Separation and a Mother’s Sense of Duty

"You're sending Feng Jin to Westlyn, to Princess Royal Helena?" Serena couldn't even process her exhaustion—she shot up from her chair, her voice trembling.

"Yes." Left Shore stood there like a post, his face hard and expressionless, offering no explanation at all.

She'd stood up too fast. Serena's head spun, so she closed her eyes, waited out the dizziness, then opened them, drew a deep breath, and forced out a weak: "I understand. When?"

Left Shore cared for Feng Jin even more fiercely than she did. He would never let anything hurt the boy. Maybe being with his own mother would actually be better for Feng Jin.

But she couldn't bear to let him go.

Serena pressed her brows together, hiding the ache and the tears in her eyes. Left Shore turned away, refusing to look at her or give a definite time—just said, "As soon as possible."

"Let Spring and Mira Tang go with Feng Jin." Serena trusted Left Shore—he'd bring Feng Jin home if he could, and even if he couldn't, she'd bet her life he'd keep the boy safe in Westlyn. He wouldn't let Feng Jin become some tool in Princess Royal Helena's fight for power.

"Alright, I'll protect them in Westlyn." That was Left Shore's condition with Princess Royal Helena—he'd never let her twist Feng Jin's upbringing.

"Then let Snow Wolf go, too. That way... at least Feng Jin won't feel so lost." A child that small, in a strange place—seeing familiar faces would help him adapt.

"You handle the arrangements." Left Shore trusted Serena—she'd never let anything happen to Feng Jin. "While Snow Wolf and I are gone, I'll have my master come protect you."

The seven old monsters of the Assassin Alliance would be thrilled to get the chance to guard Serena.

And sure enough, when Left Shore's master got the news, he smugly showed off to the other old monsters: "Having a good disciple is the best—whenever something good comes up, he thinks of his master first."

"Idiot... Our skills are just as good as yours. If anyone should protect the Eldest Young Lady, we're better qualified!" The other old monsters protested, all wanting to tag along.

"So what if you're better? The Eldest Young Lady didn't ask you. I'm just helping my disciple out, got it?" Left Shore's master, face as blank as Left Shore's from years of silence, said those infuriating words without so much as a twitch.

That look really begged for a beating!

The six old monsters lunged forward together, beating Left Shore's master black and blue. When he finally arrived in Eastlyn, his face was still swollen and bruised...

There was no changing Feng Jin's fate. That night, when Serena told Prince Nolan, he wasn't surprised—Feng Jin was the Princess Royal Helena's son, after all. It was only natural she'd want him back. Not blaming Serena or Left Shore was already the most Westlyn could concede.

"Feng Jin will be safe in Westlyn." Prince Nolan reassured Serena, worried she'd fret.

"The Westlyn Emperor needs balance. He won't let anything happen to Feng Jin." Serena's voice was full of sarcasm and scorn.

From the news out of Westlyn, Serena knew that Prince Terrence Valen, backed by the military, Master Ian Reed, and the Cui Clan, had made his position as Crown Prince ever more secure—even threatening the Emperor's authority.

With Terrence's power rising, the Westlyn Emperor, desperate to protect his own authority, started boosting Princess Royal Helena again—just like he'd done before to counter Terrence.

No matter how much the emperor favored any heir, he'd never let anyone threaten his throne.

"As long as you understand." Serena had weathered Westlyn's storms—she knew that when Feng Jin grew up, he'd see the throne was just a moon in the mirror, a flower in the water. Neither the emperor nor the royal clan would ever let an outsider like Feng Jin inherit.

The imperial family is a strange beast. Fathers and sons, brothers, will fight to the death for that seat, even if it means destroying their own kin—blood means nothing.

But at the same time, they're obsessed with bloodline. The throne only goes to their own descendants; if there are no sons, they'll adopt from the clan—never letting it slip to outsiders.

Princess Royal Helena was too deep in the game to see reality.

Feng Jin's return to Westlyn was already settled. No matter how much Serena couldn't bear it, she still had to pack his things.

Truth was, there wasn't much to pack. Princess Royal Helena wouldn't let Feng Jin go without, so Serena just told Spring and Mira Tang to bring his favorite toys—anything else, Helena wouldn't let him use anyway.

Feng Jin was still little, but being separated from Serena so often had taught him what 'parting' meant. When Serena told him his mother was coming to take him home, he didn't understand 'mother'—he just knew he'd be parted from his sister.

"Sister, don't go... want Sister." Feng Jin clung to Serena, refusing to let go, his little eyes swollen from crying.

"Feng Jin, be good... Sister will come get you soon. When Sister isn't there, let Snow Wolf keep you company, okay?" Serena hugged him, patting his back to comfort him.

"No, no... want Sister." Feng Jin's voice was hoarse from crying: "Feng Jin wants Sister... not leaving, not leaving."

