🐅 🐅 🐅
FEILONG had begun living in the North Star Sanctuary as Angelina and Kyril’s little brother. Despite being a son of the emperor, he and his mother had only been allocated a small home in the Canopy. They’d practically lived in hiding as a single mother and only child.
Of course, Feilong had never eaten at a dinner table with other family members. Likewise, he’d never slept in a lavish bed with his siblings. Those experiences perplexed and surprised him, but at the same time, he also felt happy. At first, he’d been scared that his father would scold him upon hearing about it. As such, he’d been somewhat relieved to hear that his father was also absent.
But where’s Mommy? Feilong wondered. If she could join us at the dinner table, everything would be perfect. He imagined his mother taking part in their delightful family dinners. Stop, he told himself, shaking his head to clear away the thought. I shouldn’t wish for anything more.
Feilong looked up at the sky vacantly from the garden outside Kyril’s room. Tomi stood next to him. The prime minister had entrusted his daily affairs to Yuen so that he could take care of Feilong.
Angelina sneaked up behind the downcast-looking Feilong and covered his eyes with her hands.
“Stop!” he shouted. “Who is that?!”
His excessive surprise caused Angelina’s heart to ache. Due to being hurt in the past, he was abnormally afraid of human contact, just as Angelina had once been.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “It’s me—your big sister.”
“Oh, Lina,” Feilong replied, his shoulders slumping. “Sorry for yelling…”
An awkward air settled over them. Angelina didn’t know how to act in times like these. Oblivious to the situation, Ryuho plopped between them in his feline form.
“What are you two doing?” he asked.
His nonchalant tone was a saving grace for Angelina. At the same time, his soft fur warmed Feilong’s heart.
“You’re so fluffy, Ryuho!” Angelina cried, ruffling the fur around his neck.
Ryuho purred and nuzzled his jaw against Angelina, demanding her to continue. Feilong regarded them enviously, and upon noticing this, Ryuho breathed a quiet sigh.
“Listen here,” he said pompously. “If you don’t overdo it, you can pet my back. But just my back, okay?”
As Feilong’s expression brightened, Ryuho stretched out on the ground with his back facing the boy. Nevertheless, Feilong stood back hesitantly. He wasn’t sure what to do, as he’d never petted a tiger before.
Angelina acted as an example. “Here’s what you do,” she said, stroking Ryuho’s fur in the direction it flowed. The Flame Tiger responded with a purr.
Feilong extended the fingers of his small hand and began stroking Ryuho’s back as well. The tiger’s warm, fluffy coat smelled like the sun.
Ryuho’s eyes narrowed blissfully. “See—you can do it.”
“Does that feel nice, Ryuho?” Angelina asked while continuing to stroke his back.
“Yeah, it feels all right, I guess.”
In contrast to his words, his tail swayed left and right, slapping against the ground in high spirits.
Angelina nuzzled her cheek against Ryuho’s back and ruffled his fur. “I’m glad it feels nice.”
When Angelina smiled at Feilong, he grinned back at her. It was a childlike expression. He wasn’t afraid or attempting to read the faces of those around him.
“I feel good, too,” Feilong mumbled, also burying his face in Ryuho’s back.
And so, the children passed the time together in amicable harmony.
By rights, Emperor Feilong should have been able to experience this kind of childhood as well, Tomi thought while gazing at the three children. When he remembered his little sister Ryoui, his chest ached.
“Can you throw a ball, Feilong?” Ryuho asked.
“I think so,” the boy replied.
“I love playing catch. You should join us!”
After saying this, Ryuho shot to his feet. Since Angelina and Feilong had been leaning on his back, they were both tossed to the ground. The two children looked at each other and shared a laugh.
“You startled us, Ryuho!” Angelina cried.
“Oops, sorry about that.”
As the children squealed with delight, bull-headed shrikes chirped competitively to mark their territory. Ryuho pressed his two front paws into the ground and stretched his back. Tomi regarded the eager-to-play Flame Tiger with a warm smile.
I wanted His Majesty to experience this when he was a child, the prime minister thought. Now, Princess Angelina is giving it to him.
Feilong’s childhood had been far from peaceful. The families of the other consorts had sought to assassinate him, and his father had treated him with disdain. Though Tomi had done his best to protect Feilong, the boy’s life had been the opposite of stable.
“Throw the ball to me too, Lina!” Feilong shouted.
“Here it comes!” Angelina called back, tossing the ball to him using a gentle, underhanded throw.
Even so, Feilong didn’t catch it. In a flash, he and Ryuho chased after the rolling ball together. Watching Feilong cry out in delight and frolic around with a Flame Tiger warmed Tomi’s heart.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen His Majesty laugh like that, he thought.
As the game continued, Feilong looked at Angelina with guileless eyes. “Toss me the ball!” he pestered her in a carefree tone.
Angelina’s heart broke. Father has never asked me for anything with such sincerity in his eyes, she thought. His eyes always have a smidge of guilt mixed in them. But things are different now. Is he able to look so happy because he doesn’t remember me? He really has forgotten everything…
Realization washed over Angelina as she observed Feilong’s happiness. His small body held no memories of her. He didn’t remember anything painful, yet at the same time, he’d even forgotten the happy days.
Have you really forgotten me, Father? Angelina wondered. Can you really not remember anything? I want you to get your memories back as soon as possible.
Feilong had often tried to intuit Angelina’s mood when he’d picked her up by force. Likewise, he’d tried to read her expression when giving her misguided gifts. Angelina had never disliked her bungling father. Regardless, she’d rarely ever allowed herself to be happy. For some reason, she tended to adopt a somewhat cold demeanor. Despite knowing how much Feilong loved her now, she couldn’t forget his past contempt. A piece of her heart hadn’t been able to forgive him.
But when I look back on it, I should’ve told him I loved him, Angelina thought. Maybe then, he wouldn’t have forgotten me.
“What’s wrong, Lina?” young Feilong asked while cocking his head.
Ryuho cocked his head as well.
Angelina squeezed both of them in her arms. “No, it’s nothing. I love you two.”
Ryuho gave her a big, wet lick on the cheek, and Feilong hugged her back just as tightly.
He hugs me without hesitation, unlike when he was my father, Angelina thought. Her chest tightened as he poured all his love into that embrace. Will he hug me like this when he remembers everything? I sure hope he does.
Thus, Angelina squeezed her arms around the two boys even tighter.