Chapter 148

**Tzalmon Point of View**

I arched a brow at my son, who gave me a wink in return.

So the reason why he wanted to go shopping with me suddenly and wanted to buy matching clothes with me is for this.

He actually got the matching set for Eblilis as well and hid from both of us.

Not bad. Not bad!

"What nonsense are you talking? Let's go down, the guests are about to arrive." Although those words sounded harsh, the slight pink cheeks and red ears of hers tells a different story.

"Mamma, my friends can't attend the party right?"

"Given the weather outside, I doubt they would. However, there's still Noemi, yes? Also, Uncle Liam's friends are coming, my friends are here." Eblilis pinched our son's cheek and pacified him.

"My people will be here too. Your Grandpa Abby will be here too." I also tried my best to brighten his mood.

"It's okay. I can always enjoy next year with them. Or there is still Noemi's birthday pending for the year. I can still enjoy then." The little fellow nodded to himself with a thoughtful smile.

The three of us, Igses in the middle with me on the right side, Eblilis on the left side and both of us holding each of his hands, started to climb down the stairs.

Only two steps down, Igses saw Noemi wolfing down a plate of chocolate flavored snakes and ran down to her leaving me and Eblilis a short time with each other alone. I don't know if he did it intentionally or not but I was still thankful for it.

"I - I asked my people to attend the party as well. Is that alright" I slowed down the pace of my walking and unknowingly, she slowed down as well.

"Gyles, Azar and Eelk?"

"Yes and those new families that came recently and starting to settle down here as well. It will be a new experience for them and this is also their crown prince's birthday." I explained hurriedly not wanting something so trivial to become a misunderstanding out of nothing.

"Oh. How many families are here by the way? Are they getting used to the culture and life here?" Eblilis's tone doesn't sound like she is blaming me. On contrary, it was as casual and warm as it was an illusion.

"For now, twenty five clans are here. Put together, a total of nine hundred people." She suddenly faltered on her steps hearing my words. I reflexively wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into me so as to save her from falling down.

She must've been so shocked that she did not realize our current position and looked up at me with wide shock displayed in her eyes.

"Nine hundred? How did you manage to settle them down? Given the security here, how did you manage to cover up the arrival of so many new faces? What about their accommodation, their identity cards and the other essentials?"

Wrapping the second arm also around her, I shrugged with a smile. "It's difficult but not impossible. The clans now work under Vaettir Industries banner so with that appearance, it is not too difficult to scatter them and settle them down."

Eblilis blinked her eyes at me countless times as she narrowed her eyes with a suspicious stare. "It's not as simple as you say it. Tell me, how did you pull this off? Why do I feel like there's help from a small pair of hands I'm very familiar with?"

And the smart little fox is back!

Is it okay to be so smart?

She almost guessed everything!

"There is."

"Huh?" She frowned in confusion for a second before her face creased back in realization. "He really helped you? With magic?"

"Um hmm. And I have to say that his outlook on use of magic quite unique."

"But he was always against you."

"He is my son after all. How can he be against me forever? You are not comfortable with the both of coming closer?" Although I know my limitations, I cannot still stay very far away from my son.

I could only find the commonalities between us and get closer to him, know him more and understand him more.

Eblilis did not hesitate to answer and shook her head. "It's not that. It's fine if he is happy. I just - I'm not used to share his attention. Before you came, I was his only parent, I had his complete attention. I knew somewhere deep down he wanted a father too. And then you came and you started to fill that empty spot slowly. I'm not uncomfortable. I'm just - not used to it."

This is the first time she expressed her thoughts clearly and calmly without any anger or despise. And I'm glad that she did.

I started to understand that most of the problems between us sprouted from me and the reason for most of those problems was poor communication between us.

If I told her everything, gave her an explanation in the past, if I was transparent with the things I should be, she might've not harbored such loathing towards me.

Now that she expressed her thoughts without hiding them, I felt both happy and appreciative. And to be honest, I understand her state of mind as well.

For her son, she sacrificed a lot. To give her son a better place to grow up, to give him better food and clothing and to give him a good life, she put herself through hell.

Her love for Igses is evident and now there is this second parent who did not share any of her suffering in the past sauntered in to their perfectly build nest to claim his rights, it is understandable how she would feel.

There is no doubt that she is the best mother a child could ever have.

"In that little fellow's life, no one can replace you. No matter how close we are or how close we get in future, I will always come after you. To be honest, the reason he started to accept his relation with me is not because he wanted a dad but because he wanted to see you happy. He wants you to live like Noemi's mother, happy and content with life and her husband. He wants that for you." Eblilis gasped when she heard me.

And I was not lying.

Igses's primary goal in accepting me was to help his mother live a free life. He wants his mother to work a little less and enjoy a little more. I, as his father, who is also coincidentally rich and accommodating, is perfect to give his mother a good happy life.

And I'm not at all angry about it. On contrary, I find it pleasing to heart. What the son wants is also what the father wishes for so why not?

I want to correct myself and give the best of everything to Eblilis. With two minds alike, I'm satisfied with the result.

A thin line of silver slipped from Eblilis eyes soon after she heard what I said. Her eyes reddened while she tried to keep the moist in her eyes away.

Wiping away a tear from her cheek, I sighed as I rubbed my thumb on her chin. "You know that we, Dr'helellis, honor our promises with life right? Today, I, as the King of Dr'helellis, promise you that I will not come between you and Igses and I shall give it my best to rectify myself despite of the results in the end. I will not repeat the previous mistakes again, if I really did, the heavens can be the witness and scatter my soul with no chance of reincarnation." She already loosened herself and despise me less now.

I know she must've thought through things before deciding to be civil with me. I cannot cause any trouble for her and her emotions at all.

She is trying to see past my negatives and I should try and give her good reasons to forget those negatives once and for all.

But my promise is not a cause of some kind of repercussion. I meant every word I said. I wanted her to know, I want her heart to feel my sincerity.

I want to wipe away her doubts and suspicions slowly. I want to give her a carefree life, a life she missed because of me.

And she will get it; with or without me in such life. It doesn't matter anymore if I could be able to stay in a solid relationship with her or not, as long as she is happy, it is fine nonetheless.

I'm fine with just being a neighbor, or just a business partner, or just a roadside Romeo who flirts with her ever now and then. I'm content with anything as long as she has a smile on the face and the genuinity of the smile is seen in her eyes.

Eblilis started at me wordlessly for sometime before she cleared her throat and got out of my arms. I unwrapped my arms around her and let her put some distance between us.

A glint of determination and something else was seen in her eyes at that moment. Before she turned around to leave, she once again gave me a long stare and said something that caused my heart to pound in excitement.

"After the party is over, let's have some much needed chat that was pending for some years now."

Just those few words opened a new door of expectation for me!

And I couldn't ask for more.

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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