Chapter 11 Seraphina’s POV
[Seraphina’s POV]
The mountains of documents on my desk seemed endless.
Reports from branch families.
Trade agreements.
Military deployments.
Requests for audiences.
Every sheet required my attention.
Every decision carried the weight of the Starlight Family.
With practiced movements, I signed one document after another, my pen gliding across the paper without hesitation.
To others, I probably looked calm.
Composed.
Unshakable.
The perfect Matriarch.
Yet...
My thoughts were elsewhere.
Gray.
Amy.
Ever since Gray collapsed, I had been unable to completely focus on my work.
Even after Evelyn assured me there was nothing seriously wrong with him, a faint uneasiness remained in my heart.
I trusted Evelyn’s judgment.
She was the finest physician I knew.
Still...
He was my son.
As a mother, worrying about him was only natural.
I slowly put my pen down and leaned back in my chair.
The office was silent.
A silence I had grown accustomed to over the years.
Sometimes...
Too accustomed.
When had I last shared a proper meal with my children?
When had I last taken them outside?
I couldn’t remember.
My schedule had become so full that even spending an afternoon with them felt like a luxury.
A bitter smile appeared on my face.
I could suppress rebellious nobles.
Negotiate with kings.
Command thousands of warriors.
Yet...
I couldn’t even spare enough time for my own children.
Gray never complained.
Amy never complained either.
That only made me feel worse.
They had quietly accepted my absence.
They always smiled whenever I returned home, as though simply seeing me was enough.
The realization weighed heavily on my heart.
"...I’m sorry."
The words escaped my lips before I realized it.
A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Evelyn stepped inside.
She smiled the moment she saw me.
"You look exhausted."
"I’ve seen that expression before."
"It usually means you’re worrying too much."
I sighed softly.
"You know me too well."
She chuckled.
"We’ve known each other for years."
She sat opposite me without waiting for permission.
Unlike everyone else, Evelyn never treated me as an untouchable Matriarch.
To her...
I was simply Seraphina.
"So?"
"How’s Gray?"
"I already examined him."
"Physically, he’s perfectly healthy."
"The headache and slight memory confusion are normal after hitting his head."
"They’ll disappear with rest."
I nodded.
"I expected as much."
Evelyn smiled knowingly.
"But?"
I remained silent for a few moments.
"...I’m still worried."
She laughed softly.
"I thought so."
"You’ve always been like this."
"You act calm in front of everyone."
"But the moment your children are involved..."
"You become just another mother."
I didn’t deny it.
There was no point.
Because she was right.
After speaking for a while longer, Evelyn eventually stood.
"I should head back."
"If anything changes, send someone for me immediately."
"I will."
After she left, silence returned once more.
I picked up another document.
Before I could continue reading, another knock echoed through the room.
"Enter."
Selena stepped inside.
She bowed respectfully.
"Lady Seraphina."
I nodded.
"I have a task for you."
She straightened immediately.
"I will carry out any order."
"My children are leaving for the city today."
"You will accompany them."
Her expression instantly became serious.
"I understand."
"They are your highest priority."
"I expect you to protect them."
"No matter the cost."
Without the slightest hesitation, Selena knelt on one knee.
"I swear upon my life."
"No harm shall reach Young Master Gray or Young Lady Amy while I still draw breath."
I looked at her quietly.
That unwavering loyalty...
It was precisely why I had personally recruited her years ago.
"Good."
"You may go."
She bowed once more before leaving.
Not long afterward, another knock came from the door.
"Mother?"
Gray’s voice.
A warmth unknowingly entered my heart.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Gray entered first, followed closely by Amy.
The two of them looked refreshed.
Gray had fully changed into his new clothes.
Amy was already dressed elegantly for today’s outing.
They stood side by side before my desk.
"Mother," Amy said politely.
"We’re leaving now."
I looked at Gray.
"How are you feeling?"
He smiled.
"Much better."
"I’m completely fine."
I studied him for a moment.
His complexion looked healthy.
The lingering worry inside me eased slightly.
"Don’t overexert yourself."
"I won’t."
I nodded.
"Selena will accompany you."
Gray blinked.
"Our guard?"
"Yes."
"She’ll ensure your safety."
Gray smiled politely.
"I’ll be in your care, Miss Selena."
Selena inclined her head.
"The honor is mine, Young Master."
I looked toward both of them once more.
