It is a fair afternoon in the Divine Realm.
In Sky Island â Lunaâs territory, sheâs currently enjoying an afternoon tea with Vanessa accompanying her. Theyâve talking about the recent events on Vanessaâs life and their topic somehow diverted to Richard.
ââ¦oh right, Mom. Have you heard about it from Richard?â
Luna looked at her daughter and smiled: âWhat? That heâs engaged? Yeah, your Aunt Ellen told me about it yesterday. It seems that she was very happy about it.â
âYeah. Richard told me that Aunt forgotten about him already and adopted the other two.â Vanessa chuckled upon recalling Richardâs expression at that time. âMore importantly though, it seems that Uncle Paul wasnât against it. Richard was really stressed about telling him you knowâ¦â
âWell, Paul is just tough on the outside. Richard himself should know that. Thereâs no real reason to be so afraid.â Luna replied.
âRichard isnât afraid of telling Uncle about it.â Vanessa shook her head, âHe was scared of how heâs going to react. After all, one of his lovers is a man.â
âAhâ¦â Luna chuckled faintly. âRight, thatâs understandable.â
Indeed, this is what worried Richard the most. Donât get him wrong. He isnât ashamed to admit his relationship with a man. He is proud of it and already decided that no matter what happens, he will protect his loversâ dignity. Even if his own parents were against them.
But of course, as a child, Richard still preferred to get the blessings of all party. He didnât want any complications and would very much like for all of them to get along and know each other deeply. Richard is a filial son and he places a heavy importance on his family therefore, he didnât want to upset them.
Richard knew his parents best, he knew that the chances of them being against his relationship with a man is close to nil, he still couldnât help but be nervous. On the other hand, the parents of his male lover already expressed their support to them, so he would very much like it if his own parents could do the same as well.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened. His parents loved his fiancés a lot, even more than him apparently.
âWell, even if Paul were to be against this union, if Ellen approves of it, thereâs nothing he can do.â Luna chuckled at this, âIf he dares to do anything, Ellen will be the first one to put him in his place. Thatâs guaranteed.â
âYeah, I can see that happening.â Vanessa laughed.
âMoreover, youâre father wonât let Paul here the end of it. So really, thereâs nothing for Richard to worry about. And heâs not against it isnât he? I heard that heâs quite satisfied with Richardâs choices.â
âYes. He already gave his support and blessings to their engagement. Uncle even personally told Richard to prepare the dowry for the marriage.â Vanessa replied.
âOh! Haha.â Luna then leaned closer to her daughter and said: âTell Richard this. Paul is being generous when he said that. Tell him to not hold back and take as much as he could in their treasury. He can even empty it if he wants.â
âEh! Mom!â
âDonât worry about it.â Luna giggled, âJust tell him that. Me and Ellen will keep an eye on him. You tell him alright?â
Vanessa laughed merrily and agreed.
There was silence between the two of them after this. They enjoyed warm tea in this lovely afternoon. Now this wouldâve been perfect if it werenât for the fact that thereâs a faint killing intent locked-on to their home but oh well, nothing can be done about that for now.
âSoâ¦how about you then? Any candidates that you want to introduce to me?â Luna asked her daughter with a teasing tone.
âMomâ¦â Vanessa called out exasperatedly while rolling her eyes. âThereâs nobody, okay? Most of the guys I know are seriously so lame.â
âWell, how about girls then?â Luna probed.
âTheyâre okay, but Iâm better so, meh.â Vanessa shrugged. âSeriously, if thereâs someone, itâs not like I can hide them from you or Dad. So thereâs no need to put me under the spotlight.â
Luna chuckled and said: âI know. Iâm just teasing you.â
âActuallyâ¦Iâve been thinking.â Vanessa placed her tea cup down with a serious expression on her face. âI actually think the chances of me finding someone is close to none.â
Luna raised a brow and asked: âIâm not going to have grandchildren from you?â
âWha-! No! I mean-ugh, I donât know? Nothingâs for certain yet okay! Iâm just sayingâ¦itâs difficult to impress me so the chances of me finding a partner is very low. I just donât want you to expect much.â
âOkay, what made you come up with this?â
âDad.â
âAh, I see.â Luna nodded.
