The next day came. As agreed beforehand, I was waiting for Iris in the hanging garden with you, Lucy, and Paul.

  The moment Iris entered the garden with Andres, she lowered her head to me.

  As you know, she did not give us the knight’s salute. She gave us the maid's bow.

  That was what made me devastated.

  Iris had foregone her knight status.

  And the way she addressed me, she did not address me as her mother. She did not return as my daughter.

  She greeted me with a maid’s bow. She called me not by ‘mother’ but ‘Your Holiness’.

  With a calm voice, she addressed me like that. “It has been a while, Your Holiness.”

  She came back not as a Knight of the main church, not as my daughter. She came back as a maid of Willow.

  I fought with the whole main church to keep her statue as a knight, to keep her identity as my daughter. At the end, it was for nothing.

  I knew that Iris felt responsible for it, too. Yet, neither of us felt regret. Instead, we felt proud about it.

  However, as a mother, I could not content myself. I was pretty sure that if Aria were in my position, she would cry at that time too.

  “… won’t you call me mother?” As you know, Lucy, I unsteadily walked to Iris with a tear falling down my face.

  Yet, Iris still kept her distance. She took a step back and lowered her head to me.

  With a sad voice, she said to me. “I lost my right to do so, the moment I decided to leave the main church.”

  That was when I lost myself. I really did not see how you, Lucy, and others reacted. I could only see Iris at that time.

  Iris must feel responsible for my downfall. She might have thought that her action at that time was the cause of the collapse of my faction.

  Yet, in truth, it was meant to collapse long ago. I knew it. Everyone knew it. However, in truth, it was because of her actions that our faction could survive that long. It was also because of her decision at that time that many of our core factions survive to this day.

  With a tear down my face, I extended my hand to caress her cheek.

  With a forced smile, I pleaded. “That is not true. You are nothing but my daughter. Could you call this old woman mother?” That was all I needed from her. She only had to be my daughter. She only needed to think of me as her mother. That was all I needed.

  I believe Aria also feels the same about you, Lucy. So, please never make Aria sad. No matter what, you will always be her daughter, and she will always be your mother.

  Then, as if answering my plea, Iris called me mother again. “… Mother.”

  I was not sure how you perceived it at that time; however, I could feel her uncertainty in it. Her voice was trembling. She was not the bright and confident Iris of the main church. She was my young daughter.

  At that point, I could no longer control myself. So, I tightly hug her. “Welcome back, Iris.”

  There were many more I wanted to talk to her. However, that was the only thing that came to mind. Then I tighten my hug as I try to convey my overwhelming emotion to her.

  Then, Iris also hugged me back. She was like the child I once knew. She said, “I am back, mother.” She became my young child.

  After that, I really did not know how we recovered. Was it your help? Or did we naturally return by ourselves? Could you tell me, Lucy?

  The rest of ‘our meeting’ was as we were aware.

  After we all sat down, I softly asked Iris. “Iris, I believe you already met Aria.”

  “Yes.” And she replied with an affirmative.

  After that, I introduced you and Paul to her. “Good. This is Lucy. Aria’s daughter and my granddaughter. And this is Paul, Aria’s first knight.”

  And you gave her a cute reply. “Nice to meet you, aunty.”

  You were so cute. Although you tried your best to be polite, you could not hide your ‘cheerfulness’.

  As for Paul, he reverted to his stoneface, unfriendly Paul. “I am Paul Averice.”

  Then, Iris responded to you with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Lucy.”

  I was sure of it. Seeing you like that, she might think back to her old days.

  Then, she turned to Paul. “Nice to meet you, Sir Paul. I am indebted to you for taking care of my mother.” She even politely lowered her head to him.

  Yet, your grandpa just lightly dismissed her. He might be doubting Iris. Well, he still could not forgive Duke Willow at that time.

  “It is my duty.”

  Seeing him like that, Iris could only let out a weak smile. She might have understood the real cause behind his strangeness at that time.

  I, too, upon seeing them like that, immediately tried to resolve his doubt.

  That was why I asked ‘our’ question at that time. “Iris, what do you think of Aria?”

