https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-825-Houbailian-Meets-Ifatiya-Part-2-/12934374/
Chapter 825: Houbailian Meets Ifatiya (Part 1)
Chapter 825: Houbailian Meets Ifatiya (Part 1)
It is said that the eve of a festival is a part of the festival itself.
"Winter has truly arrived."
Even lying in bed, Houbailian could sense the winter festival atmosphere within the Saint Kreithian Monastery.
Today, the shop owners of Brillada must be busy decorating their stores, preparing for tomorrow's Moon Goddess Festival-themed sales. The young male and female students of the monastery would be pondering over their attire, while the teachers would be concerned about maintaining their dignity during the monastery's grand celebration.
On the occasion of a grand festival, a bustling scene was bound to unfold.
"The South Continent is in turmoil, and that's why, when the festival arrives, everyone yearns for unrestrained revelry and joy, hoping to dispel the gloom within their hearts."
Talia gazed out the window at the diminishing rain and snow, speaking to Houbailian.
This was something Lance Welfort had taught her.
She hadn't had much concept of human festivals before.
In the second-floor bedroom, the two of them chatted away, oblivious to the passing of time. Now, glancing at the clock, they realized it was already past ten in the morning.
"I hope tomorrow will be a sunny day, at least cloudy, without rain, and at most, a light snow."
Houbailian struck a peculiar pose and clasped her hands together.
"Let's hope so," Talia replied casually, nodding.
Even the weather was unpredictable, not even the Moon Goddess they would worship tomorrow could predict it.
No weather could stop her from eating, so she didn't mind.
"Oh, right, Tata, you've been keeping me company for so long, and you haven't eaten anything yet. Are you hungry?"
Houbailian suddenly realized and asked Talia.
"A little," Talia replied, patting her stomach.
She had been distracted by Houbailian, and now that it was mentioned, she suddenly felt hungry.
Just thinking about it, her palm brushed against her flat stomach, and a rumbling sound emerged.
It was time to go downstairs and prepare some breakfast and lunch.
"By the way, Houbailian, there's something else."
Talia, thinking of the people downstairs, turned her gaze back to Houbailian.
"Your mother, Ifatiya, has been found."
She had almost forgotten to tell Houbailian this crucial piece of information.
There was so much she wanted to say that even in her brief conversation, she felt like she couldn't cover everything.
Houbailian froze upon hearing this.
She seemed unable to process it.
Slowly, she lifted her head, her amber eyes fixed on Talia.
"Where is she?"
Houbailian asked, her voice filled with overwhelming excitement. She could no longer contain the sudden surge of emotions, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Since she could remember, she had fantasized countless times about what her mother might be like.
The only reference she had were the photographs and paintings in the ducal mansion, the shadow of the sleeping beauty, but she had never had a real conversation with her mother, Ifatiya.
"She's downstairs," Talia replied, pointing to the carpet beneath her feet.
Houbailian threw off her blanket and rushed to the door without even putting on her shoes. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
The excruciating pain in her bones seemed to be numbed at this moment, or perhaps compared to the longing in her heart, all pain was insignificant.
"Wait, Houbailian!"
Talia quickly caught up, hugging Houbailian's waist and pulling her back to the bed. She soothed the trembling Houbailian, helped her put on her shoes, and then put on her coat before leading her downstairs.
She understood the significance of this moment for Houbailian.
It was no less important than the fulfillment of her wish to fall into a gentle world).
Perhaps it was the wish Houbailian had made every day since she was little, and in this moment, it had come true. That's why, upon hearing the news, she couldn't react at first.
However, Houbailian needed rest and detoxification, and the winter in Kreithian was colder than she had imagined. The first floor wasn't as warm as the second-floor bedroom, and this was when her resistance was at its weakest. She might really catch a cold.
"Are you feeling cold?"
Talia led Houbailian to the second-floor hallway, and the air instantly felt a few degrees colder than in the room.
"I... I don't know," Houbailian replied, her voice and palms trembling as she held onto Talia tightly.
Perhaps it was due to nervousness or a hint of fear.
"Don't worry, if you're cold, I'll hold you, and if you're afraid, I'll hold your hand. It's okay, let's go see Ifatiya."
Talia turned and embraced Houbailian, warming her before continuing downstairs.
Talia unexpectedly understood Houbailian's feelings at this moment.
Sometimes, when meeting an old acquaintance, the sudden reunion might bring fear, fearing that what was gained would be lost again, fearing that she might suddenly disappear one day, fearing that they might never see each other again.
