You're not my mother

September 4th, 1351 – Cassius' Third Birthday

Lana smiles as she thinks about her job. A job that is both easy and well-paid, allowing her to care for such a well-behaved child like Cassius. Three years have passed since she first set foot in this castle, and not once has she regretted it

Cassius, now three years old, remains an incredibly obedient and polite child. He never causes trouble or mischief like other children Lana has encountered. However, one thing she has noticed is that Cassius is extremely attached to Duchess Celeste. He loves clinging to her at every opportunity, and Celeste never seems to have the heart to refuse him

Just like now, Cassius is tightly hugging the duchess's leg, his golden eyes looking up at her with eager anticipation

"Momm... let's take a walk in the garden together!" Cassius pleads, his voice as clear as silver bells

Celeste gently strokes his head, her voice carrying a soft yet firm correction

"It's Celeste, not Mother"

She has never allowed Cassius to call her "Mother" Lana noticed this a long time ago but never dared to ask why

Celeste kneels down, gently prying Cassius's hands away

"Besides, you have a birthday party to attend tonight. I still need to make preparations for the event. Why don't you go with Lana instead?"

But Cassius refuses to let go, clutching her even tighter. Lana can see Celeste's patience slowly wearing thin. In the end, the duchess sighs, lifts Cassius into her arms, and places him in Lana's embrace

"Lana, take care of Cassius for me. I need to check on the preparations"

"Yes, Your Grace" Lana bows respectfully

Cassius wraps his arms around her neck, snuggling into her shoulder affectionately

"Nana, let's go to the garden!"

Lana chuckles. He can easily pronounce her name, yet he insists on calling her "Nana." She finds the nickname adorable and has never corrected him

Carrying Cassius, she walks down the hallway toward the garden. All around them, servants are hurrying back and forth, busy with last-minute preparations for the party. The duchess has decided to invite some nobles, making everything more urgent than ever

"I heard that your birthday party has become quite the hot topic among the nobility" Lana remarks, glancing at Cassius

Cassius blinks before breaking into a radiant smile

"That means I'll get more presents!"

Lana laughs, ruffling his hair

"That's right, you'll receive a lot of gifts"

On his second birthday, the Duchess had given him a silver bracelet. Although it didn't appear particularly intricate, Lana was certain it possessed some kind of magical ability. She glanced at his neck, where a necklace with an eye symbol rested. Compared to before, she could clearly see that its size had adjusted to fit Cassius perfectly.

The two of them stepped into the garden behind the castle. This place was meticulously maintained-the flower bushes were neatly trimmed, the pathways were spotless, and the air was filled with a delightful fragrance. At the center of the garden stood a grand marble fountain, surrounded by rows of roses, lavender, and many other vibrant flowers

Lana set Cassius down, allowing him to explore the vast garden freely. The moment his small feet touched the ground, he eagerly ran toward the flower beds, his golden eyes sparkling as if he had just discovered a hidden treasure

"Nana, the flowers are so beautiful!" he exclaimed, crouching down and gently touching a fully bloomed crimson rose with his tiny fingers

Lana walked over to Cassius, smiling as she watched him

"You really love flowers, don't you?"

Cassius nodded, his soft black hair swaying with the movement

"They're beautiful. Everyone loves beautiful things" he stated simply, but there was a unique fascination in his eyes that Lana had never seen in any other child before

She quietly observed Cassius as he moved through the garden, his small hands delicately brushing against the soft petals as if he were treasuring something precious

They strolled through the vibrant garden at a leisurely pace until they came across a row of peonies. However, these flowers were no longer as lively as they once were - the delicate petals had turned yellow, and the stems drooped as if time had drained them of life

Lana paused, observing the melancholic sight before her

"What a shame. These peonies were once so beautiful, but they wither so quickly" she murmured, her voice tinged with regret

Cassius also stopped, but instead of simply glancing at the flowers and moving on like Lana, he slowly stepped forward and knelt in front of the wilted blooms. Resting his small hands on his knees, he silently observed them for a long moment

Lana assumed that he must be feeling the same regret as she did, so she gently patted his head

"Don't worry, I'll ask the gardeners to take care of them later"

With that, she turned away, intending to continue their walk around the garden. However, just as she took a few steps, Cassius's clear voice rang out, filled with an unusual excitement

"Nana, look!"

Startled, Lana quickly turned back, her gaze immediately landing on Cassius. She froze

Right before her eyes, the withered peonies were slowly coming back to life. The once-yellowed petals gradually regained their vibrant pink hue, their delicate forms filling with renewed energy as if a miracle had just been bestowed upon them. In mere moments, the entire flowerbed in front of her had become fresher and more radiant than ever, the petals swaying gently in the sunlight, whispering a silent melody of rebirth

Cassius looked up at Lana, his small face glowing with an innocent smile

"They're so beautiful"