  Then, Iris turned to me. She might have caught on to my intention.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  With a slight push, she firmly answered. “… the sun.”

  As you knew, Lucy, Iris said Aria was the sun.

  Only then did your grandpa’s attitude toward Iris soften.

  I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Paul, softly speaking to him. “I am glad. I believe this solves your concern, Paul.”

  Facing my questioning gaze, Paul gave us his heavy nod before turning to Iris. “… Yes. Forgive me, Ms. Iris. I have to ensure the well-being of milady.” He even lowered his head to Iris as he apologized.

  Yet, Iris just weakly shook her head. With a warm smile on her face, she said to Paul. “It should be I who asks for forgiveness. It seems my master caused too much trouble. Please accept our apologies.”

  At the end, she also lowered her head to him again.

  And your grandpa, as always….

  He sternly rejected her request. Then he stood up and picked you up.

  After that, he said with a stern look at Iris. “It is up to milady to decide. I will take my leave. Lucy, let’s go. Please enjoy your time together.”

  Both Iris and I could only look at you two departing figures.

  After you completely left the guarded area, I turned to Iris and gave my apology to her. “I hope you won’t feel offended. He is always steadfast when it comes to Aria.”

  “I can understand his feeling.” And with a weak smile, Iris replied to me.

  She might have also understood him better than I did in that regard.

  After all, Iris also underwent a similar experience to the one he did.

  Both of them were overprotective of their masters after all.

  Then, I tried to switch to the main topic we agreed upon.

  With a careful voice, I asked her. “How is it going with Lilia?”

  “Lilia’s ability is progressing well. It was all thanks to bishop Leon and your training manual.” With a warm smile, Iris replied. She even mentioned the thing we prepared for Lilia. She also misunderstood something. Or perhaps, your granduncle refused to tell her.

  So, with a light chuck, I tried to correct her. “You should thank Aria. It was she who wrote it.”

  “She did?” Then, after hearing that, Iris showed her rare surprised face.

  So, I heartfully confirmed it with her with a lovely smile. “She is much more amazing than you think. I can never compare to her. Your sister is that outstanding.”

  It always feels good to boast about Aria to others. Don’t you think so, too, Lucy?

  Then, with a small laugh, Iris said to me. “I feel ashamed as an older sister.”

  She might feel good about it, too.

  Then, I tried to get to the core of the problem.

  I looked straight into Iris’s eyes, with a serious face, and I asked her. “So…. You know how we sent Lily to you, right?”

  Then, she was momentarily stunned by it. Then, she slowly closed her eyes. After that, she solemnly said to me. “… I can make a deduction from it.”

  That was Iris’s habit. It was for when she wanted to be completely honest with anyone.

  That was when she wanted to tell the absolute truth from her heart.

  So, when dealing with your aunt, you must make her enter that state.

  If you can do it, you will see her inner thought. There will be no lie or doubt in her.

  How to make her enter that state was up to you. I can not tell you, Lucy.

  Then, while looking at Iris, who closed her eyes, I asked the most crucial question you, Lucy, wanted to know. “What is Lily’s thought on Aria?”

  Then, with a calm voice, Iris replied. “Lilia idolizes Aria so much.”

  Then I let out a sigh of relief. “I am relieved.” Then I put my hand on Iris’s hand to signal her that I no longer need it. Then, with a sad voice, I told her about Aria. “Aria has been blaming herself since that day.”

  She slowly opened her eyes. After she turned to look at me, she placed her other hand on mine as she offered her assistance. “Should I inform her about it?”

  Facing her eyes, I smiled at her. It was tempting. However, I decided to follow Aria’s direction. Aria might have her reasons for not telling Lilia the truth. So, I could only evade it. So, I gently shook my head as I said. “It is not the right time yet. Aria has not recovered from last year's accident yet.”

  I felt guilty when I guilt-trapped my own daughter like that. Irony, right, Lucy?

  After hearing what I said, Iris looked at me in pleading, “Please forgive my master for his blunder.”

