According to Deidre, Luke would be returning in three days.
Now thirty-three years old, Luke seemed to believe that protecting the Kingdom of Lapladia and devoting himself to the Shamrock house was the mission he ought to fulfill. Deidre said that at the heart of that resolve was his wish to show Camilla a Lapladia far better than the one he had known, when she finally awoke.
Until Luke’s return, Camilla decided to focus first on understanding the current situation and taking care of her health.
Though Deidre had given her a rough overview of the past fifteen years, keeping up with the changes of the times was no simple matter. There was much to relearn, and just as much that was entirely new.
Her health also required attention. Aside from a slight light-headedness, she felt fine, but when a physician examined her, he found no serious problems, only that her muscles had weakened somewhat. At his recommendation, Camilla began rehabilitation by walking through the meadow with Deidre at her side.
There was also the matter of informing others that her petrification had finally been undone.
They decided it would be best to notify only those close to her at first, so letters were sent to the king and crown prince in the capital, as well as to Pamela in the Ashard Empire.
It seemed Pamela was living with her husband, now emperor of the Ashard Empire, and had been blessed with three children. She had known about Camilla’s petrification and had visited Luke and Deidre many times over the years. Because of that, Deidre knew her aunt well and appeared very fond of her.
Still.
You really do not age while petrified.
On the night of her second day after awakening, Camilla studied her reflection in the mirror and marveled.
To Camilla, the fifteen years of petrification felt as though they barely existed. Her mind had gone dark along with her body, and the next moment she had awakened in this estate. Rather than a long sleep, it felt as though fifteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Perhaps because it had been caused by magic, her body was exactly as it had been at twenty-six. Her daughter had grown tall, yet Camilla herself still had the body of a woman barely a year removed from childbirth. Thanks to the servants’ help, she had never been worn down by childcare, but even so, she scarcely looked like the mother of a sixteen-year-old girl.
If I stood beside Luke now, how would we look together?
Fifteen years ago, Luke had been eight years her junior. If Camilla had not aged during petrification, he was now seven years her senior. Worse still, Camilla had been petrified before seeing him reach adulthood, so the Luke in her memories was frozen at sixteen. She could not even imagine what he looked like now, after seventeen more years.
Deidre did say that Father was handsome, but still.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Camilla rose from the mirror.
“Who is it?”
“Mother, it’s Deidre.”
Her daughter’s voice still felt unfamiliar. They had already exchanged goodnights, so Camilla wondered what might be wrong.
When she opened the door, Deidre stood there in her nightclothes. Her dark gray hair, the same shade as her father’s, had been braided thickly for sleep, and she hugged a lace-trimmed pillow to her chest.
“I’m sorry for coming so late, Mother.”
“Don’t worry. Was there something you wanted to talk about?”
Camilla asked gently, and Deidre flushed, fidgeting before she spoke.
“I… I’ve always wanted to sleep together with you.”
“Oh my.”
“When I was a baby… it’s very faint, but I remember you kissing my cheek before bed. Whenever I felt anxious at night, I slept well after that. So…”
“I see. That’s what this is about.”
Camilla smiled and opened the door wide.
“In that case, come in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. How could I refuse my sweet daughter?”
At her words, Deidre smiled shyly and stepped inside.
Just as Deidre had said, when Luke had moved from the former baronial residence in the capital to this estate, he had transferred Camilla’s room exactly as it was. The dressing table, the bed, everything she had used daily was here, and it allowed Camilla to feel at ease.
The single bed was a bit small, but it would do for two women. When they lay down together, Deidre laughed softly, embarrassed.
“This feels strange. Sleeping like this with you, Mother.”
“I’m still catching up in many ways, but I’m happy to be here with the daughter who has grown so beautifully. I couldn’t spoil you before, so from now on, whenever you feel lonely, come to me.”
“I’m fine now. And besides… once Father comes back tomorrow, he’ll probably take you away from me all the time…”
“What was that?”
“N-nothing!”
Mumbling, Deidre clung to Camilla’s arm and pressed her cheek against her.
“Mother. Thank you so much for protecting me fifteen years ago. I love you.”
“Deidre. I love you too.”
Camilla smiled and gently kissed Deidre’s cheek.
Deidre looked startled, then smiled happily, the corners of her eyes faintly red.
