Chapter 11: <Pale Blue Eyes>

N/A: Hello lovelies :D.

The thing is, I'm trying to figure out a writing style, as well as ways, to display my chapters.

Although I don't believe my writing style varies, to a great extent in every new chapter, I don't think I can deny, that every chapter seems to be somehow different.

Which, I find extremely bothering, since I know some people start off, liking a specific style, and as the writing evolves into something different, they eventually lose interest; how I find it, is like paying for a pair of shoes, but end up getting a popsicle.

Hence, I just wanted to warn you in advance, that my writing will probably change a few times.

Yep.

I also have no idea how my chapters went from an average of 700 words/chapter, to sudden 1800... I didn't even think that would be possible in my case.

Edit: I ended up sectioning them.

Ah...

Is my son an angel?

How can he be so adorable when he sleeps?

No...

He's much more angelic than an angel.

That's exactly it.

Much more angelic than an angel.

He...

He must be a descended god.

That's even more accurate.

I subconsciously nodded my head in agreement, as I kept staring attentively towards Neo's sleeping image.

Maybe, the constant stare was becoming a little uncomfortable, as Neo ended up furrowing, and twitching his eyebrows, while a bead of awkward sweat appeared on the side of his face.

Anyhow, I took it upon myself to, wake up from my short... Short thoughts, and carefully scoop him into my arms, since I definitely wasn't going to let him sleep without brushing his teeth.

Even if it meant waking up my little baby from his peaceful nap, since cavities aren't worth the risk.

So, after blowing out the candle, I went straight to mother's room.

Why?

1 year ago:

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"When I went down to the town yesterday, I heard some gossip." I teasingly said, while I sat on the edge of the bed, slowly stirring, and occasionally blowing a bowl of medicine.

A low, hoarse chuckle comes out of mother's pale lips; strongly indicating her deteriorating health, which had been making me terribly worried. As it was getting noticeably worse, especially in the past week or so; something that hasn't happened before.

After staring at her with a look of worry, I eventually responded with a sad smile before I continued with a less enthusiastic voice; "Apparently, the fifth Liu lady, barged into her sister's, the third lady's marriage with Marquis of Zhi.

I paused as I took in a large breath, to somehow cool the liquid faster, and continued without a hitch hereafter; "When I was buying some stalks of leek, Ms. Zhou told me that it was because, the fifth lady was previously engaged to the Marquis of Zhi, but he ended up annulling the engagement, for some unprecedented reason."

"I say it's because, the third lady became more eye-catching to him, so he judged that she would make a better partner, in comparison to the fifth lady. After all, it isn't common to see 4th grade alchemist." I added with a mocking tone; I knew all too well, how it is to be left in the dust, while your, "supposed", soulmate scurried away to curry favour with another.

Mother let out an uneasy laugh, hiding a meaning behind her pearly teeth, but even so, her contrasting clear, ink coloured eyes, innocently curved into dainty, pristine crescents.

"Some men are hypocritical, just like women." She mumbled, as she turned towards me with a smile, before her hands left her lap, and went towards the bowl I held.

"Your father was terribly cold to me in the beginning, and until we got married, I had always thought he hated me."

I listened, while her pupils suddenly reflected the wooden bowl, as she wittedly took advantage of my trustful blankness, to tactfully whisk away the medicine.

Soon, the fingers that I had held busied by wrapping around a scalding bowl, fell flat onto my thighs, but even so, I still stared at my mother's pale lips, eagerly waiting for what she might say next;

"Have you ever wondered why you were born so beautiful?"

"Your father was gorgeous, and so am I." She teasingly said, as her eyes hinted playfully.

"I've never told you, but before you were born, me and your father work in the main branch of the Su Manor. Although we never met until after a decade or so, we were suddenly paired up when my miss, and the third young master, decided to sneak out."

"It was during the afternoon, and as the sun started to set, I was suddenly alerted by your Aunt Zhou, that the young lady had disappeared."

"Oh... I reckon that my face looked as if I saw a ghost, but, I don't believe anyone took notice, since everyone else also had the same expression..."

"Some of my sisters went to the Lord Su's residence, and some went to the other young master's residences. I went straight to the fifth young master's residence, after all, he had a close relationship with my miss, so I assumed he'd know where she went."

"But, what'd you know, he... He also wasn't there."

"Instead, I was greeted by an equally anxious, handsome, tall bodyguard, who walked restless around the building in circles."

"Oh, if you couldn't tell by that description, that was your father."

"Anyways, we found them later, walking around the Placid Market, completely oblivious that some maids had already lost their heads."

"Some of my sisters lost their lives that day..."

"I was one of the lucky ones."

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"Guess why Eliza."

I snap out of my daydream, and I slowly answer back; "did your miss plead for you to not get lashed?"

Mother tilted her head, in a somewhat, agreeing motion, before she continued; "You aren't wrong, but truthfully, it was mainly because your father took the lashes for me."

Her voice went soft, and slowly turned into a whisper, as she seemed to reminisce the past with a tender expression.

"I fell in-love at that moment."

"Yep. So, like any naïve girl, when I heard that he liked girls with nice teeth, I begged my miss to teach me how to cleanse them."

"I suppose it was because I started learning Ceres too late."

Mother gave me a well executed wink, before she carried on;

"... I learned it, but by the time I did... We already got married."

"But, that's why your mother's teeth are flawless."

Yep, basically, I went to get my teeth brushed.

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Before I knew it, by the time I got to the other side of the courtyard, I was welcomed by my mother's familiar smile, as the sliding door creaked open.

Just like before, she opened her fingers, and waved on top of Neo's mouth, and as always, there was a small radiating, "tink", that followed, and resided after a few seconds.

Just like before, she waved her hands above my mouth, and I felt my mouth fill with a cleansing, crisp taste, before a recognizable, small, "tink", filled my ears again.

As the door shuddered closed, I smiled, and left.

All while red, scalding blood flooded my mouth.