"Thank you, Tata," Houbailian said, shaking her head to calm her breath before following Talia.
There were a thousand words she wanted to say to the gray-haired woman before her, but she knew this wasn't the time to say them all.
With Talia by her side, she wasn't afraid. The one who truly gave her motherly love wasn't the imagined biological mother but Talia, who stayed by her side day and night.
Talia and Houbailian arrived at the second-floor living room and descended the stairs connecting it to the spacious first-floor reception hall.
It was almost eleven in the morning on a winter day, and rays of cold sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the Elsaya Sanctuary-style carpet in the reception hall.
Ifatiya sat on the leather sofa, her eyes devoid of life as she watched a program on the screen. Her face lacked the usual smile.
She, a virgin, fiddled with thin and supple bamboo skewers, colored paper, and semi-transparent oil paper, half-heartedly crafting Moon Goddess Festival handicrafts.
Tomorrow, many imperial citizens will release moon lanterns at Saint Kreithian Monastery, letting them float towards the Silver Moon under the night sky, praying for the blessings of the Moon Goddess, and wishing for peace and health in the new year.
The living room was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock audible.
After a while, light footsteps near the stairs caught Ifatiya's attention.
Houbailian slowly walked into the room, gazing at the young woman on the sofa.
Their eyes met, and the two women appeared to be of similar age, both with beautiful silver hair, except that Ifatiya's was shorter and more playful.
"..."
Houbailian stood frozen at the staircase entrance, staring at Ifatiya without blinking, wanting to imprint her mother's appearance deeply in her mind.
Ifatiya timidly met her daughter's gaze.
She opened her mouth but couldn't speak.
After so many years, how should she face this child she had once abandoned?
Guilt, regret, and longing flooded her heart like a tidal wave.
Ifatiya clenched her fists.
The two stood a few meters apart, staring at each other, with tears welling up in their eyes.
The air in the living room seemed to freeze.
"Go ahead."
Talia had already let go of Houbailian's hand and patted her back, even gently pushing her forward.
After a long pause, Houbailian stumbled forward, taking steps towards her mother.
Her tears streamed down her face, leaving two trails on her cheeks.
One step, two steps, she ran to Ifatiya and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"Mom!"
Houbailian cried out, burying her head in Ifatiya's shoulder.
"Houbailian, you call me Mom...? Don't you hate me?"
Ifatiya hugged her daughter back mechanically, her tears uncontrollably wetting Houbailian's hair.
Houbailian's voice was like a sharp blade, slicing through her heart.
Ifatiya didn't know how to begin, seeking her daughter's forgiveness.
Her seemingly impulsive choice had caused unimaginable harm to Houbailian, and by the time Ifatiya realized this, her daughter had already grown up.
"How could I possibly hate you? I've missed you for over six thousand days."
Houbailian hugged her sobbing, petite mother, her heart aching just as much.
During her childhood, she had dreamed countless times of her mother's return, holding her hand and taking her to see the ocean in the Nanvantina Province.
"I... I..."
Ifatiya choked up, unable to catch her breath, let alone speak clearly.
Every time she recalled those words of Icrite, she would reach out to the past, to the happiness she once had but could no longer find.
Being alone, there were some words she couldn't comprehend, and this longing was beyond words, filled with apprehension and tenderness.
Then, there was a long period of silence.
The living room echoed with only the sound of sobbing.
"Why are you two crying like this?"
Talia approached, smiling as she looked at the two of them.
After such a long time of longing, the two were unusually restrained when they met, unable to speak for a long time.
"Take your time, don't rush."
Only Talia understood their feelings, sitting between them, holding one hand of each, intertwining them, to comfort them.
Houbailian and Ifatiya were like children to her, and also like younger sisters.
"Houbailian, I, I really didn't leave you because I didn't love you. It's just that many years ago, I didn't fully understand human emotions, and I didn't realize the extent of the harm it would cause a child in human society."
Ifatiya spoke to Houbailian with her head lowered and eyes closed.
Unbeknownst to them, she had been longing to see Houbailian more and more.
If she were a child of the demon race, even if she had grown up without parents and was abandoned in the Demon King's palace, she wouldn't feel the longing for her parents.
But it was different for humans.
"I know, I know everything. Father had already told me. He wasn't lying to me, after all, he was the one who knew you best."
Houbailian shook her head, caressing Ifatiya's cheek, and replied.