Vanessa didnât need to say much after that. Luna perfectly understood what she meant by that.
See, if Vanessaâs going to accept a lover, they better be as impressive as Raven. This is basically the minimum for her to âconsiderâ entering a relationship.
But then again, this standard is a bitâ¦steep, for anybody to achieve. Which is also the reason why Vanessa blamed Raven for it.
As a daughter whoâs very close to her parents, it is perfectly understandable for her to use her parents as standards for her own future, which also includes her love life.
Her father is one special man. Who could blame her for looking for someone like him to be her lover? And itâs precisely because she has Raven as her standards for considering somebody to be her lover, it would prove really difficult for her to find one.
âSweetheart, I and your father told you about this many times before but Iâm still going to say it againâ¦live your life according to how you see fit. Be free and do whatever you want. No matter what, we will always be here to support you.â Luna placed her hand on her daughterâs face as she said this.
âThanks, Mom. I know.â Vanessa nodded softly, âI really appreciate the freedom you two gave me a lot.â
âOne word of advice, Sweetheart.â Luna added, âThese standards of yoursâ¦a person might come to completely defy them. Either by not being up to standard or even exceeding them. The point is, if you feel itâs right, donât be afraid.â
âWhen me and your Father met, I never once thought that heâd be someone Iâd marry.â Luna smiled upon this recollection, âJust like you, I had your Grandfatherâs image as a standard for consideration.â
âYet none of those mattered to your fatherâs persistence.â She smiled sweetly, âHe was unstoppable and he swept me away on my feet. By then, I was moved. And who wouldâve known that heâd be this impressive? I, certainly, didnât.â
âSo you see? Love moves in mysterious ways. Donât try to predict it or stagnate yourself. Just bract for the impact since once it starts, it will never stop.â
Vanessa pouted and said: âThatâs a good advice but also incredibly cheesy. If Dadâs here youâd be looking at each other with heart-shaped eyes. Ugh.â
Luna laughed and shook her head. She didnât mind Vanessaâs words since she knows that, that might actually happen so why deny it?
âOh wellâ¦itâs time I get back to the dormitories. I think Jeanneâs already looking for me. We have a project to do after all.â
âI see. Well, be on your way then.â Luna nodded.
âOh right, Mom can you empty your schedule for the next week?â Vanessa asked all of a sudden.
âWhy? Do you need me for something?â
âYes! Have you forgotten about it already?â Vanessa asked in disbelief.
âAbout what?â Luna frowned.
âGranny Mengâs new Battle Gowns! Hello?â
âOh my! Youâre right! I actually forgot about that.â Lunaâs eyes widened in shock.
âYou told me you, Aunt Ellen and Aunt Anne will come with us.â
âIâm sorry, Sweetheart. Donât worry Iâll remind them. Weâll come with you, of course.â
âGreat! See you then!â Vanessa cheered and disappeared from the Sky Island.
Luna shook her head with her behavior, she didnât mind of course, itâs not like she did something so offensive after all.
As Luna was left to her lonesome again, she couldnât help but sigh. She looked at the distant horizon with a stern gaze and felt displeased.
âWhy do you wretches have to come? Canât you just leave us alone?â
She felt truly resentful about the upcoming arrival of their worst enemies. If it were up to her, sheâd prefer them to stay wherever they are and never learn about the existence of the Divine Realm, unfortunately sheâs powerless to stop them from arriving.
Unable to prevent being worried, she shifted her glance at the rough location of where her husband was currently located.
Itâs been a while since he entered his seclusion. He had not said a word so far so heâs probably working real hard to achieve results.
Luna traced the crest on her bosom, feeling slightly anxious about whatâs coming. In the end, she knows that they canât avoid this and they could only try their best.
Luna sighed and took out a badge, she then dialed Anne and Ellen to remind them to empty their schedules next week.
After all, the gowns need fitting.