FOUR MONTHS LATER

"Ahh... we are almost home. Time flies," Gewen commented. "I don't understand why but the journey to go home always feels quicker than the journey to leave home. Do you feel that way too?"

They were standing on the ship's dock, enjoying the view of the sun slowly going down on the horizon. They had traveled for months and were now finally getting close to home. Well, not super close because they were still on the sea connecting the Atlantea and Terra continents.

But after such a long journey from Castilse, passing through kingdom after kingdom and finally crossing the sea, the sight of Wintermere on the horizon felt like they were almost home.

Well... for Emmelyn, that was almost true. Wintermere was her homeland. Her heart was filled with warmth when she realized they almost reached Wintermere.

She had asked Mars to make a stop in her family's graves and visit Duke Bellevar whom she called Grandpa Leroy.  Her husband, of course, responded positively to her request.

It was his wish too, to bring Emmelyn to visit her family and her homeland, together with Harlow. He had planned this since the first time he realized he was in love with her.

However, so many things happened between then and now. Mars could only bring Emmelyn to Wintermere in this condition.

Well... it was better now than never, he thought.

"I don't feel that way," Kira commented. "To me, it's always the same. Going out away or going back."

Gewen looked at her with interest. He asked Kira, "Where is your home?"

The girl shrugged. "Nowhere. I was born in Asguy but I spent most of my time going around places with my father."

"Oh... well, no wonder the journeys always feel the same you. It's because you don't really have a place you call home," said Gewen.

He added, "I bet once you have a place you call home, you will understand the feeling. I think it's psychological. People always long for their homes. So, when they travel in the direction where their heart is, they would feel like the journey seems shorter."

The pirate princess rolled her eyes at the man and clicked her tongue. "You are too sentimental, Lord Gewen. The conventional wisdom is the trip back seems shorter because it's more familiar, so people recognize landmarks. And that might help to increase the feeling of speed, of how fast you travel."

The man didn't understand why Kira always looked uninterested when he said something and often refuted his words. All the other women always listened to his every word with a sparkle in their eyes. However... this woman was... different.

This realization made Gewen feel dejected.  The man started questioning himself if he was interested in Kira because the girl was the only woman who didn't show any interest in him?

Maybe this was what they said by people always want what they can't have. Was that what happened to him now?

Was he interested in Kira only because he couldn't have her?

Well... this was not healthy.

"Excuse me, Miss Kira. I need some air," the man muttered and then walked away from Kira. The girl furrowed her brows and watched Gewen's back view until the man disappeared behind the mast.

"We are already outside," she said to herself. "Where else would he get air from?"

Emmelyn who saw their interaction came to approach Kira with Harlow in her arms. After spending months together on the road, the bond between mother and daughter had developed so well.

Now Harlow loved being around Emmelyn and acted possessively toward her too, not just her father. She also liked Kira and immediately smiled so broadly when they reached the pirate princess.

"What were you guys talking about?" Emmelyn asked Kira.

The pirate princess just shrugged, "Nothing important."

"Oh... but I could see Gewen looked upset," Emmelyn chuckled. "You shouldn't be too harsh on him."

"I didn't do anything. I swear!" Kira replied. "He said something about the journey home always seems shorter and I told him it's because people are seeing familiar things as they headed home. That is why the journey seems shorter. I'm not wrong, aren't I?"

"No, but I don't think Gewen was wrong either. He was talking about feelings but you shot him down with logic," Emmelyn said patiently. "I think he was upset because he likes you but you don't seem to like him back and everything he said seems wrong or stupid in your eyes."

"Huh?" Kira looked at Emmelyn with bulged eyes. "What did you say just now?"

"Which one? That Gewen likes you?"

Kira nodded. "Yes. That one."

"Well... Gewen likes you, Kira," Emmelyn repeated her words. "I thought you knew."

"Gewen likes you, Kira," Harlow repeated Emmelyn's words and laughed adorably. Both women turned to her and gave her a surprised look.

"Harlow... you shouldn't keep copying other people's words," Emmelyn said to her daughter. "And they are Uncle Gewen and Auntie Kira to you. Don't call older people by their first names."

"Ahh... it's okay, I don't mind." Kira brushed it off. "Harlow is so cute. She could do whatever crime and she will be forgiven... hehehe."

"No, don't say that. Harlow must understand that she doesn't get a free pass just because everyone loves her or that she is a princess," Emmelyn said. She pinched Harlow's nose and looked at her sternly. "You should call them Uncle Gewen and Auntie Kira. Understood?"

Harlow pouted but she finally muttered, "Auntie Kira."

"Good."

"She is growing up before our eyes," Kira commented. "This is crazy. She can walk around now without falling."

"Well, she is 15 months old now. She is a big girl," Emmelyn said proudly. "I am just glad to see she is healthy and happy."

"She is happy for sure. Everyone around her dotes on her," Kira commented. "And she has an amazing mother. She will grow up to be an amazing young lady too."

"Ahh.. you are too kind, Kira.. Thank you," Emmelyn smiled sweetly at Kira's words.

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