When it is close to morning, Asahi wakes up beside me already gurgling and laughing while giving me raspberry kisses.
"I love you too," I yawn.
"Mama. I luv wu! Kiiii," Asahi climbs on top of me.
"You're always up so early," I boop his nose.
Asahi grabs my finger and hugs my hand.
"Come on. That's cheating, my Prince Charming," I try to stay awake after three days of travel and the intermission earlier this morning.
Then I recall that Fiona is leaving this morning. I change Asahi first, then wrap him in warm blankets before we head to the entrances.
We sit in the desks waiting for Fiona to walk by us.
Through the middle entrance, I can see the slit which the sun begins to climb over the aquatic horizon.
"Did Fiona overslept?" I gently pinch Asahi's cheek.
He gurgles hungrily at me.
I breastfeed him and he becomes angelic.
A hand comes over my shoulder to place breakfast before me. It's a golden winter soup.
"Thank you, Artemis. It's my favorite," I turn to my right where Artemis begins settling himself.
"Your skinny arms saddens me," Artemis says drily. "Take care of yourself more."
"Thank you. I'll try," I offer a smile before digging into my soup.
"Wow. It's mother's recipe." My stomach feels warm and I just want to finish all of it.
I finish the bowl before I know it.
Artemis pushes his bowl over to me.
"Thank you, but I'm full," I push it back to him.
"Why are you here so early?" I drink his soup in one gulp.
"To see the sun rise," I lie.
His brows rise, "Of course you did... Tell me how your husband treat you."
"He treats me well," I answer him with a slight hesitation.
"Lady Fiona said at one point he raped you." Artemis balls his fists tightly on the desk, "And he once left you for his ex girlfriend."
I have nothing to refute Artemis. I only worry about what he'll do.
"Before I go build you a house, I would like you to see something," Artemis gets up from his chair and places a hand on my shoulder, gesturing for me to do the same.
Asahi stops eating and hugs my neck so he could 'protect' me from being stolen away.
"Mama!" Asahi pouts angrily at his uncle.
I laugh, but Artemis wants nothing to do with Asahi's obsession.
Artemis walks us to the very back of the library with the seventeen statues. The statues are broken and pieced back together except for one.
We stand before the crackless statue and Artemis explains, "This is one of Enzumin's best scholars that are called the Ninety-Nine Scholars."
It's a beautiful marble statue of a handsome male elf probably no older than I am holding a toddler with short ears unlike the elf.
His frozen gesture is painful to look at because it is as if he has begged someone to be his hero and was constantly refused.
"Is this the Mistress and child of Prince Niltiocles?" I make an assumption.
"Yes, but he is more than that. He is truly an extremely exceptional scholar; and he is 'your' mother's cousin and a supposed Mortal Ambassador. It confuses everyone how he was seduced by the mortal Prince Niltiocles," Artemis's tone is nonchalant giving his facts a credible quality.
"What's his name?"
Artemis smirks in a snarky manner, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
"How?"
He takes my hand and places it in a caressing gesture on the elf's visage.
Then the marbling melts into flesh and colors.
Deep green eyes, dark clear skin, and silky black hair. This person is more like me than anyone I know.
The child in his arms has the unique soft silver hair, pale peachy skin, and the oceanic blue eyes that speak wonders.
"Ithronel," the elf sounds softly when he sees me.
"No. I'm Inajor," I correct him and turn Asahi around to face them.
"I'm Alosrin of the Ninety-Nine Scholars," he smiles softly when he sees Asahi.
To Artemis, Alosrin asks, "What are you doing here? Aren't you done chasing my cousin?"
"I'm here upon my father's orders," Artemis gestures to the other statues.
Alosrin gasps slowly and climbs down from his pedestal, "Where's Niltiocles?"
I look at Artemis who gestures for me to tell Alosrin.
"Prince Niltiocles died almost thirty years ago," I feel the heaviness of my heart weighing down onto my stomach.
I want to puke.
Alosrin takes a deep breath, "Who's the father of your son?"
"The father is the son of Prince Niltiocles," I answer it this way because this is the official lineage.
"Why was I expecting anything different?" Alosrin pinches the bridge of his nose, "You know what. We're hungry so we'll be going home."
Alosrin takes his child by the hand and walks toward the five circle entrances.
"Now I can leave to build your house with a peace of mind," Artemis places his hands on his hips.
"What do you mean?"
"He'll protect you when I'm gone," Artemis almost ruffled my hair until he notices Asahi's glare. "This child needs to chill."
I try to hold in my laughter but it comes out like farts.
"I don't think any of your nieces and nephews like you, huh?" I slap his shoulder. "They all like Trieu more."
"Sh!" Artemis closes his eyes trying to remove what I just said from his memories.
He walks away and points back to me, "I'm going to let this go because you're the baby."
"Thank you, big brother!" I rush to walk beside him toward the five entrances again.
Artemis peaks over and sees Asahi before smacking his face again, "Is his father just like him?"
"Maybe. But Nillin and I still haven't got a chance to get to know one another yet," I shrug my shoulders casually.
"All I can see is how wrong this marriage of yours is. If he doesn't fix this soon, count on me doing something about it," he heaves heavily.
"Thank you, big brother," my heart feels light and warm.
When we reach the entrances, Nien holds a crying child and a dagger against Alosrin.
Artemis slaps his forehead, "Mortal! What are you doing?"
"This thing popped out of nowhere and seizing an Aarthian Royal!" Nien finally turns to see me and I guess she makes the connection that the 'thing' is my mother's people.
Nien lets the toddler runs back to her mother. She kneels in apology, "I'm sorry. You must be my uncle's Mistress."
"It's okay," Alosrin replies awkwardly while looking back and forth between Artemis and I.
"This is Princess Nien, my sister-in-law," I step forward. "She's still quite young, I hope you can accept our apology."
"Let me guess, you married the current King of Aarth," Alosrin covers his mouth to chuckle. "How is it? Did the mortal woo you here?"
"I apologize on behalf of the 'mortals'. What Prince Niltiocles did to you and your child is wrong," I lower my head.
Nien's eyes widen as she recalls the story Grandmama told us.
"Shouldn't you address him as father? And that'll make me your stepmother. I don't plan on being an easily appeased mother-in-law especially if you're a mortal Queen and Ithronel's son."
He lowers his gaze and walks out of the library without ever accepting any of our apologies.