Eileenburg (29)

Shocking Change

In the New Year's celebration of the Flower Kingdom in 509, Ellen once again left Ellen Castle for Royal Palace. This year's New Year's celebration marked the first time that Princess Beatrice participated in the parade as Crown Princess. Beatrice was already four months pregnant, and Ellen was somewhat worried about her, so she arrived at the palace early to visit her.

After Mi disappeared, Beatrice became Eileen's only good friend in the palace, and Eileen took on the responsibility of caring for Beatrice, which she had inherited from Mi. Since Beatrice became the Crown Princess, Eileen spent more time in the palace, and even when she returned to Eileen Castle, she would visit Beatrice regularly.

In the summer, Beatrice gave birth to a lovely daughter. The little girl had black hair and black eyes, and Ellen fell in love with her at first sight. She returned to Ellen's Castle and said to Little Vivian, "Little Vivian, have you seen Vivian? Isn't she adorable!"

"Yes, Miss, Princess Vivian is very beautiful."

"Xiao Wei, do you know?" Ai Lian sat on the swing, grabbing her hair and twirling it around her fingers—Mi loved doing her hair like that. She looked into the air: "I often think, if I could have a child for Mi, it would definitely look like little Vivian. Don't you think little Vivian looks a lot like Mi?"

"Why doesn't Miss have a child herself?" Xiao Wei smiled as she looked at Ai Lian. If Ai Lian had had a child back then, Miss wouldn't have had to live on a few scraps of old paper all these years.

“Oh dear, Xiaowei, are you trying to scare Mi to death? The fact that she tolerates me sleeping with her is already the biggest concession she can make. If I were to have a child with her, she would run away immediately.” Ailian chuckled softly and said, “Mi always asks about this and that about the Longevity Seed. She always thought that the Longevity Seed reproduces in the same way as humans. She can accept men and women being together, but she can’t accept men and women having children.”

"Why didn't Miss tell her?" Xiao Wei finally realized where the awkwardness lay. Mi had been resisting same-sex lovers. She didn't know that the Long-lived Race was a special race, and that every Long-lived Race member had the ability to reproduce, if they wanted to.

“Telling her won’t do any good, Xiaowei. Mi doesn’t love me. She won’t want me to have her child,” Ailian said softly. “This is the fate of long-lived beings. The destined person only begins the life of a long-lived being; few will accompany them to their final days.” Every year, Ailian would count the mimosa flowers on the tree. Now, only seven mimosa flowers remained. She hadn’t told Xiaowei that her life might only last seven years. Mi didn’t dislike children; in fact, she loved them. Every time Mi heard that Ailian had grown up alone, she would hug her with special tenderness. If she had a child, Mi couldn’t take the child with her, and she only had forty-nine years to live. Xiaowei was getting old. Who would accompany her and Mi’s child as they grew up? If Mi knew her child would become an orphan, she would definitely come and dig her out of the lotus lake and spank her. Ailian couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“Miss, there are also long-lived species who love each other as much as your father and mother,” Xiao Wei comforted her.

“But, Xiaowei, why did Mother choose to give birth to me? If it were me, I would rather choose to live with Mi forever.” Ailian looked at Xiaowei. “I know Father loves Mother, but what about Mother? I can’t remember what Mother looks like.”

“Miss, your mother loves you very much. I can guarantee that. Your mother also loves your father, but after you were born, she became the one who loves you the most.”

"Really? Once a person becomes a mother, she will love her child the most?" Ailian smiled as she thought of the adorable little Vivian. "Luckily, I didn't have a child with Mi. I can't bear the thought of someone being more important to me than Mi."

“Xiaowei, what do you think about me adopting Vivian as my goddaughter? That way I can pretend I had a child with Mi.” Ailian’s expression was full of infatuation. “I’ve never seen a child who looks so much like Mi. Do you see Vivian’s eyes? Her eyes are full of kindness.”

“Miss, Princess Vivian is the Crown Prince’s daughter; she will be a princess,” Xiao Wei said calmly.

"I know, Xiaowei, I know. I just miss Mi so much. I've never missed Mi like this before. Where do you think she went? Is she still alive and well?"

“Miss, Miss Mi is definitely alive and well. Even the Adventurers’ Guild couldn’t catch her. She’ll definitely be alive and well! Look at the mimosa tree, none of the mimosa flowers have fallen.” Xiao Wei said, pointing to the mimosa tree.

“But she won’t come back, Xiaowei. I know I’m not her lover.” Ailian’s eyes were filled with tears. “Mi always said that a lover isn’t the only one, that two people can be together to stay together and love each other, and that longing for someone separated by distance is the most meaningless thing. She always told me that she wanted me to love someone else. She didn’t understand the Long-lived Race. We would rather be let down or deceived than reduce our love for our destined one by even a little bit. I want to try loving someone else, as she said, and maybe one day I can get over it.”

“Miss, let’s go see Princess Vivian. The more you see her, the clearer your feelings will become. Miss, whatever you decide to do, Xiaowei will always support you.”

"Xiaowei, thank you. Let's go back to the palace."

In Prince Ryan's bedroom at Derek Palace, Beatrice is resting.

“Oh, my lovely Vivian.” Eileen sat in front of Vivian’s little cradle, gazing adoringly at Vivian’s little face: “There is no more beautiful child in the world than you.”