"...Enjoy yourselves."
Amy smiled brightly.
"We will."
The two of them turned and left together.
As the office door closed...
The room became quiet again.
I stared at the now-empty doorway for several seconds.
"...Have fun."
The words came too late.
They were already gone.
A faint smile appeared on my face before I returned to work.
⸻
Hours passed.
One report after another disappeared from my desk.
Eventually, a maid entered.
"Matriarch."
"Young Master and Young Lady have returned safely."
A quiet sense of relief washed over me.
"Good."
"Tell them I’ll meet them shortly."
"And send Selena to my office first."
"Understood."
A few minutes later, Selena entered.
She bowed.
"Mission complete."
"The Young Master and Young Lady returned safely."
I nodded.
"Give me your report."
Selena began recounting everything that had happened throughout the day.
The shopping.
The clothing store.
Gray being forced to try on countless outfits.
Amy teasing him.
The weapon shops.
The hot pot restaurant.
The playful arguments between the siblings.
For the first time in a long while...
I found myself smiling while listening to a mission report.
Then Selena hesitated slightly.
"There is one more thing."
I looked at her.
"Speak."
"Young Master spoke about you several times during the outing."
My hand stopped moving.
"He said..."
"He wanted to buy something for you."
"He also mentioned that he hoped the three of you could spend more time together."
"He seemed genuinely happy whenever Young Lady Amy spoke about you."
Selena continued.
"While choosing gifts, he spent quite some time searching for something suitable."
"In the end..."
"He bought matching bracelets."
"One for himself."
"One for Young Lady Amy."
"And one for you."
Silence filled the office.
Somehow...
Those simple words struck me harder than any battlefield report ever had.
So...
Even while enjoying his first outing...
He had been thinking about me.
A warmth quietly spread through my chest.
"...Thank you."
Selena bowed.
"It was my duty."
After dismissing her, I remained seated alone.
My gaze drifted toward the window.
The sun had already begun to set.
Orange light painted the office.
"...Perhaps..."
"I really have neglected them."
Another knock sounded.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Gray and Amy entered together.
The moment Gray saw me...
His face lit up.
"Mom!"
Without warning, he ran straight toward me.
I barely had time to react before his small arms wrapped around my waist.
For a brief moment...
I froze.
Then instinct took over.
I gently embraced him.
My fingers softly stroked his black hair.
"...Gray."
Carefully, I lifted him into my arms and carried him to the nearby sofa before sitting beside him.
Amy quietly took the seat opposite us.
I smiled faintly.
"So..."
"How was your outing?"
Gray immediately puffed out his cheeks.
"Mom."
"Sister bullied me."
Amy instantly protested.
"I did not!"
Gray pointed accusingly.
"She made me try on so many clothes!"
"You looked adorable."
"And she tricked me into eating an extremely spicy mushroom!"
Amy burst into laughter.
"You kept stealing food from my bowl!"
"You deserved it!"
Gray looked at me with pitiful eyes.
"Mom..."
"See?"
"She’s admitting it."
Watching the two of them bicker...
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
The office that usually felt so empty...
Suddenly felt alive.
Then Gray suddenly remembered something.
"Oh!"
"I almost forgot."
He hurried over to one of the shopping bags and took out a small gift box.
He carefully handed it to me.
"This is for you, Mom."
I blinked.
"For me?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"I saw it while we were shopping."
"I thought you’d like it."
Slowly, I opened the box.
Inside rested a beautiful silver bracelet.
Simple.
Elegant.
A tiny silver star hung from its center.
I looked down.
Amy wore an identical bracelet.
Gray did as well.
"...Matching bracelets?"
Gray smiled brightly.
"Mhm."
"I thought it would be nice if we wore the same ones."
For several long moments...
I simply stared at it.
Such a small gift.
Yet...
It felt more precious than anything I had ever received.
Carefully, I fastened it around my wrist.
Amy smiled.
"It suits you perfectly, Mother."
Gray nodded repeatedly.
"It really does."
I looked at the bracelet.
Then at my children.
Without realizing it...
A genuine smile appeared on my face.
"...Thank you."
"I like it very much."
Gray’s bright smile widened even further.
"I’m glad."
Looking at their happy faces...
I silently made a promise to myself.
No matter how busy I became...
No matter how heavy my responsibilities were...
I would make more time for them.
Because before I was the Matriarch of the Starlight Family...
I was their mother.