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Sweet Home (Part 3)
“Aah.” I sunk into the elven lake water and let out a soothing sigh.
Mommy Vyvyan, who was behind me, gently hugged me and caressed my body as she did in the past with a smile. I stretched my hands out to feel the flowing water brush against them. It was an interesting feeling to me. I had never experienced the feeling of elven running water. Due to my berserk mana condition in the past, I was unable to feel anything in the water. Thankfully, the condition no longer plagued me; therefore, I could feel the gentle flowing water, and I could feel the warmth and soft touch behind me.
Mom rubbed my hair and then kissed my head. In a quiet voice, she remarked, “We have not had a bath together in a long time, Son.”
“Yeah, it’s been a long time, but this is the first time I’ve felt flowing elven water in addition to warmth and comfort.”
I smiled. I then looked at the water running down my hand. I had adapted to life in this world, yet it felt novel to me.
Mommy Vyvyan touched my head: “Sorry, Son. Your condition in the past
 was my fault.”
“No, of course it isn’t your fault. Mom, you gave me a life. How can it be your fault?”
“That’s why it’s Elizabeth’s fault. Had she not ditched you after giving birth to you, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. Thus, it’s Elizabeth’s fault!”
“It’s not
”
“Son, are you going to speak up for her even now? Have you forgotten what you once went through? Have you forgotten the pain you suffered when you were a child? Remember, Elizabeth gave birth to you, only to abandon you and run away. Everything you suffered thereafter was her fault! It was all her fault!”
Mommy Vyvyan and Mommy Elizabeth still couldn’t put their past behind them. I had adjusted and recovered, yet they still wouldn’t forget the past. Mommy Elizabeth would feel guilty, but Mommy Vyvyan would reprimand Elizabeth for the latter’s past deeds. She hated Elizabeth for abandoning me even till today. To be fair, though, if Mommy Elizabeth didn’t leave me behind, Mommy Vyvyan wouldn’t have had the chance to give birth to me. Without what transpired, I would be humanity’s Prince.
Mommy Vyvyan was evidently cross. I turned my head around to look into her eyes. I helplessly smiled: “Mom, I haven’t finished. I was trying to say I didn’t suffer as much as you think. You took care of me in the past, so it wasn’t that bad. To the contrary, I feel happy about it because you were by my side.”
Mommy Vyvyan clearly didn’t expect to hear what I said. Beaming, she gently caressed my head: “Son, you’ve always been such a sweet talker from the past until now. While elves don’t consider it a virtue, Mommy admits Mommy likes your sweet talk.”
I must clarify I never deliberately thought of smooth lines. Maybe it was Troy’s gift for me. It was only natural he had a unique quality if he could win everyone’s affection. He, supposedly, was a cute kid. Consequently, if he was also adept with words, it was only natural for everyone to like him, agreed?
Mom kissed my forehead. I could clean myself just by dipping in water owing to my scales. As opposed to calling it a bath, you might as well say that Mom and I were reliving the feeling of being intimate with each other again.
Mommy Vyvyan stood up. She grabbed a towel from the side and wiped down her perfect body. I climbed up to shore and then shook my body out. Water didn’t leave marks on my body. They were the same as water droplets on a window pane. Mommy Vyvyan picked up her sleepwear from the side

Honestly, I always felt sleepwear in the elven lands was sensual sleepwear.  It was thin and barely covered much. There was only one button that went across the chest. It was similar to a cicada’s wings when the wearer outstretched their arms. The wearer’s legs are also exposed.
Mommy Vyvyan flicked her blonde hair then opened the door. The maid outside bowed before she served up fruit and fruit juice. Mom grabbed a fruit skewer and a cup of fruit juice. She draped a shawl over to stay warm. I, too, took a bite of a piece of fruit. Then, I had a drink of fruit juice and made my way into the corridor. I heard hasty footsteps approaching us.
“We have finished preparing; we have finished the preparations! Your Highn-, Ah, argh!!”
Before I could stop her, Mom generated a fierce gale with a wave of her hand, sending the elder reeling. As anger flitted across her face, she imposingly blustered, “How rude! Nobody is allowed in here at night. What are you here for?!”
“Your Highness
 we have completed the task you asked of us
 The cage you asked for
 is ready!”
“Shut up!” Vyvyan waved her hand again. Something invisible clinched the elder and pressed him up against the wall. The guards quickly held him down. Mom pivoted around and pulled my arm with one hand. She ordered, “Take him away. If there’s business, tell me tomorrow morning. You are not allowed into the imperial palace at night. Now, take him away!”
“Yes, Your Highness!” The guards hastily took the elder away.
Man, he probably broke something after suffering those blows at his age. That must’ve been why he was taken away without a word. I was curious about what he wanted to report. Did he help Mommy Vyvyan do something, I wondered.  I queried, “Mom, is something the matter?”
“No.”
“If there’s something urgent, you don’t need to worry about me and just attend to your work, instead. Don’t neglect work for my sake.”
Mom wrapped her arms around me and stroked my head: “I said: there’s nothing. Mommy doesn’t have any urgent business. The most urgent task at hand is to look after my son, so don’t worry, Son. Mommy won’t go. Mommy won’t go anywhere.”
“Really
? Okay, then.”
Come to think of it, there shouldn’t haven been any problems in the elven lands
 It was peaceful there, after all.
My exhaustion soon put my lights out.
========
At midnight

“You’ve prepared the equipment, right? I told you not to let my son know about it. Fortunately, he’s asleep. Since you’ve prepared everything, let’s get going. We’re going to capture all of the white deer in one night!” commanded Vyvyan.