"…"
Lionel just stared blankly at the faces before him. His father's deep voice still rang in his ears. His mother's smile, which was gentle as he remembered, made his chest ache.
He had dreamed of them countless times after their deaths. But those dreams had always been blurry.
Now… everything felt so real.
He could hear the faint sound of silverware scraping against each other as they ate.
It wasn't a dream.
I am really back.
His throat tightened at that thought. He could barely breathe as memories rushed into his mind.
He remembered the way his father's lifeless body was carried back to their estate. How a funeral was set up to commemorate his death.
The Emperor, who was both the empire's ruler and his father-in-law, had ordered Duke Arden of Exelio, one of the strongest generals of the empire, to lead the war against the northern kingdom.
It was supposed to be a glorious moment for them. But instead, his father never returned alive.
And his mother…
Princess Elara, the Duchess of Exelio, and the eldest daughter of the emperor, who was once full of grace and laughter, slowly lost her light after her husband's death.
2 years after the Duke's death, she was found lifeless in her bed with a cup of poison on her table.
Everyone said it was grief that pushed her to take her own life. But Cassian's voice echoed in his mind.
"Your mother… who was poisoned. Such a tragedy, wasn't it?"
That meant she didn't take her own life but was poisoned instead.
Lionel's hand clenched under the table, his small knuckles turning white. Rage burned inside him, bubbling up like lava beneath his skin.
His cousin's mocking grin, his lies, his betrayal… It all came flooding back to his mind.
He must be the reason why his father was sent to the war and his mother was poisoned.
That bastard!
He wanted to scream.
He wanted to tear everything apart.
He wanted to go to the empire's castle right now and kill Cassian with his own hands.
But then—
"Ah… our poor Lionel must be so tired that he was not able to answer his dear father," his mother said softly, tilting her head as she looked at him. She was smiling so sweetly.
"He looks pale and sickly. I told you, Arden, he's been training too hard again."
Her gentle voice broke through the chaos in his mind.
Lionel's breath hitched. His eyes blurred as tears filled them slowly.
That voice…
He had forgotten how warm his mother's voice sounded.
Lionel's eyes blurred more as he looked at her.
Her blonde hair fell over her shoulder. Her green eyes looked at everyone softly and kindly. A lot of people said that he resembled his mother a lot as they had the same hair and eyes.
But he bet to disagree. His mother was one of a kid. She had this kind of beauty that drew people into her. And currently, there was no trace of sadness on her face.
And his father…
His father was sitting proudly and strongly beside her. His dark brown hair was neatly cut, while his blue eyes looked at him worriedly. He was wearing that same familiar navy coat with the Exelio crest embroidered on his shoulder.
"Mother… Father…" Lionel's barely audible voice sounded.
"Lionel?" Arden's brows furrowed. He did not know why Lionel was acting that way.
Before either of them could react, Lionel stood up suddenly. His tears finally fell on his cheeks. He took a big step forward, then another, until he was standing between the two of them.
And then, like a child, he broke down in front of them.
"I—I missed you…!" His voice cracked as the words slipped out of his mouth. "I missed you… I missed you both so much…"
He quickly embraced them with his small arms. He clutched his father's arm with one hand, while he held onto his mother with the other. Tears poured down his face as his shoulders shook with sobs he could no longer hold back.
"Lionel, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?" Elara gasped softly, reaching out to cup his face.
Lionel couldn't answer.
How could he explain that he had already buried them both?
That he had spent years living in regret and loneliness?
That he had lost everything, only to open his eyes and see them alive again?
He was a respected duke once, a man who commanded armies and stood proud before kings. But at this moment, he wasn't any of that.
Right now, he was just a son. A son who had finally been given the chance to see his parents again.
His father's firm hand rested on his shoulder.
"Lionel, it's all right. You must have had a bad dream," Arden said softly. "Fear not because we're just here."
Lionel clung to his father's arm even tighter. He was afraid that if he let go, they would vanish again.
His tears wouldn't stop, no matter how hard he tried.
"Pft—" Elara let out a short laugh after seeing her son's face.
"Oh, Lionel," she said, wiping his tears with both of her thumbs. "My dear, you look so pitiful and funny right now. It's not like you to cry at the table." She smiled.
"The maids told me you didn't sleep well last night. You must have had a bad dream."
She reached up and fixed his hair softly before squeezing his shoulder gently. "Come, let's eat. Your father has to meet with his commanders later, and you also have some lessons to attend.
"Yes. Eat well, son. We'll talk after." Arden gave him a small and encouraging nod.
Lionel blinked before nodding slowly. The panic and anger in his chest were pushed back by the simple comfort of his mother's touch and his father's voice.
"Okay," he managed to reply.
He let go of his parents and walked back to his place at the table. His hands were still trembling, but he could feel himself calming down after some time.
A small smile appeared on his lips. He didn't care how he looked earlier. He didn't care if it made no sense to his parents.
For him, all he knew was that this time…
He wouldn't let them die.