Chapter 565: Faded Words, Eternal Vows ( 565 )

Knock knock.

“Hm? Again?” Lithia blinked, her brow twitching as she stood up from the table. “Who keeps knocking…?”

She headed to the door with a puzzled look. Did every man in this village lose their mind over my mother?

She opened it—only to be greeted by a crowd.

A group of elves and dark elves stood proudly at her doorstep, all of them well-dressed, some even holding flowers, boxes, and different type of gift.

“Oh, Harny~!” one of the bolder ones beamed. “I heard your daughter is home today. Thought I’d come and greet her—maybe ask her if she’d approve of us getting married.”

“Oi! Back off. I was here first. I’m proposing today!”

“Hey! You’re the same age as her daughter! Shouldn’t you find someone your age!?”

“No way! She’s gorgeous, mature, and loyal! Harny’s the perfect wife!”

Lithia blinked slowly.

“…I’m Harny’s daughter,” she said flatly. “Not Harny.”

There was a brief pause.

“Ohhh… That explains the cold stare,” one muttered.

“Well, can you call your mother, then?” another added eagerly. “She said we could propose if you gave your blessing!”

“Yeah, I came prepared!” another elf declared, holding out a bouquet of rare nightblossoms. “Please—just one minute with her!”

“I’m the one who loves her most!!”

“You? Hah! You couldn’t even last a sparring match with her last year!”

“Shut up!! I trained for that rematch!!”

“Bring it on then!!”

The arguing escalated quickly, elbows thrown, a few grabbing collars, someone even knocked over the flower pot next to the door.

Lithia just stared at them. Blank expression. Cold, Slowly… she sighed.

SLAM.

The door shut with force that sent a few petals fluttering from the impact.

Back in the kitchen, Harny was humming as she dried a bowl, seemingly unaware of the chaos.

“Mom…”

“Hm?” Harny turned slightly, still smiling.

Lithia paused.

“…Nothing.”

“Oh. Okay, sweetie.”

She returned to humming again, like nothing in the world could trouble her.

But in Lithia’s heart, emotions stirred.

She still remembers.

The promise. The tears. The childish plea she made long ago.

And her mother—faithful to it. No matter how many years passed. No matter how many suitors came knocking.

Lithia looked down, fingers clenching softly.

Mom… after all these years… you really…

Lithia hesitated, then stepped closer. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“…Mom.”

“Hm?” Harny glanced back with her usual gentle smile.

“Why?”

“Why what, sweetie?”

Lithia looked down, her fingers fidgeting. “…That promise. You still… keep it? Even now?”

Harny didn’t answer right away. She turned, placing the dish towel on the counter, and slowly approached her daughter. Her expression softened , calm, kind, and filled with unwavering love.

“Of course I do,” Harny said, gently pulling Lithia into a hug. “You asked me to, remember? You begged me, back when you were still little. Said you didn’t want me to remarry… didn’t want to share me with anyone else.”

Lithia’s eyes widened, the memories washing over her. She had cried that day. Clung to her mother. Pleaded.

“You know,” Harny continued, her voice warm as she held her daughter tighter, “after I lost your father… I had nothing else. No family, no parents, no siblings. Everyone… gone.”

Her hand brushed gently through Lithia’s hair.

“All I had was you. You were my world, Lithia. My everything. So of course, when my only daughter made a request… how could I ever ignore it?”

Lithia felt her heart tighten. She buried her face in her mother’s shoulder.

“…But I didn’t mean to keep you alone for so long…”

“I wasn’t alone.” Harny smiled. “I had your letters. Your stories. And now… I have you again.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Just mother and daughter, holding each other in the quiet warmth of a small kitchen filled with old memories and long-kept promises.

Then Harny chuckled softly, brushing a few strands of Lithia’s hair behind her ear.

“I still remember the promise you made when you were twelve.”

“Mom!” Lithia’s cheeks flared red. “Don’t bring that up—”

“What?” Harny grinned, unbothered. “A promise is a promise, dear. Besides… you really scored the best one, didn’t you? Tall, handsome, polite, a noble. You really know my type.” She winked playfully. “Like mother, like daughter~”

Lithia buried her face in her hands.

“I was just a kid when I said that!”

“Mhm~ But you said it. And I kept it in my heart all these years. So if you’re marrying him… well, sharing’s not such a bad idea, right?”

“Mom!!”

Harny just laughed gently, turning back toward the kitchen counter. “You always had good taste, darling.”

Lithia groaned and leaned against the wall, flustered, conflicted… and oddly, comforted.

Inside her heart, there was a strange warmth. Embarrassing, yes. Awkward, absolutely.

But this… this was her mother.

And she never once broke a promise.

“So… a promise is a promise. Okay~?” Harny smiled sweetly, her tone playful.

“Hmph!! I don’t know…” Lithia puffed her cheeks and looked away, clearly flustered.

Harny tapped her chin. “Well… if you don’t like it, maybe I should accept the village elder’s proposal. He’s been asking me for years, you know.”

“NO!!” Lithia snapped her head back with panic in her eyes. “NO WAY!! Absolutely not!! I don’t want that!!”

Harny tilted her head innocently. “Oh? But he has a big house~ and lots of land~”

“No!! I don’t care if he owns the whole forest! I refuse!” Lithia stomped her foot lightly.

“Oh my~ so protective~” Harny giggled, reaching to pinch her daughter’s cheek.

“Ughh…” Lithia groaned, now holding her face in both hands. “Why are you like this today…”

Harny gently hugged her daughter from the side. “Because you’re here… and I’m happy.”

Lithia froze. Slowly, her pout softened.

“…I hate how you say sweet things after teasing me,” she mumbled.

Harny chuckled. “That’s my right as your mother.”

“Now,” Harny said, placing a neatly folded towel into her daughter’s arms, “bring this to that handsome, tall human of yours.”

“Umm… okay…” Lithia replied softly, cradling the towel.

She turned to leave the kitchen, but then… stopped halfway.

“…Mom.”

“Hm?” Harny was still humming lightly while wiping the dishes.

Lithia stood still for a moment, her fingers curling slightly around the cloth.

“Nothing…” She whispered, almost too quiet to hear.

Harny glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smile—but said nothing. Just a gentle nod.

Lithia took a quiet breath, then walked toward the small living room, where Marcellus was still sitting—half spaced out, half overwhelmed, caught in a dreamlike haze of “two Lithias.”

( End Of Chapter )

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