“Auntie Ellen,” Beatrice said, looking at Ellen, “please stop praising Vivian.”

Ailian reached out and picked up Vivian, smiling as she said, "Petrice, I'm not exaggerating. Look how beautiful Vivian is. The petals of a dahlia are not even half as pink as her lips, and all the stars in the sky gathered together are not as bright as her eyes."

Bertram coughed twice, then gave a bitter smile: "It's a pity she's a girl; Ryan needs a boy."

“Girls are so wonderful,” Ailian said, reluctant to look away. “She will inherit all my titles and wealth, and she will be the richest and most powerful woman in the Flower Kingdom.”

Petra looked at Elaine, a long-lived creature, and she adored Vivian. Petra turned to look at her daughter; the tiny baby only resembled her in hair. She was too small to tell who she looked like.

“Don’t worry, Petrus.” Aileen sat down beside Petrus, holding Vivian. “You’re still young, you can have many children. The most important thing now is to recover.” Petrus didn’t know why, but she hadn’t been sleeping well since giving birth. Every time Aileen visited her, she looked haggard, her eyes dark. Aileen looked at Petrus with concern: “Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Should I call the medical officer to come and check on you?”

Petrus shook her head. She harbored too many secrets, and the person who knew those secrets never came to see her again. King Derek had only visited the baby once, his gaze devouring Vivian. Petrus was terrified; she didn't know who to tell these things to. Since giving birth to Vivian, she suddenly understood her mother, Zara, a woman who could take things in stride, who had almost turned against the Queen for her sake. When news of Zara's death arrived, Petrus felt utterly devastated. She later had a new mother, but why didn't her new mother ever visit her again? She wanted to ask Elaine where her mother was, but she dared not. She feared that once she asked, she would lose even the chance to dream.

In the winter of 509 in the Flower Kingdom calendar, a major event occurred. Prince Ryan was attacked while adventuring in the snowy region. His entire guard was wiped out, along with all members of the adventure team. The Flower Kingdom had never encountered such a thing since its founding, and Foreign Minister Derek immediately declared a state of emergency for the entire country.

Petrus's postpartum recovery was poor, and she fainted upon hearing the news. The Queen came to visit her personally: "Petrrus, you still have a child. Look at Vivian."

“Mother, I can’t go on,” Beatrice said. After giving birth, she had been thinking about everything and couldn’t sleep at night. Even when she did doze off, she was plagued by nightmares. Since the bad news of Prince Ryan’s death came, Beatrice’s last bit of resentment had dissipated. She gasped and pleaded, “Please take good care of Vivian, Mother.”

The maid handed Vivian to the Queen, and Petrus continued, "Mother, will Ryan ever come back?"

Queen Angnes shook her head in anguish: "There is only one set of clothes belonging to Ryan in the royal cemetery."

“Mother, I have a request to make,” Beatrice said, grasping Queen Angelis’s hand. “Please let me return to Lin City 17 and stay by your side.”

"Peris, look at Vivian, Vivian, she's still so young, she can't be without her mother." Queen Angelis sobbed uncontrollably. No one in the entire palace was more heartbroken than her, and no one was busier than her. Only with Patris could she let her tears fall freely.

"Mother, please take Vivian to your palace." Bertram's voice grew weaker and weaker until she breathed her last in front of Queen Angelis. Little Vivian suddenly burst into tears in the queen's arms.

Grand Duke Sway, who had long lost his right to the throne, suddenly became the second in line to the throne. His older brother, Delgado, who had been vying for power with Queen Angelis, became the first in line to the throne. Even Eleanor's health was being diligently inquired about by the royal physician.

Longevity Seeds cannot become queens; Ailian must offer her Longevity Seeds and bear an heir for Duke Swei. Duke Swei directly renounces his right to the throne. According to the laws of the Flower Kingdom, Longevity Seeds cannot become queens. He cannot bear to see Ailian lose her life for him so young. In an instant, Duke Swei becomes synonymous with love, a duke who loves beauty more than the throne.

"Your Excellency, good day." Ailian found Duke Sway during lunch.

"Oh, Ellen, haven't you returned to Ellen Castle?" Grand Duke Swei looked at Ellen strangely. Since the guards of Ellen Castle withdrew, Ellen had spent more than half the year in Ellen Castle.

“Your Grace, I need your permission for something.” Ailian sat down opposite Sway and gestured to a maid to bring her food.

“Please speak,” Grand Duke Sway put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, “If it’s something like having a child, forget it.”

Ailian rolled her eyes inwardly, lowered her head and said, "I would like to recognize Vivian as my goddaughter. I wonder if this would cause any trouble for the Grand Duke?"

“Vivian—” Grand Duke Sway pondered for a moment, “You know she has lost her right to the throne, oh no, the Flower Kingdom has never had a queen.”

“I know,” Eileen put down her knife and fork, “I just feel sorry for that girl, that she can’t be properly cared for in the palace.”

“A girl,” Grand Duke Sway thought for a moment, “I’ll take her on. After all, Vivian is my grandniece.”

In the year 510 of the Flower Kingdom, Princess Vivian became the goddaughter of Grand Duke Sway and Ellen, and Ellen declared Vivian the heir to the title. Although Vivian was no longer a princess, she became the wealthiest baby in the entire Flower Kingdom.