I Became the Black Swan Mother of the White Swan Princess

Haniel was especially shy and did not talk, but as soon as her mommy was mentioned, she would become excited and start chattering.

When she repeated the short phrase [Shes pwetty and cool and the best], Darren spread his wings and smiled.

[Then do you want to live with your mother forever?]

[Fowevuh?]

Whats that?

When Haniel tilted her head to the left, Darren petted her glossy feathers with his open wing.

[It means you dont separate for a very long time, and that youre next to them until the end.]

[Ohh, itsh a good thing.]

It was a very very good thing! Haniel beamed as she flapped her wings.

[Mommys gonna come get me. Shes gonna come and hug me like dis and spin spin awound! Mommy said so!]

[Is that so?]

Well, isnt she energetic.

As Darren listened to Haniels words with a smile, he sensed somebody approaching behind him and turned his head.

The parent, as in, the Duchess was, just as her daughter had said, climbing up the lakes hill. It was obvious though that she looked so exhausted in both mind and body that she was barely supporting her own body, let alone about to give anyone a hug.

[Looks like itll be hard for your mother to hug you today, though.]

[Ueh?]

That cant be?

Shaking her head from side to side, Haniel lifted up the sole of one webbed foot. As she was bringing her to school in the morning, she had promised her countless times into her feathers.

Why? What about mommy?

Darren looked at Haniel and her blinking, gem-like eyes with worry.

As things stood, she was already downcast due to the strict Lady Melleo, and she was still a child being teased in the midst of her peers.

But if even her mother, whod come to pick her up, was out of energy and couldnt hug her, she would definitely be disappointed.

Ah..

At that moment, the Duchess finally discovered her child as she reached the top of the hill.

She bit her lips with a face that had grown gaunt in the short amount of time, due to whatever it mustve been that happened down below.

Though he didnt know what he could do, Darren also could not tear his eyes away from the mother-daughter pair.

Baby, mommys here!

The first one to smile brightly was the Duchess. The expression shed had, looking like she held all the grievances of the world on her shoulders, was completely erased by her instinctive smile the moment she saw her daughter.

Reinaaa!

She probably didnt even know what expression she was making.

Her shoulders had been sagging as if every step she took was burdensome, but now her speed gradually quickened as she ran towards her daughter.

When did you come out! I told you mommy will come!

[Mommyyyyy!]

Haniel as well pitter-pattered closer with her two wings spread out. However, when Catherine knelt down to pick her up and hug her, Haniel took a step back and shook her head.

[No, itsh okay!]

Hm? Whats wrong? Mommy promised to pick you up and spin you around.

[No no. Itsh okay.]

Perhaps saddened by Haniels consecutive rejections, the Duchess pushed out her lower lip.

Its okay even if mommy doesnt hug you?

[Yesh. Itsh fine.]

To think this day would come this quickly, when it had only been a few days since shed started raising her. The way the sulky Duchesss expressions changed was even more dramatic than the young swans.

Baby, Mommy is.

[Mommy ish Haniels fo-eva!]

For her sullen mother, Haniels white wing softly covered the back of her hand.

[My mommy is fweva foweva, so itsh okay!]

***

Haniel, say that again. If I do this, what do you say?

[I love mommy foweva!]

Oohh.

When I tickled Haniels left cheek, her little beak chattered.

But I couldnt stop here.

This time, I tickled her right cheek.

And if I do this?

[Ill fo-eva like mommy!]

Kyaa!

What do I do with this child? Children really do need to be taught well!

Hugging my very own jukebox Haniel, it had already been a few hours since I wasnt able to get up from the bed. Rolling this way, rolling that way, there was really nothing like a childs adorable tricks to help you forget all your worries of the outside world.