Chapter 58 - seraphina pov
[Seraphina’s POV]
As usual, I woke up early in the morning.
After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, I made my way toward the dining room.
When I arrived, only the maids were present.
The moment they saw me, they bowed respectfully before making way for me to take my seat.
I sat at the head of the table and quietly waited for my children.
As I waited, my thoughts naturally drifted toward them.
Both of them were growing at an astonishing rate.
Although I was rarely able to spend much time with them because of my duties as the Matriarch, neither of them had ever complained about it.
Instead...
They always found little excuses to spend time with me whenever they could.
Every time I saw them searching for another reason to visit me, my heart filled with a warmth that words could never describe.
Especially Gray.
Whenever he called me "Mom" with that bright smile and followed me around like a little dumpling...
I always had the urge to hug him tightly and never let go.
Sometimes...
It broke my heart to see my children maturing far earlier than they should.
There were moments when I wanted to abandon all my work and stay beside them every single day.
But I couldn’t.
If I truly wanted to give them a better future...
Then I had to continue standing at the very top of the Starlight Family.
I wanted to give them everything they could ever wish for.
I didn’t want them to suffer like so many children from other noble families.
I wanted them to grow up however they wished...
Without burdens.
Without expectations weighing on their shoulders.
And more than anything...
I was proud of the people they had become.
Despite possessing wealth, status, talent, and power that countless others envied...
Neither of them had ever become arrogant.
Neither had ever looked down on those beneath them.
They had preserved their kindness.
That alone made every sacrifice worthwhile.
Amy had changed so much as well.
When Gray was still a baby, she rarely showed interest in anyone besides me and her little brother.
She had always been a quiet child.
But as Gray grew older and the two of them spent more and more time together...
Her personality gradually became brighter.
Much more cheerful.
Watching the two of them laugh together always brought a smile to my face.
Just as I was lost in thought, I heard footsteps approaching.
Looking up, I saw Amy entering the dining room.
"Good morning, Amy."
"Good morning, Mom."
She smiled before taking her seat.
We chatted for a while before I glanced toward the hallway.
"Where’s Gray?"
"Is he still sleeping?"
Amy immediately grinned.
"You know him, Mom."
"He’s so lazy."
"How could he possibly wake up on time?"
She giggled mischievously.
I simply sighed.
Those two were always teasing each other.
A small smile naturally appeared on my face.
At that moment, another voice echoed through the dining room.
"At least I’m not a glutton like you."
Gray walked inside with an innocent smile.
"Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning, Gray."
He sat down on my right as usual.
Amy puffed out her cheeks but surprisingly didn’t argue back.
The three of us simply enjoyed breakfast together while talking about their training, the interesting things that had happened recently, and other ordinary conversations.
Moments like these...
Were the ones I treasured the most.
Before long, breakfast came to an end.
Gray and Amy left for another day of training.
And I returned to my work.
⸻
Time passed quietly as I buried myself beneath endless paperwork.
Reports.
Clan affairs.
Internal disputes.
Financial documents.
One matter after another demanded my attention.
Before I realized it, it was already lunchtime.
Just as I began eating...
Knock.
Knock.
A familiar knock echoed from outside the office.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Astrid walked inside without the slightest hesitation.
The moment she noticed my lunch...
She calmly pulled out the chair beside me, sat down, and started eating from my plate as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
I simply looked at her.
She smiled shamelessly.
"What?"
"You have all this food."
"Don’t hog it all."
"Share some with the poor too."
I could only shake my head helplessly.
In this entire world...
Aside from my children...
She was probably the only person who could steal food from my plate without being punished.
I sighed.
"So?"
"How did today’s training go?"
"Don’t tell me you were slacking off after letting them train by themselves."
Astrid immediately choked on her food.
She hurriedly grabbed a glass of water before glaring at me.
"Do you seriously have so little faith in me, Seraphina?"
"I’m a dedicated instructor now."
"Gray’s improvement has been incredible."
Before she could continue, I calmly interrupted her.
"That’s because my son is talented."
"Not because of you."
Astrid stared at me in disbelief.
Then she placed a hand over her chest dramatically.
"Ah..."
"You’re truly heartless."
"How can you say something so cruel to your dear companion-in-arms?"
"Doesn’t your conscience hurt even a little?"
"I teach them extremely well."
Astrid crossed her arms proudly.
"It’s not my problem those two barely need any guidance."
Then she suddenly pointed a finger at me.
"This is your fault."
I raised an eyebrow.
"...My fault?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
"It’s completely your fault."
"You work as though there’s no tomorrow."
"Because of that, your children are worried about you."
"They’ve already set a goal to become as strong as possible so they can help carry your burden."
She let out a helpless sigh.
"I even had to talk Gray out of that way of thinking."
For a brief moment...
I froze.
"...What?"
Astrid nodded.
"He told me he wanted to become stronger as quickly as possible so he could stand beside you and help you with your work."
"He said it wasn’t right to let one person shoulder every responsibility while everyone else simply watched."
"He was genuinely worried about you."
Astrid smiled softly as she remembered the conversation.
"I reminded him that everything you’re doing is so both he and Amy can enjoy their childhood."
"If he trained like a madman and ignored his own happiness, all of your sacrifices would lose their meaning."
"He understood immediately."
"He even thanked me."
A warm feeling quietly spread through my heart.
So...
That was what my son had been thinking all this time.
He wasn’t desperately chasing strength because he feared being weak.
He simply wanted to help me.
A gentle smile slowly appeared on my face.
"...That child."
I lowered my gaze toward my untouched meal.
There were countless burdens resting on my shoulders.
The Starlight Family.
Its people.
Its future.
Sometimes...
Even I felt exhausted.
Yet I had never once allowed those feelings to show in front of my children.
I wanted them to live freely.
To laugh without worries.
To enjoy the childhood I had worked so hard to protect.
And somehow...
Gray had noticed anyway.
He had quietly carried those thoughts in his little heart without telling me.
"...He’s too kind."
Astrid smiled knowingly.
"Just like his mother."
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
"I’d rather he stayed a child for a little longer."
"He doesn’t need to worry about burdens that belong to me."
Astrid nodded in agreement.
"I know."
"But..."
She smiled warmly.
"You should be proud."
"Your children aren’t becoming stronger because you forced them to."
"They’re becoming stronger because they love you."
Those simple words...
Touched my heart more deeply than any praise I had ever received.