  Seeing my daughter’s pleading gaze, my heart ached. Yet, I could not find it in my heart to forgive him. If Aria decided to forgive him, then I would. Thus, I decided to leave it to Aria. “I have no right to do it. It is up to Aria to decide.”

  Then, I looked at the sun; it was about the time.

  So, I decided to ask her about my personal question.

  Then I hesitatingly asked Iris. “… Iris, do you think Aria would commit any sins?”

  “Mother, is this a test?” Faced with my question, Iris showed me her surprised look as she asked back.

  Yet, I looked at her unwaveringly. That was the most important question of all. It has bugged me since the day of her ‘confession’. I could not believe it. Yet, I could not deny it. So, I needed insurance known as Iris to support my stand. Aria would never commit those atrocities.

  Thus, with a firm voice, I asked Iris again. “…Do you think Aria will destroy this world?”

  Iris also looked back at me. Then she slowly closed her eyes.

  With a clear voice, she said. “I don’t know why you asked me that. However, … For her… if she wishes to destroy the world, that means that world is already beyond redemption. That world does not deserve salvation.”

  Then she opened her eyes to look at me again with a determined face, she said. “There will be no point in living in that world.”

  Then she added, “I don’t want to live in that kind of world. A world that she abandoned.”

  Seeing her like that, I let out a smile and nod my head in agreement with her. “Yes. Yes. That is true. Thank you, Iris.”

  Then, Iris told me some unexpected news. “I am receiving the Radiance Blessing from Aria.”

  Hearing that, I weakly replied to her. “This is who she is.”

  That was how your mother had been, Lucy. She never cares about herself. She only cares about others.

  She always put others before herself. That was the kind of person your mother is, Lucy. You should feel proud of her.

  The Radiance Blessing is a blessing for a glorious future. It is an important blessing for nobles. That was how the world perceived it.

  However, it has another secret. Have you wondered what the future can guarantee for glory? A wish to the goddess? Surely is. That was how the ‘normal’ Radiance Blessing was conducted.

  This is the only secret we, clergy, know. If it were done by the same sex as the receiver, it would hold a different meaning.

  ‘With my own as a guarantee, I will ensure you have a glorious future. I will share mine if it falls short.” That was why it was always performed by the opposite gender.

  I believe Aria also knew about it. Yet, she still offered it.

  As for Iris, she might feel trouble about it. That was why she decided to tell me about it.

  She was unsure whether to accept or reject it.

  That was why I told her to accept it.

  As you know, your mother, Aria, is really stubborn when she has already decided on something.

  So, all we needed to do was to ensure Iris’s glorious future.

  Iris may have noticed my intention, too.

  Then, I added “I, too, should bless you. Could you come closer?”

  “Yes.”

  As Iris came closer, I grabbed her head and kissed her forehead. I gave her the blessing of a safe delivery. That was the most important blessing for the women. It would guarantee her safety during childbirth. “This is mother love. May your life be filled with happiness. May you be a kind mother.”

  “Thank you, mother.” Then, Iris tightly hugged me.

  With a loving smile, I caressed Iris’s head. “Do bring my grandchildren when the time comes.”

  “I would do so.” I could feel the hug tighten with it.

  Then, I kissed her head again. “Iris, I love you.”

  “I love you, too, mother.”

  After she said that, we separated.

  We heard the bell after all.

  So, I instructed her to move out.

  “You may leave. Andres, could you help guide Iris?”

  With my instruction, your brother appeared out of nowhere. He became good at hiding himself.

  With a respectful bow, they answered. “Yes.”

  Then, the moment Iris was about to leave, I asked, “What do you think?”

  Before answering, Iris looked at Andres again and turned to me.

  After she closed her eyes, she resolutely said, “The clear sky.”

  It was not blue but the clear sky. As long as the sun shines, he will continue to be the bright blue sky. That was what she meant.

  Then a thought went through my mind. What if the sun sets? Then, the sky would turn.... It was too scary to think of.

  I quickly dismissed it as it was a dangerous thought.

  So, in the end, I only gave my thanks to her. “I see. Thank.”

  As you may have noticed, Aria became more cheerful after that day.