His little face streaked with tears, Feng Jin clung tightly to Serena's clothes, refusing to let go. Serena's heart ached, but she had to gently pry his fingers off: "Feng Jin, listen to Sister and be good... then Sister can come bring you home."

"Feng Jin, be good... Sister, don't want Feng Jin..." He sobbed, unable to say what he meant with his limited words—he could only repeat 'don't go.'

When Princess Royal Helena came to fetch Feng Jin, she saw him wrapped around Serena, refusing to let go. Her eyes flashed with anger, her tone sharp: "Miss Feng, if you love children so much, why not have one yourself? Or do you prefer stealing someone else's son?"

Serena shot Princess Royal Helena a cold look, ignoring her and focusing on comforting Feng Jin. Feng Jin only had eyes for Serena, refusing to even look at Helena.

Princess Royal Helena was stung by the sight; if Left Shore hadn't taken her son away before, he wouldn't be so close to Serena now.

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Princess Royal Helena stepped forward, reaching to snatch Feng Jin: "Serena, give me back my son."

"No, no... bad person, don't want!" Startled, Feng Jin slapped Princess Royal Helena's hand away and shrank desperately into Serena's arms.

Princess Royal Helena froze, her face twisted. Realizing she'd scared Feng Jin, she forced down her anger and put on a mask of gentleness: "Jin'er, don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person. I'm your mother, the one who loves you most. Mother has come to take you home."

But Feng Jin didn't buy it. He buried his face in Serena's arms, sobbing: "Don't want, don't want... want Sister."

Princess Royal Helena tried coaxing him with promises of treats and toys, but Feng Jin just shook his head, clinging to Serena, refusing to even look at Helena.

Helena's patience ran out. Her tone snapped back to cold: "My son doesn't need you to manage him. Jin'er, come here!"

But Feng Jin was terrified of Princess Royal Helena—especially her long, blood-red nails. Once, a servant had scratched him with overgrown nails, and ever since, he'd been scared of sharp claws. Even Snow Wolf had to have its paws trimmed before getting close.

Seeing those lacquered nails, Feng Jin shrank back, trembling, refusing to let go of Serena.

Serena hugged Feng Jin tighter, shielding him with her arms. "Princess Royal Helena, it's not that Feng Jin doesn't want you—he's just scared of your nails. You should trim them before you try to hold him."

Princess Royal Helena stared at her nails, then at Serena, her face dark. She'd never imagined her own child would fear her because of something so trivial.

But Serena didn't care about Helena's feelings. She was only focused on comforting Feng Jin, whispering to him and gently coaxing him to let go.

Eventually, with Serena's gentle patience, Feng Jin finally loosened his grip. Spring and Mira Tang took him by the hand, leading him away, while Snow Wolf trotted by his side.

"That's right, Feng Jin's mother will play with you, will tell you stories." Serena said these things hoping Princess Royal Helena would spend more time with Feng Jin, so he could have a normal childhood.

After Feng Jin returned, he was destined not to receive a father's love. Whether it was the princess's general-lover or Mr. Yinli, neither would truly treat Feng Jin as their own son. In Westlyn, his only real family would be Princess Royal Helena.

"That's right, Jin'er, I'm your mother. Come back with Mother—I've prepared lots of delicious food and fun things for you. With Mother here, you'll be the happiest child in the world." Princess Royal Helena seized the chance to coax Feng Jin, her expression softening as she reached out to embrace him.

Feng Jin hesitated, leaning forward slightly, but when he saw Princess Royal Helena's long, blood-red nails, he shrank back, wrapped his arms around Serena's neck, and shook his head like a little drum: "Don't want Mother, want Sister... not going. Feng Jin doesn't want to go."

No matter what, Feng Jin just wouldn't cooperate. Serena remained patient, but Princess Royal Helena had no patience left. She tore off her gentle facade and demanded harshly: "Serena, hand Jin'er over to me. My son doesn't need you meddling." As long as she took him away, she didn't believe Serena could still influence her son.

"Your Highness, your nails are too long—they could hurt Feng Jin. Please trim them first." Feng Jin had once been scratched by a servant's nails, and since then, he wouldn't let anyone with long nails hold him.

Even Snow Wolf had to have its claws trimmed before approaching Feng Jin.

"My personal habits are none of your concern." Princess Royal Helena arrogantly withdrew her hand, her gaze toward Feng Jin tinged with annoyance.

She had always been a patient woman; from birth until now, others had always coaxed her—she'd never had to coax anyone else. Lowering herself to comfort Feng Jin was rare, yet he still refused to appreciate it.

"Give Jin'er to me." Princess Royal Helena no longer cared if Feng Jin cried or fussed; all that mattered was taking him away.

Serena held Feng Jin tightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes...

Could a mother like this really be good to Feng Jin?