262 Ch. 262 'Richard's Illusion'

As soon as Izzy's illusory smog hit Richard, the young man now moved to an unfamiliar place. Right now, he was on a balcony that felt unfamiliar, and yet he felt nostalgic for this place.

Richard twisted around to look around him, and how surprised was he that he was now standing on the palace balcony? The entire wall was decorated with ornaments made of gold, and there was a flag representing a kingdom.

He was sure he had never seen the emblem, but somehow he knew that it was the emblem of the kingdom.

"Auntie!"

A crisp voice from a small boy could be heard, making Richard instantly shifted his gaze to the boy. He saw the little boy running to the end of the balcony to meet a woman who was staring at the sparkling city lights below.

Richard wondered since when was that woman there? His pair of black eyes widened when he saw the woman turn around and show her face.

Isn't that woman the same lady he often sees in his dreams? Why is that woman here?

Richard knew this must not be a dream, but an illusion, because he remembered, Izzy had activated her illusory power. But, why did the woman who was in his dream appear in this illusory world?

"Aunt! Aunt! Do you know what I found in the backyard?"

"Hush... I'm still young, don't call me like I'm some old ladies. Call me sister."

"But royal mother will be angry if I don't call you auntie."

The woman smiled. "Then call me sister when we're alone."

The boy looked around, making sure no one was there. Richard realized the two were completely unaware of his existence. More precisely, they could not see him.

Strangely, why did the boy's face resemble him when he was a child? Who is that kid?

"Alright, Sister Xiao Hua."

Xiao Hua? Richard couldn't help but frown hearing this name.

So, that lady is Xiao Hua?

Xiao Hua laughed amusedly and rubbed the boy's head by ruffling his hair. "My yang'er is the best." her compliment made the young Yang'er laughed cheerfully.

"Sister Xiao Hua, did you see royal mother? Why everyone forbid me to see her?"

"Is your mother sick?"

"I don't know. But she shut herself in the room and forbid everyone to come near her. It is the only royal father who accompanied her. I'm worried about her."

Xiao Hua looked thoughtful then smiled. "Your mother will be fine. It's just a process of delivery."

Yang'er tilted her head and gave her a confused look.

"Yang'er, you will have a younger sister. Are you happy? "

"Sister? That's why she doesn't want to see me?"

"No. Your mother is in the room to protect you and your upcoming sister. She will inherit the Queen's power, so you can't stay near your mother while she was giving birth."

"Why?"

"Hm... you won't understand. But believe me, Yang'er, your mother cares about you very much. And she also loved your sister. So, don't be sad anymore."

"I'm not sad. I know she loves me as much as she loves my sister."

Xiao Hua smiled. "I also really love you, you know." He said while pinching his nephew's cheek, making Yang'er grimace.

"Ah... sister Xiao Hua!" whined Yang'er while pouting his mouth.

"When you meet your sister later, promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Cherish your sister, protect her, and take good care of her. Can you do that?"

Yang'er smiled. "Yes! I promise you."

Seeing that scene, Richard unconsciously shed tears. Feeling his wet cheeks, Richard wiped his tears and looked at his wet fingers in confusion.

Does he cry? Why is he crying? And also, why does his heart hurt seeing that woman's smile?

Occupied with his confusion, Richard did not realize that his surroundings were now turning dark and slowly starting to lighten with another place's atmosphere. There he saw the same woman standing beside another woman with a crown on her head and a newborn baby in an ice cube.

The baby did not move nor cry. She seemed asleep, but Richard did not feel the baby's body heat at all as if it was... soulless?

"Ten years. It has been almost ten years since that guy put on the curse on her. Is there nothing we can do? Ling Duan said that child could awake her." asked a woman wearing a crown.

"Yes, he could. But at the moment, that kid is not strong enough to wake her up. We can force him, but..."

"No. Don't force him. He is too young."

"Yes. That's why I will do it."

"How..." the words paused as the realization hit her. "No. You mustn't do it. If you use it, you will ..." the woman with the crown began to cry.

"If I don't do it, your daughter won't wake up anytime. She doesn't have much time. The limit time is only ten years before her celestial soul vanished for good."

"But..."

"Please, let me make up for my mistake ten years ago. If I die, that person will also die, and no one will bother you or this child anymore. Let me atone for the sins of my mo spirit."

"Hua'er..." the woman started to sob and hugged her sister tightly.

After releasing her embrace, the older sister let Xiao Hua do something to the baby. Xiao Hua swung her hands in a large circle, and both hands appeared a flow of energy that Richard did not recognize.

Without realizing it, Richard held his breath at the scene. He wanted to know whether the baby would wake up in the end or not.

"Yang'er. I hope you don't hate me. And if you hate me, I hope that whatever happens, you are willing to keep your promise."

Xiao Hua's energy light shone so brightly that Richard covered his eyes with one hand. It wasn't long before she heard a baby crying. At the sound of crying, Richard smiled with relief.