"Waa—Houbailian, why don't you scold me? I'm so sorry, waa waa waa."
Ifatiya cried like a tearful person, sobbing and hugging Houbailian tightly.
She not only wronged Houbailian but also Migaya.
Even though she was such an incompetent mother, Migaya always spoke highly of her, raising her daughter to become such a kind and sincere woman.
Ifatiya never imagined that when she saw her daughter again, her daughter would be taller than her.
"No, I've never disliked you. I've been thinking of you day and night."
Houbailian sobbed as she denied it.
"Waa, I'll never leave you again. We'll be together forever."
Ifatiya could no longer control her emotions.
Houbailian's call warmed her heart, resonating within her.
"Mom..."
Houbailian wanted to cry when she heard Ifatiya's crying, and Ifatiya couldn't hold back her tears when she heard Houbailian's crying.
"You two, take a good rest."
Talia wiped their tears and patted their backs to comfort them.
In a daze, time seemed to flow backward.
The mother and daughter embraced, letting their tears flow freely, expressing their feelings, longing, and unspoken words.
Outside the window, rain and snow fell, covering the courtyard in a silver blanket.
The sky was like a lead-colored cloud, stretching endlessly, devoid of interest.
But their cheerful voices rang out, echoing brightly in the winter mansion's living room.
In this world, where the floor-to-ceiling windows turned into a grayish-white screen, their vibrant voices stood out vividly.
After a while, Ifatiya finally let go of Houbailian's arms.
"Whose daughter is this? She's so beautiful."
Ifatiya choked up, gently caressing her daughter's cheek, and couldn't help but marvel.
"You gave birth to her."
Houbailian wiped away her tears and smiled.
Although Ifatiya's personality was different from what she had imagined, not the kind of dignified and elegant duchess, she was much easier to get along with than expected, like a livelier version of Antanas. She could easily become friends with Ifatiya.
"When I return, no one will dare bully my daughter in Icrite."
Ifatiya and Houbailian looked at each other, and in their tear-filled eyes, there was new hope.
She had heard from Antanas and Sinora that Houbailian had suffered greatly after Migaya's disappearance, and it was only after meeting Lance that she started to feel better. Although she was linked to Lance in public opinion, no one dared to provoke Houbailian anymore. There was also a good friend named Frey who always helped them, and eventually, they became known as the 'Hutton Capital's Terrible Trio.'
Ifatiya was very curious about their stories in the capital.
They were going to return to Icrite with their friends and family to start a brand new life.
Before that, all that remained was to end the chaos, end the war, and find Migaya.
"Where are Antanas and the others?"
Houbailian wiped away her tears and turned to look around the living room.
After coming downstairs, she hadn't seen anyone else in the mansion.
It wasn't an illusion; the first floor of the mansion probably only had Ifatiya left.
"They went back to Charing Cross Street, Number 84, to hand in the assignment for the Allied Forces. Currently, they need to help Lance and Miss Unita clear up the misunderstanding, and also turn the Allied Forces' intelligence personnel stationed in Brillada into our allies."
Ifatiya looked at Houbailian and Talia as they replied.
Before Talia and Houbailian came downstairs, the others had already left one by one, each busy with their own tasks.
"Where's Sid?"
Talia looked around again and noticed that the kitchen had already finished cleaning up.
Apparently, after everyone had finished breakfast, Lance must have taken Xiao Hei Mao to class, as today was his work day.
Everyone was busy.
Yesterday was a rare Sunday.
Today was Monday.
Tomorrow would be a holiday again due to the Moon Goddess Festival.
The Creedentia Empire had many holidays at the end of the year, such as a week off for National Day at the end of the month, plus the previous weekend, totaling nine days of vacation.
"Miss Sid... she went to the Pantheon in Brillada, probably to pray to the Goddess of Fate. According to custom, it's better to worship the Moon Goddess tomorrow. The Goddess of the Moon is the deity Sid believes in the most, so if she wants to pray to the Goddess of Fate, today is the best time."
Ifatiya was too relaxed and almost said something else, but fortunately, she corrected herself.
"Praying to the Goddess of Fate..."
Houbailian murmured.
She and Talia had also briefly discussed Sid upstairs.
Now they all realized that Miss Sid was actually the Archbishop Sigrid from the North Continent, otherwise, her powerful strength couldn't be explained.
On their way downstairs, Talia also told her that it was Sigrid who saved her mother.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
