Chapter 71: 70. old self

"You are me?"

Julia couldn’t really comprehend what the girl said. But she felt like that was true. The girl showed her a more pleasant smile as she nodded.

"Yes. However, unlike you, I am honest with myself."

"Honest?"

"Yes, for example. I fully accept that I am not loved. And unlike you, I didn’t subconsciously block my memory to erase my daughter out of guilt. After all, what kind of mother outlives her child by three centuries?"

The scene in front of Julia changed once again. This time she found herself sitting on a wooden chair by a table with several documents spread on it. On the near wall was a map, and behind the chair was a window with a breathtaking view. Close by sat Kana, seemingly absent-mindedly looking out the window. 

Julia picked up a cup of tea and took a sip as she looked over the papers. While she was reading it, the door was quietly opened. She smiled slightly as she heard the door open, but quickly pretended not to notice and picked up another document.

"Surprise attack."

A cheery voice was heard as a girl a head shorter than Julia jumped on her. Kissing Julia on the cheek as she hugged her. The girl had silver hair and bright red eyes that sparkled as she smiled at Julia. Julia returned the kiss and tightly hugged her.

"Did you need something?"

Julia asked the girl in a gentle voice. The girl smiles lovingly and shyly asks.

"Could I sleep with you today?"

She blushes a little, but on her face, it’s clear she is getting ready to be denied her request.

"Mommy is busy right now."

As Julia said, the girl looked down sadly. As the girl was about to get off Julia’s lap, Julia patted her head.

"But I will join you after I finish here, okay?"

"Yes, Mom."

The girl beamed happily and jumped off Julia’s lap. After running to the door, she stopped and turned back to Julia.

"I like you, Mommy."

She giggled and ran off. Julia felt her mouth form a smile as she watched her. Julia returned to the papers in front of her. In the following few minutes, she drank the rest of her tea. And was working on the last document, adding her signature under it and a seal. Julia stretched to exercise her sore muscles.

"Ahhhhh!"

As Julia was about to clean her desk, a scream echoed from the hall. Wasn’t that- Julia jumped to her feet, ignoring the chair she overturned. As she ran, Kana, sensing danger, turned into her sword form and manifested in Julia’s hand.

Bolting out of the room, Julia almost slammed herself into the wall. Without slowing down even a little Julia used the wall as a platform and kicked herself off it.

"Mia! What happened?!"

Julia yelled out as she slammed her shoulder into the door, which then turned into a scrap of wood. Julia’s eyes hectically scanned the room, looking for only one person.

"Mia!"

"M-Mom..?"

There, on the ground, lay the girl from earlier in a pool of her own blood. Julia ran to her side and grabbed her hand.

"Mom… there is… an"

The girl pointed shakily towards the window. Julia looked at where she was pointing, and there she saw a figure dressed in black walking towards what appeared to be a portal of some sort.

"Sister what hap- Mia!?"

"Take care of her."

"Got it."

Nika entered the room and likewise ran towards the girl; Mia, almost immediately. As Nika kneeled next to Mia, Julia clenched her teeth and firmly grabbed Kana’s handle as she got up, facing the figure with hate in her eyes.

"Who hired you? Who is the coward that is so scared of challenging me that they target my daughter?"

The figure didn’t so much as turn around. Julia’s eyes turned a darker shade of red than ever before.

"Erxchié Erentaa gaem!"

The figure seemed to stop briefly. Apparently, it was not expected that a queen of vampires would know Elven. The figure stopped only for a fraction of a second, but it was enough.

In a flash, Julia slashed at the figure. But the slash didn’t connect with the figure. Though her cape was cut in half, reveling an elf. The middle-aged-looking elf coldly glanced at the girl before coldly glancing at Julia. As Julia was about to attack the elf again, the elf made a subtle movement with her hand, bringing Julia’s attack to a halt. Using the opportunity to escape.

The reason Julia abandoned her attack wasn’t because the elf used some sort of special move that would physically stop her or even endanger her. Yet there was blood dripping from her body.

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Several cuts covered her left side. But she ignored them; her face was pale… paler than normal, at least. Her head creakingly turned around like an old, rusted machine. A nervous sweat was dripping from her forehead. I blocked it, right? I did. She thought, or more hoped than anything else. Never before would she be happy that she was bleeding, but that is the situation now.

"Mia…"

Unfortunately, the sight behind her showed her that she had failed. The wind blades that were cast by the elf were only partially blocked by Julia’s body, and most of the attack went right past her.

While Kana had likewise tried to block, she was too late as she was focusing on healing magic, which was never her forte.

In the aftermath, Julia saw Mia in a much worse state than before. In fact, it was a miracle that she was still alive. But it was enough to make Julia blind to anything else.

"Mother…?"

"Yes, I am here, sweety."

Julia kneeled next to Mia, taking her smaller, cold hand in her own. Tears formed at the corner of Julia’s eyes as Mia forced herself to smile. With great effort, she opened her mouth and-

"It’s your fault."

Distorted voices come out, seemingly from everywhere. The scarred, silver-haired girl repapered, but Julia didn’t pay her any mind. She was too focused on the motionless girl laying on the ground.

"If you didn’t decide to play that little game of empire-building of yours, She wouldn’t be dead."

The girl said it condescendingly from behind Julia. The previous vision disappeared, and Julia was holding thin air. Big tears run down her cheeks while she sobs softly.

"You get it, don’t you? So, pull your goddamn head off your ass and face reality."

The image of the girl, as well as the room, began to disappear just like a morning mist.

"-ia."

"-ster!"

"Master! Please open your eyes."

A trio of voices reached Julia’s ears. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw three girls Nika, Miyako, and Nemi looking at her worriedly.

"What happened?"

Julia asked them once her senses returned to normal. All three of the girls let out a sigh of relief. Nika and Nemi almost instantly hugged her.

"You weren’t responding, master."

Seeing that the other two weren’t going to say anything, Miyako began talking. She told her how, after they woke up, she was still sleeping. How she started to cry in her sleep, and no matter what they did, she wouldn’t wake up.

"This silly girl also wanted to exploit the situation and start to kiss you."

"Huh?! Don’t pretend that you weren’t going to do the same."

Nika and Nemi started fighting among themselves. Which made Julia chuckle as she put her hands on each of their heads, giving them a gentle pat.

"Nika, how many times have I told you to get along with others?"

"A lot, but it's just- wait, did your memory return?"

Nika said expectantly, and Miyako too looked expectantly at Julia. Julia thought for a bit before nodding.

"It seems so."

She smiled at Nika. Miyako likewise looked relieved. Nemi, on her part, had no clue what was happening. But it didn’t matter to her; the only thing that mattered to her was that her loved one was okay.

"Nemi, there is something I would like to do."

"What is it, Jul-"

Julia didn’t let her finish talking as she pressed her lips against Nemi’s. Nemi was surprised but didn’t resist, and she thoughtfully enjoyed the kiss. After several seconds, Julia breaks the kiss.

"Let’s go out tomorrow."

"un, okay."

Nemi blushed under Julia’s seductive smile. And nodded meekly. Julia caressed her cheek before she attempted to stand up, only to lose her balance and fall back to the ground.

"Looks like you should rest first."

Nika smiled as she helped Julia get back on her feet. Julia turned back at the still-flushed Nemi and winked at her.

"then tomorrow."