand over her mouth, watching them with glassy eyes.
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 5]
[Total points accumulated so far: 820♡]
"You were always drawn to animals," Seraphina said softly. "I saw this little one at a noble’s manor in Draylen, and I just knew it was ant for you."
Evelisse gently stroked the pup’s ears. It gave a soft murmur in response.
Seraphina smiled and leaned closer. "So... what will you na it?"
Evelisse blinked.
’Shit!’
She hadn’t even thought that far.
Her eyes darted toward Fluffy, who simply shook its head like a smug little fox. "Nope. This one’s all you, Princess."
Evelisse opened her mouth—
"Uhhh..."
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
Author’s Note:
Do you wish to listen to the mp3 of this little lullaby sung by Queen Seraphina, that I composed? Check out the auxiliary Chapter to get the link [Exclusive Content]
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